EdDekker
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2000
- Messages
- 192
- Location
- New Ipswich, New Hampshire
- Tractor
- Kubota B2400, Bobcat 331 Mini-Excavator
(higher resolution image attached)
I have a number of projects planned which will require some (hydraulic) help digging or lifting rocks. After considering options ranging from building a Cadplans backhoe, building a standalone cadplans digger, buying a subframe backhoe, to renting a mini-excavator, I bought this Bobcat 331.
It is a 1999 with 1188 hours, a hydraulic thumb, three buckets, and bucket quick change. I found a great deal from Flagstaff Equipment http://www.flagequip.com. I was nervous buying it in as is condition from a dealer in Arizona (I am in New Hampshire) but the price was so much lower than what I was seeing locally, even after paying for cross country shipping, I decided to take a chance. The dealer assured me that the unit was well taken care of and traded in by the original owner.
It was even cleaner than its description. I have only put about an hour on it since it arrived (just before the latest string of snow storms) but my ENTIRE list of to do and to fix items is 1) to replace the handle on the X-change (bucket quick change) (sometime in the indeterminate past it snagged on something and bent the socket out of shape), 2) the throttle sticks (needs some oil?) , 3) the safety switch sometimes fails to enable the joysticks (adjustment or cleaning needed?), 4) some tiny rips in the seat cover and 5) the cardboard box containing a spare set of filters didn't handle the rain well (they expected the truck driver to cover the box with a tarp, he didn't. Replacement filters are being shipped from Arizona). When I called about the lost filters I mentioned the missing x-change handle to the dealer and asked if they just stick a pry bar in the handle socket in their shop to change implements, I was immediately told that they would send me a new handle!!!!
I can recommend buying from Flagstaff Equipment and Chris Algya its owner.
