Thinking of Buying Mini Excavator--Need Help

[8934]

I have just found a great deal 17,000 on a 2008 used mini excavator John Deere 17ZTS with a 12" bucket and 85 hours on it, which is simular to the 17D, except it has an Isuzu engine instead of the Yanmar.

I was thinking of purchasing to do some improvements to some vacant land I purchased.

Digging out the existing small pond a little (I have an existing 4x4 tractor with front end loader to move dirt)

Digging drainage ditches

Putting in utilities

Planting large trees

Two questions,
1) Are their any design problems with this machine
2) Is it large enough to do anything?

 

[coopers]

No major design problems, Deere makes a good product. However, a 17C ZTS is quite small. Have you seen the machine yet? I posted an image to show you the size. Why is it going for $17K? That's very cheap for only 85 hours on an '08 model. $28K is more like it I believe. If you want a machine for property use, I'd get a 35D / 50D size machine. A 9,500-12,000lbs machine will be perfect for that. These little 4-6,000lbs machines are not meant for major work...just little trenching projects or something.

 

[8934]

Thank you for the help... I know little about excavators.

No I have not seen it yet, it is at anouther location. They are bringing it here in a day or so.

Dealer has it, they put it in their rental fleet, but with the economy being slow they are making deals on everything....

It seemed like a great deal to me, I know it is small, but it is a lot better than a shovel..... I just wanted to make sure it wasnt useless, or defect ridden.

Thank you

 

[kennyd]

I have about 30 hours in a 17ZTS that my wife's cousin owns...It is a small machine for sure-but very capable for it's size. He has had zero problem that weren't his or and employees fault in over 500 hrs.

I have dug several medium sized stumps, repaired a neighbors septic system, and dug ditches for drains...Plus some other small projects.

 

[kthompson]

Just over a year ago purchased a small Volvo which weighs right at 10,000 pounds. Began looking at a machine that weighed about 6 or 7,000 pounds. A good friend who owned and ran heavy equipment was my pro. He tested the first machine and said, yep you can dig what you want with it but it will NOT load the stumps if you wish to haul them. What, can dig but not lift? Yep. I can did a much heavier stump than I can lift. Have dug stumps of up to about 2 feet in diameter but if wanted to load in a dump truck it better be a low one.

Would think you can find the specs on JD site. The two I would suggest you look at very carefully is the lift capacity and the radius. If you plan to do any loading also look at the dump highs and capacity there. I doubt it would work to really load any kind of truck or large trailer. Your task and mine are about the same. I really think you would be better off with a larger machine as has been suggested. It is used rental unit so they should be willing to at least rent it to you. Then at the price it is, you may wish to accept the size limit and allow more time. But, if you must stay in this price range, look a little older machine.

I will tell you a small excavator sure beats a backhoe for ease of use.

 

[8934]

Thanks for the suggestions.... Still thinking!

 

[Dmace]

Whenever I have a project too big for my little tractor/backhoe, I rent a Yanmar Vio27 from my local Taylor rental. It is a great machine that weighs just 6500lbs or so, has a quick switch for CAT/DEERE controls, hydraulic quick attach bucket, thumb, rubber tracks and front blade. The controls are easy to use and it digs very well with the 16" bucket. Much faster than my CUT and quieter too! I can easily haul it with my 1/2ton truck and after a full day (9hrs +/-) I only used 6 gallons of diesel and it's very useful for it's size, plenty for a typical homeowner I think.


Click thumbnails for larger images

 

[8934]

Thanks for all of the information, advice and suggestions.

Right now I am leaning toward purchasing it... I figure it will do about 80-90% of what I need done. I would like a larger model, but want a new/almost new one so I dont have to worry about repairs, and cant afford anouther $12K+ for the larger model.

I was going to purchase a 448 backhoe, but they are close to $10K, so for $7K more I can get this excavator, and can always sell it in a couple of years.

I dont have any rocks to deal with, only a couple of stumps, and will be digging in sand, with a light sandy redish clay (I think) down a couple of feet, but it may be all sand.

It comes with a 12" bucket... Is this a good size? It can take from 9-18"

 

[kennyd]

It comes with a 12" bucket... Is this a good size? It can take from 9-18"

That is what the one I have used has, it seems well matched to the machine.

 

[8934]

Well I just picked it up... I went down to the bobcat dealer first to look at what they had.... I wasnt impressed. Their 323?? I think was the closest model they had to it, and looked like a toy...

I have been digging it the back yard, so far it is working very well.

It has aux hydraulics for a thumb.... How usefull are they, and what can they be used for beside stumps and rocks?? Anything??

Thanks for all of the help!!

 

[Lasgambler]

Dmace, Any Idea how deep you can dig with the Yanmar Vio 27?

 

[Dmace]

Dmace, Any Idea how deep you can dig with the Yanmar Vio 27?

The specs for the new Vio-27 say 9ft digging depth and I believe that is the same as the 2 year old rental Vio-27 I use. It is a really great machine with smooth controls and a comfortable layout.

 

[kennyd]

Well I just picked it up... I went down to the bobcat dealer first to look at what they had.... I wasnt impressed. Their 323?? I think was the closest model they had to it, and looked like a toy...

I have been digging it the back yard, so far it is working very well.

It has aux hydraulics for a thumb.... How usefull are they, and what can they be used for beside stumps and rocks?? Anything??

Thanks for all of the help!!

Congrats on the new machine I hope it does well for you.

 

[vettemanwight]

I bought a used IHI28J 3 years ago. I told the wife I would sell it in 2 years and get my money back. Well I havent figured out what 2 years is yet !!!!!! LOL It comes in so handy I first thought about a backhoe for my Kubota 4310 but I would have been limited with the use of the tractor. I have put over 400 hours on it in 3 years and I dont plan on selling it.Even my wife enjoys using it and she handles it very well . Its a 6000# machine I can load it in my dump trailer and haul it with my Super Duty.

 

[Lasgambler]

I bought a used IHI28J 3 years ago. I told the wife I would sell it in 2 years and get my money back. Well I havent figured out what 2 years is yet !!!!!! LOL It comes in so handy I first thought about a backhoe for my Kubota 4310 but I would have been limited with the use of the tractor. I have put over 400 hours on it in 3 years and I dont plan on selling it.Even my wife enjoys using it and she handles it very well . Its a 6000# machine I can load it in my dump trailer and haul it with my Super Duty.

Thats my thoughts about having one. I would rather leave my tractor set up as a grading tractor and have a separate digging machine.
I find when I put the BH on, I need the gannon, the the gannon, I need the BH. I operated one og the new Bobcats at the sales yard and loved the way it handled, Sooo smooth. Terry

 

[coopers]

I wasnt impressed.

Then why'd you get it?

It has aux hydraulics for a thumb.... How usefull are they, and what can they be used for beside stumps and rocks?? Anything??

You can grab anything with a thumb. Pull stumps, move logs, grab brush...it's endless.

 

[kennyd]

Then why'd you get it?

Did you read what he wrote?

I went down to the bobcat dealer first to look at what they had.... I wasnt impressed. Their 323?? I think was the closest model they had to it, and looked like a toy...

 

[8934]

Spent the whole day at the property yesterday with new excavator...

Couldnt be happier.

I have Brazilian pepper tree's (invasive) and have been mowing & pushing them up with front end loader them like crazy. But there were hundreds more growing next to existing other large trees that I was planning on removing one at a time.... (and was not looking forward to it) I found I could remove most up to 3" or so by the root with one swipe, and the larger ones up to 5-8" in five minutes or less.

Did seem like it could use little more hyd power sometimes, others seemed like it could tip machine over it had so much.

 

[coopers]

Did you read what he wrote?

My bad...I skim through these posts pretty quick.

 

[kthompson]

8934...on the thumb be sure the hyd system is not a one way (not sure that is what they are called) for a hyd jack or such as they only have pressure on direction.

If you are just digging dirt then I would not get a thumb. If you are moving anything other than dirt....GET A THUMB. If digging up trees or stumps you can dig them and then pile or load them so easy. You probably have a manual and have read it but don't miss the different if lift (tipping) capacity over the front end or the sides and over the rear. You probably have greater lift capacity over the rear with the blade giving some ballast. I have also found if digging like on slope (in my case piles of dirt) I let the rear end face the pile and then use the blade to level my machine. You would do well to get in a wide open area and play with it with weight in bucket would be great but even empty will give you some feed back how stable it is with the bucket as far out as possible over each side. If you install a thumb and begin to lift and swing with loads or even with out a thumb if you are pinching a log or large stump and the machine begins to tip...be ready to drop that load to save your machine and possibly you. But you must drop it before the machine very far over or it will continue.

Be careful on a thumb..there were some on ebay that will really disappoint you. Be prepared to spend about a $1,000. Ask and find out who locally builds them for the big boys. One want a shop that either has the specs on your machine or will come measure it and of course weld it on unless your booms has the lugs already part of it's design.

Get you a large can of wasp spray and have it handy and unless you have a windshield wear eye protection. Then last but not least, be sure what you are pulling towards you if you have open cab..you do not want to pull a wasp or hornet nest or snake in there with you. HAVE FUN