Looking at Mini Excavators

[Ken45101]

As a guess a 7500 trackhoe would dig as well cutting roots and run circles around me when it came to moving to the next spot to dig.

A trackhoe will maneuver much faster in a small area. But for travelling long distances (e.g. if your next stump is a quarter mile away), a backhoe is faster.

Ken

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Good point Ken. I would not give up our backhoe for a track hoe for mobility reasons and the fact it is our only FEL too.

That does not mean I do not look at my neighbor's CAT trackhoe with lust some days.

 

[niemeyjt]

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by "a normal trailer"?

Ken

Normal trailer, in Europe, is one with overrun brakes - i.e. when the towing vehicle brakes are applied, the trailer applies its own brakes as it tries to go faster than the now slowing towing vehicle.

The limit is 3500Kg for such a trailer - provided the towing vehicle is up to it - and provided your driving license allows it (it does for an old one like me!). Beyond that, you need some form of vehicle activated brake, like an air brake.

J

 

[fisherridge]

I chose a Takeuchi TB016. It was a rental that a used equipment dealer did some cosmetic work on to make it presentable. It only weighs 3500 pounds so it can be transported on a car hauler trailer behind a pickup. It is better than my TLB for everything except when I need a loader.
It is especially good at cleaning out ditch lines.

 

[SimS]

I bought a Takeuchi TB015 (an earlier version of the TB016) and it was less money than a Kubota backhoe. So now I can have my son/helper digging while I'm on the tractor with the FEL loading the dirt. Mine is well used (2200+ hrs) and may not be too "presentable" but it is a hard working small excavator. The Yanmar engine is fantastic on fuel and runs like a sewing machine. The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

SimS

 

[Ken45101]

The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

Oh my gosh! The fall of western civilization! :laughing:

Ken

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I bought a Takeuchi TB015 (an earlier version of the TB016) and it was less money than a Kubota backhoe. So now I can have my son/helper digging while I'm on the tractor with the FEL loading the dirt. Mine is well used (2200+ hrs) and may not be too "presentable" but it is a hard working small excavator. The Yanmar engine is fantastic on fuel and runs like a sewing machine. The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

SimS

Sounds like a handy machine at a good price point. We wound up with our 1983 JD 310B backhoe because it was not much more than a FEL for the 265 MF so it is still stock as when the FIL purchased it in 1976. This is my first BH experience but when changing digging positions I wish it was a trackhoe.

Why is a man always short one machine?:laughing:

 

[tonysilas]

I am user of Takeuchi TB015 it's very small and cheap as well as useful for farmers and construction side also. my side it's faster than another tractors.

 

[fisherridge]

Has the motor end of your track drive motor hoses rusted away yet? Takeuchi is famous for rust.

 

[SimS]

fr;

I could see where the motor end of the hoses could rust with all the stuff that packs in there. I keep the motor housing area cleaned out. I just remove the drive motor covers and pressure wash out the mud and crud during my routine maintenance/cleaning. I'm in Georgia so we are not exposed to any winter time salt, etc.

SimS

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Has the motor end of your track drive motor hoses rusted away yet? Takeuchi is famous for rust.

Could you rotate the hose ends?

 

[fisherridge]

Do you mean swap the hoses end for end, or are you inquiring as to whether the hose end nuts can be loosened?
I just had a failure on the motor end of a track drive motor hose.
I have Field Attachable Hose Ends that I am going to try.
I would like to replace the hoses, but I don't see how I can get to the swivel joint end of the hoses without a lot of disassembly and the machine is out on loan.

 

[Dargo]

Has the motor end of your track drive motor hoses rusted away yet? Takeuchi is famous for rust.

I've been in the business for decades and have never heard that. They are most certainly famous for being extremely tough and durable. Can't say that I've even once heard someone complain about one rusting. My concrete guy only uses Takeuchi and he still uses the first mini excavator he bought and it has over 10,000 hours on it. I'd have to think that 10,000 hours spent ripping out concrete would be equal to 50,000 hours digging in dirt!

 

[Dargo]

fr;

I could see where the motor end of the hoses could rust with all the stuff that packs in there. I keep the motor housing area cleaned out. I just remove the drive motor covers and pressure wash out the mud and crud during my routine maintenance/cleaning. I'm in Georgia so we are not exposed to any winter time salt, etc.

SimS

I'd agree. If someone doesn't properly maintain their equipment and allows mud to keep an area wet for years, any metal under the crud would rust.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Do you mean swap the hoses end for end, or are you inquiring as to whether the hose end nuts can be loosened?
I just had a failure on the motor end of a track drive motor hose.
I have Field Attachable Hose Ends that I am going to try.
I would like to replace the hoses, but I don't see how I can get to the swivel joint end of the hoses without a lot of disassembly and the machine is out on loan.

Yes end for end.

 

[fisherridge]

If I was able to swap end for end I still would of had to replace one end of the hoses.
The failure was that the nut on one hose split circumferentially. Another one separated when a wrench was put to it.
I would really like to talk to someone who has replaced the track motor hoses on a TB016 to find out what all is involved and how to go about it.
Field attachable hose ends were successfully installed today. Worked like a charm. Cost was less than $50 to replace three hose ends compared to $50 to $60 each for three new OEM hoses. And that's just the left side. I am going to order ends and adapters today to have on hand for when one of the ends on the right side fails.
All the hoses still looked good. No abrasions, cuts or bulges.
There is a fourth hose on each motor but I think it is just a case drain as it uses a compression fitting and it did not rust like the pressure hose ends.

 

[Dedaisy]

I'm also looking at a mini excavator.. Been checking out the following website to get a handle on different machines and their specs..
Search results

I'll be looking at the 4 to 5 ton range.. Hope to retire the JD450D crawler and the old 680 Case BH. Can't keep up with the hydraulic leaks and hose failures..

Lot of odd projects on both farms and want some thing that I can transport on the gooseneck trailer. (20k lb trailer). I normally use the 1 ton Ford Dually and only load to 5 ton over trailer weight..

Hoping to pickup a depreciated mini from a rental company but we will see..

 

[Ken45101]

Hoping to pickup a depreciated mini from a rental company but we will see..

I would be very cautious buying a rental unit. A lot of that equipment is abused by the users.

In the current economy, there is a lot of construction companies selling off equipment and some lightly used equipment is available at attractive prices.

Of course you can get good or bad either way, but I'd go the later route rather than a rental.

YMMV

Ken

 

[mikescruggs]

If you have cash in hand or loan pending and used is acceptable the market is in your favor. There are a lot of machines in your category for weight. I would try to stay with a manufacturer that is currently in business and does not appear to have plans to change that.

I have a KX121 that is great. Sure more would be better at times, but I get by with working smarter most of those. I tow this unit with a 3/4 diesel truck on a 6 ton tilt trailer and it hauls very nice. I think anything smaller is only appropriate when the working space does not allow for anything more. The next step up would still fit your carrying capacities.

Also in some cases new will bring you 0% financing, a warranty, and greater dealer service for the first year or so.

Good Luck

Mike

 

[Ken45101]

I agree on the KX-121, I have one and it's big enough to do good work and light enough to be easily hauled although I haul mine on a 14K gooseneck with a dually pickup. The angle blade is really great.

Ken