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Crawlers, Dozers, Loaders & Backhoes Discussion Forum

What your choice of mini excavator?

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Mark /ca

11-10-2004 18:20:34




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I'm tossing around the idea of getting a mini excavator. Looking at the Deere 35ZTS. Any good or bad opinions? What do you guys have and what do / don't you like about it. Thanks in advance.




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Jeffie

11-14-2004 08:55:53




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  
I've used most brands of Mini's.

My personal favorite is the Takeuchi's.
(Price/vs Performance)

Lots of power, nice ergo's etc.

I've found the Deere's to be underpowered...



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Allan/CA

11-11-2004 07:55:37




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator?W in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  

Wev'e tried several different brands of mini exs from rental yards and dealers for some of our jobs. The JD 35 and the CAT 303 I really liked, good balance and stable. The zero tail swing saved us on a retaining wall or it would have ment hand labor. Wev'e used Bob Cat 331 and 225 but on the smaller one it just bounced around to much and by the end of the day I felt like I was beat up. We used some other brands and they worked ok. Recently one rental co brought one with only pilot controls which was not to bad but I don't like to have to learn new controls when working around electric and water lines. JD 35 would be my choice from the ones we have used good luck. Allan

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TimV

11-11-2004 07:49:13




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  
Mark: I ran a JD 35C ZTS for several hours earlier this year--a buddy rented it to do drain work around his garage. It was a nice machine--tight, responsive, and very good ergonomics. The only complaint I had was that it seemed a bit under-powered, or to be more accurate, the relief valves kicked in faster than I would have expected for a machine of that size. This machine was nearly new--only a few hundred hours, and still had most of the paint on the digging surfaces. I can't comment on what it might be like once it started to age, but it worked very well once you got used to its limitations.

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Roy Suomi

11-11-2004 04:07:22




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  
The winery I do a lot of work for just purchased a Deere 35.. Excellent machine.



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jhill

11-10-2004 20:18:46




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  
I have a 1999 Kubota KX41-2b. I really like it. It is a 3000 lb machine with rubber tracks a 15" bucket and a manual thumb. Has joystick controls. Very powerful for its size. I can get in very small spaces with it. Has 1700 hrs and runs like a top. Only thing I would change is go one year newer to get the adjustable track width for more stability.

jhill



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Bob in Minnesota

11-10-2004 18:41:43




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark /ca, 11-10-2004 18:20:34  
We have a Kubota KX151 with long stick, hydraulic thumb and four buckets, 12", 18", 24" anf 48". Lots of room in the cab!, quality construction, quite engine, lots of power for its size, 12,000 lbs. It has steel tracks, the blade is very usefull in addition to stablizing the machine when digging. Be carefull when looking at the zero swing machines be attentive to the cabs interior room, you don't want to be cooped up for several hours in a cab with no room.
Kubota would be my choose for another mini excavator, they do sell more mini excavators in the world then any one else. Many very good machines availabe in the market with low hours at the price of good used pickup truck. Get the machines oils and fluids sampled for componet condition before buying used.

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Mark / ca

11-11-2004 07:14:17




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Bob in Minnesota, 11-10-2004 18:41:43  
I have not looked at Kubotas. Do they have a zero tail and swing boom machine?

Roy, have you ran that Deere 35? I have some rock work to do and am curious what size rocks this size machine will deal with. I know the best way is hands on, but this is a great place for info too.



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Roy Suomi

11-12-2004 21:43:08




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 Re: What your choice of mini excavator? in reply to Mark / ca, 11-11-2004 07:14:17  
I haven't tried placing rocks. But digging functions are very responsive. As far as rental yard machines being slightly wimpy, some are set up at lower presures so the average homeowner can't tear it up.. You've got to admit all it takes to rent one is money. This however doesn't make an operator with experience...I don't have the specs on the machine, but a call to a Deere dealer will tell you lifting force. I have moved large stumps by forcing the stump against the backfill blade and pick up both blade and boom to walk it to destination...

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