Excavator/pond/thoughts?????

[paulsharvey]

Don't get me wrong, if you can put that 8T hoe to work around the place, then buy it for that. If a JD-27/35 does it all better, and you need an 8T for a week, there really are down sides to using that 8T in a 3.5T job the rest of its life.

Not trying to stop someone spending their money, but buy the machine for the 80% tasks.

 

[paulsharvey]

Ok, lets attack this the smart way.... Can you demo a unit? Basically rent for 30 days, with the rent payment credited towards the purchase if you sign? Case used to do some demos for Serios customers who where actively looking to purchase. Its not free, but it gives you a much better feel for an $80,000 investment.

 

[paulsharvey]

Im NOT beating up the Kx-080, but a hydralic fluid change is 25+ gallons, off brand tracks are $2400 each, ect. If thats the machine you need, go for it, and enjoy; just make sure its the machine you need around every day. If not, rental seems like money thrown away, but it doesn't make it a bad option.

 

[dodge man]

A Porsche no. A Corvette or another Challenger yes.

Show you wife this list, things needed to live.

1. Oxygen
2. Water
3. Excavator
4. Food
5. Shelter

 

[anomad]

A Porsche no. A Corvette or another Challenger yes.

Show you wife this list, things needed to live.

1. Oxygen
2. Water
3. Excavator
4. Food
5. Shelter

Excavator provides shelter and can dig for water. So you are kind of getting a 3-fer special there. LOL!

Messicks has a high hour used KX080 for 33k. Wouldn't come without issues or be as pleasurable as a new one. But you wouldn't lose much if anything after selling it with another 200 hours on it.

 

[paulsharvey]

A Porsche no. A Corvette or another Challenger yes.

Show you wife this list, things needed to live.

1. Oxygen
2. Water
3. Excavator
4. Food
5. Shelter

Not helpful to our OP, but a TrackHawk

 

[Carl_NH]

Messicks has a high hour used KX080 for 33k. Wouldn't come without issues or be as pleasurable as a new one. But you wouldn't lose much if anything after selling it with another 200 hours on it.

Fuddy has a friend / dealer where he can get a new unit at cost, still a sizable investment either way as others have pointed out where a KX040 or 57 may get the job done too. Just depends on the deal Fuddy can make.

 

[paulsharvey]

If its the right machine for his general use. Thats not something I can answer, but even with a "great deal" its expensive if its not the right tool for the next 8 years.

Dont get me wrong, I kinda hate the idea of renting a machine for $1600/week, or $4,800/month, and realize that would have made 6 months of payments on an owned machine, but sometimes that is the right choice, sometimes not.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Just wanted to say I really do appreciate all the thought provoking ideas!
Certainly I could pay someone to do everything I need doing but as we all get older if you can afford and will enjoy something...why not do it?
My Dad passed 10 years ago at 88, saved all his life then probably because he grew up during The Great Depression became way too frugal. He wore patched clothes and worked with worn out equipment, tools, saws, etc.
I always told him "you saved for a rainy day and now it's pouring!!!".
What a shame. The garage is full of old chainsaws not running, mowers, everything patched yet he had money to buy anything.

 

[paulsharvey]

Something I thought about today, while we where paving; does that steel tracked Kubuta come with the rubber track pads, or is regular steel tracks? In dirt, not an issue, but if you have concrete or asphalt that needs crossed, dragging out a dozen old tires to track across it gets old

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Something I thought about today, while we where paving; does that steel tracked Kubuta come with the rubber track pads, or is regular steel tracks? In dirt, not an issue, but if you have concrete or asphalt that needs crossed, dragging out a dozen old tires to track across it gets old

Ones I saw today were all rubber track. Good point because I would be crossing asphalt.

 

[paulsharvey]

Depending on your terrain, I actually think rubber tracks can be better. If you deal with a lot of sharp rocks, steel are more durable, but traction is less. In mud, steel is better traction. Im actually thinking, for a homeowner type, rubber would be better if it might sometimes sit a couple months at a time. Pins won't rust seize, ect. Each has its place though

 

[BleedingOrange]

Fuddy, just wondering if you placed your order with Santa for the new excavator yet ? Only a couple more weeks til Santa comes !

 

[bridge4]

OP probably lives where it doesn't matter. But here in the the restrictive new england, I can't cross rivers with steel, needs to be rubber. Do people do it? Have I done it?

Well the point is, if you've got nosey neighbors or troublesome town officials, rubber is needed up here. Hopefully OP can just live their life and have a nice pond without worrying on things like that though!

 

[EddieWalker]

What is the reasoning for not allowing steel tracks to cross a river, but it's ok for rubber tracks?

 

[bridge4]

What is the reasoning for not allowing steel tracks to cross a river, but it's ok for rubber tracks?

phenomenal question. I wish I had an answer, but it is the law in Mass where I live.

 

[EarPlug]

I put Eddie's comment into CoPilot - What is the reasoning for not allowing steel tracks to cross a river, but it's ok for rubber tracks?

Got a long AI response but here is a summary of what CoPilot said:

The Underlying Reasoning​

The distinction isn’t about whether steel tracks can physically cross rivers—they can—but about minimizing ecological disruption and visible damage. Regulators view rubber tracks as a compromise: they allow necessary equipment access while reducing harm to sensitive environments.

In summary: Steel tracks are banned from river crossings in some regions because they’re seen as too destructive to riverbeds and ecosystems, while rubber tracks are permitted since they’re less invasive and more surface-friendly. The rule is rooted in environmental protection, even if operators find the logic inconsistent.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds like the politicians have never operated equipment. They probably have the thought that metal is meaner to the planet than rubber is. My experience is that rubber tracks will spin when wet and dig ruts a lot faster than metal tracks. But it's like anything. If it's a law, we just figure out how to deal with it.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

So back to the pond expansion portion of the equation. When I did my pond I enlarged a very small pond. I fully built my pond "expansion" first and deeper than the current pond. I just left a portion of ground undisturbed on the edge of the current pond to keep the water in. Then when I had the new portion completely finished I broke the dam and let the old pond fall into the new section. Because the newer section was lower I was able to then work on the shallower old pond without having to pump anything. Though the muck was pretty tough to work with. I just dug good shale from the newer part and built a peninsula out that I walked the excavator out on to reach the muck without sinking. I also used a dozer to push up a dam of muck and keep it coming closer to the excavator. But I think you could do the same with the X if you didn't have access to a dozer.

 

[paulsharvey]

Tracks are great, BUT, if you have stuck or seen someone stick a tracked machine; they get Very stuck, as in, sometimes it becomes more of an insurance salvage operation than a rescue....

Meaning, dont get over confident walking the machine into muck