Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[dfkrug]

So you keep the boom and bucket downhill? That way the jerky motion has a bucket to fall onto? I was keeping everything uphill and going backwards. But the jerky motion does cause some serious pucker factor.

95% of the time I descend slopes with boom uphill, held low, with dipper fully extended. And the blade is downhill. Sometimes, as I groom my trails, I am sliding the blade on the ground with the boom downhill. That way, if the blade collects too much dirt, I can push it off the side of the trail with the bucket.

Now that rain has come back, I am going to get the machine back on the trails. Dry dirt=no good.

 

[dfkrug]

Here's the stack type leking uses for kv13. With pilot assembly/block screwed on top/ bottom. Fob $60/section.

Looks like those sections would bolt right up to mine, even if the casting is slightly different. I would like to see the internals of those pilot blocks. My stack valve seems well-made, with small ramps on the spool lands. I hope those huge O-rings hold up.

 

[jaylast]

I've removed the pilot blocks from mine- they just house the fitting for pilot hose, a small valve-ish washer thing and a spring that contacts down in place of the mechanical linkage.
I haven't removed a mechanical linkage to confirm both sections use exact same internals (spools) but am assuming they do.

I didn't end up getting the pilot assemblies/stack sections in my order- with aux and blade transferred to handles it's plenty sufficient, making an attempt to pilot those functions highly not worth the cost or work.

RE: PLATE COMPACTOR
Looks like they require at most a third hose. I assume that would be just a sep 'case drain'. Are we positive a full 2nd AUX circuit is even required
//edit// Confirmed with Leking theirs just requires the third hose as a 'case drain'. I've never done such but understand it's pretty easy to do- just needs returned somewhere into the low pressure return circuit/tank

 

[Fredrik]

Tap a whole in the tank, if you can get to it, and have a hose made would be my choice. Quick and simple . Put a quick connect on it and put it next to one of the 3rd function ports.

 

[dfkrug]

Fans of the Diggit EM15 may like to know that JT on Utube has weighed his and it is only 2240#. Not 1.5 metric tons at all (3300#). Despite being wider and longer than most of these 1-ton-ish minis, it does not seem to have a counter-weight.

Now I wonder what my XN08 weighs. 800kg is 1760#, and my shipping manifest said 2200#, if I recall. But that was sans engine, and with some extras and a crate.

Anybody else weigh their machine?

 

[jaylast]

Anybody else weigh their machine?

You were bang-on with the original estimate for mine.
I haven't weighed, but manufacturer listed weights agree. Even though manu calls mine a more appropriate '1.3' it comes standard at 1ton. (2200).
I'll tell ya though, the 350# of lead weight was a good improvement.

I'd hazard a guess the .8t and .85t is accurate for the most popular and plentiful units.
Much of the time these manu's seem to using 'operating weight' instead of actual, (like agt and miv 12's and 13's) - I wonder how (if) that is calculated.

RE: IMPORT
I assumed I would only pay duty on 'cost of goods'. (like actual goods price)
It seems any transportation, loading, and freight you also pay duty on? It seems like they rounded it up to include even US warehouse fee into 'cost of goods'. Counterintuitive imo

Also- for just a small crate costing 2000 (for the goods) there is virtually no ocean freight charge, but the warehouse fees at each port are about 300 each!
I wonder how this compares with a full container, since much of the warehouse fee is logistics to organize and fill/unload individual items from a said container. Might cost similar for an entire full container?

 

[D'oh]

You were bang-on with the original estimate for mine.
I haven't weighed, but manufacturer listed weights agree. Even though manu calls mine a more appropriate '1.3' it comes standard at 1ton. (2200).
I'll tell ya though, the 350# of lead weight was a good improvement.

I'd hazard a guess the .8t and .85t is accurate for the most popular and plentiful units.
Much of the time these manu's seem to using 'operating weight' instead of actual, (like agt and miv 12's and 13's) - I wonder how (if) that is calculated.

RE: IMPORT
I assumed I would only pay duty on 'cost of goods'. (like actual goods price)
It seems any transportation, loading, and freight you also pay duty on? It seems like they rounded it up to include even US warehouse fee into 'cost of goods'. Counterintuitive imo

Also- for just a small crate costing 2000 (for the goods) there is virtually no ocean freight charge, but the warehouse fees at each port are about 300 each!
I wonder how this compares with a full container, since much of the warehouse fee is logistics to organize and fill/unload individual items from a said container. Might cost similar for an entire full container?

Full Container Shipping savings and Purchase Savings, is the reasoning behind all of the Auction Units that we are seeing.

Now, weather they are making any money doing it and selling them for $3000 is left to the imagination, but with the High Cubes going for $10k+ having them full of adds something, adds to the Profits. (or losses)

 

[Tom2023]

Does anyone have a parts list "even a dummy" can understand. to add a hydraulic filter to my Agt H12. I literally know nothing about hydraulics. And any help would be greatly appreciated! I found this picture online and seems simple enough if i knew what to purchase, including the filter base assembly. Thanks for reading and or laughing at my lack of skills.

 

[oldrustysteel]

I am sure no one here is laughing at you. The guy who started this thread is very knowledgeable and has been very patient with me. I know little about the hydraulic lines on the chinese diggers other than they can be difficult to adapt to. Maybe if I call his name 3 times he will appear. Dfkrug...Dfkrug...Dfkrug help please.. There are several others who are very smart and may be able to help us,, Mattb4.... Jaylast...

 

[Tom2023]

Shipping invoice said my H12 weighed 1920 pounds.

 

[dfkrug]

Does anyone have a parts list "even a dummy" can understand. to add a hydraulic filter to my Agt H12.

Did you read the part of this thread where I show the 2 parts you need to buy, and the source (SurplusCenter)? Page 31 of this thread. You need a base and a filter. Fittings you use depend on what hoses your mini maker used, and where you want to install the filter assembly.

If you decide to drill a hole in the oil tank as I did, you should clean out any metal fragments you get in there. The existing return bung may work for you.

 

[Tom2023]

Thanks dfkrug, I'll check that page.

 

[oldrustysteel]

It seems like I will be doing more cleanup on the trails with the baby digger than I thought. Will be pulling a lot of logs out of ravines before they cause problems to culverts and bridges. I would like to weld a hook or a D-ring on the bucket, but I need to ask,, Is the bucket strong enough to handle the hook? I am leaning towards a d-ring, what's your preference?

 

[dfkrug]

I would like to weld a hook or a D-ring on the bucket, but I need to ask,, Is the bucket strong enough to handle the hook?

This photo shows what I use: a slotted piece of 1/2" steel, welded on. It is the same as the one I installed on my homemade bucket, which I showed in my Modifications thread.

I use these on my other buckets, including loader buckets. The idea is that chain fits in the slot securely, and allows pulling in multiple directions. It even allows me to detach it without getting out of the operator's seat.

For the mini, I also use straps in the slot for pulling logs or rocks. The bkt carcass is only 1/8" thick, so install any hook on the thicker sections, and/or add a base plate.

 

[MattB4]

It seems like I will be doing more cleanup on the trails with the baby digger than I thought. Will be pulling a lot of logs out of ravines before they cause problems to culverts and bridges. I would like to weld a hook or a D-ring on the bucket, but I need to ask,, Is the bucket strong enough to handle the hook? I am leaning towards a d-ring, what's your preference?

Hmm.. gives me a thought. For those of us a quick hitch constructing a lifting ring welded to a base plate that would have pin arrangement like a pin on standard attachment. Should not be that hard to build. This would allow a distributed load at the boom end versus a chain hook on a bucket.

Not sure if I will build one but thanks for the inspiration.

 

[oldrustysteel]

This photo shows what I use: a slotted piece of 1/2" steel, welded on. It is the same as the one I installed on my homemade bucket, which I showed in my Modifications thread.

I use these on my other buckets, including loader buckets. The idea is that chain fits in the slot securely, and allows pulling in multiple directions. It even allows me to detach it without getting out of the operator's seat.

For the mini, I also use straps in the slot for pulling logs or rocks. The bkt carcass is only 1/8" thick, so install any hook on the thicker sections, and/or add a base plate.

Very nice.. I like the self-detaching bonus. My bucket seems a little thin so I will beef it up a little. I don't imagine my little machine can put too much stress on anything, but I like things that are over-built. I am going to go back and reread your entire post. it has been a month since I read it and I obviously forgot a lot of the info in it. Thanks again for making this thread, and thanks to Mattb4 for his thread.. Merry Christmas to all who read this..

 

[Schmecky]

I follow a few online auction sites and it became obvious that those companies listing brand new attachments and equipment from China had secret reserve prices. I even complained once to the Auction co. rep that called me during the last few minutes of a Auction to encourage bidding about it.

Regardless of what they might say about no hidden reserve they play games with last second automatic bids to ensure that items do not sell if the price is low.

Just joined and have not read all posts yet. But this one caught my eye. Yes, some of these online auction companies do tweak bids. I watch 1 in particular every month. Its just strange they can have 20 of the exact same items, and when the auction is over they sold for the same price. The lots affected are all China imported stuff. The normal stuff doesn't act the same way. Sometimes 1 might be a hundred below, and another might be a hundred above, but the same end result. I assume it's the online service co they use and they can manipulate the amount they are "willing" to sell for. Or they have a "house number" and shill.

 

[oldrustysteel]

Welcome to the forum Schmecky! What size machine are you considering?

 

[dfkrug]

Yes, some of these online auction companies do tweak bids. I watch 1 in particular every month. Its just strange they can have 20 of the exact same items, and when the auction is over they sold for the same price.

A buyer wanting more than one unit will be able to buy all that he wins at the same price. So, if his winning high bid is say, $4000, and he is willing to take say, 10 of them, he will get that price for each, and have priority over any other bidder at $4000 who wants fewer units. Live auctioneers have explained it that way when last I attended a live auction.

Secret reserve bids are also used at some auctions. I hate that.

What was your winning bid for your new Tria, and when/where?

 

[Carl_NH]

There's an auction tomorrow in NE PA Excavators For Sale | Proxibid Auctions with about 30 mini's on the block.

The models seem similar but what are the differences between AGT H12, QH12 and there are no L12 models in this auction, and as far as I can see its blade width - then there are 2-3 AGT H15 units - whats different or better on those or just the wider blade 39"?