Chinese digger recommendations

[sheder]

no paid april 15

 

[sheder]

driver was way cool

 

[Carl_NH]

Excellent news on your units arrival Sheder and thanks for the pictures - how is the fit and finish overall? Also I was under the impression that it was two speed too based on what Chirs said, and by the manual and other info on the FB mini ex group.

I placed my order May 3 and Chris (USA Excavator) indicated it should arrive June 12-14 which is 6 weeks from order.

 

[Mej13579]

I contacted Chris mine will be picked up for delivery Tuesday, hopefully by here in Texas by this Friday.

 

[sheder]

both tracks too tight ... replaced 20 grease zerks 2 striped ...bought tap no problem...the pilot controls are smooth ...machine is strong and smooth and not loud I run at a low rpm...as per "owners manual" slacked tracks Im a happy guy. iTis not jerky..I am no good as a operator but having a hell of a good time.

 

[sheder]

no grease any where bought a ryobi cordless oh fun

 

[sheder]

I am a old guy 250 lbs size 12 shoes ... It is possible for a smaller man to run this thing. thumb hard to run my feet are to big . legs are to long
fit and finish. better than i expected that little motor just purrs ... the controls smooth there are no you tubes on these machines .. all you see are the one toners ... jerky .. selling points top mounted main ram bolted in pins... pilot cont... hose routing... kabota ... $$$$ the kabota can be fixed ... there is a pump
..3 moters 5 rams if you can get to a machine shop for idlers your golden ...I am very happy

 

[Carl_NH]

Thanks sheder - I am 6'3 - 240 and size 13 shoe and have similar concerns on pedals. I am looking at the folding SST or AL pedals they have for min ex's in lieu of the large fixed pedals on these machines - only $30 a piece.

I plan to do other mods too - adding the brace and covers between the wheel motors with a hitch setup, and already bought steel for cutting edge for front blade. Already bought the tilting bucket, Screen bucket and QA for the buckets and looking at maybe getting the bigger 230MM 9" wide tracks - Chris said the tracks are 230x72x41 - can you verify thats the track size (should be a number on the inside of the track).

Mine should be here in the next week +- per Chris. Thanks again for the detail on fit and finish, and send more pics when you get a chance.

 

[sheder]

thanks

Thanks sheder - I am 6'3 - 240 and size 13 shoe and have similar concerns on pedals. I am looking at the folding SST or AL pedals they have for min ex's in lieu of the large fixed pedals on these machines - only $30 a piece.

I plan to do other mods too - adding the brace and covers between the wheel motors with a hitch setup, and already bought steel for cutting edge for front blade. Already bought the tilting bucket, Screen bucket and QA for the buckets and looking at maybe getting the bigger 230MM 9" wide tracks - Chris said the tracks are 230x72x41 - can you verify thats the track size (should be a number on the inside of the track).

Mine should be here in the next week +- peer Chris. Thanks again for the detail on fit and finish, and send more pics when you get a chance.

when you do the mod on pedal fil me in Please I can get my foot on it but my leg hits the control

 

[Carl_NH]

thanks

when you do the mod on pedal fil me in Please I can get my foot on it but my leg hits the control

Will do - also can you look at your tracks and confirm the size ? 230x72x41

Also you mentioned 2 speed when you lift the lockout it is faster ?

 

[Carl_NH]

Will do - also can you look at your tracks and confirm the size ? 230x72x41

Also you mentioned 2 speed when you lift the lockout it is faster ?

Well I got a note from Chris to contact the delivery dispatcher this morning and before I could call them the machine was in the driveway-l m on a trip now too so driver unloaded and drove up driveway- Liam the driver was a very nice guy

 

[Mej13579]

Where are you at? Mine is out for delivery I’m in east Texas.

 

[Mej13579]

View attachment 874069

Well I got a note from Chris to contact the delivery dispatcher this morning and before I could call them the machine was in the driveway-l m on a trip now too so driver unloaded and drove up driveway- Liam the driver was a very nice guy

Where are you at? Mine is out for delivery also. I’m in east Texas.

 

[Carl_NH]

Where are you at? Mine is out for delivery also. I’m in east Texas.

Like it says in my profile- coast of nh - north of Boston if you need a reference

The driver was from Pa so I think they bring them into east and west coast ports

 

[drawthree]

View attachment 874069

Well I got a note from Chris to contact the delivery dispatcher this morning and before I could call them the machine was in the driveway-l m on a trip now too so driver unloaded and drove up driveway- Liam the driver was a very nice guy

Have you had a chance to play with the machine yet, and how do you like it so far?

 

[Carl_NH]

Hi Drawthree - I left for FL on the day it arrived and just got back Tuesday AM. All I have done so far is move it to the barn and start to plan modifications.
- First impression overall looks real good for the $$ - the Terror stickers were peeling

so I no longer have a Terror - now its just an XVIII - took me 2 hours to remove them and some shipping labels they adhered to the boom.
- Need to adjust a few things like the rear door fit needs the rubber bumper and hinge aligned better
- The kubota engine is smooth and quiet - the pilot controls work nice and smooth - but its ISO and my Kubota is BH controls so that will take some getitng used to
- I am going to modify the foot pedals - at 6'3" and size 13's its a bit tight on the platform - probably going with the SST or AL pedals that flip up
- Other mods will be adding a brace and hitch between the drive motors but its pretty robust already unlike the 1 tons
- Looking at the Slew motor today deciding whether to put in a cushioning Valve - there are two ports on the top of the motor and 1 port at the base - assume this is a bleed port?
- Lots of hoses and valves come with the pilot controls - so its pretty tight under the floorboards to access things
- Have the 8MM grease zerks, and will go around and do that, put on the QH for the buckets. Still need to source connection fittings for my tilting bucket - I got 14MM Quick connect hydraulic couplers but they are too small so I need to adapt them.

I will get some more pics tonight ..
-

 

[drawthree]

Machine looks nice. I'm super tempted to upgrade from my 1 ton typhon with cab to one of these diesel models but I can't justify it. The diesel and pilot controls sure would be nice but the machine I already have is more than capable of doing the small jobs I'm throwing at it.

 

[Carl_NH]

Took a few more pics today - got the QD and Tilting bucket installed, replaced the needle grease zerks with brass ones, and got it parked in the barn now so I can access all the machines. Still in clean up going over the machine and review/tightening everything, etc.

A few findings - the tilt bucket and foot control is too sensitive - it needs a flow valve on the tilting bucket to restrict the flow as its too fast - I need to research the options for flow control to the thumb and bucket circuit. The pilot controls are great as you can feather the controls, the bucket/thumb needs the same ability. I have a new foot pedal set on order that will sit closer to the floor boards and hopefully provide a little more feathering control for the bucket and thumb.

Also these machines don't have load sensing - another feature that adjusts the output of the Hyd pump to the load - that would be great to have - but probably another 2-3K in controls/pump.

Overall its well done for $12K - includes the quick attach, 24" screen bucket, and tilting bucket.

The seat is OK - a bit weak in the hinges and a rough ride, so may buy a $250 suspension seat if I can get one that fits the space.

 

[Mej13579]

Took a few more pics today - got the QD and Tilting bucket installed, replaced the needle grease zerks with brass ones, and got it parked in the barn now so I can access all the machines. Still in clean up going over the machine and review/tightening everything, etc.

A few findings - the tilt bucket and foot control is too sensitive - it needs a flow valve on the tilting bucket to restrict the flow as its too fast - I need to research the options for flow control to the thumb and bucket circuit. The pilot controls are great as you can feather the controls, the bucket/thumb needs the same ability. I have a new foot pedal set on order that will sit closer to the floor boards and hopefully provide a little more feathering control for the bucket and thumb.

Also these machines don't have load sensing - another feature that adjusts the output of the Hyd pump to the load - that would be great to have - but probably another 2-3K in controls/pump.

Overall its well done for $12K - includes the quick attach, 24" screen bucket, and tilting bucket.

The seat is OK - a bit weak in the hinges and a rough ride, so may buy a $250 suspension seat if I can get one that fits the space.

Thank you for your review so far. Mine is sitting back home waiting for me to get back from vacation. I can’t wait. Are you going to change the oil I have heard they ship them with a break in oil and should be changed after a few hours of use.

 

[Mej13579]

Took a few more pics today - got the QD and Tilting bucket installed, replaced the needle grease zerks with brass ones, and got it parked in the barn now so I can access all the machines. Still in clean up going over the machine and review/tightening everything, etc.

A few findings - the tilt bucket and foot control is too sensitive - it needs a flow valve on the tilting bucket to restrict the flow as its too fast - I need to research the options for flow control to the thumb and bucket circuit. The pilot controls are great as you can feather the controls, the bucket/thumb needs the same ability. I have a new foot pedal set on order that will sit closer to the floor boards and hopefully provide a little more feathering control for the bucket and thumb.

Also these machines don't have load sensing - another feature that adjusts the output of the Hyd pump to the load - that would be great to have - but probably another 2-3K in controls/pump.

Overall its well done for $12K - includes the quick attach, 24" screen bucket, and tilting bucket.

The seat is OK - a bit weak in the hinges and a rough ride, so may buy a $250 suspension seat if I can get one that fits the what size are the grease zerks?