Mini Excavator Sizing?

[m7040]

This a pic of mine. I wish I had gone bigger if I had to do it again

 

[Acwa]

I've lifted 1.5k over the side close in, blade down I was puckered to the seat lol but I did it without damage I'm aware of. Yes the hydraulics are strong enough to lift 2.5 k in front with blade down imo. It's a strong little machine.

So I could push or carry the stone close in and then as long as I am facing the wall get it up 2-3 feet onto the wall, again it’s rare I think that I’d need to do this as I’d put the larger ones at the base. While a larger machine might be nice I think much bigger and I’d loose access to certain areas.

 

[4570Man]

Maybe I don’t fully understand the lift numbers, the 26g says it can lift 2573lbs from the front, shouldn’t that be able to easily handle those rocks, granted not over the side?

It probably would lift 2500 pounds at the shortest radius. But if you push the boom out any distance the capacity is dropping. I can lift a 3600 pound block with my KX40 and swing it 360 degrees but try to reach it out even a little and it tips.

 

[Acwa]

If you don't need a zero tail swing check out the takeuchis. The big butt overhang makes them very capable for the light weight machines compared to the zero tails.

Is the advantage if zero tail just the ability to have more swing ability in small spaces? I’m not sure the foot or two matters for me.

 

[4570Man]

Is the advantage if zero tail just the ability to have more swing ability in small spaces? I’m not sure the foot or two matters for me.

It’s generally not a big deal but a no tail can swing within its footprint. If you parked a regular machine 1 foot away from a wall you couldn’t swing it because it would hit. I can’t spin my 40 in my dump trailer.

 

[Fixastuff]

Is the advantage if zero tail just the ability to have more swing ability in small spaces? I’m not sure the foot or two matters for me.

Yeah. If two machines weigh the same and one had tail swing and one doesn't the tail swing machine will lift more and feel more stable. At least that's been my experience. To me a zero swing excavator is like a tractor with no counter weight.

 

[Acwa]

Yeah. If two machines weigh the same and one had tail swing and one doesn't the tail swing machine will lift more and feel more stable. At least that's been my experience. To me a zero swing excavator is like a tractor with no counter weight.

That makes a lot of sense, so for my use a tail would be advantageous.

 

[m7040]

The best advice I can give is rent first before settling on size. You want to be sure to get it right

 

[jjeff]

Also I believe you can get bigger counterweights for Deere it will take away the minimal tail swing however. If you go this route and you buying new do it at time of purchase so you can hopefully get credited for other CW. It will also change the balance points of the machine.

So I could push or carry the stone close in and then as long as I am facing the wall get it up 2-3 feet onto the wall, again it’s rare I think that I’d need to do this as I’d put the larger ones at the base. While a larger machine might be nice I think much bigger and I’d loose access to certain areas.

Unsure of your operating skills so I will defer this question to others.

 

[Acwa]

Novice but extensive experience around heavy equipment in general and certainly understand the physics, that said if only used an excavator a few times.