SDLE20 mini ex

[skramer360]

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.

 

[mike0000]

I’d like to hear your updates. I’m in southern Indiana ( close to Louisville Ky) I understand the distance you had to go, not a lot of auctions around my area. I bought a Kymron, getting close to two years ago, it’s been a pretty good little machine. I’m researching mini skids for the next piece of equipment I hope to buy. Congratulations on buying the excavator.

 

[mike0000]

After getting the fuel tank out of the engine compartment I added this 10 micron filter to the hydraulic system. Parker hydraulics in Jeffersonville In. had all the fittings I needed and made up two hoses to my specs but were pricey.

 

[nforktractor]

Where did you get the Suzuki Pick-up? I'm big fan of Suzuki motorcycles and their Samurais.

 

[skramer360]

Where did you get the Suzuki Pick-up? I'm big fan of Suzuki motorcycles and their Samurais.

I bought it about 5 years age used out of Tennessee. I was actually looking for a Nissan Frontier and found this instead. It is exactly the same truck with a few modified body panels in the front.

 

[Carl_NH]

Skramer - I have the similar Hightop Typhon Terror XVIII - 1.5 years now and added the Hyd filter, Tiny Tach, track motor protection, beefed up the thumb - welded two 3/8" plates between the tines. Then 9" turf tracks, and moved the thumb pedal further out with an Aluminum one, and added a bracket for the tool box on the back.

Then wanted BH mode too, and it's as simple as swapping the boom and stick cylinder lines, left boom goes to left stick, left stick to left boom and same on the right side. See the lines in the pics - 4 swap to 3 and 5 swap to 6 - simple as that and I can change in 10 minutes as my neighbor prefers excavator mode.