Looking for a mini for my homestead

[MovingRox]

Hello,

I am looking for an older machine that has no def or dpf to keep the machine easier to work on myself. I have around 10 acres of mountain, creek land. I have lots of creek bank damage from flooding that I need to repair and would like to create some trails up my mountain for my side by side and a bolder retaining wall. I was thinking maybe a Takeuchi tb135 or tb145 with canopy would fit the bill. Looking for a well built machine which I can still get parts for. It is just for use around my property so if it’s down a week while I’m working on it that’s not a big deal. Any suggestions on those machines or others that would fit the bill. I also have a few 2x2x6 cement blocks that will need to be moved around my bridge so need a machine that can move those (~3600lbs). I think the tb135 is a bit small to do that but once they are moved I shouldn’t need to move them again. I was also looking at IHI machines. Budget is around 20k. Thanks in advance!

 

[CM1995]

Welcome to the Forums MR! Glad to have you.

Taks are solid machines but you might have to increase your budget to $30K or more to find a decent one.

 

[KSSS]

IHI also builds a really good mini ex. Doesn't get the recognition that others do, but the machines are solid.

 

[MovingRox]

Does anyone know what year they started adding def and dpf’s? 2013?

 

[CM1995]

Does anyone know what year they started adding def and dpf’s? 2013?

Machines this small will not have DEF even 2025 models. IIRC any piece of equipment over 75 HP requires DEF and everything under just some sort of DPF.

 

[MovingRox]

Ok right I don’t want a machine which needs to run a regen to clean the dpf.

 

[MovingRox]

IHI also builds a really good mini ex. Doesn't get the recognition that others do, but the machines are solid.

What size machine would you suggest by them … would a 35 or 45?

 

[KSSS]

Either one would serve you well. I would go with the 45 just to give a little more capacity. What is nice about them, is they are minimalistic machines, everything you need and nothing you don't. I had a 35 sized IHI. The folks at IHI/KATO in Elizebethtown, KY did a great job taking care of me, really good people.

 

[PeterG]

Taks are solid machines but you might have to increase your budget to $30K or more to find a decent one.

The TB135 was quite popular because United Rental had them for many years. I bought one from United rentals and liked the machine a lot. However, on my own ignorance I did not inspect it well enough. The air filter housing uses plastic clips to hold the cover on. These clips should be inspected to see if the housing is not cracked and the cover has been installed correctly. In my case, there was damage to the cover, and the engine eventually failed. I also had bucket pins that broke a few times possibly from being operated too loosely for too long. I still like Takeuchi's and have three of their mini excavators. Get it with a thumb for sure. The TB135 is easier to find than the TB145. Neither machine is going swing around 3000 lb concrete blocks well, if at all, but they can easily drag them around and position them.
20K buget, plus a few thousand more some new hydraulic hoses, buckets, battery, filters, oil etc.
That's my machine in the attached image. No one, including the Tak dealer seemed interested in pulling the engine out for a rebuild.

 

[MovingRox]

The TB135 was quite popular because United Rental had them for many years. I bought one from United rentals and liked the machine a lot. However, on my own ignorance I did not inspect it well enough. The air filter housing uses plastic clips to hold the cover on. These clips should be inspected to see if the housing is not cracked and the cover has been installed correctly. In my case, there was damage to the cover, and the engine eventually failed. I also had bucket pins that broke a few times possibly from being operated too loosely for too long. I still like Takeuchi's and have three of their mini excavators. Get it with a thumb for sure. The TB135 is easier to find than the TB145. Neither machine is going swing around 3000 lb concrete blocks well, if at all, but they can easily drag them around and position them.
20K buget, plus a few thousand more some new hydraulic hoses, buckets, battery, filters, oil etc.
That's my machine in the attached image. No one, including the Tak dealer seemed interested in pulling the engine out for a rebuild.

Yeah browsing around I see many more of the tb135s compared to the 145s … what 3 do you have ? Yeah I just need to be able to move the blocks even it takes a while man handling / dragging ect them with the machine .

 

[MovingRox]

Either one would serve you well. I would go with the 45 just to give a little more capacity. What is nice about them, is they are minimalistic machines, everything you need and nothing you don't. I had a 35 sized IHI. The folks at IHI/KATO in Elizebethtown, KY did a great job taking care of me, really good people.

Yeah I’m looking for more basic machine don’t need all the bells and whistles… simple that works is what I’m looking for .

 

[laidback01]

you know, I wouldn't look at the cement blocks as your ruler. 3600lb is a heavy weight even for a 10k machine. picking it with the blade down, sure doable. but it's going to make that rig tippy as you rotate.

buy the machine the accomplishes 90% of what you are looking for. then rent for the other stuff. I know you said homestead... but a truck and trailer are likely something you already have for that situation.

 

[KSSS]

The 35 sized machine has been the best selling size of all mini excavators for a long time. The rational I think is due to its light enough to move around without a lot of DOT hassle. If this is a farm machine, you likely are not moving it a lot, if at all. I would go for the 45 sized machine for that reason as well.

 

[MovingRox]

The 35 sized machine has been the best selling size of all mini excavators for a long time. The rational I think is due to its light enough to move around without a lot of DOT hassle. If this is a farm machine, you likely are not moving it a lot, if at all. I would go for the 45 sized machine for that reason as well.

Yeah I was thinking the same .

 

[MovingRox]

you know, I wouldn't look at the cement blocks as your ruler. 3600lb is a heavy weight even for a 10k machine. picking it with the blade down, sure doable. but it's going to make that rig tippy as you rotate.

buy the machine the accomplishes 90% of what you are looking for. then rent for the other stuff. I know you said homestead... but a truck and trailer are likely something you already have for that situation.

My 1st main job is fixing around my bridge and the creek banks before more damage is caused. Here is a pic with a machine a neighbor had so you can get perspective . I felt like that machine was too small and bigger would be better.

 

[laidback01]

I was able to get a 2001 50 ZTS for the price you mention in budget, but i had to do a lot of repair to it for it to be usable. I went that route because I felt anything less than 10k lb was not suitable for my needs. My point is - if you are willing to take a broken machine, you may end up with a great machine that costs a summer's worth of up front time, but will be a great machine the rest of both your lives.

but yeah, 10k or 12k if you are leaning way out like that and picking big rocks.

 

[laidback01]

Ok right I don’t want a machine which needs to run a regen to clean the dpf.

This varies by manufacturer. I don't really care for much past stage 1. When they get it so the computer is integral to the running of the injectors of the fuel management system is computer controlled.... I don't really want to have to own that. simple mechanical injection all the way! but that relegates you to around 2003-4 and older. Still you *can* find equipment with mechanical injection and catalytic converters that meet regulations for their year up till about 2008 at the most. after that it's pretty much all computer controlled and ... yea def sucks, but the real issue - even if the machine is perfect, it won't run without that silicon brain working perfectly.

 

[MovingRox]

I thought I read somewhere that the kx121 ect had mechanical injection.

 

[laidback01]

My apologies. I'm not looking to get into specifics. I know very little about individual machines - rather I was trying to make that point that having a computer control everything kind of sucks. I don't like fly by wire sticks - would rather have pilot controls - by that I mean, a pile of plumbing to the bottom of the joy stick rather than a cat-6 cable or whatever is used. Anyway, each make is different. I know the most about the specific machine I have - a Deere 50 zts. I have some older Kubota engines for various things - and they also have mechanical injection. I know that the years 2012-2014 were the big years for interim Tier4 and final T4 for a lot of the manufacturers. Getting a non-T4 system in good shape is difficult now. wait another 10 years and wow is it going to be fun then!

 

[PeterG]

The Tb145 has good reach, and it's better at lifting heavier items. I was actually looking for that size machine but could never find one, and that was several years ago. I now have little TB016, a TB240, and a TB153FR. The TB153FR (6 ton machine) has been nice. You can get a 9 ton TB175 for 30K. For moving big rocks for walls and erosion control a 6-9 ton or bigger machine can be a great choice.
The image is of my TB153FR doing Rockery. For doing a trail in the woods, you don't need always that big a machine.