Compact Excavators; Kubota KX series recomended?

[Dargo]

I believe that a new (or late model) compact excavator would suit my needs better than a backhoe. I went and looked at and ran a Kubota KX161-3 and a KX121-3. Both were cab units with heat and A/C. I think I want to stick to that since my tractors have the same. Anyway, I'm not really sure that I need the 161 (slightly larger) over the 121. The 121 still has a 11.6' digging depth and the one I looked at had a 6 way dozer blade where the 161 only had an angle blade. I'm not sure I'd really need the 6 way blade, but I can think of times when it sure would come in handy. I used to have an old D6 dozer when I was digging my lake and it was handy for crumbing out the lake and forming the dam. Most of the actual work was done with a full sized excavator and a Cat 955 high lift dozer though. I've long since sold off all that equipment and don't need anything that big anymore.

I was curious if anyone here had either of these Kubota compact excavators or had any other brand and model suggestions. I'm leaning more towards the KX121-3 size because it would do everything I need and is lighter and easier to haul around. I really liked the features the Kubota units had but I really have never looked at any other compact excavators.

 

[RJG]

I was in the market back in March for a mini. I looked at the 121 and the 161. The saleman for the Kubota suggested that for the small increase in $, the 161 would be the better choice. I then looked at the Cat machines and ended up buying a new 303.5C CR. It ended up being less expensive than the 161. I found the interior to be much more comfortable than the Kubota machines. The breakout force spec seemed to be better - although salemen and even the specs seem to be inconsistent. I do think the 'dozer' blade is really limited in what it can do. Mine is a simple blade. Not sure if I would put extra dough into a 6-way on a mini...but I'm no dozer expert.
I have logged about 200hrs on the Cat and I really enjoy it. I was worried about the missing counterbalance that the Kubota has but after I was digging a pool last wk with hardly any room to swing, I have a fresh appreciation for the (near) zero turn radius of the Cat. I think either brand will be fine. For me, a key factor was the local support and service. The Cat folks have consistently impressed me and I know I made the right decision but this is most likely a function of the local sales company management and not brand-specific.
Good luck!
Randy

 

[Ken45101]

I have a KX-121-3 and I love it! It has the angle blade and that is wonderful. The 6 way wasn't available at the time so I can't comment on that.

I've put about 70 hours on my unit so far, digging hillside trails, excavating a hillside for a new barn, and doing 150' of trenching.

The 121 was the limit for me because of the weight hauling. I had started out considering the KX-91 but decided the 121 was a better way to go and still light enough to be hauled around easily.

Oh yeah, I also used it to rescue a 8000# skid steer that I got stuck on a trail

 

[kubota orange]

Can't recommend the Kubota mini's enough. At my job we use two different Kubota excavators nearly every single day and they never dissappoint. Just keep them greased and serviced routinely and you are good to go!

 

[Ausman]

How dumb is the dude comparing a 161 @ 5.5 Tonne to a Cat 3.5 tonner on price!!!!!

 

[Dargo]

Well, with my other "projects" going on right now and taking the current economy into consideration, I ended up getting what I needed rather than what I wanted.

I wanted a brand new machine and a climate controlled cab. However, being realistic, only using the machine for personal use forced me to be more practical in my purchase. I ended up getting a used Bobcat 325. It seems to be similar in size and capacity to the Kubota KX91-3. I thought about getting some jobs lined up and getting a new Kubota, but that would necessitate me hiring someone else to run it most of the time. I just didn't want to do that.

Hopefully I didn't make a big mistake, but I spent almost 50k less than what I was going to spend for the Kubota KX-121-3 all decked out the way I wanted. Now I just have to wait for my "new" (new to me) Bobcat to get back from being painted and new decals installed. Anybody either used or know about the Bobcat 325 mini machines? They seem to be a relatively popular machine, but I know being popular doesn't mean being better. Thoughts or comments about the Bobcat 325 machine?

 

[SimS]

Dargo;

I have found some pretty good advice at heavyequipmentforums. There is a separate forum for mini-exs. I think there are even some TBN folks there also. Best of luck with your Bobcat, I'm sure it will be fine. Like you said, they sure are popular.

SimS

 

[coopers]

I highly recommend Kubota. They're very solid machines. The 121 and 161 are both very well built smooth machines.

 

[20 20]

I bought a mini JCB and have not looked back once, do 3 times the work a BH can plus I'm not tying up my tractor. A neighbor bought a BH for his tractor{NH} paid allmost as much as I did for the used mini{400hrs still close enough to new}. Funny thing is he's allways borrowing a friends mini to do stump pulling etc. These mini's are becomming more and more popular and the amount of work one can do compared to a BH is well worth the investment.

 

[kthompson]

Dargo, two years back did all kind of looking at used Mini Excavators. Ended up with a Volvo which I like a lot. But one person I talked to who had a Kubota on his work trailer said he rather have the Bobcat due to if memory is correct, the brucket strength and how much the bucket would curl compared to the Kubota. No idea model of either machine. I do know at that time on bucket breakout Bobcat was a good bit higher than any other machine I looked at. But with the Bobcat you did get a Kubota engine, right?

I had rather had Kubota only since I have two Kubota tractors, but dealer here thought they were gold not orange. It mattered not the age or condition he was the highest I priced.

 

[Dargo]

I bought a mini JCB and have not looked back once, do 3 times the work a BH can plus I'm not tying up my tractor. A neighbor bought a BH for his tractor{NH} paid allmost as much as I did for the used mini{400hrs still close enough to new}. Funny thing is he's allways borrowing a friends mini to do stump pulling etc. These mini's are becomming more and more popular and the amount of work one can do compared to a BH is well worth the investment.

As I was lamenting selling my Case 580 several years ago and looking to buy a similar sized backhoe and I had person after person tell me just what you said; for most tasks, the mini (or compact) excavator is much better than a backhoe. I found it hard to believe since they are physically so much smaller until I ran one. Dang, what great little machines they are! All of the local dealers around me who sell backhoes now stock one or two backhoes and a dozen or two compact excavators. Since I already have a utility sized tractor with an 84" skid steer bucket on it, I really didn't need to duplicate the FEL part. And, as you pointed out, a backhoe attachment for my utility tractor was going to cost me as much as a nice used mini excavator and I'll have the added bonus of not tying up my tractor!

I'll admit that I really, really liked the Kubota 121 machine but it was actually what I actually wanted and not really what I needed. As 'kthompson' pointed out, the Bobcat I bought is Kubota powered. Also, my local Bobcat dealer is also my local Kubota dealer. He has no real preference for either machine over the other. It ought to do what I want it to do anyway. Being that I keep all of my equipment inside and nice, I can't stand that it's got a case of the 'outside ugly' look to it. I've about got it apart enough to start getting it ready to paint. I figure another couple of weeks of working on it in the evenings and I'll have it the way I want it and will still only have about what a backhoe attachment for my tractor costs tied up in it.