Mini Ex uses

[Code54]

Since I been shopping for a Mini Ex and I been doing a lot of research and was thinking I bet there is a lot of uses I am missing. Thought it maybe interesting to start a thread about the uses you have had for Mini Ex, be them "normal uses" or something a bit more unconventional. Photos are always welcome and encouraged!

 

[lennyzx11]

I've been researching them also so looking forward to the answers. Trying to decide whether to get a mini, a backhoe attachment, or a used backhoe like a 580C.

 

[OldMasterTech]

My KX 121-3 with thumb gets more hours than my 555E or the L4630, the usual uses are trenches, ditches & holes then;
stumping (up to 12" stump if bigger the 555's weight & power are called in)
Brush removal, particularly nice if poison ivy is present
rocks
grading
building retaining walls with rock and sometimes heavy concrete blocks (2' x 2' x 4' @ 1600 lbs., use caution! Machine has to be level & stable and you don't have full reach at this weight)
logging
loading firewood
small building demolition jobs
loading scrap steel into dumptruck
many recycling projects, once separated metal from plastic on 4,000 old classroom chairs
disassembling nasty items we usually do by hand but sometimes get stuck with filthy, stinky items that you would rather not touch....
SNOW grooming! I pull a homemade drag and groom 10 - 12 miles of spur trails that lead to our state system of trails. It's slow but after a big storm you can pick up drops and brush in the trail without leaving that nice warm cab!
Getting the other machines unstuck from mud

If I were shopping today I'd get the 6-way blade (was not available back when I bought). If I didn't have the 555, I would consider stepping up one model size to the KX 161 or whatever the equivalent current model is.
There is no comparison in speed and maneuverability when comparing an excavator to a TLB, especially a hoe that attaches to a compact tractor. If that is the only option for some then you have my condolences but my life is too short to be attaching and detaching that hoe and spending all day digging a short trench!

 

[bdog]

I know they have their place but I don't think one would be for me. I bought a full size backhoe instead. I use the loader on it more than I do the hoe and I drive it around a lot which would be slow on the tracks. They are cool machines but unless you are just always digging something like a backhoe seems much more versatile.

 

[Code54]

Never really thought about brush removal, that would be a big help. We don't a have a big need for a mini but I figure I will find uses as I go sort of like the tractor. Keep the ideas coming and thanks!

 

[Gary Fowler]

CONS: The major drawback to an excavator is the travel speed, so if you have long distance to travel between or to uses, it can consume a lot of time.
Tracks do wear out and are expensive to replace.
NO LOADER so you can only push a small amount of dirt with an Excavator.
It is basically a one function piece of equipment. Just like a zero turn mower that mows better than any other, an excavator digs better than any thing else but that is all it can do.

PROS: You wont ever have a flat tire on an excavator so it can go into nails, thorns and other sharp objects that may ruin a tire on a tractor.
You can swing 180 degrees in both directions on most excavators so you can dump your spoils a long way from your digging, most helpful when digging out a pond or ditch.
You can reposition the machine much easier than a TLB and no moving from seat to seat or spinning the seat around to move it.
The speed of operation is usually much faster on an Excavator than a TLB or even a commercial backhoe.

As for uses, with a hydraulic thumb on it, you can use it to pick up almost any object (rocks, branches, stumps, fire wood etc.) and gently place it where ever it is needed.
If I had a lot of digging to do, I would look at an excavator then when most or all digging is completed you can sell it for what you gave for it as long as it has been well cared for. Then buy a TLB. Personally I wouldn't be without some kind of digging and loading equipment

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been debating/wanting an excavator for a very long time. I have a New Holland 555E loader backhoe that does just about everything, but sometimes it can be challenging maneuvering it and working in awkward positions. The limited swing is also a problem sometimes. My neighbor also has a full sized backhoe, and he hires out allot of work to guys who own excavators. There is huge difference in what they can do.

If you have the money, it's a no brainer. For me, I can't justify the expense when I can do everything the excavator can do with my backhoe, it just sometimes takes longer. And then their is the fact that my backhoe can do all sorts of things an excavator can't. I have a quick attach on the loader, so hauling dirt, picking up trees with the grapple, moving round bales with the hay spear, picking up pallets with the pallet forks are all easily done with the backhoe. Taking down trees and clearing brush is the easy part. Getting it all cleaned up and hauled to the burn pile is where all the time goes. Having one machine that does both has proven to be so useful that I will probably never buy an excavator.

 

[Code54]

Thanks for the input everyone!
They are definitely slower to move around but I figure I can always roll it up in the trailer and tow it any real distance if needed. Majority of my work is in a small area and the large plot I will be on I will sort of work my way across it.
Really interested in everyones uses. I would love to get a mower (or build one) and figure that would make it super handy!!

 

[bdog]

What are your intended uses? I think everyone has pretty well laid out the pros and cons.

They can't be beat for pure digging like if you were a contractor installing septic systems, digging basements or swimming pools, trenching, etc but for the vast majority of acreage owners I think they are too specialized and other equipment like a TLB or backhoe would serve you better unless you plan on buying both.

As an example I have a full size backhoe and I bet I use the loader on it 10-20 times for overtime I use the hoe. When you need the backhoe you need it and there is no substitute but a FEL is so much more useful than a hoe for the typical needs of an average acreage owner.

 

[Code54]

I have a MX5100 that covers my loader work. Plan to use the Ex to clean up the woods of old dead trees ( some tight areas where I will need to cut a road in), some trenching/dig out behind a bldg, clean some small areas, rock collecting (have a friend that will let me get all the rocks I want), bldg a few rock walls, clean out ditches, would like to add a mower at some point for the hard to reach spots, and dig some stumps out. After I get some more experience I plan on taking on some smaller side jobs (with Lic and insurance of course)
I am not to interested in a full size backhoe as I just don't have room for it in a lot of places I want to work and the weight would be a big issue. Sort of want to do some semi delicate landscape work with stuff that is still too big for our little BX.
Now just looking for odd or unique uses/attachments/ etc.... Figure I may have other uses I have not thought of yet.

 

[bdog]

In that case go for it. I think it would be a good compliment to your aresenal. I am partial to Deere equipment but I have hauled a bobcat E85 for a guy and it seemed like a great machine and he had nothing but good things to say about it. It was on rubber tracks and if I recall it was close to 20k lbs so not a small machine but sure seemed handy. Like anything else when it comes to moving dirt the more hp and more machine weight the better.

 

[mikesee]

I used a root rake with my Kubota U35 to rip out an 8 foot bramble if Prickers. No way this could be done by hand. Kubota U35 Excavator with Rake---Invasive Shrub Removal - YouTube

 

[Code54]

Sure are handy for jobs like that. Today I grabbed a pine tree that was down, pulled it over with the bucket/arm, lifted it, cut the trunk in several 5' sections and dropped it into my the fire pit and burned it. Total time maybe 15 minutes from "big old dead tree" in the woods to all in the fire and burning....

 

[chopped]

Here is another use for when your bored..

The World's Fastest Operator!

 

[mikesee]

Sure are handy for jobs like that. Today I grabbed a pine tree that was down, pulled it over with the bucket/arm, lifted it, cut the trunk in several 5' sections and dropped it into my the fire pit and burned it. Total time maybe 15 minutes from "big old dead tree" in the woods to all in the fire and burning....

My wife wants every project done as if I were a professional so everything has to be done one two three. Can be easily accomplished with the excavator

 

[threedogs]

My fil has one, he used it to make rows for planting corn in his garden one time, probably not the best tool for that job but I guess it worked.

I know I've seen a YouTube video of a guy using his to open a beer bottle.

There's also a video of a guy picking a guitar, with a backhoe I believe. I'm sure you could do it with a mini ex just as well, probably even quicker.

 

[kthompson]

I have a five ton mini and while you could do most if not all of the digging with a backhoe where I think the excavator has the advantage is speed of digging and dumping. You have much more option on where you can dump with excavator. It is easy to drive along a dig site such as pond banks (current job) with excavator as you just keep driving slowly where as backhoe you have to raise and lower the outriggers. It is also I think more stable going over rough terrain such as ditches or working on slopes (with blade used to level the machine). It has been a few years since I used backhoe and while many like them give me excavator for digging. Now if I want front end loader and will only dig once in a while tlb would be fine, naw I rather have excavator and tractor with fel by far. Yes travel speed is slow but then it is very seldom you did one little hole here and run over there but I have dug many acres of stumps doing just that. Oh excavator with tracks probably does not bog down near as often as tlb does. I have used excavator to pull tractor out of bog many a time but never ever had to pull excavator out of a bog. I rather run excavator than thing I have ever sat on. Now do have one suggestion, I do not recommend a Volvo which is what I have. Their parts are costly and many of their parts are replace a unit that should be able to be repaired. I had bearing out on idler wheel and it was sealed unit, no way to replace the bearing. Seems to be Volvo across product line was talking with neighbor with Volvo marine engine and with Marine mechanic recently and said Volvo marine equipment is same. Control panel in the older mini's is about $4,000 if you can get a price and they have told me the only way to test if that is issue is replace it with new control panel. Wow If you are good with electronics you can find a 10 year old mini Volvo for low price but control panel does not work and thus no systems work. I do trailer my mini if possible rather than drive it 1,000 yards where tlb would run right over there. Oh, in loading a trailer rather do that with excavator then fel anytime. Can place load in each corner as it may need be. Also not near a likely to bump what you are loading.

 

[kthompson]

Almost forgot, if you get a decent size machine with aux lines on the boom a great machine with a cutter on the boom. Must be sure size of cutter is match to the pump capacity but makes a great boom mower. Being on tracks I like for with boom mower you do not run fast and this setup gives you great speed control and cutter control. Pump capacity is the limiting factor and then watch hyd oil temp. I ran mine in the winter and had no issue.

If you have aux hyd lines with forward and reverse a hyd post hole digger would be very nice. Much better than 3 pth as you could reverse if need be due to rock or stump.

 

[Code54]

I ended up buying a 2015 KX91 (Kubota) and am very pleased with it. Other than being slow to move from site to site I must say it is 10x better than a backhoe for general digging. (We have a tractor with loader so that is covered)
Thanks for all the information and please feel free to keep adding to the thread.

 

[kthompson]

At least here that is by far the most popular size mini. I understand reason being towing reasons for license and truck capacity. May not be totally correct. See them on even house sites for the plumbers. Will tell you can dig a bigger stump with it than it can lift out of the hole, you will soon learn how to roll a stump up out of the hole if you doing such digging. A word to the wise regardless of what you are digging with, if there is buried lines around, call before you dig. I hit buried power lines at one of our dtrs house even though my son in law said we are clear of it and he was watching the digging. Fortunate very little damage done.