DigMaster DM200 Excv.

[Carl_NH]

With a 4" dipper stick width, you are locked into bigger more $$$ attachments.

But you could get a standard 90MM quick hitch for $150, cut the sides off, weld up a 4" wide version which will take the standard 90mm attachments.

I measured the stick width at the bucket pin last night on my 1.8T unit and it was 3.4" and the bucket ears are at 3.6"

 

[YONCEY]

Here some pics for the 1800kg DM200.You can see the measurements in the pics.
I am really liking this machine so far.

 

[Carl_NH]

Yoncey - thanks - those are good pics and confirms the dimensions. Then the least expensive option to use the 1-2 ton attachments is to get the normal quick hitch and make it 4" wide from 3.6" it is now.

Here's a link that has parts and attachments for the 1-3 ton machines, and also a number of videos on these machines - and weights etc, Home - Bison Equipment, Inc.

 

[John White]

With a 4" dipper stick width, you are locked into bigger more $$$ attachments.

But you could get a standard 90MM quick hitch for $150, cut the sides off, weld up a 4" wide version which will take the standard 90mm attachments.

I measured the stick width at the bucket pin last night on my 1.8T unit and it was 3.4" and the bucket ears are at 3.6"

Yes. that is what I have decided to probably do. To purchase the right attachments would be too expensive. I have located a used 12" that appears to be off a Cat 301 as posted on here. It is built heavyier . Weather permitting. I am going to check it out. It has been so cold here i haven't even looked it over good. Still has the plastic and foam on it.

 

[Carl_NH]

Send some pics when you get it installed - those Cat buckets are very good but $$$.

Ya - its cold here in NH too and next week - projected 2 degrees next Tuesday Ouch!

I have a 35K BTU propane heater in my barn that takes the chill off - will raise the temp 10* in an hour - enough to be comfortable unless it s really cold (under 10F)

 

[John White]

I went and looked at a used bucket. The fellow said he did not for sure know what it came off. It is 11" wide and the ears appear to be the same distance as the DM200. Just a close measurement with a ruler , the pins measure 1 1/4" with rust on it. Might have to get a couple of bushings for the ears? I also ordered a 25 mm quick hitch for it. I will have to make new ears for it. By the machine having 30mm pins, does that mean it has stronger hydraulics? So far I haven't seen any other 2 ton excv, with 30mm pin. Do you know of a make that size that does use 30mm'. I wonder if it will brake the quick hitch. This used bucket weighs over twice as the OEM bucket on it. i hate to think what it would cost new.












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[dfkrug]

By the machine having 30mm pins, does that mean it has stronger hydraulics? So far I haven't seen any other 2 ton excv, with 30mm pin. Do you know of a make that size that does use 30mm'. I wonder if it will brake the quick hitch. This used bucket weighs over twice as the OEM bucket on it. i hate to think what it would cost new.

Pin sizes do vary a bit among the 1-2T machines. The second and third units I had (same batch) had 30mm boom cylinder pins, but the cyl diameter was the same as the boom cyl on my first machine (Xiniu XN08). Both used the same pressure hyd systems, too, so there was no additional force on the boom.

It is not likely you will find any minis 2T or under with anything but 25mm buckets. If a maker changes the pin size of the bucket cylinder, suddenly none of the existing 25mm-pin buckets will work.

I would love to see all these machines go to 30mm pins everywhere, but I don't think it will happen. At least not for a long time.

The OEM buckets utilize 1/8" mild plate steel, and will not last unless you dig in dry sand all day. Finding and adapting a more robust bucket would be an excellent move. Or making your own, as I did.

 

[odisious]

Here is a picture of the attachments. I'll try and get you pics of the pamphlet tomorrow

 

[odisious]

If you are going to keep it or use it comercially,. I would go with the larger one, if just playing in your yard I would get a Rippa or other brand. Most makes in the 1.8 weight range use the same attachments as the smaller ones. This one is made heaiveir than most and the use the 30mm pins in the bucket so that makes attachments hard to find and very expensive. With this one I don't think you will have to make all the modifications and looks very well made. I paid $7.k for mine so there was nothing that would compare with it with a diesel engine. The only thing I don't like is that it does not have a swinging boom.

Has it felt underpowered?

 

[RickfromPaso]

I just became the proud owner of a DM200. Won at RB auction this AM. Would love some pointers on preventative maintenance/fixes I should do to help it last.

 

[RickfromPaso]

Based purely on pictures, it looks mighty similar to the Rippa R328, although that one has a Yanmar engine. There's a link for the "Manual" on that site but it looks like a brochure, not a manual. Maybe if you contact them they would have a manual (hopefully in English) for you?

If you look at the Rippa website, it lists Digmaster as a Dealer.

 

[John White]

It's been cold here since I got mine around the 1 of jan, I am 84 and the cold is hard on me, then the last of Jan. my wife passed away. (38 years of a good life with her.) She was a out side person and already had a lot of project for my digger. We should start getting a few warm days in a couple of weeks. I haven;t even looked it over good yet. Do they come with a hydraulic filter on them? Do you need a cooler on them for the hyd. As soon as it warms up I want to use it for about a hour or so, then change the oil and hyd. oil. Any advice appreciated.

 

[RickfromPaso]

Sorry for your loss John. I can't imagine... I will be picking my DM200 up this week and will check it out.

 

[RickfromPaso]

It's been cold here since I got mine around the 1 of jan, I am 84 and the cold is hard on me, then the last of Jan. my wife passed away. (38 years of a good life with her.) She was a out side person and already had a lot of project for my digger. We should start getting a few warm days in a couple of weeks. I haven;t even looked it over good yet. Do they come with a hydraulic filter on them? Do you need a cooler on them for the hyd. As soon as it warms up I want to use it for about a hour or so, then change the oil and hyd. oil. Any advice appreciated.

I just picked up my DM200. I took a quick look in the engine compartment and saw no hydraulic oil filter or cooler. In transporting it home, the big red key must have bounced out of the switch. It appears to be a battery cutoff switch but I am not sure. Does your DM200 have this on the right side of the bulkhead as you are sitting in the machine. Any ideas?

 

[John White]

Yes. right side.

 

[dfkrug]

It appears to be a battery cutoff switch but I am not sure.

The battery cutoff switch is a legacy of the first Chinese minis, which came with a 1-cyl diesel engine that had to be shut off mechanically. The starter switch did not have an electrical OFF position to kill the engine.

That has all changed with the advent of the 3-cyl Yanmars and Kubotas, plus the properly-designed gasoline engine units. They have a starter switch that enables the fuel solenoid on diesels, or kills the ignition on gas engines.

I tossed the cutoff switches on all of the minis I had, since it was just a battery- and hour meter-killer. Of course, I had to upgrade the starter switch, but you don't need to.

 

[John White]

RickfromPaso: I went down and looked at mine a while ago. Its a flimsy set up. It's a wonder I didn"t loose mine. It just fell out when I touched it. I am going to put a tie strap so it wont fall out. in the mean time if you haven"t got yours fixed, just find a 3/8 socket that will just slide in it, then find a piece of pipe or wood dowel the same size, drill a hole through it and just insert a nail. Trim it to fit and that should get you by, or go to harbor freight an buy a battery disconnect. That should work also.

 

[RickfromPaso]

I ended up going to O'Reilly Auto and they had a Doorman battery cutoff key set 2 for 9.99. It fit and works! DM200 started right up. Looks like a pretty well made piece of equipment. I bought a 25mm quick hitch coupler and some 30mm weld-on ears. Also bought a 24" tilting bucket, 8" bucket and 12" auger. Looking at adding a hydraulic oil cooler and filter and a Dual Crossover Hydraulic Relief Cushion Valve for the swing motor.

 

[RickfromPaso]

Oops! I was wrong, there is a hydraulic oil cooler in front of the engine radiator! And maybe a weird in-line filter.

 

[RickfromPaso]

I emailed digmaster and asked about a DM200 operators manual, and they sent me one!