Chinese digger recommendations

[MattB4]

I have only used my auger twice so far. It has the 150mm or 6 inch bit. Worked great for the first hole but in the second about 1.5 ft down it ran into a big enough rock it could not go further. I bought it for less than $400 off Ebay and it may or may not be worth it. I think it all depends on your ground and how many times you might want to set a post without the big hole of digging out with the excavator bucket.

Biggest issue with storage I can think of is leaking hydraulic lines until I figure out a quick connect arrangement. I have some coming next week that I think will handle the flow.

The one attachment I really find worthwhile for me is the largest possible cleanout bucket without teeth. I have an 800mm (31 inch) one but I would not have minded getting a 1000mm.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

I have only used my auger twice so far. It has the 150mm or 6 inch bit. Worked great for the first hole but in the second about 1.5 ft down it ran into a big enough rock it could not go further. I bought it for less than $400 off Ebay and it may or may not be worth it. I think it all depends on your ground and how many times you might want to set a post without the big hole of digging out with the excavator bucket.

Biggest issue with storage I can think of is leaking hydraulic lines until I figure out a quick connect arrangement. I have some coming next week that I think will handle the flow.

The one attachment I really find worthwhile for me is the largest possible cleanout bucket without teeth. I have an 800mm (31 inch) one but I would not have minded getting a 1000mm.

In my case I think a tilting bucket will be the most used attachment besides the standard digging bucket. For most earth work (moving dumping, etc.) I use my tractor. I sent an email inquiry to Anakuma but they haven't replied. I wonder if they are still in business.

 

[TexTrctr]

I'm late to catching up to this thread again, but I wanted to reinforce what MattB4 said about pin configuration in #259. I bought a MiniX in January and also, separately, bought a BUNCH of attachments as I was concerned about what was coming with tariffs. Unfortunately, my wife had some medical issues which kept us busy for several months so I only tried and used a couple of the attachments. This week I tried to mount the 600mm tilt bucket on the machine and the pin would not clear the locking lug on the spring loaded quick attachment. After some cussing and messing around I measured the pin centers and found the bucket was about 84mm, while the QA was 89mm, consistent with the rest of the implements I have.
As Matt stated, just because they are 25mm pins it doesn't mean the center-to-center distance is the same.
Lesson learned; check out the stated measurements closely before you buy and check them again when you get the hardware.

 

[Jrasband]

If you have rocky soil consider not getting anything smaller than a 3 ton machine, definitely no smaller than 2.5. My 2 ton can barely do anything in very rocky soil.

 

[Carl_NH]

As I have stated before, the hydraulic systems on these mini's is marginal unless you get into the rotary piston pump with variable vanes and valving that is needed to run the higher GPM.

The 1.8T diesel mini is 20LPM and 7 LMP pilot controls - this will get you a digging force around 3000 lbs, and an auger that digs holes in "good soil" but not rocks.

The TT X2 you are looking at has a flow rate of 35 LPM which is marginally better, and not anywhere near what need for a 2.5T machine.

For example the RIppa 18Pro with the variable displacement pump and two speed tracks is around 45 LPM and the R22 Pro is 65 LPM. The R18 is $18K and the R22 is $23K range and I am not endorsing Rippa - just pointing out hydraulics are what make these machines work.

So you need to look at Hydraulics and Systems FIRST as that is what makes the mini work best, and if you want performance and smooth operation, get a better machine with the variable pumps and controls.

Otherwise get the 1.8T gear pump TT XVIII or Huayee 18 and they will dig and do a lot, but not as much as you may want.

 

[MattB4]

I'm late to catching up to this thread again, but I wanted to reinforce what MattB4 said about pin configuration in #259. I bought a MiniX in January and also, separately, bought a BUNCH of attachments as I was concerned about what was coming with tariffs. Unfortunately, my wife had some medical issues which kept us busy for several months so I only tried and used a couple of the attachments. This week I tried to mount the 600mm tilt bucket on the machine and the pin would not clear the locking lug on the spring loaded quick attachment. After some cussing and messing around I measured the pin centers and found the bucket was about 84mm, while the QA was 89mm, consistent with the rest of the implements I have.
...

Bit of a hack but some of the bolt style quick connect hitches have the correct 90mm CTC spacing for the spring loaded quick hitch to grab. Because they tighten with bolt and rising C hook you can fit the smaller CTC of an attachment. Recently the bolt style have been all over Ebay in the $70 range.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

If you have rocky soil consider not getting anything smaller than a 3 ton machine, definitely no smaller than 2.5. My 2 ton can barely do anything in very rocky soil.

The previous 1 ton mini ex I had, the Tippa (Rippa) was very light weight and underpowered, but I was able to dig. Not fast or pretty but it did it. Anything that is bigger and heavier will be much better. But yes, I would like something in that range.

 

[TexTrctr]

In response to Matt's comment; thats a thought on using the bolt style QC (of which I actually have one). I also thought of cutting the ears and base off of a cheap ripper that has the correct spacing and replacing the ones on the tilt bucket with some cutting and welding. In the meantime, I'm trying to see if the seller will send me a pivot assy. with the correct ears to replace the one that is "wrong". I'm not optimistic I will be successful.

 

[caver]

I've heard this one works well....