Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[bindian]

Once you get your machine and get it assembled and filled with fluids, load it on your trailer and drive to a set of certified scales and pay to have it weighed.

Weigh the trailer before or after you weigh the ex on the trailer. Then subtract to get ex weight. Then you don't have to unload and load the ex at the scales.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dfkrug]

I just ordered a 1.5ton machine from an eBay seller... and got the shipping notice that lists the weight as 2,075lbs. Given that I don't have a scale handy that reads over 3000 pounds, is there a convenient way to know that I am getting what I ordered?

Interesting. Did you get the unit from La Puente, CA, for $8500 on eBay?

I would ask a lot of Qs of the seller. If they list another 1.5T unit, I will ask. Maybe they will name the factory in Shandong, or tell you the status of your machine's oil cooling and filtration. Maybe not.

 

[D'oh]

Honestly, they kind of did... the 1.5 ton units are significantly more money because they come with uprated hydraulics and the extra weight provides (or is alleged to provide) additional stability, which is kind of a thing for me because I'm going to be working a lot on sloping terrain.

My whole yard at the Cabin was 1 big Clay Pit, The JF12 is around a 845kg machine, so it weighs close to the same as a 1.5 tons would. Weight isn't your friend in Slop. in fact it causes troubles just doing the digging.

I got the Cistern in before disturbing any ground around it. Because once the ground got trampled, they Hoe wanted to sink. I had to cordaroy in some places.

Extra weight helps you from tipping over, but if you use the Bucket to trench more than the Arm, they can achieve a lot of work.

 

[LouNY]

I just ordered a 1.5ton machine from an eBay seller... and got the shipping notice that lists the weight as 2,075lbs. Given that I don't have a scale handy that reads over 3000 pounds, is there a convenient way to know that I am getting what I ordered?

The numbers in your post do not make sense, your calling it a 1.5 ton machine, your shipping notice is 2,075 pounds. I'd say you are getting a 1 ton machine, my math says a 1.5 Ton machine would weigh at least 3000 pounds.

 

[Agitator]

Interesting. Did you get the unit from La Puente, CA, for $8500 on eBay?

I would ask a lot of Qs of the seller. If they list another 1.5T unit, I will ask. Maybe they will name the factory in Shandong, or tell you the status of your machine's oil cooling and filtration. Maybe not.

yep, that's exactly the one that I got. Seller is "peaktop". English is decidedly not their first language. I asked if they were certain they shipped the right unit, and explained that the weight was off. They said "yep, it's on the truck." I'll try asking again more specifically and see what I get back.

 

[Agitator]

The numbers in your post do not make sense, your calling it a 1.5 ton machine, your shipping notice is 2,075 pounds. I'd say you are getting a 1 ton machine, my math says a 1.5 Ton machine would weigh at least 3000 pounds.

Yes, that's exactly the problem. a 1.5 ton machine would weigh in at 3000 pounds. But the shipment apparently only weights 2,075. Which causes me to wonder if they've shipped me the right machine. I get that I could put it on a trailer and drive it to a scale, and I might need to do that, but I was hoping to avoid the hassle.

 

[TimberFarm]

Yes, that's exactly the problem. a 1.5 ton machine would weigh in at 3000 pounds. But the shipment apparently only weights 2,075. Which causes me to wonder if they've shipped me the right machine. I get that I could put it on a trailer and drive it to a scale, and I might need to do that, but I was hoping to avoid the hassle.

Can't you look up the machine from another dealer and see what they list the weight as?

 

[dfkrug]

Re the actual weight, these 1-ton-ish units go by lots of names, cuz the makers invite you to stick your own names on the machines.

So I see lots of them called something like "QH12" or HT10, EM15, etc.

There are enough differences, including extra rear weights, that comparing to other machines is hard.

The Diggit EM15 I posted about above definitely seems to be a bit bigger than my XN08. 50% heavier (1.5T)? Dunno about that.

 

[MattB4]

I just ordered a 1.5ton machine from an eBay seller... and got the shipping notice that lists the weight as 2,075lbs. Given that I don't have a scale handy that reads over 3000 pounds, is there a convenient way to know that I am getting what I ordered?

I have found that weights listed for shipping are often inaccurate for imported type items. It might be due to conversion of Kilograms to pounds, it might be giving the weight of a similar item or it might be trying to game the system. If you look up the items weight in kg convert it to pounds and see if with crating your 2075 pounds makes any sense.

I have noticed that some of the minis over state their weight in pounds also. A 1.2 ton excavator weighs 2204lbs versus 2400lbs.

 

[knmwhite]

New to the group. Just bought a Diggit em15 mini ex from Richie Bros. Sacramento Auction. $4,750. ($5,600) out the door. there were 4 or 5 of them and they all went for the same price.

Lost the roof on the way home. I'm planning on adding cooling fans and exhaust extension. Any other must do mods?

The hydros are very abrupt. Does anyone know if that is adjustable.

I'm going thru thread and learning alot.

Thanks,

 

[dfkrug]

Just bought a Diggit em15 mini ex from Richie Bros. Sacramento Auction. $4,750. ($5,600) out the door. there were 4 or 5 of them and they all went for the same price.

How far did you have to drive when you picked it up?

The canopy tops catch the wind, and the thinner ones will likely be destroyed in transit, unless you are only going a few miles. My recommendation is to fold the ROPS in transit, or otherwise protect it. Even folded, metal fatigue may still tear the thin steel.

I did find out that my XN08 ROPS canopy is 2x the thickness of the much cheesier one on the mini from Ouke (the black Whitney unit above). One of the Ouke minis suffered a 2-foot long tear in the ROPS canopy, due to the wind in transit only 100 miles or so.

As well as the many improvements noted above, you have to immediately discover what you have, including if bolts are tight and RV pressure set to spec. Other "features" can be corrected, or just accommodated.

 

[knmwhite]

How far did you have to drive when you picked it up?

The canopy tops catch the wind, and the thinner ones will likely be destroyed in transit, unless you are only going a few miles. My recommendation is to fold the ROPS in transit, or otherwise protect it. Even folded, metal fatigue may still tear the thin steel.

I did find out that my XN08 ROPS canopy is 2x the thickness of the much cheesier one on the mini from Ouke (the black Whitney unit above). One of the Ouke minis suffered a 2-foot long tear in the ROPS canopy, due to the wind in transit only 100 miles or so.

As well as the many improvements noted above, you have to immediately discover what you have, including if bolts are tight and RV pressure set to spec. Other "features" can be corrected, or just accommodated.

The roof blew off after about 100 miles. Most likely won't replace it. I'll try to find out how to check RV pressure. 400 mile trip.

 

[knmwhite]

Just bought a Diggit em15 but mistakenly put in gas into the hydraulic tank. Now I got to drain the tank and put in new hydraulic oil. Anyone know what kind of hydraulic oil it takes? Thanks

OMG. I did the same thing on my Diggit 15. Glad I'm not the only one. lol.

 

[Agitator]

Interesting. Did you get the unit from La Puente, CA, for $8500 on eBay?

I would ask a lot of Qs of the seller. If they list another 1.5T unit, I will ask. Maybe they will name the factory in Shandong, or tell you the status of your machine's oil cooling and filtration. Maybe not.

I asked further of the seller and got a resolution... he said they shipped 3 of their one-ton units and my 1.5 ton unit on the same day, and the guy in the warehouse forgot to change the weight. That actually makes a lot of sense, since they did sell a bunch of their smaller ones in the past few days. The seller said he confirmed the correct unit was shipped to me and invited me to confirm the weight on arrival, so I'm feeling much better about it.

 

[dfkrug]

For you new owners, check the track size to see if you are getting the most common chassis found on these 1-ton-ish minis. 180x72x37

That is not the smallest track size out there, but nearly so. Used on a lot of minis made by Yanmar, Kobelco, IHI, etc.

I suspect the Diggit EM15 is slightly bigger, but I did not see the stamp on the tracks when I was last looking at my friend's machine.

 

[D'oh]

Yes, the JF/FF-12 Industrials run 180x72x37.

Just bought a Skeleton Bucket for a Vicsec Part # O01-45, hoping they are the same 25mm pins, does anyone know off hand? Bucket PN O01-45

 

[Mldsr5]

For you new owners, check the track size to see if you are getting the most common chassis found on these 1-ton-ish minis. 180x72x37

That is not the smallest track size out there, but nearly so. Used on a lot of minis made by Yanmar, Kobelco, IHI, etc.

I suspect the Diggit EM15 is slightly bigger, but I did not see the stamp on the tracks when I was last looking at my friend's machine.

The Diggit EM15 has 180x72x41 tracks.

 

[dfkrug]

I thought the EM15 was a bit longer than mine. 4 more links, so the OAL
track length is just an inch or so longer than my XN08.

BTW, the sizes are
180MM (width) X 72MM (pitch) X 37 (links)

 

[Mldsr5]

I’ve got some juicy details on the Diggit em15. This appears to be the manufacturers website.

Mini Excavator-KV13Plus-Shandong LeKing Machinery

As one of the professional KV13Plus mini excavator manufacturers and suppliers in China, we feature high-quality products and customized services, and the complete hydraulic system adopts international famous brands to meet the needs of customers in different countries and regions.

leking.net

 

[D'oh]

So, has anyone upgrade their Pump yet? I figure there is room for more flow.

18L/m @ 2300 PSI only requires around 4.7hp, where a 23L/m pump from say a 1600 machine is only 6hp. And it shows with the likes of a Diggit 15, still running the same 13.5hp B&S