I Bought a $5k Mini Excavator

2023 ж. 2 Қаз.
89 648 Рет қаралды

These excavators have been all over KZhead. They can be found on Alibaba for $2k-$3k. Importing them yourself is extremely complicated and expensive, which ends up adding 2-3x to the original price. I always thought it'd be nice to have one, but I didn't want to deal with importing one. A couple of months ago, we started seeing these at local equipment auctions, which means someone else is doing the hard work. I bought this one, brand new, for $5,500. In this video, I figure out how to quickly transport this around the property and do a little cleanup at one of the ponds.

Пікірлер
  • Good purchase man. The people that make fun of these machines have obviously never used one. They have their place just like small trenchers, stump grinders, dingo's etc. At 5-6k it beats the hell out of a clapped out mini ex with 5-6k hours for around $14k.

    @BigDan12@BigDan126 ай бұрын
    • A clapped out mini would still outperform one of these.

      @dinosshed@dinosshed6 ай бұрын
    • maybe, if something major doesn't break or need repaired but 9/10 times that's why the clapped out mini is being sold...@@dinosshed

      @BigDan12@BigDan126 ай бұрын
    • A clapped out machine you can get parts for

      @chechnya@chechnya5 ай бұрын
    • @@chechnya found the junkyard machine owners lmao

      @alexarzamendi9475@alexarzamendi94754 ай бұрын
    • ​@@chechnyau can get parts for these some have kubota engines yanmar

      @immachine1565@immachine15653 ай бұрын
  • we got one of these excavators and for a year so far has worked out very well. you get about 2 1/2 hours of run time from a tank of gas 2.5 gallons and can get some fairly heavy work done

    @donfrance3@donfrance3Ай бұрын
  • Slow is smooth and smooth is FAST !!

    @fmdday@fmdday5 ай бұрын
  • Just posted a video to my channel of me running one of these little excavators with the TMK150 tree sheer. Crazy how productive these things can be.

    @R94GC@R94GC2 ай бұрын
  • You could secure it much better with a chain around the body of the excavator and tied to your fork frame…or you could position the forks between the tracks and the body and carry it that way, although I’m not sure if thats good for the body of the excavator

    @homesteadingskillz@homesteadingskillz10 күн бұрын
  • That's a crazy looking lawnmower!

    @sidrojoe@sidrojoe2 ай бұрын
  • Nice machine. I've heard others say they have an automatic "seat warmer" .

    @ronlowther9044@ronlowther90447 ай бұрын
  • It beats a shovel

    @neilkratzer3182@neilkratzer31826 ай бұрын
  • Honestly, you can’t beat the price. These are actually really fucking impressive if you have ever used one. Lol

    @patriotgaming2429@patriotgaming24294 ай бұрын
  • That seat is so far back you're apart of the counter weight :P

    @MrFakit@MrFakit2 ай бұрын
  • I have seen the hose end attached to a float about 8 in from the end or so, keeps the suction end out of the mud. Neat little machine..

    @novampires223@novampires2234 ай бұрын
  • For future reference you can lift it with the skid forks. Put the forks between the tracks and body.

    @chiefkyle1098@chiefkyle10983 ай бұрын
  • Nice video. Howecer good job

    @athabascastonetile195@athabascastonetile1957 ай бұрын
  • That’s one hell of a pallet! Lol:) thanks for the vid man.

    @ChainsawChuckSmallwood@ChainsawChuckSmallwood4 ай бұрын
    • One piece of 3/4” ply on the top should help it.

      @ChainsawChuckSmallwood@ChainsawChuckSmallwood4 ай бұрын
  • He's a secret agent Man.. doing all he can.... With a rubber band.....😮

    @timr31908@timr31908Ай бұрын
  • I bought one of these two weeks ago and I've been very happy with it so far. It's a lot more powerful than I was expecting. It doesn't take half the day to cross the property though. It's top speed is VERY slow, and I don't have a skid steer to move it around with.

    @Lord_Volkner@Lord_Volkner7 ай бұрын
  • See it has eyelets for a stationary claw to pin in, the small cotrol on your left that runs to the line with a quick connect is actually for running the claw that would pinch all your rift raft materials against the bucket. All the controls are regular as a big piece of equipment. After running kill the machine and just turn the to on position eith out cranking, see if your able to grab any or all joysticks and move one way or the other to drain pressure of the hydraulics. If you frain the hydraulics and take loose a hydraulic line forceably , you'll have problems trying to connect the female and male fittings back together, the female ball valve side will hold pressure if it's forced off before depressurizing.

    @averyblanton301@averyblanton301Ай бұрын
  • better than a spade

    @tanglewood777@tanglewood7774 ай бұрын
  • The funniest thing I’ve heard about them is the backfill rate with the blade due to the slow speed. It’s faster to wait for rain to wash the soil back in the hole.

    @dougtaylor7724@dougtaylor77247 ай бұрын
  • A shame it doesn't have a transmission that can be put into Neutral. If it did, you could tow it using a solid towbar. The next best thing would be a trailer with a bed that tilts.

    @outlet6989@outlet69894 ай бұрын
  • Might be easier to buy some steel and make a hook/bucket that you can bolt on too the bobcat bucket, upside down then go to the edge drop the hook/ upside down bucket and go backwards bringing all the weeds with you, just a thought, you could get out at least 1,5 mtr,

    @andrewrobinson2869@andrewrobinson28696 ай бұрын
  • Add a fan or 2 moving the hot air out of the body. And did you chnage the oil? My unit did not test as motor oil, it tested as some type of seed oil. Assume this is for getting around hazmat.

    @nbookie@nbookie7 ай бұрын
    • I haven't changed the oil, but I'll take a look now that I know this is a thing.

      @badcanyon@badcanyon7 ай бұрын
    • When I get a new tool for my DIY projects and have problems, I remember the saying, "If all else fails, I read the owner's manual." @@badcanyon

      @outlet6989@outlet69894 ай бұрын
  • It's easier on the rams and the pump. If you go slower instead of absolute, stop, use it like a ballet. One movement to the other slowly gently kind of like rubbing one out

    @itsokswallow@itsokswallow4 ай бұрын
  • Hello? Trailer?

    @gonzalosanabria2251@gonzalosanabria22514 ай бұрын
  • That is ISO controls also known as Cat controls.

    @frankp215@frankp2156 ай бұрын
  • they were 8k to 10k locally, now i can buy under 6 k ! Its worth the money even if it lost you for 3 years or so!

    @tacomafan7488@tacomafan74887 ай бұрын
  • Looks fun but spraying roundup would be much cheaper!!

    @crauchle@crauchle3 ай бұрын
  • How do you handle the heat of the engine on the seat? No biggie if you operating for 30 mins at a time. 1+ hour and that engine bay and seat make it near impossible to sit on. I like they are gas engines (easy to maintain), but agree, the speed and gearing for mobility is less than desirable. PS you are gonna want to invest in that trailer lol. Any idea how much more for a thumb on them?

    @fritzie1968@fritzie1968Ай бұрын
    • Mine came with a bolt-on thumb. Not sure how much a hydraulic thumb attachment is. I take the thumb off while digging because it gets in the way a little.

      @badcanyon@badcanyonАй бұрын
  • 😎👍

    @MINItraktor196@MINItraktor1967 ай бұрын
  • I'm surprised they didn't use a Chinese knockoff motor instead of a Briggs.... Harbor freight motors are pretty good actually

    @timr31908@timr31908Ай бұрын
    • Yeah, glad it's a Briggs - or really any common motor. Replacement parts will be much easier to find.

      @badcanyon@badcanyonАй бұрын
  • Wow just rent a good one

    @user-oc7uq8ue7t@user-oc7uq8ue7t2 ай бұрын
  • The low speed on your mini could be a preexisting defect ! No other owners has similar complain or issue. specially you said not be able to Perform multi functions at the same time. please check into it ! Thanks for sharing.

    @holdurhorse9149@holdurhorse91494 ай бұрын
    • Lack of speed is literally the most common comment I've seen on these things😄

      @tracy419@tracy419Ай бұрын
  • I have the same machine my only complaint is the travel speed. Has anyone either upgraded the drive motors or figured out how to make it walk faster?

    @oef-fl2nl@oef-fl2nl4 ай бұрын
    • does one track move faster than both together? If so its the single stage hydraulic pump, i would upgrade to 3 stage, it'll allow max speed from both tracks.

      @Loudsilence709@Loudsilence70921 күн бұрын
  • is this 800kg or 1 ton type? i cant tell visually

    @frezara.k8706@frezara.k87067 ай бұрын
    • I don't know. Where would I find out?

      @badcanyon@badcanyon7 ай бұрын
    • @@badcanyon there's a vin plate around the body cover... that should be giving a hint

      @frezara.k8706@frezara.k87067 ай бұрын
    • @@frezara.k8706 You can see the plate at 21:24. It has a "load" value of 880kg. Is that the number you're looking for?

      @brandoncannaday3442@brandoncannaday34427 ай бұрын
    • @@brandoncannaday3442 ah yes..didnt notice that earlier...so it 800kg then..haha..nice

      @frezara.k8706@frezara.k87066 ай бұрын
  • I need one haha

    @Walshslandscaping@Walshslandscaping3 ай бұрын
  • Sounds like your missing grease somewhere. Should be squeeking like that.

    @ryanthera9008@ryanthera9008Ай бұрын
  • These are. 15.500. Canadian. I know cause I sell them. I sell them with a ducar engine not a brigs and scrapem. Actually mines a pro. With thumb and sticks up by seat. Jhona deer Controlls. I also have. 1-1/4 lines return and auxiliary hook ups

    @athabascastonetile195@athabascastonetile1957 ай бұрын
    • ​@@pauljohnson7336lol

      @brich2929@brich29295 ай бұрын
  • We get to learn your whole life story too

    @user-yc9bv9sl8k@user-yc9bv9sl8k4 ай бұрын
  • It’s and whine hoist with a pump on it. Lol lol lol. My yanmar 20 badly enough power . Lol lol lol. But for 5000 bucks you get an automatic shovel. Lol lol lol 😮

    @lodwill5116@lodwill51164 ай бұрын
  • Ive seen so many vids of these things. In your opinion do you think they are worth.... or not??

    @deathbecomesu4604@deathbecomesu46043 ай бұрын
    • For the price, definitely worth it.

      @badcanyon@badcanyon3 ай бұрын
    • @@badcanyon thank you

      @deathbecomesu4604@deathbecomesu46043 ай бұрын
  • try removing the governor on the engine

    @cfndrip9141@cfndrip91417 ай бұрын
  • Found a video that does an amazing hydraulics breakdown and explanation for why the travel speed is so slow: kzhead.info/sun/nqebZM-HoXRumoE/bejne.html

    @badcanyon@badcanyon2 ай бұрын
  • Better grease it

    @paruggeri@paruggeri5 ай бұрын
  • When does it become easier to just use a shovel.

    @redtoppeddevil6699@redtoppeddevil66997 ай бұрын
  • Put a washer on it

    @user-db7kt1wt3x@user-db7kt1wt3x2 ай бұрын
  • Better invest in a grease gun !

    @billfox6491@billfox64915 ай бұрын
  • Might have been easier and faster to use a weed eater

    @debbiegonzales8035@debbiegonzales80354 ай бұрын
  • Use a brush cutter instead 2 minutes and better job

    @Saltbearer@Saltbearer4 ай бұрын
  • The 1st thing I immediately thought of was the US Army Corps of Engineers fining the hell out of you for not getting a dredge & fill permit for the removal of wetland vegetation! They take that very seriously. The next thing is you need a lot longer arm than what you've got. Same amount of money & you can get a lot more od a bucket loader rather than this limited mini/micro excavator. Im biased though as ive used bucket loaders for a long time & love them. As a completely different subject, get yourself a block of foam to put your inlet through. It'll keep your screen out of the mud.

    @guyh.4553@guyh.45533 ай бұрын
  • $5k for that😅

    @mattszarowicz5049@mattszarowicz50497 ай бұрын
    • The exact same size unit from a name brand is 15k-20k

      @williamherron9365@williamherron93654 ай бұрын
  • lmfao nice toy

    @Rush47.@Rush47.7 ай бұрын
KZhead