skramer360
Silver Member
I have a few jobs around our 18 acres that need to be done and rather than rent, rent, rent a mini ex, I thought I would gamble on one of the Chinese minis. I researched as much as I could, but there is precious little information online about specific brands or models. I knew I didn't want the smallest ones, so I started looking at ones that had the number 20 on them. I knew they weren't 2 ton, but it did seem to mean that they weighed more than the ones with numbers from 12-18. I wasn't scared of the gas powered ones, so I looked at gas and diesel ones in the 18 -20 number range. The closest to me for sale were 2 hours away. I set up an appointment to go test an SDLE18 machine that has a gas engine. I really wanted to want it, because there was a slightly used one for sale with a trailer for a great price that I was willing to drive to buy. However, after testing the gas model, it seemed to labor more than I was willing to be OK with and it was really loud. So, I decided I would look for one of the SDLE20s with the diesel. Most have the 3 cylinder Yanmar, though apparently some have had the 3 cylinder Kubota. I have experience with basically the same Yanmar on a mini at a rental store where I worked, and it was a great engine. I looked on Marketplace, and most of the SDLE20s were selling for around $8000, which was a bit higher than I wanted to pay, so I started looking at auctions and registered to bid. I won the second auction I bid in and paid $6038 including buyer fees. I went to pick it up (unfortunately about 700 miles away) it was a good road trip. This is my machine when I picked it up.
And this is back at my house the next day.
I stripped it down, changed the engine oil, and changed out all the grease fittings. My next modification was to add a counter weight. I'd like to add more, but this is a start at 80 lbs. I bought scrap flat stock (1/2" and 3/8") at my local salvage yard for $32 and cut and welded it up into an 80lb suitcase. This is where I wanted to install it. I didn't want it sticking out the back to hit something.
These are the two pieces of scrap steel I bought.
This is all cut up and welded together.
Here it is installed.
The back is back on and the weight is not visible with the body panels on.
Next up, I have ordered a hydraulic filter kit and a fuel gauge. I hope to get those installed this weekend and change the controls to backhoe instead of the factory excavator. I hope to update here off and on if anyone is interested.
And this is back at my house the next day.
I stripped it down, changed the engine oil, and changed out all the grease fittings. My next modification was to add a counter weight. I'd like to add more, but this is a start at 80 lbs. I bought scrap flat stock (1/2" and 3/8") at my local salvage yard for $32 and cut and welded it up into an 80lb suitcase. This is where I wanted to install it. I didn't want it sticking out the back to hit something.
These are the two pieces of scrap steel I bought.
This is all cut up and welded together.
Here it is installed.
The back is back on and the weight is not visible with the body panels on.
Next up, I have ordered a hydraulic filter kit and a fuel gauge. I hope to get those installed this weekend and change the controls to backhoe instead of the factory excavator. I hope to update here off and on if anyone is interested.
