Mini Excavator Questions

[kthompson]

How far is too far to drive a mini to get to a work site?

Say you have an 80 acre square parcel. Would you need to trailer the mini to the far corners or just drive it?

How fast will it run, the spec is there. If the truck and trailer were handy to load and haul it would do for much less than 2 miles. Not sure if it is low or high speed on mine that is 2.5 mph...I can load and unload in 10 minutes easy if off road and no tie downs needed. Of course how rough the ground is makes a huge difference

 

[Steppenwolfe]

How far is too far to drive a mini to get to a work site?

Say you have an 80 acre square parcel. Would you need to trailer the mini to the far corners or just drive it?

My property is 90+ acres. I drive it to where I want it, leave it there overnight if need be, and it is really no big deal. I just plan my work in a certain area, then move on.

 

[oldafretired]

Well, just went and ordered a U55 angle blade open station mini ex today. Got the Kubota ripper too. Wasn't in stock at the dealer so should be here in a few weeks. My checking account sure did shrink a lot. LOL They had a angle blade KX057 in stock that they would have sold me at a really great deal but I wanted the U55 for the greater stick breakout force for digging up stumps.

 

[Snobdds]

Well, just went and ordered a U55 angle blade open station mini ex today. Got the Kubota ripper too. Wasn't in stock at the dealer so should be here in a few weeks. My checking account sure did shrink a lot. LOL They had a angle blade KX057 in stock that they would have sold me at a really great deal but I wanted the U55 for the greater stick breakout force for digging up stumps.

You will not be disappointed. I almost got the U55, but the owner of our Kubota dealer and i do not see eye to eye on things...So I bought a Cat instead. If your digging up stumps a lot, here's a trick. Rip the roots on one side of the stump. Then on that same side, use the blade like a dozer and try and push the stump over. The roots on the far side should act like a lever and hinge and the it should pop out. At least they do with the spruce, lodge pole pine and mountain firs.

 

[oldafretired]

You will not be disappointed. I almost got the U55, but the owner of our Kubota dealer and i do not see eye to eye on things...So I bought a Cat instead. If your digging up stumps a lot, here's a trick. Rip the roots on one side of the stump. Then on that same side, use the blade like a dozer and try and push the stump over. The roots on the far side should act like a lever and hinge and the it should pop out. At least they do with the spruce, lodge pole pine and mountain firs.

I'll try that out when the mini ex gets here. I've seen videos where they rip out two sides but never knew you could just do one.

 

[oldafretired]

Is there an attachment that replaces the bucket and looks like a grapple lid which would oppose the thumb. Which company would make something like that? Seems like it would be better than a bucket to grab logs and rocks.

 

[kevin37b]

Yes there are grapples for hoes .You best setup is a 12" bucket and hydraulic thumb . A manual thumb is better than nothing but every time you need it , the next pass it is in your way .

 

[millsan1]

I searched long and hard for a good used mini ex. After about a year, a great deal came along on a Takeuchi TB035. 7500 lb machine, and about 20 years old. Looks rough, but works great and cost me less than $7K.

I am of the opinion that once you own and use a mini ex, a backhoe will never do. Since i purchased Dirk (the Takeuchi), the backhoe has not even been on Britney (my BX).

It has gotten to the point that I just purchased a new Mahindra and will be selling the BX, since I only use my tractor for tractor work now, any digging is handled by the mini ex.

 

[oldafretired]

I was thinking of something like this one at the link below. Anyone use one?

Excavator Rake for Machines 11, to 18, lbs. SLS-SGR-1 | Equipmentland

 

[downsizingnow48]

That excavator rake looks like a good bet for debris and demolition. I couldn't find one for my B21 so made something similar. Together with a hydraulic thumb, it works much better than a standard bucket for clean up chores. I would not hesitate to buy the one in your link.