Cheap Mini Excavator VS Expensive Mini Excavator

Well we put these two machines head to head. I must say im very impressed. What most of you fail to realize is that its simple, durable, and parts such as hoses, cylinders, sprockets, fittings, etc. are very generic and stocked on shelves at stores all around America. Is it going to last as long? most likely not. but so far im convinced this is a great low cost alternative for a home owner or a contractor doing light work.
I purchased off Alibaba From Shandong Nuoman Engineering Machinery.
Machine model NM-E10

[@davidbarr707]

I'm a millwright which is basically an industrial mechanic. Simplicity is a consistently overlooked benefit on machinery.

[@nyannyan123456]

I'm a tool and die maker we affectionately call our millwrights hammer mechanics. You're right 9 time out of 10 simplicity is a sign of a well-designed machine.

[@angrydragonslayer]

​@@nyannyan123456 amen The few times i've been happy for a designer have been them making some insanely simple devices that replaced the "are we sure the 9-axis will be enough?" Parts we had before.

[@justinmanley8131]

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman's Odyssey

[@aap71]

that's why the AK47 is on the flags of several 3rd world nations.

[@brucedeleskey8540]

A gas engine this is crap don't wast yoe tv money this is good for little kids playing in the back yard digging holes

[@troywiltshire5272]

I have a neighbor who is a paraplegic, and he bought one of these cheap gas excavators. It’s great for him to do things around the yard. His electric wheelchair always gets stuck, and he can’t pick things up and carry them very well. His excavator came with one extra hydraulic line that can be used for a hydraulic thumb which would really help him with being able to do things around the yard.

[@chargermopar]

I know someone who bought a cheap Chinese skid steer. Despite some loose bolts and parts falling off the machine still runs 10 years later! It is built similar to the old Bobcat 743.

[@scotthemedic]

What model?

[@charlesfeng3823]

@@scotthemedic Same question.

[@qua7771]

The cheap Chinese stuff isn't really branded. The same item could be sold under 20 different brands, or none at all.

[@mengyang4662]

They take old patents and use them to make their machine for pennies on the dollar

[@chargermopar]

@@qua7771 Yes it had no model. The name on it was "Tiger Cat."

[@helenshen4050]

I am Helen from Shandong Nuoman. Thanks for your testing of our NM-E10 mini excavator. I hope it could help you do more work .

[@garyjones630]

what is the web site address for nuoman machines?

[@piersp38]

Is It possibile to mount also tools , to cut grass or mulching wood little trees? If yes , where to see the web site and potentially order It ?

[@martinlucmorel]

@@piersp38 It's hydraulic any thing that fits inside the pumps flow/psi rate swill work just have to adapt the controls and add cooling I'd your running motors imo.

[@piersp38]

@@martinlucmorel Thanks , it's all clear ... Just to double check It , last word " imo" , what do You mean exactly ?

[@LED4all]

@@piersp38 why the f would you want to cut grass with an excavator?

[@reloadnorth7722]

I just retired from heavy equipment and mining operations. I have operated some of the largest equipment in the world. My wife and I rented a mini ex like these a few years ago, and it was a hoot to operate. In a couple hours I had both the wife and son digging quite well. We did some ditching and installed new culverts on the acreage. Don't ever underestimate the usefulness of these mini equipment. They are worth every penny and are fun to operate. Stay safe and happy operating.

[@whosyourdaddy5719]

what's good about made in China is it gives you a lot of options to choose from. If you want high quality? fine, pay more, they can also delivery. if your pocket is shy? no worry, get something lower quality but still functions and only pay a fraction of the good ones. No matter you are poor or rich, you get to choose, unlike made in Germany or made in Japan that you have to pay big bucks for it.

[@DanPerissinotto]

All stolen designs from Germany and Japan, it's easy to sell cheap when you don't have to pay R&D

[@torontocpl]

As a diesel & heavy equipment mechanic since the 1970’s , I’m always amazed more bolts aren’t cross threaded nowadays..seems like no one wants to use good old forearm muscle power to start a bolt or screw in a simple screw... i still start and tighten all bolts & nuts from (1/4 , 1/2 up to 1” inch) by hand power & then torque to spec using a torque wrench.. never cross threaded anything (knock on wood) Cheers from HudsonBay Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

[@tinkerstrade3553]

I'm just 70 year old farmer, and I never start a bolt without at least getting 3-4 threads by hand first. Field repairs are hard enough without shooting yourself in the foot.

[@randomoldbloke]

He lost any credibility in the first 60 seconds using a rattle gun to start bolts and even taking the bolt off you can’t tell if the bolt was loose . I am a diesel mechanic and this guy would only do this once before he was out the door

[@juniosilva6697]

100%

[@BDZ559]

Exactly what I said

[@richardobrien6393]

They guy that buys the cheapest Chinese excavator is probably going to start a bolt with a impact

[@kevinknowles3785]

I bought one of the Chinese minis from a dealer in the states. All I can say is it is definitely worth the price point compared to the big name brands being 2-3x more expensive. I love the bare bones simplicity of these machines, it's like an old tractor or a riding lawn mower. Mine is for home use and if I ever need something bigger I'll rent it, this thing was just too reasonably priced not to own haha. I'm a plumber, grew up my whole life around trades, operated JD and bobcat equipment, it's a legit little machine. Great video! Subscribed

[@GoblinGearRider]

where did you buy it from?

[@kevinknowles3785]

@@GoblinGearRider cle elum Washington

[@jonathanlaguna3418]

@@kevinknowles3785 do you happen to know the dealers name? I live right near there.

[@kevinknowles3785]

@@jonathanlaguna3418 yes the dealer is snowy river equipment. I believe they have 3-4 sizes and attachments on hand now.

[@jimleesur5610]

I live near Tacoma. I might go check them out how much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking

[@azwrenchmaster5334]

At 10:27 that looks like a needle style grease zerk. That's why it has a button in the center. They must think a regular zerk could get broken off at that point.

[@roweinnovation]

You are correct.

[@jameskyser9423]

Exactly what I thought.

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

I appreciate your input! after a closer look you're absolutely correct. my first time seeing fittings like this on a piece of machinery

[@Zanderthelab]

Man I hate needle zerks.

[@Zanderthelab]

@@dig_it_starnes5222 you might want to consider looking a lot more often. They are common on drive components and transmission components. Like a driveshaft for example. Very commonly seen on tractors like the kubota.

[@onedigits9755]

So I'm an engineering student in Mechanic Engineering. The first thing my professor taught us is simple is better, the reason the fewer areas of failure a "thing" has the less likely it will fail. Meaning something that has 30 moving parts will always fail more and have a higher fail chance than something with 10 moving parts. Also, Areas of failure aren't just moving parts it's anything that can fail from a weld to a rope to a moving part anything that can break is a failure point potentially. I can also confirm what my professor said as I have noticed first hand that when I design "things" with less areas of failure they tend to work more and need fewer revisions. So the lesson to learn from this is simple is better.

[@noelhalwick1568]

Yes I completely understand the theory, ALTHOUGH I'm a pretty heavy equipment operator since 1995, I'm currently a heavy-civil construction superintendent in nyc. I can tell you from my YEARS of heavy equipment experience that some of the new equipment to come out lately is EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED AND ARE SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST IVE EVER HAD PRIVILEGE TO OPERATE!!! ALSO yanmar are JUNK machines and 24grand is cheap for that size machine . The best are caterpillar and Komatsu and either is 50grand, but they are absolutely SPECTACULAR

[@ST19859]

@@noelhalwick1568 Not everyone wants to have 50k tied up in a tool they will use to putter around their property a few times a year though

[@ziocastoro]

However, the Yanmar engineers have been given a different goal: how to build a device that allows us to sell our spare parts, and that can only be repaired by our "qualified centres" in order to sell more long-term warranty packages?

[@ziocastoro]

since the Chinese do not have repair centers in the USA, their interest is to allow an autonomous repair of the machinery, with third-party components and without the use of proprietary procedures or tools

[@apersonontheinternet8006]

@noelhalwick1568 when the cab is your office for 14 hours a day, these new machines really do make a world of difference. However, most people buying these machines might put on a few dozen hour a year so I don’t think the lack of comfort or creature features is going to be a dealbreaker. I do mostly residential construction site development, it is mostly lot clearing, putting in construction roads for the tri-axles and concrete trucks, and cutting in utilities. While I wouldn’t want to go back to more basic machines on the job site, I’m interested in these cheap machines for personal and pet projects or odd jobs. Also wouldn’t be a bad little machine for small landscaping outfits that do the occasional wall or rip out hedge rows or whatever. It’s a lot easier to justify eating the $7.5k cost for a machine that is going to be doing predominately light duty work considering these commercial mowers start around the same price.

[@SilverStarHeggisist]

10:40, those are greese zerks. They're a different style then what you're used to. They use a needle fitting on your grease gun to pump grease into. Often that style is used in places where a normal grease fitting may get damaged.

[@repalmore]

For the home owner that is doing a lot around the property it might be a great idea to get a cheap gas driven model. Even the professional who is starting out might benefit from this nice little gizmo.

[@teslatech2143]

I mean that would be useful in small residential electrician jobs, like running power to pole barns n stuff

[@engineer12v]

NOBODY wants gas powered machinery!

[@southdakotaproductions1103]

​@@teslatech2143be better off with a trencher and backhoe in one for the same money

[@ST19859]

@@engineer12v I do on simpler things like this. Its easier to work on, cheaper fuel, and doesnt make me want to puke like diesel fumes do.

[@treeamigo8447]

​@@engineer12v Gas powered mini ex? Sure Gas powered stump grinder? No I think for the size and expectations of this machine, the gasser will fit bill.

[@davidfox6630]

There's a simple trick to avoid cross-threading i always use... apply pressure to bolt and rotate in the opening direction until u feel the beginning of each thread 'click' across one another and stop... now proceed to tighten, works a charm. do it with a bottle cap if u want to see what i mean... cool vid, thanks

[@mbrsart]

Learned this trick working on screws threaded into plastic. Never screwed one up since.

[@varunr8322]

I will also do the same

[@lyteyearz5810]

I don’t even need an excavator nor do I have enough space to put one but this video is pure quality comparisons, so now I want one. 😂

[@snicklefritzd3612]

You get one, you will find uses. People find out you have one, you can make money. Always call for locates before you dig

[@HIGHTOPGROUP]

You are the good customer that i have met,the very clearly compair form booth excavators,we could do more than you think,do the resell you can make many order from us.

[@charleswhite7612]

Thanks guys. Excellent video. Im a trail builder (mountain bikes) in the PNW looking for a cheaper way to GET STUFF DONE! Thanks for the comparison.👍😉

[@larrytruax1783]

I agree for the home owner its perfect and as far as the longevity of the Chinese machine, you could buy 3 of them to one of the others. I get it's not quite apples to apples but bottom line is it will definitely get the job done.

[@Usually_Grumpy]

This video should have been called "Legitimizing my purchase by dismissing all the shortfalls of cheaper option"

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

For 1/3rd the price, it's hard to beat.

[@Usually_Grumpy]

@@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb Depends on what you are looking for. Cheap buy price doesn't equate to cheap total cost of ownership. Industry norm is ~10,000 hour life for this kind of equipment. Lets remember he started the vid fixing a QC issue. What if if that wasn't so easy to fix? You only have so many hours of daylight to get the job done. When you account for all the O&O costs, take the depreciation of the Yanmar in the first year vs the E10 alone, 1/3 price might not be cheap enough. If equipment hire shops are stocking these in a year I'll stand corrected.

[@janramonmartin]

@@Usually_Grumpy not everyone wants to hire out their equipment and many of us "write off" the personal time it takes to repair equipment because we secretly enjoy it

[@stich1960]

@@Usually_Grumpy Yes definitely not for someone using it heavily but for say a remodel contractor that wants to do some of his own stuff like me or a homesteader type situation the numbers start looking pretty good

[@stormtrooper9404]

@@Usually_Grumpy Oh c’mmon! Who guarantied you that Yanmars or Kubotas would go 10000h?!? Unlike them, the chinese chap has Straton engine that you could rebuild it by yourself and for less than 300$! Yanmar would had to go to service shop for almost anything, and after few years(when guaranty pass) and few thousand of working hours… its servicing would become expensive and I MEAN expensive!

[@user-ew2gg3so9z]

Nice machines for about $3400. I purchased one about a month ago from Denny. I had mine shipped down to TX. It works perfect the work I do.

[@jonathanolson2263]

The great thing about the China machine is who cares if you weld a rack for weights on it, it's not super expensive, plus it honestly looks better to me

[@csmithy3057]

@Jonathan Olson Hi how are you?

[@VEJ2]

2 things. First, I think the paint came of because of the hydraulic fluid sitting on top of it. Second, you are worried about cross threading, so why are you not starting the bolt by hand and afterward use the power driver? I agree that the hydraulic fluid came from the bold being threaded after the surface has been painted.

[@jumpinjojo]

*Off *Bolt

[@boltaction8541]

I thought the same thing about the cross threading….

[@VEJ2]

@@jumpinjojo only two mistakes from somebody for who English is second language.

[@bryantucker1270]

U can start a bolt with a impact it’s not recommended but you can do it

[@sheepdog1102]

@@bryantucker1270 you can jump out of an airplane without a parachute but it’s not recommended but you can do it.

[@MrSki-mv2kr]

This is huge, great information for the diy perspective, we tend to use our equipment sparingly but it much desired. It's about time to get affordable equipment, who cares at time if you own the damn thing for 1/3 of the price. Just don't over do it and you can get lots of years of use.

[@jankaas2760]

The swinging boom grant you the abbility to dig 0degrees parallel to a wall. Which is awesome for trenches and foundations. That alone is worth the extra money for almost every professional

[@JohnRuhlJr-wf1on]

Don't worry we're professionals !! Famous last words !

[@albertfrench5490]

I like the yellow one it has a lager, longer track ,mostly likely more stability!

[@brandonmortenson646]

Those grease zerks you say are missing on that china unit are a type of grease fitting you use a needle adapter on a grease gun. They use those low profile fittings to avoid being broken off.

[@chrisanderson6611]

It wasn't cross threaded, but probably is now by starting it with an impact wrench instead of with your fingers! lol

[@Meldelkel]

I really appreciate you doing such a real life comparison. Everyone wants to say these cheap machines are worthless and we should all make the stretch to buy a Kabota. They have their issues but they are simple, tough and cheap. That will always have a place in the market

[@then4sr866]

I'm old enough to remember when kubota was the cheap foreign machine that no one had heard of

[@LarryCassar]

I'm pretty shocked that that little cheap excavator actually outlifted the other one I'm actually pretty surprised

[@3nuggeteers19]

I'm sold!! I've been looking at these for 6 months now. Been waiting for someone else to get one first. Love all the info and your TT videos!!

[@fckmunch]

Did you buy it? If so, how is it?

[@clrilesriles3873]

The girl saying for the guy to hold a baby to add 10 lbs has me in stitches lmao!! Thanks girl, I needed that laugh today!

[@michaelbarlow6062]

Lets see them ripping some stumps and roots out of the ground 👍👍 cool video would love to own either machine

[@csmithy3057]

@Michael Barlow Hi how are you?

[@williambuehler2533]

Just going to point out longevity, it's mechanical so maintenance is going to be a key factor, diesel engines do typically stand up to more abuse.. but they cost more WHEN not if you need to replace it. Most places a yanmar engine will need to be ordered, will cost more, and require likely going to a dealership where there's typically more mark-up. Where as at least in the US, Briggs & Stratton motors are a shelf item in most Northern tool, harbor freight type stores. Also there are cheaper brands, with similar hp ratings. That's before accounting for the skills tools and time to change a "normal" engine vs a "lawn" motor.. so while you may do it sooner and possibly even multiple times, the actual down time is reduced by cost and simplicity. I'm not saying you can't afford to replace the yanmar but most of us will hesitate more to drop a few thousand more than a few hundred as such it's highly unlikely you're going to see a sale and grab an extra because hey it's only a few hundred dollars. Plus having to order from a dealer vs either instant gratification of walking out with it or ordering from catalog that you probably have for a reason.. just my .002¢

[@kameljoe21]

Replacing this motor on the cheap machine is super easy. While it will take some time its pretty easy> You can even upgrade to a larger size as well if you wanted. I got one of those push trimmers some years ago. With the intention of pulling the motor off and replacing it with a new one. It was cheaper than taking it to some shop to fix it. I got a harbor freight motor and installed in a a couple hours. No big deal. The problem I hate with these machine cost is their shipping. I am not going to a port to pick up a machine and it is hard to find dealers in any of these kinds of things. that stack the cost on. This machine was 3200 dollars and a dealer can drop ship a bunch of them for a fraction of the cost for a single machine. Then sell them for 7500 shipped to your house anywhere in the lower 48. Yet I am sure they sell these for 15k all day long because that is how those people do it.

[@krispy1k]

For the homeowner the longevity argument doesn't really mean much imo. The reason so many homeowners by from harbor freight is because you only need the tool occasionally and can get by on lesser quality tools. For what this mini is I feel it would be a great cost efficient piece of equipment to have around the home. And like you said in the intro video for around $600 you could throw in a new motor if needed.

[@rockinrodney66]

Absolutely. Long-term use remains to be seen

[@scottmendoza8989]

The motor will cost you more than $600 a long while motor for 48" costs 2 gs

[@ST19859]

@@scottmendoza8989 nope, you can definitely get a 13 - 15 HP gas engine from harbor freight in the 600$ range

[@jamesomalley3566]

And you can get a warranty from harbor freight for $32 dollars. If the engine fails you simply go back and get a new one...

[@jlydon29]

“Don’t buy from Harbor Freight, it’s all Chinese garbage. Instead, go buy from Home Depot, it’s still Chinese garbage, but with a nicer sticker!”

[@holland3g1]

Appreciate the video, great info. Hopefully can get a phone with HD recording soon!

[@confusedgerbil1923]

I now realize I have been waiting for that drag race my whole life :D Really enjoyed your informative and fun video!

[@fritzie1968]

Earned my subscription. Great thought process on the content here, and this is something tangible that will help people make an informed decision. Appreciate experts in the field sharing truthful honest and open feedback without the normal slant of "sponsorship" driving the narrative. I for one, appreciate this type of content and information. Well done.

[@moltenmetal5645]

great testing....been looking at getting a mini for awhile, this has made my decision easier. Thanks

[@moorefab8192]

Diesel engine might last longer but you could get a replacement for the gas one at harbor freight for a few hundred bucks.

[@sirlayo]

Really looking forward to getting into the give away!! This would help my little lawn care/landscaping business

[@PacoOtis]

Dude! Well done! We definitely owe you a beer! Best of luck!

[@Henk-007]

Next thing to try would be upgrading it with standard available parts, like other scooops and tools.

[@johnhaack4269]

Been following this journey since the beginning. Loving it.

[@peterparsons7141]

Good one. I think there’s a place for every tool, for example my sons ask me “what’s the best truck?”, A; it depends. “What’s the best boat?”..same thing. If the tool does what you want it to do, the price is just another factor in picking the right tool. For stuff like this, I know I’m never taking it for service if it breaks or if I break it, I’m fixing it. Also have to calculate duty cycle, if it’s a one project machine, and then sits for 90%, I like the less expensive option. Those yanmar engine’s are supposed to be pretty good though, and resale is also to be considered. Good vid!

[@radioace318la]

thanks for sharing your experience with this Chinese masterpiece of machinery. The only thing I wish it had is the ability to finesse the movements. This jerky shit would get old in a hurry. I have to wonder if smaller pilot valves for the swing and stick and keeping the big ones on the curl and boom would help. Enjoyed this presentation. thanks again. Cheers from Louisiana.

[@csmithy3057]

@Rick Shelton Super interesting! Hi how are you?

[@jhomrich89]

Well again that's why it's $8500ish and the Yanmar is $24,000 plus the yanmar has a large dealer network, parts in stock and honestly in many ways more refined. Not bashing the cheap machine I honestly would consider one for my homestead cause let's face it, it beats the heck out of using a tow behind backhoe at roughly the same cost, but however if I had to pick one to make my living with I'd definitely go with the yanmar and the answer should be obvious as to why.

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

im right there with you, id be willing to pay a little extra for smoother controls. I run large excavators that are 25-50 tons, its more jerky than anything I've ever ran and even the untrained eye can tell

[@leepennington11]

The jerky response if from the throttle being too high - Had the same problem when I first got mine - Run about 1/2 throttle - has same power,smother, and not as noisy

[@StevenLeeMiller]

Two things I noticed, and may very well already have been covered. The Yanmar seemed to have no problem driving in a straight line during your test. The cheaper one likely would have been faster if you didn't have to correct as much. Also, you added weight to the Yanmar when it was already under load and called it in the end. I think you should have dropped it down and tried from no load and you probably would have seen a successful lift.

[@jameswinburn6843]

The Yanmar, with the double swing, will dig along a wall or close to a building, for example, installing drain tile around a building. The single swing machine will only dig at an angle, having to move much more material and taking probably four times as long.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Also in the lift test to use for lifting an engine it has to go higher to get over the grill by a lot more. That would be a normal use for most people.

[@luissinsin]

My mini excavator arrived at the sea port and I'm just waiting to clear customs and delivery to me . YAY. It took for ever though. It seems most Manufactures in AliBaba are selling these with models #'s 8, 10, 15, 17 and 19. (there may be more, but I didn't even look any further as they were price limited) I ended up getting an OKW10 which comes as yours, with a 13.5hp Bribgs & Stratton engine. I can't wait to get mine and hopefully use it to carve paths around my property and also dig trenches and such. The price of any other manufacturer is incredibly high. I even saw the same machine sold on Craigslist for about 12k which is way too expensive in my opinion, but still cheaper than the big name brands. Thanks for the video. Very interesting to see what I'm about to get.

[@realMysta]

Which attachments do they usually come with? What was shipping/customs for you?

[@luissinsin]

@@realMysta As far as I know, they only come with a standard bucket. If you want others, then you have to ask. Excavator base price was about $3750. For attachments I added a Narrow bucket with teeth, a Tilting Wide bucket, a Grapple, a Ripper, a braking hammer, a Quick Hitch, an Auger Drill. (I figured, I'd order it once and not get any attachments after this) Then I also paid and extra $350 to make the boom be able to swing left and right, and $350 to have the tracks at the bottom be able to extend and contract. (this adds stability to the unit, but also lets you make the unit more narrow to get into tight spaces). I think I paid another $100 for the canopy and $50 to add a fan to the hydraulic system to keep the fluid cooler. All in, it came out to $5456 for the machine, and $2544 for all shipping/taxes/import/etc... all the way to my location. (Sutter Creek, CA) At first they said it was going to be unloaded but it ended up being a lie. So I ended up spending another $300 to have a neighbor bring their skidsteer with a forklift attachment to unload it from the truck. So $8,300 ALL IN. Plus about 3 month wait.

[@realMysta]

@@luissinsin Not bad! Thanks for the reply. I had a similar experience with a large laser cutter- had to unload it myself. Which model did you get and which store?

[@11ATW]

If it wasn't cross threaded before it probably is after putting it back on like that. Am I the only one that had an eternal freak out whenever he did that?

[@Zanderthelab]

That and he didn’t clean the surface very well lol. And why brake kleen lol

[@johnnyfudpucker6187]

Must start threads with fingers

[@christopherchance4860]

lol, I was screaming WTF?

[@11ATW]

And honestly I'm never that guy that comments negatively trying to come off as a know-it-all. Just my personal observation

[@missumenimsatanass]

That dangerous not finger starting the bolt first. Doing it lk he did is dangerous because you won't know if you are cross threading or not. You should always start the bolt with fingers first.

[@gtr1952]

I saw another Chinese Mini, different brand, but looked identical. It also had plastic plugs in the pins, but it came with a tool box and in the tool box was a bag of zerk fittings. Just plug and play, or grease. LOL

[@JohnChuprun]

Interesting tests, pretty well compared. Did not expect it to compare that well at all.

[@LightningFabrication]

Thanks for the comparison, it seems that it will lift high enough to clear a hydraulic dump trailer but is the bucket angled enough to keep the contents in it until you are ready to dump in the trailer?

[@andrewrobinson2869]

It seems to me. For so mmeone like myself with no money. Its a no brainer. With a little bit of extention on the scraper blade and hang a little weight out back this would be a killer machine. Regards Andy Perth Australia

[@csmithy3057]

@Andrew ROBINSON Hi how are you?

[@DaleDirt]

Impressive , Now I want one . Super handy to have around .

[@OliveDrabAlliance]

Great video. I like the way you explained things. Keep up the good work.

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

I appreciate it! I tried to make it informative, thorough, and interesting

[@damienrobinson5397]

Thanks so much for the video, I have been considering getting one for work around the house but wasn't sure if the cheap Chinese one would do the job but there you go!

[@bettybie4809]

Please contact us if you want to know more about mini excavator,Jining, Shandong Province, China is a gathering place for the mini excavator industry.

[@alexmaclean1]

I'm in Canada we have a guy locally that buys these things for 4 grand in China and sells them for 12 here, and he sells them as fast as he can get them.

[@JW_Machinery_factory]

Buying directly in China will be much cheaper than their prices

[@easttexasengineering3489]

Great comparison brother. Thanks. Good video

[@AlBeebe]

28:30 you killed me with that one!

[@jeffedge872]

What a great video !! I’ve been wondering about those mini’s. I wouldn’t dream of it for a business but awesome around the cottage. Thanks for the videos

[@thebeardedman-drenaline5546]

That race had me cracking up🤣🤣

[@rowlandpound2613]

Buy the cheap one. When its broke or worn out buy another. Your still ahead on cost!

[@malwaite3539]

Those grease points you want to replace are button grease nipple and can be grease with a cone shaped connection. I have them on my Chinese excavator.

[@csmithy3057]

@Mal Waite Hi how are you?

[@josephstone9973]

Let’s see which one can pull more with arm and tracks then try pushing dirt with blade to and see which one has the best arm and track power ratio while used multiple functions

[@csmithy3057]

@Joseph Stone Hi how are you?

[@randogame4438]

@@csmithy3057 You lookin for a hookup or just trolling for a rip-off?

[@djdew78]

that chines machine wins in my book.off the shelf parts the price a few tweeks that machine perfect

[@TheHomePros6221]

It’s very uncomfortable to operate!! It’s very jerky and the seat position is horrible and hurts your back cause you have to reach for the controls, I’ve had tons of problems with only 200hrs on my Chinese mini same one in vid

[@csmithy3057]

@dan wright Hi how are you?

[@bc1017]

I have one just like it. Except it’s a baisway machine co r319 (pretty much same thing). First thing I did was replace the hydraulic oil and engine oil with high quality synthetics. The engine oil is comes with is suspect to be honest. Doing just that on the brigs should extend the engine life substantially. Another thing is that these XR2100 series brigs engines don’t like to be run full throttle. They are engineered for torque. The max HP of about 13.5 gross is at 3800rpm but torque really drops off. According to the power curve chart, you want the throttle set to around 2600 rpm for the best combo of HP and max torque. Plus is quieter. Sometimes of course you need that extra HP and might need to bump up the throttle, but for standard mini excavator jobs… trust me, keep the throttle lower. Also, I added a fan and switch to help keep temps down. Excessive heat is the main enemy of air cooled single cylinder engines. 325 hours and still kicking ass.

[@leepennington11]

I have the same machine but from Hightop HT10 (1 ton) - With LTC engine - Kept running hot when I first got it (almost 2 years ago) and had hydraulic leaks - took apart - tightened everything up - added fan - and now works Great! -

[@snicklefritzd3612]

Great info man. Thanks

[@normhowes2975]

I have a Groundhog ZH20D. It has a 3 cyl Yanmar and weighs about 1.5 ton. It's an import. Cost about $16,000. Got about 100 hrs so far mostly pulling Sumac trees out by the roots. I found this comparison interesting and fun. Thumbs up and subed.

[@csmithy3057]

@Norm Howes Hi how are you?

[@normhowes2975]

@@csmithy3057 I'm good and yourself? Plus do l know you?

[@csmithy3057]

@@normhowes2975 Good here also. Not sure we know each other. Hope we can be friends and do you have any other platform we could stay in touch off here lol

[@michaelpohida9710]

I’m looking into buying a zh20d. How well is it holding up? Any major issues with it?

[@normhowes2975]

@@michaelpohida9710 With over 100 hours only issue l have is the key switch is giving a small fit this year. I do wish I had held out for 2022 model over the 2021 as it has a longer, higher and deeper reach. I did not get the side swing as just another wear point. And it has NO DEF fluid For the price it's a great machine. If you deal with the PA store Nick the owner is a great guy to deal with.

[@MysteriousSlip]

I am trying to decide if the drag race was more ridiculous from the drone shot or the finish line shot. Fun comparison guys! 😂

[@DAS-Videos]

The race was highly entertaining :-)

[@ShiverPlumbingTN]

I think that’s great I’ve been wondering how those would work. Assuming it’s not bought to use 8hrs day laying pipe or digging footers I think it would be great buy for a home or small farm. The $24k would definitely last be safer in rental market or digging 8hrs a day . So I think it’s great there’s a reasonable priced option for light duty .

[@jhomrich89]

Honestly if I bought the Chinese model as a homesteader and occasional use I could live with it, considering what you paid for it honestly it's not bad. The reason you would buy one over the other I feel depends on what you're using it for, if I was a professional and this was my life I'd definitely go with the yanmar or another name brand simply because there's more parts and better dealer support available.

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

I totally agree. Light work use for maybe 10 hours a week, this is a great option. 40 hour a week operation you should absolutely get a higher quality machine

[@jamesharless5357]

Great video!👍🏻

[@wisdomspitter7688]

Best equipment review out there. Cool that shit doesn’t have to cost a fortune to own.

[@s.pursell8901]

@10:27 the zerk is not missing. That is a zerk to be greased using a needle attachment. The typical zerk that your used to isn't being used probably because they know it will just get broke off.

[@jtaylor9355]

Sweet first! Keep it up! Im diggin it!

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@chuckbailey6835]

1 thing id like to point out i had a freind that ownd a rental place, he would turn the hydro preasure down a couple hundred psi he said it cut way down on ppl breaking shit. I think that might be a common practices in the rental industry

[@XGrimzukiX]

I’m in love with the little china one

[@teslatech2143]

Love this series man, keep up the great content!

[@AidenOstrander]

The Chinese mini has low profile grease zerks that requires a special pin attachment for your grease gun

[@0796logsplitter]

For the homestead small builder,landscaper the Chinese one is a no-brainer. Great content fella

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

thanks Tony!

[@jimmyfavereau]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the info!

[@user-ug2rn7sr9i]

I'd say put the center bolt back in with a hand tool or you could cross thread it with the power tools.

[@kennethney4260]

Dude holding the phone up in front of the screen with the timer made me want to slap him

[@csmithy3057]

@Kenneth Ney Hi how are you?

[@pennypackmtb2542]

I have to admit you swayed me from the YAMMAR to the cheaper one.

[@user-ct5fo4cl8b]

Fascinating to watch

[@richardhillier442]

Wonder what the pulling power each might have...in case something got stuck or a heavy load to drag. Thx guys... good Lil digger.

[@leepennington11]

Pulling power is fair - Pulls more than my 20 hp lawnmower does - Lawnmower tires spin with heavy load, but tracks on this pulls better - Can also pull itself out of the mud if you can't get out with just tracks

[@lisahughes5319]

I noticed you had to correct the tracking several times in your race. Does that mean one motor is better than the other? On older machines when tracking one track stops working when the dipper or bucket position is changed (to do with valve blocks if I remember rightly. If this happens it would prove a major disadvantage in sticky situations or very wet ground. So can they use the hydraulics and tracking together?

[@dig_it_starnes5222]

it tracks perfectly straight. The "race track" has some curve

[@micaht52]

Also track tension can cause one to pull more than the other.

[@jaybrown651]

A micro ex drag race. I love it.

[@rastagrastag7784]

Wow great comparison….. thank you for the great video

[@merbesfield]

Did you consider diesel power? I have been researching mini Ex's and have found some nice ones w Kubota diesel for $8K ish plus shipping of course.

[@snicklefritzd3612]

What models with Kubota diesel for $8k?

[@stephenochipa989]

Well here's a thought about longevity testing. You've got some friends I'd assume. Have them hop on it and dig a hole somewhere every time they come over to rack up some hours in a short period of time. Through that process, you'll be able to quickly find out how she holds up.

[@wvsasquatch1189]

If you don't want cross threading don't start with an impact bub use your fingers next time

[@russjones45]

Pretty interesting and telling review. Thanks gents.

[@gabrielgalaxygh]

No cross threading. Puts it on with a impact lol. You're suppose to go hand tight first

[@IdeasBox]

We've got a mini digger for our small property, it came with trim, digging, and trenching buckets, a log grab, rock pick and hydraulic post hole borer, all for 13k Aus $. It works a treat, my only criticism is the hydraulics are a bit jerky but once you get used to it it's fine. What are the controls on your cheapy like?. Hi from Australia.

[@danielc3433]

Hey mate, was this new? If new where as im currently looking to buy one for around my property in qld. Thanks

[@interestin9720]

LoL love it, the drag race to end all drag races ( two mini exes screamin down the lane).

[@erikev]

One leaked hydraulic oil due to poor craftmanship. the other did not leak oil. Take this into consideration also

[@tafloyd2]

I would test stability, how much can it safely swing from one side to another. Also would be curious, if you could figure out which one moves or lifts it’s own weight easier. I personally prefer a machine that has enough power to lift itself off the ground. Really helps if you get mired in mud.

[@vihreelinja4743]

Clearly the chinise one have more power and for sure is lighter as it has no counter weight.. But good idea to test swing load. other channel have a video where they dig a hole. drive in it and manage to come out by using the boom so i think it has more than enough powah and herspers.