SANY - crap or contender?

myyaz33 · Apr 29, 2020

I have been contemplating picking up a mini-excavators in the 11,000lb range for a few years on various properties and have run across the SANY brand. I have done a fair amount on internet only research and find it really odd that there is not much out there for real feedback on the brand, specifically anything recently. I see a a few mentions of them just being China crap but again, nothing real recent. On the flip-side , I see SANY has done a fair amount of marketing have have their own "propaganda" out there stating how far they have come in 10 years. The only close dealer is Case or Bobcat and I just think there are better machines for the money. I'd be happy to find an older machine that is tight and does not have all the TIER 4 stuff and I am not looking at putting more than 1500 hours on it. Anyone care to share any experiences they might have with Sany excavators?

Mikefromcny · Apr 29, 2020

They aren't bad. Yanmar engines. I work for a company that has a bunch of 35's and a couple 50's. Cab is cramped if your a big guy. Haven't seen one with more than 399 hours so can't comment on longevity. Oddball size battery in the 35. I'd want a good dealer nearby.

myyaz33 · Apr 29, 2020

Thanks for weighing in here.Would you say they have similar power than other brands? (If you company has used others?). When you say you would want a dealer near, is that just for peace of mind or based upon issues you may have heard of at work with the machines and warranty? I am not a big guy and think the 50's would be the machine close to the specs I have been looking at. I have also noticed that many of them dont have much for hours. You can sure read into that many different ways! Some of the bigger ones I see have 2000 hours or so, but in comparison, most of the other brands using have around 5000-7000k. Again, you can read into that many ways as well. The warranty looks pretty good and I jumped on the TYM tractor when they had the best warranty in the industry. That little tractor has paid for itself over and over. Had a few warranty repairs but nothing major in my mind.

Mikefromcny · Apr 30, 2020

myyaz33 said:
Thanks for weighing in here.Would you say they have similar power than other brands? (If you company has used others?). When you say you would want a dealer near, is that just for peace of mind or based upon issues you may have heard of at work with the machines and warranty? I am not a big guy and think the 50's would be the machine close to the specs I have been looking at. I have also noticed that many of them dont have much for hours. You can sure read into that many different ways! Some of the bigger ones I see have 2000 hours or so, but in comparison, most of the other brands using have around 5000-7000k. Again, you can read into that many ways as well. The warranty looks pretty good and I jumped on the TYM tractor when they had the best warranty in the industry. That little tractor has paid for itself over and over. Had a few warranty repairs but nothing major in my mind.

As far as a dealer being nearby..we've lost keys to them, and they have their own key. Nobody sells them but the sany dealer from what I've seen. Some parts are cheap on them..plastic panels, door handles have been torn off pulling too hard on them. Washers used as shims on various panels so body lines meet up. DIN hydraulic fittings throughout, which aren't super common. I've managed to cross the filters over to Baldwin. Air conditioner still works after a year or 2, so that's not bad.

Agvg · Apr 30, 2020

But how cheap are they vs more popular brands?

New they can't compete, they are cheaper but not so cheap that it makes economical sense to buy one new.

Mikefromcny · Apr 30, 2020

Agvg said:
But how cheap are they vs more popular brands?

New they can't compete, they are cheaper but not so cheap that it makes economical sense to buy one new.

Roughly half the price of cat I think