Nice... I've got one of these for my skid steer and I'm trying to get it dialed in so to speak... do you have it so that the valve is all the way open when in use? I know this isn't really apples to apples, but I'm trying to find a good speed to run mine at... I have continuous flow on my machine so I can hold it at whatever speed I want it at.... but wide open seems way too fast. Do you keep yours wide open? halfway? just looking for somebody else's experiences! Thanks! ( My sickle bar attachment is supposed to be operated at 15-20 GPM, but I don't have a way to monitor that)
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The Chinese toy excavator thread.
- Thread starter sewer bill
- Start date
sewer bill
Active Member
I do have mine all the way open and I run the engine at full throttle but my machine does have a pair of bulkhead fittings going to the thumb circuit diverter valves which is probably reducing flow significantly. There is definitely a sweet spot of balancing the harmonics of the sickle bar mower to the flow rate, around 70% throttle it shakes my machine a lot and smooths out above that.
sewer bill
Active Member
Update on the saga of the Chinese excavator... Long blog post incoming so skip to the bottom for some pics and review if that's what you care about.
Full transparency because smarter or just as curious folks may be interested.
Its been 232 days since I have bought this machine for just over 8k after taxes. I still have not completely made enough money with it to pay for itself. I have made what I would consider good money in very brief moments with it though.
So far the most cash positive endeavor has been sickle bar brush cutting a farmers embankment where others have failed with much more expensive skid steer mulchers and brush mowers. Landed spring work with 3 more farmers properties for this niche and that will push me well over what I spent on the machine plus the cost of the trailer.
Quotes from me previously...
"I felt better buying new off brand crap than buying absolutely worn out brand name stuff."
Still 80% confident in this theory based on what I have done with it. The lack of machine weight is a significant drawback compared to a brand name machine and I have been lazy and haven't fabricated a counterweight solution yet but I have been getting good at using the boom as counterweight while tracking on hills, I have lots of of lead bar ready for spring when I feel more motivated to make it more stable.
"Who knows, maybe 6 months from now this thread will turn into me whining about how I wasted nearly 10 grand on a machine that keeps breaking and how I'm a dipshit for not buying a used brand name machine."
I haven't broken anything besides bending the thumb which I knew I would do and after getting more seat time on it I am much more confident in my ability to avoid such a preventable problem in the future. None of the hydraulic or engine or electronic components have failed or leaked in any manner I couldn't repair myself by tightening fittings.
"I would honestly be surprised if I get enough hours on it to slop a pin hole out."
WELL DARN FOLKS I WAS WRONG ABOUT THIS ONE LOL. Seems as if one of the bores was clearanced by paint. Got a sloppy bore in the boom with visible endplay even though I have been meticulous about grease, probably too much grease but whatever. It's still tighter than clapped out rental stuff but truly annoying considering my theory of new vs used. Concessions...
Now... for the realistic review... I'm at 34 hours, not gentle hours either... still got clear engine oil somehow, honestly baffled by this one. Might actually be a real kubota engine.
The last 15+ hours have been hammering on it showing no mercy in tracking over rocky muddy crap terrain and running the aux circuit hard on the sickle bar mower. Got it hot enough to become uncomfortable sitting on it but the machine never quit or leaked. Sickle bar mower attachment still holding up well seems overbuilt like it was designed for a tractor then had some ears welded on for a last minute excavator attachment.
I tore all the sheet metal off around 15 hours to identify hose rubbing and added little bits of zip tied slit hoses to prevent bigger issues. Brand name machines probably resolve these issues by having better designs.
Something that has become apparent which wasn't at all within the first couple hours is all of the fuel hose is terrible, possibly not even diesel rated, every piece of hose is cracking at the clamp, there's also an additional in line fuel filter which I didn't find until further investigation which seems compassionate on the Chinese side for accommodating crap in the tank. Also note the "never open" coolant cap sticker lol.
So the spring project goal for this machine entails new fuel hose everywhere, new spin on fuel filter, getting rid of the in lawnmower tier in line filter, and the 50 hour oil change. Already did the hydraulic oil change, might consider doing a completely new large diameter hose to and from the pump and valve for aux circuit to boost flow to the sickle bar mower attachment and reduce restrictions from the bulkhead fittings and thumb vavles. Maybe a return filter for the aux side if I get further into needing the other attachments.
Full transparency because smarter or just as curious folks may be interested.
Its been 232 days since I have bought this machine for just over 8k after taxes. I still have not completely made enough money with it to pay for itself. I have made what I would consider good money in very brief moments with it though.
So far the most cash positive endeavor has been sickle bar brush cutting a farmers embankment where others have failed with much more expensive skid steer mulchers and brush mowers. Landed spring work with 3 more farmers properties for this niche and that will push me well over what I spent on the machine plus the cost of the trailer.
Quotes from me previously...
"I felt better buying new off brand crap than buying absolutely worn out brand name stuff."
Still 80% confident in this theory based on what I have done with it. The lack of machine weight is a significant drawback compared to a brand name machine and I have been lazy and haven't fabricated a counterweight solution yet but I have been getting good at using the boom as counterweight while tracking on hills, I have lots of of lead bar ready for spring when I feel more motivated to make it more stable.
"Who knows, maybe 6 months from now this thread will turn into me whining about how I wasted nearly 10 grand on a machine that keeps breaking and how I'm a dipshit for not buying a used brand name machine."
I haven't broken anything besides bending the thumb which I knew I would do and after getting more seat time on it I am much more confident in my ability to avoid such a preventable problem in the future. None of the hydraulic or engine or electronic components have failed or leaked in any manner I couldn't repair myself by tightening fittings.
"I would honestly be surprised if I get enough hours on it to slop a pin hole out."
WELL DARN FOLKS I WAS WRONG ABOUT THIS ONE LOL. Seems as if one of the bores was clearanced by paint. Got a sloppy bore in the boom with visible endplay even though I have been meticulous about grease, probably too much grease but whatever. It's still tighter than clapped out rental stuff but truly annoying considering my theory of new vs used. Concessions...
Now... for the realistic review... I'm at 34 hours, not gentle hours either... still got clear engine oil somehow, honestly baffled by this one. Might actually be a real kubota engine.
The last 15+ hours have been hammering on it showing no mercy in tracking over rocky muddy crap terrain and running the aux circuit hard on the sickle bar mower. Got it hot enough to become uncomfortable sitting on it but the machine never quit or leaked. Sickle bar mower attachment still holding up well seems overbuilt like it was designed for a tractor then had some ears welded on for a last minute excavator attachment.
I tore all the sheet metal off around 15 hours to identify hose rubbing and added little bits of zip tied slit hoses to prevent bigger issues. Brand name machines probably resolve these issues by having better designs.
Something that has become apparent which wasn't at all within the first couple hours is all of the fuel hose is terrible, possibly not even diesel rated, every piece of hose is cracking at the clamp, there's also an additional in line fuel filter which I didn't find until further investigation which seems compassionate on the Chinese side for accommodating crap in the tank. Also note the "never open" coolant cap sticker lol.
So the spring project goal for this machine entails new fuel hose everywhere, new spin on fuel filter, getting rid of the in lawnmower tier in line filter, and the 50 hour oil change. Already did the hydraulic oil change, might consider doing a completely new large diameter hose to and from the pump and valve for aux circuit to boost flow to the sickle bar mower attachment and reduce restrictions from the bulkhead fittings and thumb vavles. Maybe a return filter for the aux side if I get further into needing the other attachments.
sewer bill
Active Member
Additional photos because *** is the 4 photo limit who is running this website lol
Sheet metal off...
Fuel hose cracking...
Anyway. Someone will probably find this vaguely interesting or worthy of talking some smack so here you go
Sheet metal off...
Fuel hose cracking...
Anyway. Someone will probably find this vaguely interesting or worthy of talking some smack so here you go
Glad its working out for you, but I'd be interested in how the machine is holding up after some real work. No offense, but running that sicklebar mower is about the lightest duty work I could think of for an excavator. Put a few hundred digging, trenching, clearing/stumping hours on it and report back.
DDoug
Formerly digger doug
Why ?
it's not a direct replacement for the more expensive ones, it has a niche.
ianjoub
Senior Member
My fuel hoses looked like shiite as well. I replaced them. I am close to 200 hrs on mine. I don't baby it. I do mainly land clearing (smaller trees up to 8" diameter or so, stumps up to 24" diameter, and palmettos), and dig drain field trenches. Still chugging along. May change the oil one day. Tried a heavy then light weight hydraulic oil, still jerky when hot. Tracks are looking rough, have a new spare set here for when they actually fail. Starter button stuck one time, burned up the starter motor. I replaced it with a cheap Amazon one. It must have run the starter for 30-45 minutes. I noticed when smoke started pouring out from under the engine cover.
Simon C
Senior Member
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Your honesty sets you apart and gives people things to think about. Much appreciated.
Simon C
pdeal
Active Member
I’m not convinced on the new chicom version vs well worn name brand. I personally opted for the well worn name brand. I bought the ugliest bobcat E10 Richie brothers had about a year ago. Did some fixing, it’s all pretty darn good. The thing i fight with it is hoses going bad.
Simon C
Senior Member
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From what has been posted on this site the hoses are junk in short order on some of these cheapy's.
Simon C
pdeal
Active Member
Well as i said mine’s not the cheapie. But is well used (1150 is hours). Mine is a used Bobcat. Mostly it’s the pilot line hoses that have been going. I don’t think the chicom machines have pilot controls. I think i still prefer the fixer upper.
Simon C
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2015
- Messages
- 3,051
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- Rocky Mountain House , AB., Canada
- Occupation
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic
I was referring to the chinese ones with cheap hoses and stuff. Yours with 1150 hours is a better buy in my opinion, and yes all will have hoses fail, just your will be further along in life before having to.
Simon C
ianjoub
Senior Member
Mine has pilot controls.
sewer bill
Active Member
I'm just as curious as you are and I'll keep posting about it occasionally as I find work for it. This is just kind of a running experiment with some cash I had on the side to fill in free time and so far I'm not disappointed but I did go in on this expecting some Chinese shenanigans.
Someone expecting a finished product ready to work would have been disappointed with just the small stuff I have addressed by now.
If I get reasonably profitable with this, I am still going to use it, but it will be moving money towards a brand name machine.
laidback01
Well-Known Member
Newer Chinese mini excavators offer both pilot hoses and real Kubota engines. They are no longer $5k with those parts. But they are all over eBay and Alibaba now. They will show up in droves... and I will be watching as people ask to have it hauled away - I'd LOVE to get one of those small diesels for my sawmill!
pdeal
Active Member
Just buy an old light plant for a small kubota engine. That’s about the cheapest you’ll find.
It’s good they upped the game some on these diggers. A friend of mine bought one with a briggs and stratton engine.
It’s good they upped the game some on these diggers. A friend of mine bought one with a briggs and stratton engine.
DM&RDBulldog
Well-Known Member
Good read and seems you are well aware of what you bought. Looks cheap and not thought through in most the areas one would expect of a budget machine. Nothing that cant be upgraded or tweaked by someone with experience.
In my opinion you made a good move. Day job can support this gamble while you get your beak wet taking on entry level jobs and testing the new machines overall quality. Its nice to be in a position to take a cheap gamble in the hopes it works out. Been there many times myself and by majority the cheap gamble panned out to be overwhelmingly positive.
I bought a new cheap Daewoo machine back when Korean machines were the junkiest money pits according to others. Gave me a few early surprises from the way the hoses and wiring were routed/secured but I just strapped, padded, or rerouted what needed it. 24 years later I sold it with over 22k hours, and it never gave me any more trouble than my well-established Case machines.
Best thing ive found after being around the larger Chinese equipment is its almost identical to the brand they reverse engineered and copied. Not sure if the little ones are as close but for example if you ever look at an SDLG, XCMG, or LiuGong you can just swap to better quality hard parts from Cat or Komatsu who they copied to the last bolt placement.
SANY is the only one so far ive been around that actually has enough of their own design.
Looking forward to reading more updates.
In my opinion you made a good move. Day job can support this gamble while you get your beak wet taking on entry level jobs and testing the new machines overall quality. Its nice to be in a position to take a cheap gamble in the hopes it works out. Been there many times myself and by majority the cheap gamble panned out to be overwhelmingly positive.
I bought a new cheap Daewoo machine back when Korean machines were the junkiest money pits according to others. Gave me a few early surprises from the way the hoses and wiring were routed/secured but I just strapped, padded, or rerouted what needed it. 24 years later I sold it with over 22k hours, and it never gave me any more trouble than my well-established Case machines.
Best thing ive found after being around the larger Chinese equipment is its almost identical to the brand they reverse engineered and copied. Not sure if the little ones are as close but for example if you ever look at an SDLG, XCMG, or LiuGong you can just swap to better quality hard parts from Cat or Komatsu who they copied to the last bolt placement.
SANY is the only one so far ive been around that actually has enough of their own design.
Looking forward to reading more updates.