Compact excavators

[js5020]

Ok guy's, what's the good and bad with these machines? I see quite a few available at what seem to be reasonable prices. Are most "grey"? Are there parts available? I have run two of these a Yanmar and a Kubota, I was impressed at their ability to dig. Looking for options, don't really want/need a TLB,,,, to big, to old for the same money, don't want to put a hoe on the CUT and tie it up for that. What's everyones opinion??

 

[vettemanwight]

I was looking for a backhoe for my Kubota 4310 ,around 6-8K then I started looking at mini Ex's endided up buying a 28 J IHI from Mcgrew equipment.Well I did pay more for it $9100 ,but it is made to dig and it keeps the tractor available to do other things.Also I figure when Im done with it I will sell it for close to what I paid for it. The only bad thing is high maintaince, but Ive put over 200 hrs on it and only done normal oil and filters. Look at mcrew equipment on ebay , He gets them alot and I feel he was a great guy to buy from. Sold over 6600 items on ebay and has a 98'9 positive feedback. V

 

[Trackks9]

Depending on your need's, I have a small IHI mini ex. 665 trouble free hr's
wouldn't be without one.

 

[Builder]

I liked operating the ones I've rented. Great for tight, inaccessible spots. I find southern equipment dealers have better condition machines at more reasonable prices.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I do a lot of hoses and cylinders on these. The guys I talk to love them and don't know how they managed before. Only thing is, the fittings on both the Yanmar and Kubota are British Pipe thread. Not a big deal if your local shop carries them.

 

[js5020]

Any manufacturers to stay away from for lack of parts,,, I see them made by a bunch of companies,, Komatsu, Daewoo, Nissan, Kubota, Yanmar, Ihi, Bobcat ect.. Are they usually US spec or grey market?

 

[coopers]

It really all depends on what you have to do. Excavators are great for a lot of jobs, mini or larger. I use mini excavators on a lot of jobs. I use Kubota and I feel they are a very very strong machine. I used to work for a rental company and they NEVER broke down. We had some older units too but they never broke except for customer abuse, extreme abuse might I add. There are a lot of other good machines, you'll have to start sitting on some to see which you like, who has the best customer service, locality, parts availability etc. Again, I feel that Kubota is a very solid unit. There are quite a few dealers around me and when it came to parts, they were always quick to get them for me. Bobcat in my opinion has really fallen behind on their machines. They are sluggish. I also personally don't like how they're designed. I have never used a CAT mini and I don't want to. I do not like how their hoes are designed. Kobelco had a nice machine, I used one for a bit, Taks seem pretty nice but I have never used one. I would post a question to www.lawnsite.com and HeavyEquiptmentForums.Com. You'll get a ton of feedback on lawnsite...but before you do post do a thorough search since we get this question about twice a month it seems like. I don't think there are a ton of gray market mini's out there, but if you run across one...STAY AWAY from it.

What do you want to use it for? What size do you want. I use kubota 121-3 and 161-3's every now and then and they're a solid machine.

 

[js5020]

Some real informative sites you have posted,,, basically I just need to replace my shovel, hate that thing, never could find one that fit right!! I will be looking for a smaller one, if I could find one that will dig 4-7' it will suit me fine, I have run a yanmar b27 or 37 didn't pay attention to the model and a kubota, once again I didn't pay attention to the model but I think it was a 161 it was real nice cab air heat. Both were beyond what I would need for projects around here in my opinion.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I know of a place on rte 315 in Pittston that should have that kind of stuff. You may have seen it, it's by a big forklift dealer.

 

[js5020]

Ha ha,,, They sure do have some nice Taks and Case machines,, just cause I work for a sister company don't you be thinkin I'll get a discount! I only saw nice brandy new ones though but I guess I should probably focus on a Tak for that reason,, or a Case since I frequent the area so often.

 

[coopers]

JS5020-

Look at the 121-3's, and the 91-3's and see how you like them...Kubota of course. They're both common size machines used around here, I personally like the 121, perfect size for what I do but the 91-3 is a nice compact machine, not too small but not too big. Look at Kobelco too.

Blake
WA

 

[curtisfarmer]

I like the pics of the KX121 with grading bucket, I have the same setup. The 121 is super tight and versatile, and the blade makes grading easy. If you dig alot, sometimes a mini x is unbeatable, especially if you stay under 10K lbs. and non-cdl equipment to move the machine. I clear brush, install drainage, lawns atop septic systems, stump, site work, and do alot more with my KX121. Once you get one, you'll always wonder what you did before.

 

[coopers]

Curtisfarmer, yeah that cleanup bucket is so nice. I love Kubota's manual QC too; some other buckets out there like CP stuff and whatever Deere puts on their mini's is a complete joke. I would rather use a grade beam to grade but once I get my own mini, I'm getting a progressive linked thumb so there's more rotation, it's a pain to grade when you have a direct link thumb.

Blake
WA

 

[jdl]

Yanmar's VIO50 and 75s are sweet machines as well. They have a real nice hydraulic quick attach you operate from in the cab.

 

[Dmace]

Last summer, I rented a Yanmar Vio27 and boy was that a great machine! It was incredible what a difference it was from my CK20 backhoe with a much greater reach and faster. I really liked the quick disconnect, I could drop a bucket and hook up a wider grading bucket within seconds without ever getting out of the seat. The hydraulic thumb was just plain awesome too! If I could justify another $20k purchase, I would love to own a mini-excavator just like it. The best part was that I could haul it with my 1/2 Ram HEMI on a 14ft dual axle trailer.

Here are a few pics from my excavating:
(click thumbnails for larger pics)

 

[AKfish]

Well, I'm a real newbie when it comes to mini-excavators and excavators for that matter.

Cause I ran a Deere 120 with thumb (probably 25K lbs. machine) and a Bobcat 430 zts (10K machine) with thumb this last summer and hated the Deere and really liked the Bobcat!

I have played around on a Knobelco 120 (I think that was the model..) and it was a much better machine that either the Deere or the Bobcat, IMnewbieO.

Matter of fact, I started lookin' at the mini's 'cause I'm trying to clear trees on my place and they are the cat's pajamas for gettin' the job-done-quick for that kind of work!!

But lately, I decided that I couldn't afford to have a CUT and a mini excavator and/or a dozer; so, I'm settin' my sights on a construction TLB. The maintainence, and trailer's and all the associated costs of having multiple machines... just could not/ did not want to stick my neck out that far!

Maybe the info from your quest and the feedback on the TBN forums will change my neophyte mind!

AKfish

 

[Botabill]

I have a Kubota KX41-3. The-3 is the most recent version of this 2 ton machine. It's a joy to operate with the pilot controls. It'll dig over 7 feet deep though you are stretching when you get down to that depth. It'll dig up any size trees and stumps but won't pop the big ones. I mean you may have to dig a big hole around a big one to get it out. For trenching I can't imagine a machine that is much better. Great for getting into small areas with a minimum of damage. I went with the Kubota because 1/ I own a Kubota tractor and have been very pleased with it. 2/ I chatted with rental outfits in my area and they basically said rough use is not an issue as they keep them for 1500 hours an then sell them and rarely have to do any repairs. 3/ Has among the highest breakout etc forces available. 4/ The cylinder on the upright boom is on top of the boom. That means when I pinch a log or whatever against teh boom the delicate cylinder isn't destroyed at great cost. 5/ good resale value. The Tachuchi (sp) machines are well respected but there were no dealers in my area. I'd shy away from grey market machines for several reasons though a mechanically inclined person may be able to wokr around the issues they present.

 

[js5020]

Ok guy's ,, I have seen a few of you post " high maintenence" would anyone like to detail this comment out? This is important, because I will not be buying a new machine, I want to keep cost around 8k or less. Initally I have some projects, but after these are completed it will do more sitting around than working. Kinda looking at this like I did with a generator, when I built the house I had a choice, pay for temp hook up or buy the generator, I bought the generator, end cost was alittle higher, but I still have the generator and though it sits around most of the time, I have it for when I need it. Same here I will have spent a few more bucks than renting/hiring out but will have the machine when done. On size, looking at small,,, 1 ton, 2 ton tops, it will be a little undersized for some of the inital projects, it will just take a few more hours to complete them.

 

[coopers]

JS,

You're going to have do a lot of searching but you might find a mini at $8K (if I understand that is all you want to spend on a mini). A KX41 is around 3600lbs. You can do quite a bit with that machine surprisingly, but it's not going to allow you do A LOT. You can get a full size case backhoe (580B-580C) for $10K if you save up another 2 grand. That can do WAY more than a little 1 ton excavator. I personally wouldn't buy any machine if I knew it was going to sit around a lot after I had all my projects done. You might as well rent. When you buy a machine, you need to have a place to fix it, a place to store hyd. oil, buy grease constantly, grease gun, have access to parts and tools to fix the machine etc. It's a lot of work to own a piece of equipment and if you aren't going to use it constantly because you're in no hurry to get something done but yet after the projects are done, it's going to sit a lot, I wouldn't buy one. That's just my opinion. If you're going to have property or do have it, buy a backhoe and you can use it more...that is if you'll have enough for it in the future too.

How much and what do you have to do? Because you can spend rental fees on a machine for a project that you can get done in two weekends or something w/ the right machine versus buying. Again, just my opinion.

Blake
WA

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Blake, you are not helping any. The man wants a toy and has the woman's approval. You must not be married.