Search results

Here is a repair I have not done myself, but it will eventually be needed: replacing the bearings on the idler wheels. If your track tension is too tight, this will hasten the wear on these bearings. I found this on a public facebook group yesterday, and I am including the photo posted by...

I just saw a photo of the idler wheel removed from its bracket, on a public FB group. Posting it here to share. It seems to be 2 ball bearings, and the shaft is secured with roll pins. Looks like easy fix with off-the-shelf parts. Even it you let the bearings fall apart and damage the shaft...

Well, yours will be the first pix of the idler wheel bearing(s) when/if you post it, Sonny.

One of the accessories you can buy with the 1-ton-ish mini from China is a very simple 1-axle trailer. Only a few hundred dollars and no suspension. But any decent CUT or utility tractor should have forks. Even my Kioti can just barely lift it. A bigger tractor, no problem.

Yeah, you are correct that you can interpret that either way. Plus, if the engine stalls under load, then is it due to running at too low RPM? Those diesels usually do fine at fairly low speed, but running at working RPM is better. Gas engines are VERY intolerant of low speeds.

Your main system pressure is almost certainly low. Just be sure the RV you adjust is not the one for the pilot valves. On the Diggit EM15, the first RV I adjusted did nothing I could tell, so it was for the pilots. That unit also had no technical info. It is way better to figure out your...

A lot going on there. You need to "reverse engineer" your hyd system. I see a name plate on your second photo. It says, "Rhinoceros", which would indicate the Xiniu company, aka Rhinoceros, aka Shandong Landworld. That is where I got my XN08, and it seems to be one of the better makers...

Looks like a D-50 (73cc) with optional sprocket-tip bar, based on shape of the tank and muffler. Nice. The flywheel cover is a thin cast magnesium, no stamped steel or stamped aluminum sheet metal, except the fuel/oil tank. Mac 125s from the 70s are super-desirable.

I am restoring this old 1959 Clinton D65, originally sold by Montgomery Wards. It is a technology wonder, with 95ccs, THREE compression rings, a roller clutch, and Tillotson HL carb. 36" bar with 404 chain. I already got it to run on prime. It has a unique, articulating bucking spike. I...

When I removed one of my idler wheels, I never took it apart to see what kind of bearing it uses. Since it is not greaseable, I hope it is one or 2 ball bearings, which should be cheap to replace. If you remove 2 socket head bolts, you should be able to remove the side plate and see. It...

So, now is your chance to get the angle right, and tilt the adapter plate away at the bottom of the bucket to get more curl. You may have to cut some steel to do that. In a case like this, it may make sense to do some wood or cardboard mock-ups and make some measurements first. Measure 17...

Do you have the CBL40 3-point hitch option, and do you ever use it?

Yeah, the CBL40 was amazing when it came out. A JD110 competitor, IMO. Turbocharged version of the venerable Yanmar 3-cylinder 1.5-liter diesel, similar to those NA 3-cyls I had in my old JD4300 tractors. They made it for less than 10 years, I estimate, possibly longer for non-US markets...

Good news. You seem to have cushion valves on the house rotation motor. Next, look for the 2 RVs for the main and pilot hydraulics. At least the main one, and maybe both, will be at the entry side of the main hyd valve stack. You could even have a 3rd pump. The 2-4T Chinese minis often seem...

What is in the last photo you posted? Is that the house rotation motor? I see two hoses that connect on the right, and what looks like an adjustable relief valve in the middle. The RV is a good sign. Look on the other side for its twin. That would indicate double crossover RV, or cushion...

Looks like the usual gearoler-type wheel motor. No wheel braking action. I will bet you do have hyd oil filtration and cooling.

That is a "case drain". The bucket is very different from those that come with the 1-ton-sh minis. I can see tooth holders with replaceable, possibly forged, teeth. The carcass looks thicker. How thick is the side plate? I am curious about your sprocket drive motors. No wheel braking is a...

First, welcome to TBN, Phil. If you are 3h from Ft Worth, I am guessing that still puts you in TX. Post a photo or 2 of the BS20. If it is a 2T unit, you may have the better buckets. You did well for a 2T Diesel, probably with pilot controls. Maybe $8000 total cost?

My Workman has the high range lockout switch, but it is disabled and the key is missing. That, plus the governor lead me to believe that Toro was trying to keep these machines from going too fast around the golf course. Employees will do some crazy things... As for the dump bed, mine is over...

I tried to buy some aftermarket Toro seats on eBay, but they were not in stock. No OEMs there, other than some torn up used ones. If I have to make the brackets anyway, I might as well get some decent new 2-piece units. Total cost, $142. I will report on them when I get them. This machine...

I just got my tires in this week. Working on the mounting now. One of the rears is so worn, it looks like a racing slick. 6-ply with 1710# rating. $$$$ Beads hard to break, but I have my trusty bead-buster. Spec for rears is 24x12-12, but the slick one is 13" wide. Seats on order...from...

My Workman runs and drives. The manual shifter takes some finesse, but there is no gear grinding or noise. I just go the dump bed back on. It is quite easy with the right tool: a boom pole that has a lift point more than 4 feet ahead of the FEL frame on my tractor. None of the four pivot...

I hope you can find that wrench when you need it, but it looks like the right tool. I used a 1.25" box-end wrench on mine, but I have not needed it in years.

You don't want a bigger engine, esp a twin. No room. The thumpers have plenty of power, and are quite inexpensive.

Yeah, it was a freakish thing that happened to you, SONNY. I and at least one other person I talk with frequently bought the DuroMax 420 engines, shipped from SoCal. They have been super-reliable and run very well, even after 6 years, and hundreds of hours. That engine is made by LCT, a US...

Good modification. I have operated the EM15, but not for very long. Like you, I did not like the foot control for the blade. I very much prefer my hand lever control on my Rhino, but I attributed some of that to being used to it.

You have probably dealt with more of these than I have, but 800+ hours does not seem like a lot for an engine used in a vehicle. I have also seen broken Honda plastic cam gears, and also their plastic cam. There are many many consumer-grade lawn tractors with well North of 1000 hours. For...

Kubota is really top shelf in the manual dept. You can look at the parts diagrams for free on some dealer websites, if you do not have it. I recommend Messicks in PA. I think it is likely to be a detent ball for one of the shift shafts. I once bought a Kubota B21 that had nothing in the...

I dissected the hyd filter. Very sparkly in there, but apparently survivable. Maybe cuz the Barnes hyd pump is cast iron and not aluminum? As of last night, the engine is back in. The most difficult part was not too bad: getting the half-shafts onto their couplers while lowering the...

I adjusted the valve lash before reinstalling. Only one was off slightly, which probably made the slight tick I heard. Just 2 bolts hold the cover on, and no leaks! This 3-cylinder engine of only 660cc seems well-made, with stout valve train components. No smoke I can see, even at nearly...

Yes, that is absurd and you should ignore it. These Kawasakis do have some weaknesses, which are infamous. The company struggled to make cam gears that would last. Plastic is not the best material for cam gears, but Honda and Kohler use them in some engines and their records seem to be...

I am now scheduled for my one eye on 10-31. I did get my 3 prescriptions filled for eyedrops. They were $90 total, and that is with Part D and Medicare Advantage supplemental. I will have no other co-pay, I am told, since I am having the basic lens. Kaiser Permanente.

Nice depth/volume. I just don't understand why China has not improved them.

Here it is: He did a good job. I really liked his CNC plasma setup, too.

It is all in post #47 of my Modification thread: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/importing-and-modifying-a-new-mini-excavator-from-china.399296/page-5

I was fortunate that my machine had its ChangChai diesel removed before shipping, and the air duct left installed. It was not hard to fabricate the steel hoops to support it with my new Duromax 420 engine. It would not be hard to get some foil dryer vent flex hose and do a similar thing.

If it is PVC, it is easy to bend up if you are patient. For conduit, I use a hand torch, but for something that big, consider rigging up a water trough that you can heat up and submerse. Not sure if 212F is warm enough; others here may know.

To duct the flywheel fan properly, you have to replace the pull starter with the duct. This will get you the most air circulation from outside the house. I understand that this is in the way of the location where some makers have put the oil cooler. I generally stop operating when my oil temp...

Good work. I love to see the data you have taken to see the results of your cooling efforts. I assume you have the 420cc gasoline engine, without ducted flywheel fan. What was the ambient temp when you were taking measurements?

Just heard you sold. Did you lose money? I see them auctioning off really cheap...$3000, plus or minus. Glad to see owners are sharing info about the clutch. Buyers are not going to be able to count on the makers, if known, to offer parts. I would continue to share info, and monitor eBay...

Indeed! Especially if you don't have a second tractor to lift with. Also, bent-up steel makes the fasteners hard to remove sometimes. Another ROPS success story.

That RPM is a little low, even for the V-twin. 2500-2800 would probably be optimum. It seems they may have set your main system RV correctly if you can stall at that speed. But don't forget that these engines need to be warmed up to run well. Still check the pressures. Take a snap of the...

The governor is a very substantial feature, about the size of the alternator. I wonder if it is necessary or of any value. I don't have much experience with them. What would be the downside to eliminating it? I just re-mated the tranny to the engine last night. Tip: leave the differential...

Sorry to hear of the break-in. DId it happen in a rural area? As for the keys, I guess you now will replace all locks with matching set, no? Nice to hear that hyd flows seem to be matched to your engine. Do you run at a full 3600RPM? Do the wheel motors feature piston drives, planetary...

I just bought exhaust pipe wrap on the internet. No tape, just metal straps to hold it on. It served fine until wood rats chewed some of it off. Since then, I just added some fiberglass insulation and some more steel wire to hold it on. I only put it on the pipe between the manifold and...

True enough. I certainly see the manufacturer perspective. That's what happened with the infamous Kioti loader issue 15y ago. FELs were breaking, and the fix, provided by the maker, really needed to be welded. Who was going to weld it well enough? A certified shop? Well, that was going to...

I have a ROPS survival I have not posted about. We had a 50y event here in FEB 2023, which left 6+ inches of snow on the ground for a week. I probably lost 100 larger trees on my 19 acres. Still cleaning up 1.5y later. I was in my carport (tractor-port) the morning after the snow, surveying...

Yeah, I wonder why these incredibly robust UTVs have not really crossed over to the farmer/rancher/large estate market. Neither the Workman nor the Pro Gator. Probably the cost. The frame on this machine is more substantial than on my Tacoma. And, at 5000 hours, it has seen its first major...

Yeah, the PTO option might be nice, as well as the cab version. The diesel engine options, not so desirable to me. I find them noisy and stinky, esp as they age. That 3-cyl Mits engine is sweet. The golf course I got this from DOES have some 4x4 versions, so I hope to snag one when it gets...

Not just questionable. Expensive. My folks paid a lawyer to make a living trust for them back in the 80s. He made the Trust the beneficiary of their IRA, and I filed the 1041 for the estate as the successor trustee. When my mom died in 2003, the estate tax exemption was only $600K, so I paid...

It is more important with the green plastic. Keeps anything from hitting the hood. That said, I went 18 years with this tractor and my homemade steel front protector before I hit a 2" branch just right, so that it punctured the plastic part of my Kioti's grille.

I know it is more work, but everyone has the space on top of the hood for storage. My removable box tends to get filled up with chains and miscellaneous tools. The frame hinges open when it comes time to fuel up.

Looks good. If you load the CS the other way around, won't it clear the loader when you raise it? Not a lot of places to store a chainsaw on a tractor. I have a box on top of my hood, but you have to bungee it down. Scabbard is better. I used the same HDPE plastic for my ATV scabbard, but I...

One more bearing to replace: the larger 6011 differential bearing ($11). Lots of oil flows right thru it so it is highly likely that some debris from the shattered bearing will get caught. The same bearing on the donor trans does not seem that smooth, either. So I ordered a new one. I took...

I opened the transmission, and the problem was obvious immediately: A disintegrated ball bearing. All that remains of the balls and cage are 5 balls, ground down by 2/3. The aluminum case is hollowed out quite a bit behind the bearing, but not enough to go through. So, I harvested the...

So, the engine/trans is out and on the floor of my workshop. I did drain the hyd oil sump first, but there is still some ATF in there. I pulled the hydraulic inlet filter screen, and boy was it full of metal flakes. A magnet told me it was mostly ferrous, rather than aluminum or sleeve...

I see carb kits on eBay for $150 + tax. Clutch friction disk at nearly $200. Yikes. Anyway, then engine/trans is out, and on the floor of my workshop. I used my front 3-pt on my loader. The hangup was one of the half-shafts U-joint yoke would not slide off, so it came apart while lifting...

Yeah, I hear carb parts for the WC 3-cyl Mits engine are NLA. I got the motor and tranny out today.

Now ready to pull the engine/trans together. I just got the rear half-shaft disconnected. I had to lower the transmission to within a few inches of the ground to get enough clearance for the spline shaft to de-couple. The manual suggests removing tranny from below, but I won't be doing that.

Interesting. The Rato HQ website does not list the R740D or the larger one, either. Only Rato-Europe does. And eBay lists the R740D for sale, from Italy ($2200). http://en.ratogh.com/index.php?c=article&a=type&tid=123 First I have heard of them.

Chongqing Rato V-twin gas engines seem to stop at the R670, a copy of the Honda GX670. I think they are the maker of the Predator 670. To get over 700cc in a gas twin, you likely have to get a Kawasaki, Kohler, or some other Chinese engine. Rato seems to have a good rep, and the several new...

A mechanical thumb does work. I have installed and used the one that is sold with these units. Sure beats no thumb at all. When not it use, can remove it or pin it up to make digging easier. Service manuals? Shirley, you jest.

One thing you get with a 2-cyl gas engine is decent power even at lower RPM. So, you don't have to run it at rated speed (3600). Recently I put a new Predator 670 twin into a DitchWitch SK500 walk-behind tracked skidsteer. That's a 1-ton-ish machine, but all-hydraulic, including pilot...

You will find it cheaper at the auctions. It is wider and longer than the usual 1-ton-ish units. Fits all the same implements. Last Saturday's local auction saw even some of the similar AGT H15 machines with pilot controls go for only $2800 final bid. About $3500 total cost.

The air duct for the flywheel fan looks well-made. I have never seen any V-twin gasoline units in any excavator. I hope the hyd pumps are properly sized for the working RPM of the engine. These engines are are smooth, quiet, fuel-efficient, and cheap.

I suspect this is the problem, and I will replace the plain bearing, if so. A sloppy bearing on this big gear, which transfers load to the jack shaft, will wobble a LOT. This gear is from my spare tranny.

Here is the write-up I did, if you want some ideas. https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/making-an-hydraulic-thumb-for-my-new-mini-excavator.404900/

If your machine has the pivot brackets on the dipper, they are designed for the mechanical thumb. Unfortunately, an hydraulic thumb will not work well with those pivots. To do it properly, you need to remove those pivots and weld new ones on the dipper so the lower one is closer to the end of...

After a year of not running, my Workman started right up. Runs smoothly and quietly. I get the trans noise in 3rd gear only, in my testing, tho I am only using low range. I assume it will manifest in 6th, too. Anyway, I put the rear on jackstands and ran it at multiple speeds in 3rd. Very...

Yeah you can leave the bed on for some things. But the raised bed will block the hyd sump drain at the rear, plus the suction filter. I am also jacking up and supporting the rear wheels off the ground. Engine/trans removal will be from the rear, using tractor's loader and boom pole. The...

Well, my unit has hydraulic dump bed AND hydraulic radiator cooling fan. My bed is already off. Next, I think I will remove the roll bar, which should allow me to remove the plastic panel that covers the area under the seat. I am going to use this as a hands-on teaching experience for a...

Congrats. So, maybe 4 1/2 metric tons? Maybe take it by the truck scales when headed home with it. Can't wait til you open it up to see how its made....

I got the battery all charged up and I was going to start it today or tomorrow, to see how the trans problem manifests while in operation on blocks. I am getting ready to pull the engine/trans together. Toughest issue may be disconnection of both axles from the wheel assemblies. Pix coming.

Doctors quantify the severity of cataracts, on a scale of 0-4. I am at 1 in the left and 2.5 in the right. Getting the right done soon, and acuity is poor in that eye. The left is no problem yet (vision correctable to 20/20 with glasses). Do you know what your severity was when you had the...

Auctions all over the US, and prob Canada are getting many many implements in, straight from China in containers. Then the once-used container is sometimes also sold at the same auction. A friend landed the no-brand hydraulic skidsteer QA concrete mixer free, with sheared sprocket key, plus...

Yeah, that is pretty standard. By auctioning these units off, the importer avoids any responsibility for support (tech info or parts). Going the auction route will likely get the lowest price, even lower than importing directly or thru Alibaba. But, that also fully disconnects the buyer from...

I just got measured for my right eye, only. My left sees fine, and I don't want to mess with it. Kaiser in the Bay Area offers 3 options: basic lens, covered under Medicare, Toric lens @ $2K per eye extra, and the all-distance premium lens for $3500/eye extra. I am getting the basic lens...

Does your backhoe run off a single gear pump? The video shows very smooth operation, even with the outriggers up. Nice. What is an "em" valve?

I want to see videos of that in action. Looks promising.

That stuff is very thick at room temp, and my axles take a LOT.

If you share the bucket pivot with the thumb pivot, the biggest problem will be breaking the 25mm pin. These machines use 2400psi hydraulics, plus a shared pin will need to be greaseable in 3 locations, if secured to the thumb. You can certainly share the pin, but it really needs to be at...

Interesting product you linked. Not all the 1-tonish Chinese machines come with the brackets for the mechanical thumb. For the ones that do come with those brackets, they are positioned poorly for a hydraulic thumb. That is why I cut mine off and started over. Also, any hydraulic thumb (as...

It is not the draining, it is the filling that is tedious. Even 90W gear oil takes a while since the fill hole is not large. I will not use 140 again cuz it takes so long.

Old thread, but very important. I am going to lift and inspect my front hubs to see if they spin freely with no noise or wobble. At nearing 1100 hours, and soon to be 20yo, my Kioti has been great. I have lifted and moved hundreds of logs, sometimes only an inch or so off the ground, at the...

You can put any battery in there that will fit. My machine uses a fairly large automotive-type battery. And it is still going strong after 6 years. I will change to a U1 garden tractor battery when it goes, which will require switching to spade connectors. I am surprised your boom was...

Welcome to TBN Nice to see your unit has the flywheel fan ducting. So many units do not include that, which is pretty standard for the 1-cyl diesel engines. And some of them put the optional oil cooler right where that duct should go. Sooo many variations.... As for the hyd oil return...

Just checked front axle pivots for a few tractors I have owned: Kubota L2550DT, no O-rings, but 4 "oil seals". Nice. Kubota B21, O-rings. Kubota B20, no O-rings or seals. JD 955, no O-rings or seals.

Good point on the rice paddy protection, PTSG. All tractors should try to seal water out of there, as DaeDong does.

I want to see those pix when you get it apart. O-rings in the axle pivot...who knew? The JDs and Kubotas I had apart did not. My CK30 may not be the same, but years ago, I could not get one zerk to take grease, even with tractor lifted. Thought I was gonna have to take it apart. I tried...

Yeah, those spanner wrenches Alan posted are the correct tools, but they don't always work for me. I think I only have 2 sizes, if I can find them. If I were in the business, I would definitely have a set. But if I can improvise and not have to buy a special tool, I prefer that. It has been...

I do all mine myself, and sometimes for others' tractors. When I encounter one like yours and don't have the proper-sized wrench, I insert a small steel dowel into the hole, and use it to keep the tool I spin it with from slipping. To get a good fit, I have cut old drill bits just long enough...

The above graphic link has been posted before. There are many options, and they all include one or more stationary coils (stator) and rotating magnets. The rectifier is either inside or outside the engine housing. As shown, there are even fully separate alternators that are external to the...

Looks good. I definitely need the deeper lugs with my slopes here, but I can see how yours could help your situation.

That JD plant in E. Moline, Il was (is?) where they make their big harvesters in the US. I remember touring the plant back in 2006. Next door was a huge derelict factory, where IH built some sort of farm equipment. As for JD compact tractors, the last I have owned (several 4300s) were...

The best solution will have a wire to ground for the LED with series resistor, as you say. Sometimes you don't need the extra wire to ground, depending on what you are switching and the value of the resistor. If the switch is for the directly-connected work light, running the LED/resistor in...

I probably shoulda got the mini-X YEARS ago, and I have had it 6y. What's your excuse, Carl? :-)

First, you have to find out what you have. Looks like a 4-terminal switch. Is the diode/resistor connected only to the 2 unused terminals, and only to them? If that is the case, you need to connect both unused terminals to the other side's terminals (respectively). It will only work in one...

....and you don't need the fancy switching valve that comes on the Branded minis. Best to stay consistent with the pattern on all the machines you own.

The best manuals out there are borderline worthless.

2 thumbs up on the hour meter installation. I also like the electronic tach/hour meters. I have used them before on 2-stroke equipment. The mechanical hour meters do not seem to be waterproof, so be careful about washing. Someone needs to ask Leking directly about the pilot valve RV spec and...

Everyone needs to take off all the panels on their new machine to see what they have, and how to maintain it. Info from the makers is anemic at best. That said, changing the control pattern to Backhoe style from Excavator style was very easy on my machine, switching 4 hoses on the main stack...

The Gator HPX diesel I have worked on is loud and stinky. If inside a barn, I would definitely be turning it off. Note these 3-cyl Yanmar diesels get louder as they get older or high hours, plus the newer ones run cleaner.

You mean you wrapped grass around the axle and not inside the clutch housing, correct?

You can also consider what I did a dozen years ago. I bought a car from a dealer in St Louis area. It was used, with only a few thousand miles on it. I paid an inspection service $100 to go to the dealer and do an inspection. I got the inspection report immediately, and then had the car...

Bought my new Hyundai Ioniq HEV from a dealer in Denver in 2021. Even after shipping it for $800, I saved a bit versus the dealer here in San Jose. A one year old new car at the dealer was even more. I never argued price; I just wanted something in a nice color. Most cars sold in CA are...

Nice looking paver job. Aren't you concerned about frost heave where you are?

It is a sad day, but I just said 'no' to a project Kubota, a 2013 L5740 HST, for $3200, delivered. Blown HST. Those on TBN who know me know this is my ideal project. Just can't get to it.

I am curious if that unit has return filtration, and if it is the same as on the EM15, which does need an upgrade to something better with a spin-on replaceable filter. Anyone who buys one should definitely open it up to see how it works.

I dunno yet. I hope to remove tranny soon. I have other things with higher priority right now. I did take apart the spare 4x4 tranny I have and found why it failed. The differential gears are still good, but I doubt I will need them. My seats are all missing, too, but I do have one seat...

Sure looks like it. Owners should try to contact them and get info on the hydraulic system, including the pilot control pressure and test port. I see their website offers an email address and a contact window.

Looks like the hydraulic block in your 3rd photo was not painted at all. The condensation will eventually do this to most of your hose ends. The zinc plating is better on some, vs. others. Also, if you use the tractor around fertilizer or livestock, corrosion will be greater. I like to...

Torque at the drive sprockets is a function of hydraulic pressure and motor volume. Pretty much the only time I have stalled the drive sprockets (system RV opens) is when I get a rock jammed in the tracks. Now POWER at the sprockets (actual work done-speed) is a factor of pressure and flow...

So, the hardline hits the boom when turned around? I have plenty of clearance.

Keep an eye on your oil temperatures! Any reason that you have not flipped the boom cylinder around to provide more protection for your hoses, and new valve?

Are your pins center-bored for grease, and retained by a nut? Or? I assume they are only 25mm, but I can not tell from the photos. If you put your machine name in your profile, we can all see what you have.

Since you have removed hoses at the valve, try some air. You can just use your airgun with 125psi pressure from your compressor. Movement using air can be sudden, so be careful. I have used air to clear fluid before, but I prefer to remove as much oil as possible from the cylinders by...

If "Chery", that is a major Chinese maker of cars. I visited a Chery dealership when I was in Chile back in 2013.

Interesting machine. You should start a thread about it. I see 2 differentials in the vids. Does it use a hyd cyl to articulate the center? And a dry foot clutch to motate? Makes me think of the Kubota R320 articulated loader.

Most of the ATVs I have owned were for repair and resale. You can still find plenty of them without titles, and therefore, without registrations. A no-title machine is worth much less, plus it can not be exported to Mexico legally, as many are. I have been forced by the DMV to register at...

On testing the pressure settings for a dual-crossover (cushion) valve: The way to do it cheaply, without installing a high-pressure tee fitting at the end of the valve stack (power-beyond), is to first put a gauge on the AUX hose, as I showed above. Then operate the house motor in both...

My house motor cushion valve is installed and working well. The Danfoss dual-crossover RV I used came pre-set to 1500psi. I turned both RV adjustors in one full turn as an initial setting. I was shooting for 2000-2200psi. This work-port relief setting is hard to measure with a gauge. The...

I have never bought an OHV brand new at a dealer in CA. I can just tell you that when you want to transfer a title from another state, you are forced by the DMV to register it for 2y, regardless of intended use on private land. The law says not required, but the bureaucrat says otherwise...

If you buy an ATV new in CA, you are pretty much forced into registering and titling it, even if only used on pvt property. That's $52 for 2y, and you can non-op it for $22 only during the renewal window a few months before the 2y OHV sticker expires. Forget it and fines can be as much as...

Our legislature passes a bunch of laws, usually over 1000 of them every year. Then, as the legislative session is coming to an end, the bills go before the governor to be signed, or not. Even our current gov does not sign them all. Many are effective in the new year. Long way of saying, 'yes'.

We already have the weight fees for pickups, but not the mileage usage fees. All pickups in CA are designated "commercial" vehicles and pay an annual weight fee. (Unless you weld on a camper shell and plead your case at the DMV.) And that's where SUVs and other heavy cars get away with...

Specifically, what mini-X did you buy and where did you buy it? All the issues you describe have been encountered and been discussed in this thread. I also led off with the choice between a beat-up Kubota and a new Chinese mini. If you imported your mini yourself into the US, then the default...

This is an old thread that I started, and I just reread it. I posted about this separately, but I did build my Suzuki Samurai dumptruck, and it still works well. I went with the power steering pump that is always on, and a custom reservoir that I made. I use a V-belt, which does sometimes...

Interesting. That is valuable experience. You are right that many 4x4 ATV ranch/farm users do not max out their machine's capabilities. I live on 19 acres with very steep trails. Going down them has always been more dangerous than going up. For years I used a full-time 4x4 Honda 300 (LSD...

I do not know the M59, but you may have a position sensor, and semi-automatic swing control. My old Kubota B20 had that, which was pretty low-tech, but did feature a couple of solenoid valves and just some contact fingers to detect the position. The owner's manual talked about it, so you don't...

Two rules of economics: tax something and you get less of it; subsidize it and you get more of it

Yeah that $3K rule has been around a long time. You can, of course, offset any new capital gains immediately with your deferred losses. That is one of the reasons I started using tax software in the early 90s. It would transfer deferred losses (and depreciation) from prior years to the...

Almost all these machines have their system RV set too low. How to fix that is early in this thread and on Utube: You want 2400-2500psi.

Welcome to TBN. Yeah, the Chongqing Rato engines seem to be one of the better Chonda engines out there. They are one of the makers of the Predators from HarborFreight. I have purchased several of them, and they compare favorably to other Chinese makers.

Welcome to TBN. Yeah, these minis are tippy, and it is more top-heavy with the cabin. Yours looks like the longer track version (41 instead of 37 track drive links), and those units don't seem to have any ballast weights in the back. Adding some would help but that is a big job. To avoid...

I did take apart that Pilot filter and determined the element was questionable and not easily replaceable so I ordered a new assembly from Grainger. It does look like the filter is supposed to handle 15 microns, which is certainly better than nothing. It also seems to be one that you clean...

I did post pix about the muffler and manifold mods above. I would have to look for it, as you would. I also posted about the oil changes, which can be messy. Just checking one of the 2 dipsticks will prob cause spillage, unless you tip the whole machine. I don't recall the thread size of...

That's a step in the right direction. Note that the stock muffler also puts out a ton of heat, and it is completely enclosed inside the house. The off-the-shelf screw-on mufflers I have used are not as quiet as the OEM, and they DO have to be unscrewed to open the rear door or panel, but they...

I hear ya. For an additional $20K or so you can get a nice manual and parts list. It will even come with a shiny new Kubota K008 mini-X. As a minimum, it sure would be nice to know about the pilot valve RV setting, and that supply line pressure filter.

You could tee the return from the pilot valves to the IN on the return filter you are going to install, and use only one filter. Looks like they put a hi-pressure filter on the IN line to the pilot controls. Strange. This filter will see the full pressure from the pump, regulated by the pilot...

Yes, I have a smaller pump, but I have not installed it. My early machine has a custom splined coupler, unlike newer units with Lovejoy couplers. This potentially requires that I have to remake my coupler if I change to the new pump. I would love to lower my pump volume a bit, but right now...

Yeah, that filter is in the return part of the circuit, draining to tank. That is good, but what is the spec on it, and how do you find replacements for it? At least they addressed this critical need. I would change to a known and serviceable 10u filter setup like what I did above. Thx for...

Welcome aboard, JOHNNYB. You are doing the right thing: open it up and figure out what you have. The return filter you found is probably inadequate. You really need a 10-micron filter, which is widely available and pretty inexpensive. Zinga is often the maker of the spin-on cartridge, and...

There seems to be some sort of distortion in the track near the 'S". Do both tracks have this seeming defect? The tracks I have owned on my XN08 and the later Ouke machines were made by different makers, but both brands seemed well-made and had company maker marks on them. Never heard of any...

Do you have a maker mark like this? I suppose you have the hydraulic tensioners. Maybe they are not working correctly.

Good observation. My Kioti tractor uses M27-1.5 metric O-ring port fittings, too. Definitely NOT DIN 2353 tube fittings or dual-purpose. I will bet that M27 fittings are pretty common on valve bodies.

You don't really need to add work-port RVs to your thumb circuit, as long as you follow some basic practices, incl using cyls of the same ID, using hi-quality cyls that can handle 3000-3500psi, and design your thumb in a way that it does not get excessive leverage from the bucket. I have...

As the oil heats up, it gets thinner and more of it gets by clearances in your pump, and/or motors. This points to wear, likely caused by unfiltered or poorly-filtered hyd oil. On Utube there is a vid by The Garage Connection that shows a hyd pump from an Agrotk mini with significant wear at...

I know what you mean by the bonded washers. I have seen them, but did not know the name, Dowty. The one above uses a separate washer and O-ring, however. Are the adapters specced differently, O-ring vs. Dowty washer?

Here are my parts for the cushion valve project. Other Chinese minis may use different size hoses or ports, so you still have to measure everything with a caliper. My philosophy is to convert hoses to ones with female JIC ends, then adapt to the required metric size. The hoses in this photo...

Well, it has taken a couple of weeks, but I now have all the parts I need to install a double crossover relief valve (cushion valve) in the house rotation motor circuit. Metric adapters and hose ends still seem to be tough to find in the US, and very high-priced. I used 4 different sources for...

OK, I see the accumulator now. Now you gotta open up the cylinder on the right to verify it is a filter. It is curious that there are 2 different torque proofing marks on some of the fittings. The latest in teal blue. And what are all those unused ports for? Maybe at least one is a pressure...

Welcome to TBN, Mike. Very interesting changes to the EM15. Esp the separate aluminum valve block. The black cylinder may be a filter body, as PTSG says, or even an accumulator. You mention the latter....do you have a photo of the accumulator? Open up that cylinder and take a photo. Looks...

That's a super-important concern. Convenience, ease of access, fueling, etc, all are factors in deciding what kind of backup one gets, if any. Around here, there are a wide range of b/u philosophies. Not one uses a PTO generator on their tractors, if they have tractors. 2 neighbors I know...

All I had to buy was a new air filter. Everything else was rebuildable without buying any parts, including the carb and points. Yeah, breaker points. Conversely, I bought a Generac 2200W inverter generator, and the control board failed when trying to start my refer. It should have handled...

Looks good, and vermin-resistant, too (4-legged kind anyway). Frequency is very important, yes. I added this cheap gauge to my Onan RV genny that I refurbished. You could install it anywhere. This one is only 4000W, but 1800RPM 2-cyl. 44yo. About 1/2-3/4 gal per hour, gasoline.

As stated, full sized freezers and refers may only draw 100W or so when running. It's the startup that is difficult. My last refer needed a startup current of about 15 Amps, but only 1A when running. When firing up your genny, prob all of your large motors in the refers/freezers will try to...

My wife was born at that hospital, back in 1953. It was the first Kaiser hospital, and their only hospital for several years. Her medical record number has numerous leading zeros. Still on Kaiser. I am on Kaiser's Senior advantage, which costs a lot per month, but covers everything but small...

I am a huge fan of using gear oil instead, even the thicker stuff, 85W-140. I use that in my Kioti, but it does take a while to put in. Note that many tractor manuals specify hyd oil OR gear oil for the front axle. Interesting about air expansion bladders for final drives. Many (most?)...

My first 4300 rebuild thread was 15y ago, and I did not separate the part about the front axle rebuild. It starts at post #115 here: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/john-deere-4300-complete-rebuild.146974/page-12 I was re-reading this old thread, and it has brought back memories...

You are fortunate it has not happened to you yet. As for DIY repair of the front axle, it is not too bad. Remember when I posted about it years ago? You have to make this special tool to get the nut out, and have a good set of snapring pliers. It is just a piece of pipe with a couple of weld...

Looks like the other one at that auction in FL went for only $4K. I guess they forgot to install the zerks.

Lotsa folks in the Bay Area own vacation houses in the Tahoe area, or other parts of the Sierras. It is laughable that they call them "cabins", since they are usually 3bed/2bath conventional houses with often more square feet of area than houses they own here. Many owners would rather not rent...

Yes, of course, he should do that very easy test to see if they move separately. It takes much more force to turn, vs drive straight. Small minis with 2-speed wheel motors often stall when trying to make a turn in high range. If RV setting was not verified, he may be starting with only 1500psi.

Which unit did you buy? Does it have a hyd return filter? Did you check and adjust your system relief valve? How many hours on your mini? My current guess is that your machine is not generating the force necessary to make the turn. Since you were able to turn earlier, your RV is prob not...

All good advice above. The factory loader valve is better in the obvious ways (joystick vs. 2-stick, already has PB), but the diagram shows it has float and probably regen as well. Easy choice. I have used both 2-stick and joystick controls for an FEL. One of them stinks.

Sure looks like the assembler zipped all the bolts on with an impact driver and did not come back to torque them properly. Not usually factory behavior.

I wonder what caused those 2 lower bolts to back out and hit the flywheel... Do any of the other similar bolts seem under-torqued? As for the mystery snap ring, it may make sense to pull the three point cylinder cover and look at the trans gears and shafts. A lot of work, I know, but you can't...

Have any pix you can post? I have not been inside a CK20, but I did buy and set up a new one back in 2006 for a friend (RIP). He let employees use it, so it got trashed. When it stopped working, I tried to buy it back. No luck. I think the CK20 has a single-plate, dry, mechanically-operated...

Yeah, and CalFire can bulldoze all sorts of firebreaks to stop the progression of an existing fire. No permits, no policing, no ****.

It is truly a bureaucratic disaster. I have rehashed my story on TBN before, but I did apply for a fire hazard exemption back in the 90s in prep to build my house. The CDF forester at the time denied it. I was forced to get another kind of exemption to the usual THP rules, after appealing my...

That is one of the biggest problems, for sure. I found a way to legally use small burn piles in my county, but I have to pay over $200 to the air district as a tax for the "privilege". Tho cutting up to 10% of large trees (12DBH) is a right on 10+ acre parcels here, you can't sell them...

Is that State Farm, Eric? They seem to have a third of the state's HO policies. I was recently renewed with State Farm and I used stated amount coverage instead of replacement cost +20%, which is the usual coverage. I also have a $1K deductible and no claims. I am at $1200/y. Much more than...

Other than the warranty repairs I did in the first year of ownership of my XN08, this is the first repair I did: My bucket cylinder rod had a small ding in it, probably from shipping or handling. After 20h of use or so, the drip was more than I could live with. So I swapped out the cylinder...

You are welcome to add pix and info about modifications to the modifications thread. Link in post #1.

Tractor HP is very secondary to weight. Your tractor is heavy enough to handle a hoe attachment that weighs as much as 2000# if you mount it to a strong enough subframe. I would look for an attachment in the range of 7-5-10.5-foot dig depth. I talk about the options you have in making a...

Most of the other south bay cities do something like that. In Sunnyvale it was spring and fall, plus you could haul stuff to the dump (SMARTstation) and not pay any fees. Nothing like it in San Jose.

I think San Jose is the last of the South Bay cities to do it this way. Kinda makes parking tough on the weekends in some neighborhoods. Other towns also did something like this before the advent of those large green wheeled bins. I only moved to the Silicon Valley in the mid-80s from San...

These next 2 repairs involve hydraulic cylinders. Overall, I am impressed with the quality of materials used, and both repairs were not due to poor assembly, construction, or materials. The rod finish does not rust readily, as often occurs with lesser units. When the container of 6 black 1T...

Just not too high, or cut a hole in the middle of the blade and install 2x2 receiver in it. As for buying and modifying a shelf-bought trailer hitch for the rear, that's a good idea if making the end brackets to fit the motor bolt holes is factored in. Maybe someone will do that and post a...

They are not high enough. Even my protection should cover more.

Usually because the key switch does not have the connection for ignition ON, like a car has. So, the hour meter and headlight are wired directly to the battery thru the big red tee handle switch. You need a starter switch like those on a riding mower.

You saw my short teeth, right? They work fine. The much longer single tooth I made for my custom 12" bucket works well, too, but longer must be stronger. Lot more welding so they are reinforced against bending.

That is why the design of my tank and filter is so much better. The all-thread rod that holds the strainer onto the tube and the access port cover runs down the middle, so the hose connection is below that on the lid. Very close to bottom of tank.

I buy plain bearing inserts by size, shipped directly from China or a US bearing vendor on the E. coast. You can probably get hundreds of hours on these machines before needing to replace them, if everything is kept greased.

Yes, I remember your posts. I really want to see the internals of your motor. I assume it is a BM1-200. Is it made by Hydro Man, like mine? What did you have to pay for it, total? I wonder if your keyway is also like the unusual one shown by JAMES above. How tough was it to remove the...

Yeah, that's right. Filter too far one way or the other, and starvation will happen one way or the other. That is what I was trying to say. Also, it seems that some units, like those from AgroTK (L12), for some reason elected to have a pickup port on the tank that is not very near the bottom...

Yeah, it is not clear to me how it is supposed to work, and why the tube is threaded. I posted these pix a long time ago, and my setup uses a long threaded rod, welded at one end, to hold the tube and strainer together. The tube in my photo is welded to the cover plate. Isn't the tube there...

I will figure out a way to get a better vid. I think what we see in the photos is the shaft of the motor above the pinion gear, so no room for set screws. In this photo, you can see how the motor is mounted inside the house. There is a square weldment that limits the movement of the motor if...

Believe-it-or-not, there is another 1-tonish Chinese mini sold at recent auction called the MS13. I don't think the name was intentionally a joke, but I suspect they don't use that name anymore. A friend just bought a barely used L47, which he is bringing over to do some maintenance. One...

I doubt there is visible play in the keyway. But your query makes me think I should do another vid with the camera underneath and a helper pushing back and forth on the bucket. If I had a helper. Another possibility is that the hoses expand and contract under pressure from forcing the motor...

I have my crossover valve now. Before I get started installing this, I video-ed my house rotation play up where I am working. Not too much slop, thankfully. Nothing like the other posts I have seen so far. My ring/pinion gear play is minimal, so I am less concerned about breakage here, but...

You have an electric mini-X, apparently. Can you post pix, especially of anything inside that reveals how it works? I have seen a few Utube vids that show electric 1-tonners, but I think they were powered by an A/C cord.

Yeah, they do work. Biggest reason to change for me is I use only one grease gun (Lincoln, battery-powered) with a locking nipple-grabber on the end. Works great, and I do not want multiple messy guns.

Here is another repair I did years ago. When my mini was new, I found one of the grease zerks did not take grease. I checked the zerk, which was fine, but the plain bearing insert grease hole did not align. So I removed the zerk, drilled thru the bearing insert, and reinstalled the zerk.. In...

When I first got my machine, the factory replaced any faulty parts I had under their one-year warranty. I had one poorly-crimped hose, and a damaged seal on one of the valves in my main stack. The parts came quickly by air, though the hose replacement required access inside the house, up on my...

I have now had my Rhinoceros (Xiniu) XN08 for nearly 6y, imported from China in 2018. My main TBN thread so far has been about importing it, and modifying it to do what I want, and not get damaged...

Don't forget to integrate some hose protection into your design. Looks good.

When my track came off, inward, I struggled for hours with crow bars, and other levers, after backing off the track tension. Not until I removed the sprocket was I successful. I have not tried using a strap. Definitely worth a try if this happens. This is why we post these success stories...

I like this vid cuz it shows the reinforced wheel mounts (frame tails). And it shows you don't really need a helper, which is a luxury many of us do not have. This method only works when the track comes off outward. If inward, the drive sprocket has to come off. I have had no tracks coming...

Well, maybe he will report that. In his video, you can see his blades stop when he operated a different valve. But he did a lot of feathering. On my tractor, I use a small hyd motor to run a mixer on the FEL. Only at idle, since the long 1/4" hoses really can heat up the oil. I estimate at...