OK, So I do not need a new tractor! But a excavator? Maybe...HELP!

[Nicfin36]

I saw a couple that were closer to $15K, but they looked old, rode hard and put up wet. I'm not looking for one, but I was curious. Would it be nice to have one? You bet! I just don't have a great need for one or the money and I wouldn't want another piece of equipment to upkeep anyway.

My BH77 backhoe is plenty good for my projects and I have no regrets getting it with the tractor. My septic system was giving me problems already and I had the backhoe just in time when it failed completely. Turns out each end of a 10 ft pipe had pulled loose, likely years ago and roots had finally blocked the pipes. A crappy job fixing (pun intended), but I was tickled to death using my backhoe that week.

 

[Henro]

I saw a couple that were closer to $15K, but they looked old, rode hard and put up wet. I'm not looking for one, but I was curious. Would it be nice to have one? You bet! I just don't have a great need for one or the money and I wouldn't want another piece of equipment to upkeep anyway.

My BH77 backhoe is plenty good for my projects and I have no regrets getting it with the tractor. My septic system was giving me problems already and I had the backhoe just in time when it failed completely. Turns out each end of a 10 ft pipe had pulled loose, likely years ago and roots had finally blocked the pipes. A crappy job fixing (pun intended), but I was tickled to death using my backhoe that week.

I saw a couple on Craig's list locally in the 15 to 18K range that actually looked quite good. But they disappeared quickly and I was not ready to act immediately anyway.

Have go get the cash readily available then get serious I guess. Good deals disappear quickly...

I have done a lot with my backhoe. When sewers came through I used it to install 200' of sewer line. Would not consider this a big job really. Without the backhoe impossible though.

I have used the backhoe for SO MANY things over the years that would have drove me broke if I had to pay someone every time.

No regrets on the backhoe purchase. Just would like something with a little more capability now...

 

[RCW]

I had this young fellow do some dirt work at the house last year. He's operated equipment since he was able to walk, and it's almost not an exaggeration. Known the family a long time.

He was renting the little Caterpillar excavator, as his smaller machine was broke down.

He said it was a digging fool, and seemed surprised by its capability.

I would trust him to know.

 

[Nicfin36]

That Cat looks like a nice machine. I wouldn't know what brand is considered to be the best though.

I have done a lot with my backhoe. When sewers came through I used it to install 200' of sewer line. Would not consider this a big job really. Without the backhoe impossible though.

That's been my experience exactly. Mine have not been big jobs, but impossible to do physically....even if I were much younger and capable. I think many expect more of their tractor backhoe than what it was really designed to do.

 

[kvc]

I purchased a Takeuchi 1.8 tonne mini excavator 2 years ago, that was in a sad state. I spent the wet winter months rebuilding it in my garage (all bushes, pins, seals etc and re-paint). It's the best machine I've ever owned, as far as versatility and ease of moving is concerned. I have a small landscaping business I do on the side and this machine is in huge demand for trenching, excavating for retaining walls and so much more. BTW Takeuchi invented the mini-excavator and are considered the 'Rolls Royce' of machines. Having pulled this machine apart, I can vouch for the excellent build quality. It's a pleasure to operate and that's from someone who spent 34 years in mining. I have a host of happy customers and without any advertising, I get phone calls all the time for more work. 3 cyl Yanmar motor and Eaton pump make this machine ultra-reliable.

 

[nbryan]

I purchased a Takeuchi 1.8 tonne mini excavator 2 years ago, that was in a sad state. I spent the wet winter months rebuilding it in my garage (all bushes, pins, seals etc and re-paint). It's the best machine I've ever owned, as far as versatility and ease of moving is concerned. I have a small landscaping business I do on the side and this machine is in huge demand for trenching, excavating for retaining walls and so much more. BTW Takeuchi invented the mini-excavator and are considered the 'Rolls Royce' of machines. Having pulled this machine apart, I can vouch for the excellent build quality. It's a pleasure to operate and that's from someone who spent 34 years in mining. I have a host of happy customers and without any advertising, I get phone calls all the time for more work. 3 cyl Yanmar motor and Eaton pump make this machine ultra-reliable. View attachment 51631 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51634 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51634

Sweet.

 

[retired farmer]

I purchased a Takeuchi 1.8 tonne mini excavator 2 years ago, that was in a sad state. I spent the wet winter months rebuilding it in my garage (all bushes, pins, seals etc and re-paint). It's the best machine I've ever owned, as far as versatility and ease of moving is concerned. I have a small landscaping business I do on the side and this machine is in huge demand for trenching, excavating for retaining walls and so much more. BTW Takeuchi invented the mini-excavator and are considered the 'Rolls Royce' of machines. Having pulled this machine apart, I can vouch for the excellent build quality. It's a pleasure to operate and that's from someone who spent 34 years in mining. I have a host of happy customers and without any advertising, I get phone calls all the time for more work. 3 cyl Yanmar motor and Eaton pump make this machine ultra-reliable. View attachment 51631 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51634 View attachment 51631 View attachment 51632 View attachment 51633 View attachment 51634

Looks like the operator knows how to use it for sure.

 

[Henro]

Looks like the operator knows how to use it for sure.

Certainly so. But why in the one photo is the excavator lifted, while over the trench, so one track is in the air? Just curious, do not have a clue...

 

[RCW]

Certainly so. But why in the one photo is the excavator lifted, while over the trench, so one track is in the air? Just curious, do not have a clue...

Do they rock them up like that and then pivot the machine to cross the trenches or otherwise pivot the tracks' direction?

I don't know either.....probably have seen operators do that...

 

[kvc]

Certainly so. But why in the one photo is the excavator lifted, while over the trench, so one track is in the air? Just curious, do not have a clue...

That was to enable me to drop the 400mm wide culvert pipe into position and ensure there was sufficient fall for stormwater to flow in the desired direction. Easier than moving the mini excavator away from the job and it was in the right place afterwards to back-fill, track-roll and smooth over the trench.

 

[kvc]

Last photo is of a happy customer after I spread 50 cubic metres of gravel on a new driveway that I contoured. He was so happy that he asked me to put in a 2 course railway sleeper retaining wall down the full length of the driveway (required modest trenching and leveling). Word of mouth is by far the best recommendation and Ted (the customer) helped me get heaps more work! I ended up spending almost a month at his property, doing all manner of jobs with this machine (transplanted 40+ trees, culverts, cut and fill for decking and more).

 

[Henro]

That was to enable me to drop the 400mm wide culvert pipe into position and ensure there was sufficient fall for stormwater to flow in the desired direction. Easier than moving the mini excavator away from the job and it was in the right place afterwards to back-fill, track-roll and smooth over the trench.

Believe it or not, I figured that out when I woke up in the middle of the night and needed something to think about rather than just counting sheep! I am serious!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yeah, looking at the pics 'tipping' makes a LOT of sense !! My luck backing ex out, I'd probably snag the edge,drop ex into trench,onto the pipe, then a LOT of 'words' would be spoken......

 

[notforhire]

I considered keeping my tractor and getting a mini ex. I would agree that a mini is superior to a backhoe in many ways.
I decided on getting a L47 w/ 3ph, 3 rear remotes and backhoe to do everything I need. For a small machine the loader is great. We have another property that's 1/2 mile away. If backhoe work is needed I can just drive the L47 over rather than load it on a trailer for a 15 minute job.
Occasionally I wish the backhoe was 100hp w/ 20ft of reach, but for the most part It does everything I need it to do.
I really didn't want to own several pieces of equipment. The L47 is about as close as I could get to a "do it all" machine.

 

[UpNorthMI]

You will not regret your mini ex purchase versus the back hoe. I was in the same position earlier this year and started looking for a used machine. I found that any reasonable used machines were priced far too high. I found a light used Kubota KX 040 and asked my dealer for a check price, I ended up paying $7,000 less for a new one due to special COVID pricing in May. I was lucky not to be too limited on budget.
I have been using my new machine a lot this year, I’m really happy with its capability, be careful not to go too small would be my best advice. The thumb and quick change attachment connection are so useful. Good luck in your search

 

[Cheeto]

If you do a lot of work with a BH then buy a mini-ex! They do way more than "move dirt" in my opinion. I had a BX25 and the BH was great. The mechanical thumb was okay. I moved up to a B2650cab with a BH77 and mech thumb. I used this for about 10 hours on our new property pushing over pines and digging stumps etc. It worked but it was slow and "felt" hard on the tractor.

A nearby rental outfit had a KX71-3SS (cab with heat but no a/c) advertised for less than 2/3 of new. 14xx hours on it with all maintenance records. I made a deal to rent it for a week and if I decided to buy, my rent went towards the purchase price. It blew me away the first day. It was easily a 10-to-1 ratio of how fast this thing dug trees. The hydraulic thumb and 360 degree rotating ability meant I could push the tree over, shake the dirt from the stump and stack them without leaving the seat or moving the machine. The only reason it went back to them was because we negotiated a 50/50 deal on new tracks and they installed them.

Since then I've lifted equipment on/off trailers (including the BH77 when I sold it), "de-limbed" trees higher than I could reach, dug rocks, moved rocks so big I had to hold them against the blade and lift that, grubbed and stacked brush, loaded limbs/brush into a dump trailer, cleared UTV trails on the property etc. etc. etc. Next summer it'll be on the hill behind us excavating boulders for a rock wall along the driveway. Unfortunately I'll likely have to rent a track loader to move the largest ones since travel is the one thing a mini-ex doesn't do well. I'll use the B2650 for the ones it can handle.