What did you do with your Chinese baby digger today?

dfkrug · Dec 26, 2023

oldrustysteel said:
Installed a mirror so I can see behind me, I have always liked a mirror on a track hoe. Also installed a phone holder. And a few other things.

Great mods, Rusty. I should do that, too. Esp the cellphone holder. Does the RV mirror vibrate a lot?

oldrustysteel · Dec 26, 2023

It depends on the rpm. I usually run mine 2100-2800 and almost no vibration. It really does better than I expected.
Here is the Latest mod. very handy for me since I am always clearing trails.

dfkrug · Dec 26, 2023

oldrustysteel said:
Here is the Latest mod. very handy for me since I am always clearing trails.

Looks like a CS-330T. Your install shows the advantage of rear ROPS columns. Nice. With my front columns, anything big that I might attach would be in the way of getting on/off or getting snagged by branches.

My trail-building approach is I leave the mini where I am working it, and ride back and forth in my ATV with 2 chainsaws.

oldrustysteel · Dec 27, 2023

dfkrug said:
Looks like a CS-330T. Your install shows the advantage of rear ROPS columns. Nice. With my front columns, anything big that I might attach would be in the way of getting on/off or getting snagged by branches.

My trail-building approach is I leave the mini where I am working it, and ride back and forth in my ATV with 2 chainsaws.

Looks like you know your chainsaws. Today I finally drilled out the nylon bushings in the blade mount. They take grease real good now, sorry no pics. I also touched up a few spots where the paint was scratched. Allis Chalmers orange is almost perfect match. After a week or so, I doubt that I can spot the difference. 22 hours and all is well.

dfkrug · Dec 27, 2023

oldrustysteel said:
Today I finally drilled out the nylon bushings in the blade mount. They take grease real good now,

Nylon? The bearing inserts on the minis I have had here seem to all be metallic bearing material. On my tractors, I have found a bunch of those inserts made of yellow plastic with small holes, backed up in some sort of metal.

Yesterday, I was piling some branches with mini, preparing for burn piles. A blade cylinder hose started leaking, and I am due for an engine oil change. I guess I should use the downtime to make a blade cyl protection plate, and maybe a new choke cable....

Chainsaw freak here.

2manyrocks · Dec 28, 2023

I see a dealer option to add a hydraulic thumb to the L12 that is for sale locally for $650. Is that a good upgrade or really not necessary for moving brush and larger rocks?

dfkrug · Dec 28, 2023

2manyrocks said:
I see a dealer option to add a hydraulic thumb to the L12 that is for sale locally for $650. Is that a good upgrade or really not necessary for moving brush and larger rocks?

Once you have had or used an hyd thumb, you will view it as a necessity on any excavator or backhoe.

oldrustysteel · Dec 28, 2023

2manyrocks said:
I see a dealer option to add a hydraulic thumb to the L12 that is for sale locally for $650. Is that a good upgrade or really not necessary for moving brush and larger rocks?

Personally, I think the Hydraulic thumb is one of the best things you can have on the small machines. I am not looking forward to doing it however. I suspect the hydraulic connections will be the challenge. so many different adaptors angles, threads, o-rings, sizes etc..

Thanks for posting the info. BTW where are you located?

oldrustysteel · Dec 28, 2023

dfkrug said:
Nylon? The bearing inserts on the minis I have had here seem to all be metallic bearing material. On my tractors, I have found a bunch of those inserts made of yellow plastic with small holes, backed up in some sort of metal.

Yesterday, I was piling some branches with mini, preparing for burn piles. A blade cylinder hose started leaking, and I am due for an engine oil change. I guess I should use the downtime to make a blade cyl protection plate, and maybe a new choke cable....

Chainsaw freak here.

I think on your thread about these baby-X, I mentioned the white bushings with no grease holes, but there was a zirk. So yesterday I drilled them out . Very easy drilling and grease goes in and comes out both sides. I was surprised to see those bushings, all others are metal. Years ago I worked maintenance and sometimes made parts from a white plastic material that was incredibly durable. I cannot remember the name. Do you know if your leak was caused by a hit from a rock or limb? I really need to g

et busy on making guards for my machine... As for chainsaws, I love them, apx 6 stihls, 6 echo and 1 makita. several poulans. My favs are the lil echo climbing saw you mentioned and my stihl 034 super.

MattB4 · Dec 28, 2023

Having had mechanical thumbs on other machines I found them more bother than use. However a hydraulic thumb is a usable thumb in my opinion. I am pleased that my Typhon came with one as an added accessory and that it was plumbed and valved already to make use of it. Simple hose connection and bolt on and that was it.