Getting ready to seriously consider a used KX121-3 or KX040

[Happy Gilmore]

After stirring it up a bit remove a plug and look for metalflake in the track drive motor oil. Drive motors can be $7,000, any metalflake in the oil it's too late. Also smell the oil in the track motors, if it smells burned (I've not smelled burnt but "they" say it's un-mistakeable and unpleasant too) that's a bad sign, but not as bad as metalflake. Better check both sides. If the oil is recently changed you won't learn much from this. You will need to bring an 8mm (or 10mm?) allen wrench to remove the plug.

Thanks Sodo, I was really hoping to have one for Spring, found a candidate, but it's 5+ hours away. It's a 2012 with 6 way blade, cab and a low 240 hours. I can buy it for $39k

 

[Sodo]

240 is new in my book, wont have motor probs. 90wt oil change interval is 500hrs but since drive motor repl. cost has doubled recently to $7,000 they say go 200 hrs (same as engine oil) to extend the life. Thats about all I know.

Have you run excavators? I'm at appx 60 hrs, having fun. So many uses but slow to arrive at any location you sure dont drive it home for lunch.

 

[RDrancher]

240 is new in my book, wont have motor probs. 90wt oil change interval is 500hrs but since drive motor repl. cost has doubled recently to $7,000 they say go 200 hrs (same as engine oil) to extend the life. Thats about all I know.

Have you run excavators? I'm at appx 60 hrs, having fun. So many uses but slow to arrive at any location you sure dont drive it home for lunch.

Excellent advice. In addition to the 200 hr max change, I also check the oil in my ctl's final drives weekly. The last one I replaced cost over $8500 by the time all was said and done.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

240 is new in my book, wont have motor probs. 90wt oil change interval is 500hrs but since drive motor repl. cost has doubled recently to $7,000 they say go 200 hrs (same as engine oil) to extend the life. Thats about all I know.

Have you run excavators? I'm at appx 60 hrs, having fun. So many uses but slow to arrive at any location you sure dont drive it home for lunch.

No experience so to speak, I have a lot of work for one around the farm and when I find the right machine I think I'm really going to enjoy operating it. Running equipment has always been a great stress reliever, it's in my blood.

 

[mike69440]

240 is new in my book, wont have motor probs. 90wt oil change interval is 500hrs but since drive motor repl. cost has doubled recently to $7,000 they say go 200 hrs (same as engine oil) to extend the life. Thats about all I know.

Have you run excavators? I'm at appx 60 hrs, having fun. So many uses but slow to arrive at any location you sure dont drive it home for lunch.

240 hours is still an infant, as my Komatsu PC75UU@ has 5600 hours. Knock on wood, my drives are working better than ever. I think changing fluids at 200 hours is excessive. I go 1000 hours, and engine oil at 200 hours.

I thought of selling my excavator, then thought better of it.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

240 hours is still an infant, as my Komatsu PC75UU@ has 5600 hours. Knock on wood, my drives are working better than ever. I think changing fluids at 200 hours is excessive. I go 1000 hours, and engine oil at 200 hours. I thought of selling my excavator, then thought better of it.

I agree, I haven't lost sight of that one yet, owner has been away. There is still nothing else around me for the most part aside from priced outta sight.

 

[Sodo]

I'll re-evaluate that advice at 200 hrs if the 90 wt is still clear. If not clear -out it goes its only about a pint of oil.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I'm agreeing more on the 240 hours being infant, not sure on the maintenance end.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Apparently now the seller is having second thoughts about selling the machine, this is the third machine with a runaround.

 

[Sodo]

Its not easy to sell your excavator. The person who sold me mine looked wistful as I loaded it.

I dug ATV trails yesterday & today. Man ....time flies when you're excavatin'! (especially when a track comes off)