Mini Excv. Info ??

[John White]

I am thinking about getting a mini excv. I need some comments. I am 84 now and often still holes dug for planting and a ditch dug out sometimes and a shovel is just too hard at my age.So some of you who own a mini or looked at them. Give me your input. First of all I think I would like one with a cab. Though it would be parked inside, still would help keep it clean. Is there enough room to move around inside? How hot does it get inside? I think I would like to get the 1 1/2 ton catagory, next step up from the 1 ton, If I decide the extra expense is worth it. I had a J>D 50 at one time when I was doing small excv. business. Sold it and got a JCB 212 which I still have but keep it in a comercial property and I think it is even too big for reallly small jobs. First of all do any of you have a small excv. with the pilot controls? I think I would like that much better. The J.D. 50 I had , had regular controls and after a few hours I got tired because I am tall and had to work humped over or slide the seat so far forward that my knees hit. Any one have one with pilot controls? I also have a Bobcat tractor 420 and it has a backhoe on it but is a real pain to take off and put back on. Everytime I put the hoe on, then I need my scraper blade and have to change it, get the scraper blade on then I will need the hoe. I am thinking about selling the hoe because it takes up so much room inside my building and I think a mini would fit in the same space with room to spare even, Give me your thoughts.

 

[Sonny580]

You couldnt run fast enough to get me crammed into a mini with a cab on it!!--- no room what so ever, HOT as hell in summer too. fans and ac does NOT work in them from what I am told.
I have a couple AGT L-12's, NO cabs and they will do serious work. I just finished putting in 2,000' of field tile with them at 4' deep.
As for the controls, ---- they work fine!

 

[Carl_NH]

I got the Chinese Mini Ex Typhon 18 with the Kubota Diesel - weights in around 3500 lbs - no cab with Pilot controls. A cab is really tight on these small machines and hot in summer.

I have also switched the travel around sticks now to make more leg room (pics are before) as im 6-3 240 lbs

The other thing - these are SLOW moving so if you have a lot of area to cover it takes time

But for the $10K new (on EBay) they are decent machines but not the caliber of your JD50.

 

[D'oh]

Have a FF12, 145 hrs, NO Cab! Hotter than the Sun (imagine) It has done alot of work at the Cabin, Trenching, Casings, Stumps, but yes Slow as a Turtle moving.

Had a MP46 2.5T Big Cab. Way more power but tore up any yard I drove it over. Need a Tandem Axle trailer to move. Motor wasn't a RATO but V Twin gas, a lot smoother than the 739cc Rato V Twins.

Have a SL380 Stand On Skid to move the Dirt and debris at the Cabin, much faster than the Mini Ex. Tires so minimal ground disturbance, but can be hard to Ride On, on uneven ground. Thought I would like a Sit On machine so I tried a Mini Wheel Loader. Gearing was Way Too High, Open Axles so it didn't have much pushing power.

Now I just picked up a Tracked Stand On Skid. Haven't used it much yet to speak of, but I think I prefer the Wheeled one so far.

 

[John White]

Have a FF12, 145 hrs, NO Cab! Hotter than the Sun (imagine) It has done alot of work at the Cabin, Trenching, Casings, Stumps, but yes Slow as a Turtle moving.

Had a MP46 2.5T Big Cab. Way more power but tore up any yard I drove it over. Need a Tandem Axle trailer to move. Motor wasn't a RATO but V Twin gas, a lot smoother than the 739cc Rato V Twins.

Have a SL380 Stand On Skid to move the Dirt and debris at the Cabin, much faster than the Mini Ex. Tires so minimal ground disturbance, but can be hard to Ride On, on uneven ground. Thought I would like a Sit On machine so I tried a Mini Wheel Loader. Gearing was Way Too High, Open Axles so it didn't have much pushing power.

Now I just picked up a Tracked Stand On Skid. Haven't used it much yet to speak of, but I think I prefer the Wheeled one so far.

View attachment 2073888View attachment 2073890View attachment 2074013

So I assume the MP46 weighed around 5,000 lbs. I think it is about the size I would like if I could find a good used one. They want as much for used any thing as a new one. Will probably have to settle for one around 3000 lbs.

 

[John White]

I got the Chinese Mini Ex Typhon 18 with the Kubota Diesel - weights in around 3500 lbs - no cab with Pilot controls. A cab is really tight on these small machines and hot in summer.

I have also switched the travel around sticks now to make more leg room (pics are before) as im 6-3 240 lbs

The other thing - these are SLOW moving so if you have a lot of area to cover it takes time

But for the $10K new (on EBay) they are decent machines but not the caliber of your JD50.

Would you recomend the pilot controls over the stick controls? Did you have to do many updates, modifications? Installing cooling fan, hyddraulic filter, lights, etc? Any major problems?. Was there any warranty on it?

 

[D'oh]

So I assume the MP46 weighed around 5,000 lbs. I think it is about the size I would like if I could find a good used one. They want as much for used any thing as a new one. Will probably have to settle for one around 3000 lbs.

The MP46 came in around 3000lbs (estimate) Carried it on the pictured 3500lb Single Axle, but not far.

I sold that one for $17,000 CDN (maybe $12,000 US) with 5 hours of "Testing Time"

 

[Carl_NH]

Would you recomend the pilot controls over the stick controls? Did you have to do many updates, modifications? Installing cooling fan, hyddraulic filter, lights, etc? Any major problems?. Was there any warranty on it?

Yes, definitely get Pilot controls (thats all these 1.8T diesels have anyway). On my updates - spent about $600 total.
- Added a Tiny Tach - as I like knowing the RPM $100
- Reinforced the thumb - welded 2 - 3" wide gussets inside the thumb
- Added a rear hitch plate and motor protector $150
- Modified the thumb pedal so it worked better for me
- Reversed the travel levers for more knee and leg room
- Added a mount for the tool box behind the seat for the tools and fittings
- Changed out the 180MM (7") tracks to a 230MM (9") turf track - rides much smoother now and doesn't rip up turf $300
- Switched the boom and stick hyd lines so it now has backhoe controls like my Kubota TLB
- These small diesels have a Hyd Cooler, and also an 80 micron filter in the tank
- Change out the Hyd oil with AW 46 Fluid from TSC $50

These units have a 1 Year Warranty from Typhon in CA and they have a similar unit Typhon XIX which is made by Vote also a $10K machine. Mine is a HighTop made machine.

 

[m7040]

I am thinking about getting a mini excv. I need some comments. I am 84 now and often still holes dug for planting and a ditch dug out sometimes and a shovel is just too hard at my age.So some of you who own a mini or looked at them. Give me your input. First of all I think I would like one with a cab. Though it would be parked inside, still would help keep it clean. Is there enough room to move around inside? How hot does it get inside? I think I would like to get the 1 1/2 ton catagory, next step up from the 1 ton, If I decide the extra expense is worth it. I had a J>D 50 at one time when I was doing small excv. business. Sold it and got a JCB 212 which I still have but keep it in a comercial property and I think it is even too big for reallly small jobs. First of all do any of you have a small excv. with the pilot controls? I think I would like that much better. The J.D. 50 I had , had regular controls and after a few hours I got tired because I am tall and had to work humped over or slide the seat so far forward that my knees hit. Any one have one with pilot controls? I also have a Bobcat tractor 420 and it has a backhoe on it but is a real pain to take off and put back on. Everytime I put the hoe on, then I need my scraper blade and have to change it, get the scraper blade on then I will need the hoe. I am thinking about selling the hoe because it takes up so much room inside my building and I think a mini would fit in the same space with room to spare even, Give me your thoughts.

I am in the eighties as well and love my cabbed KX33. Hot weather is an opportunity to go use it and stay cold. AC works great
Use it for lifting digging scraping and many other things. Got rid of the backhoe. Property looks a lot better after cleaning up many areas. The ability to push over trees and lift logs is great asset. be sure to get the bucket and tools that will work best for you. Use the 36 inch smooth bucket all the time. The blade is used all the time as well

 

[nforktractor]

Go for it. Similar situation, I'm 68 had a JD 4410 35hp, with backhoe, not fun taking off and back-on. Sold that and purchased this Kubota KX018-4, half the size of a JD50, but as big as I could afford! Have done a bunch of work cleaning out driveway ditch, dug up bunch of invasive Russian Olives, dug up a few smaller stumps, being tracked, each to reposition. Get the thumb. Probably at least one size up if getting a cab.