Buying Advice Mini Excavator buying questions.

MHarryE · Aug 2, 2012

Foxtrot08 said:
I'm a big CAT fan when it comes to Mini-excavators.

Depending on the size that you want and your price point, you have some options.

We got a CAT 301.5 for about 10 grand, with just over 1000 hours on it - but, it's about a 6000lb machine and the KX121 is about a 9000lb machine. We've never had 1 issue with our CAT so far, outside of a few hydraulic lines. And it's now got over 2300 hours on it.

We picked up about 3 years ago, a JD ZTS50 - roughly a 12000-13000lb machine, with a thumb on it. Bigger then the KX121. If you're really looking to move dirt, an 11000+ lb machine would be what you're looking for in my opinion. We picked up the ZTS50 with 3000 hours on it, needed new tracks and thats about it, for $14000.

Even though its bigger.. In my opinion the CAT machine is a better built machine then the Deere. Let alone with CAT, you never, ever, ever, have to worry about getting parts. You can always get CAT parts. But, I also think when it comes to dirt moving equipment - CAT stands alone. Komatsu is close... but CAT is #1.

Hunt on machinery trader and be willing to travel to get it... And you'll find some really good deals.

You're a bit off on the weight of your Cat. If it is a 301.5, it is 1.5 metric tons but they did some rounding to get model numbers for the versions of the same machine. The 301.5 is 3563 pounds, 301.6 is 3684 pounds, and 301.8 is 3849 pounds, all with bucket, standard operator (170 pounds), and auxiliary hydraulics. They have a 18.4 horse 1 liter (58 cubic inch) engine. Much smaller than the 10,000 pound Kubota the person is talking about here. I would hate to think of a 36" bucket on my 301.8 - my 18" bucket is a good match.

radman1420 · Aug 3, 2012

Well just to update you. I pulled the trigger on the Kubota 121-3. The dealer is repairing all the items that I pointed out to him, bucket bushings, hydraulic lines, right side fender latch and doing a complete service changing hydraulic fluid and oil. I also got him to throw in a 18" bucket. I ended up at 22,800 but locally I couldnt find anything that I felt was as good. I didnt want to go alot bigger since I will need to pull it with my F250 and I didnt want to go to small where I couldnt dig the pond that I want. I understand I wont dig my pond in a weekend with this but I can do it over time. I'm going to look around for someone who repaints old tractors and get some prices on repainting it for me. Ill try to post a picture of it when they deliver it to me. Oh I went and looked at the Cats but I just couldnt afford them. The size I was trying to get at was about 8k more than the kubota. The cat man was trying to get me to buy a smaller one and then rent a big excavator for a weekend. I wasnt interested in that.