Vicsec VC13 mini-excavator

[zwelch]

Nice analogy but not sure these things get too much speed .

Travel speed is definitely slow, but the swivel/arm controls are fairly responsive. With a full bucket at full extension, the arm will have enough weight that rotating too fast will easily lead to tipping over the machine. That's true even with my bigger machine, and the same kind of thing happens with a fully raised front-end loader on a tractor. If you go slow, you can feel one side of the machine start to lift off the ground, and you can take action before things go sideways. Move too fast, and you're not going to be able to react in time....

I only need a small machine. There is also the VC-15 that's available near me, which is a little larger but I don't think by much. It has the pilot controls but from what I've seen they are not the real deal pilot controls.

Personally, I felt that the auction prices for the larger machines like the VC15 were disproportionately higher for a relatively marginal increase in power/size.

 

[zwelch]

Today's lesson: not all o-rings are created equal.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, my VC13 developed a leak at the output port of the hydraulic pump, due to the factory-installed o-ring deconstructing itself. I had replaced that o-ring with one that I had on hand, and it solved the problem... temporarily, as it turns out.

The o-rings that I had available were your average nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). These are supposed to be good up to 250°F, so one might think that would be good enough. What I forgot is that temperature is only one part of this equation; this part's location at the output of the pump means it is under very high pressure. The resulting combination of temperature and pressure caused the o-ring to deform and start to push through between the outer retaining washer and the fitting, resulting in a fresh leak in the same spot. The new failure looked identical to the one in the video that I linked.

Consequently, I visited my local Harbor Freight last night and picked up a pack of Viton® (fluoroelastomer) o-rings. This material is rated for 400°F and should withstand both the heat and pressure present in this system. To improve my odds against another failure in this spot, I also picked up a small tube of compatible grease; this will fill the void between the o-ring and the washers, providing a little extra seal and support. With luck, this solution should resolve this issue for the long term. Time will tell, but I definitely would recommend adding this to the long list of "things to check and upgrade when buying a new machine".

At this point, I suspect that this is a common problem with these machines, and it begs the question: why do NBR o-rings appear to be installed by the factory in this location, when it should be obvious by now that they will not survive? This line of thought then prompted a fresh theory about why these machines are prolific at auctions: they are being sold "as-is", so the manufacturers and distributors avoid virtually all possible warranty responsibilities. Accounting for future warranty claims can only raise the price tag for new machines. This brings us back to my initial assessment of these machines: you need to perform your own repairs, or it likely will be cheaper to buy a machine with a warranty.

On the bright side, the machine was super easy to tear down for this repair in the field, using only a single set of plain combination wrenches ranging from 12mm to 27mm. A socket set would make some steps go faster, but it's possible to avoid the extra weight when one must carry the required tools and supplies to the machine.

 

[2manyrocks]

Who is selling these at auctions? The auction company themselves or some one else? Auction sales avoid the need for dealers but who is actually putting these out for auction?

 

[newbury]

Today's lesson: not all o-rings are created equal.
<snip>
Consequently, I visited my local Harbor Freight last night and picked up a pack of Viton® (fluoroelastomer) o-rings. This material is rated for 400°F and should withstand both the heat and pressure present in this system. To improve my odds against another failure in this spot, I also picked up a small tube of compatible grease; this will fill the void between the o-ring and the washers, providing a little extra seal and support. With luck, this solution should resolve this issue for the long term. Time will tell, but I definitely would recommend adding this to the long list of "things to check and upgrade when buying a new machine".

<snip>This brings us back to my initial assessment of these machines: you need to perform your own repairs, or it likely will be cheaper to buy a machine with a warranty.

On the bright side, the machine was super easy to tear down for this repair in the field, using only a single set of plain combination wrenches ranging from 12mm to 27mm. A socket set would make some steps go faster, but it's possible to avoid the extra weight when one must carry the required tools and supplies to the machine.

As a potential buyer - does anybody have a concise list (from this and other threads) of

"things to check and upgrade when buying a new machine".

and of critical tools to carry along?

 

[zwelch]

As a potential buyer - does anybody have a concise list (from this and other threads) of "things to check and upgrade when buying a new machine".

I have tried to use this thread to document all the upgrades and repairs that I have made to my machine. I think I have covered the bases, but I hope others will chime in to mention anything that I have missed. In my original post, I compiled my initial list mostly by scouring the epic thread that I referenced, but I did a lot of additional research and did not keep a list of source references. Your own needs may vary, so research each of the items to determine your own priorities.

and of critical tools to carry along?

These machines do not really have space for a toolbox. In my support vehicle, I usually carry a fairly standard set of tools for working on my various machines:

• socket wrench set w/ extensions,
• combination wrenches,
• impact driver with socket adapters,
• grease gun,
• nitrile gloves,
• paper/shop towels to mop up grease/fluids,

That said, I only use these machines around my farm, so it's a quick trip back to the shop in my UTV for anything else that I might need. The wrenches and shop towels are the minimum to do any meaningful work.

 

[dfkrug]

These machines do not really have space for a toolbox.

So true.

I carry a lot of crap on my ATV, but rarely have the "right" tool for when I need one. I try to bring a pint or so of gasoline with me. Lasts a long time.

I park my mini in the forest and go to it in the ATV, but not when I drive it anywhere. Then ya have to walk.

 

[zwelch]

Finally, I started to level out a couple of paths near the shelter, as the mini was able to squeeze between a fence and structure where the bigger machine could never reach. However, it was around this time that I noticed the hydraulic fluid level had dropped considerably. Upon examination, I found there is a small drip at the output of the hydraulic pump. While doing research about these machines, I found a video of someone who experienced the same problem while breaking in their machine. The root cause there was an o-ring that got crushed between the two washers that seal that fitting.

I had to tear down the machine to replace the o-ring again. Afterward, I took it out again for a few hours, and it started leaking again. Apparently, I need to find better o-rings?

I was double-plus careful when installing it, so I am certain that it did not get crushed. Instead, it seems that the hydraulic pressure forces the o-ring to be pushed out between the outer washer and the fitting.

 

[dfkrug]

...the hydraulic pressure forces the o-ring to be pushed out between the outer washer and the fitting.

Any photos?

 

[zwelch]

Any photos?

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, and I was in a hurry to fix the machine to get some work done. So no pics this time.

After a little bit of research, this sounds like an "extrusion failure". I believe that the Viton o-ring that I used was too soft (probably 75A). At the very least, I probably need to use a harder o-ring (90A), but I also have discovered that "backup rings" and "face seal o-rings" exist. Still digging into possible options, but maybe someone might have seen this problem and can offer the best solution.

 

[dfkrug]

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, and I was in a hurry to fix the machine to get some work done. So no pics this time.

After a little bit of research, this sounds like an "extrusion failure". I believe that the Viton o-ring that I used was too soft (probably 75A). At the very least, I probably need to use a harder o-ring (90A), but I also have discovered that "backup rings" and "face seal o-rings" exist. Still digging into possible options, but maybe someone might have seen this problem and can offer the best solution.

OK, after watching the video, I see what's going on. This is a fitting problem and not a pump seal problem.

I have not had this happen with any of my metric (DIN) o-ring fittings. I have had problems with SAE ORB (O-ring boss) O-rings and back-up washers, but they work a little differently.

Does there seem to be excess clearance on the smooth part of the fitting where the O-ring seals? I mean clearance between the O-ring ID and the fitting.

You may have a poorly-made no-brand fitting. You might try a new fitting, or a thicker o-ring.