Fire and Force Revives this Vintage Mini Excavator

[@sawingwithsandy]

Measurements I mentioned in the video for the pin and bushing sizes were incorrect. I forgot to zero the calipers before reading the measurements. New pin size was 40mm.

[@joemccarthywascorrect6240]

Check the flea markets for a micrometer. . .most are in the 0-1” size but the larger sizes do show up.

[@bay9876]

All greased up and somewhere to go. You take care of your equipment and your equipment takes care of you. Law of the broken expectations. Given time a small machine like this can move mountains.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that. I agree with ya 100%

[@kllisk]

Boy o boy look at the concentration in those eyes

[@sawingwithsandy]

Haha sure was digging deep into my brain to keep things on track

[@northeasterndirtandpropert7974]

You put a thumb on that machine,you're gold.Handy little machine,sure beats shoveling and pound for pound,they lift quite a lot.Nice addition to any hobby farm.

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure! I'm hoping to find one before long. Seems real hadny

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼………………………………….Dude, holding the punch with the welding magnet was BRILLIANT!!!

[@sawingwithsandy]

I was frustrated so much by not being able to hold the punch steady for fear of breaking my hand with the sledge then it dawned on me about the magnet

[@mikewatson4644]

That was a great idea!! I have struggled that way myself. I will use this trick.

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

Your enthusiasm is wonderful to see! You looked like a kid getting his 1st bike👏

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks! I'm certainly happy to have this old iron

[@stevek6921]

I heard the old girl say, "Ahhhhh," from down here in Oklahoma. :) And your bumpy ride face pushed me uncomfortably close to spewing my sludge on my monitor! You go, Sandy. Congrats on another good job.

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahaha sure isn't air ride suspension that's for sure

[@torstenjoergensen]

Well done, Sandy! A mini excavator is a must have machine. Bet I look that focused too the first hours I ran mine as you did - but an hour or two more in the seat and you stop thinking about every move and digging becomes a relaxing activity...

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Torsten for the encouragement. I agree, practice will make perfect for me

[@derekbecker1158]

I gotta say, the magnet and punch combo makes you look like a pretty smart feller. Good trick.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Derek. I was happy to think that one up. My hand was happy too haha

[@genewileyopa]

Well she is ready to work now. Those pins can really stick inside without grease. Practice will make for smoother operation for you. The piece your going to add will be nice. I've seen other guys that have it on there's. Thanks Sandy

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Gene. I think with some practice it'll be just like the tractor loader which took time to learn as well.

[@markholmes1346]

A lot of times if a fitting don’t take grease, just move the cylinder in a different position and a lot of times it will take grease, especially in the winter time when the pins are cold and always warm up your grease when it’s cold! I was an operator for years so I know a few tricks! That little machine looks like she runs good, just give the fittings a half a dozen pumps every time you use it, you don’t need to over grease it to where the grease is dripping of it! Great job Sandy! ✌🏼❤️🙏🏼

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Mark. Looking forward to putting some hours on it for sure

[@Jimmyfisher121]

Cant wait to see you fit the thumb, it will make it so handy, I enjoyed watching you enjoy learning on your new machine, practise makes perfect, so the more you do it Sandy the better you will be, I am so jealous.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Jim. Thumb is coning real soon

[@colbiecolbie6979]

I found i waas thinking about every move and boom ...one day .....second nature. Thumb coming !,,,,,

[@sawingwithsandy]

Looking for a thumb as we speak

[@kpatrickolivier2705]

Nice job on the mini excavator, Don't you just love New TOYS !!!😀😀

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks! I'm a kid in a candy store here

[@dirkcaloccia3620]

Great job Sandy.....that machine will pay you back over and over!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Dirk,. I can already think of the jobs it can do

[@SL_Smith]

My 2-1/2 yr old grandson loves watching your videos with me. Especially tractors. You should have seen his anxiety level jump when he saw your excavator inside the shop. He yelled, "no-no...vator out, vator out". He thought you had it your house and wanted it back outside. He relaxed when you drove it on the trail. He was looking out for you. 😂

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahaha that's great to hear!

[@bruceaplin]

You made me smile, when I saw you smile while driving your 'new-2-you' excavator. Logical decisions on replacement parts and won't take grease fittings persuasions. Good Job. I suspect you will quickly learn the controls and will soon be making snowmen with it. Happy 4 U 💛

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Bruce!

[@kennicholas3512]

Wow. The magnet to hold the punch to remove that pin. That gives me an idea. I'm headed out to the shop! Thanks.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Glad I could help Ken. I was shocked when I finally came up with something. I just wish I thought of it years sooner

[@colbiecolbie6979]

Your ingenuity never ceases to amaze! Great job Sandy. Im impressed.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks!

[@mudderman8620]

Definitely needs a new seat to smooth out the ride a bit. Thanks for sharing Sandy.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Absolutely. That seat should've been retired years ago haha

[@mthangar]

Great idea with the magnet punch holder

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks! Wish I knew about it way before now

[@frankdrahos8569]

Good morning Sandy. No experience with a mini-x so I’m learning as you go! Thanks.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for coming along for the journey Frank.

[@sydneymcconnaughhay5947]

Im delighted that your happy with the minI.GO PLAY!!!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Sydney!

[@scottjones5221]

nice job enjoyed hanging out and helping you getter done

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for coming along for the tour Scott

[@jamesharless5357]

Nice job Sandi, you’re getting the machine in real good working order. With Preventative maintenance it should last you a long time. Great video!👍🏻

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that Greg. Hoping to keep this old iron around for quite some time

[@DUSTEATER2]

If I found more then one fitting not taking grease I would not say this machine was well maintained. I'm sure you will fix everything as time allows. Pains of an old machine makes us like it even more.

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure Bruce.

[@jeffhuffman5433]

This little excavator runs well and seems to have plenty of power with just a little practice you can move small mountain and I have no doubt you will keep the maintenance up to par great video Sandy

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Jeff. Sure is a great change for me around here. Way faster at moving material around then I'm used to

[@markforeman767]

Enjoy your excavator content. Have a takeuchi tb016 myself. I'm continuing to learn about it. Thanks for your help .

[@sawingwithsandy]

That’s a nice machine you’ve got

[@mikewatson4644]

I can see a thumb coming!! It will make this machine a lot more useful for you. Holding a log up off the ground will save your chainsaw and your back. More control for putting a log on the sawmill. Yes!! I am jealous.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Absolutely. I'm going to see what I can come up with for sure.

[@lizstokes9091]

I wish I was mechanically inclined, you blow me away at how you just fix things like that. I have some major digging to do in the spring but I'm a manual excavation expert LOL (aka shovel) If you ever decide to start a little side gig, I'd happily pay you to bring that toy up to Trout Creek!!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Nothing wrong with being a manual excavation expert haha. I'm still one of those most of time. Mastered the hickory controls haha

[@saintaugustine1715]

I like the fact that you took it not far and gave it a little run down to see how every thing was and to get familiar with the control again experience you got to acquired it you can not not learn it in any books have a great day

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks! Yeah was a nice little shake down just in case something broke

[@dougdinsmore9751]

Sandy, you are a mini-X operator in the making. Practice makes perfect. Thank you, keep you great videos coming! D from Southern Trinity County, CA

[@sawingwithsandy]

Hey Doug! Thanks for coming along for the tour today

[@contrafax]

I am so looking forward to watching you learn and grow into your new equipment.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Should be fun!

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Sandy- it’s very obvious you were enjoying yourself. Almost like a kid with a new toy lol. Glad you got up in good shape. Have fun with it. Take care and God bless

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks! Sure was fun

[@flowerstone]

Bigger hammer works but can cause other problems. Can swell the pin. Good brass bunch is nice to have. Good cylinder hone would be good too. Clean the grooves in the bushing. They can get so packed it looks like nothing is there.

[@sawingwithsandy]

All good tips. Thanks Russ

[@russellbelliveau1694]

Fun machine another very useful tool for you.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Russell. I think it'll have lots of hours on it by me before long

[@bradh74]

Small but mighty comes to mind. You'll be glad you have that little machine now that you have you can use it for anything to make life easier. We had machines at work and guys would borrow them to till their gardens, and lift heavy stuff. A backhoe for your tractor would probably cost the same as that did. Enjoy!

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure Brad. I looked around at backhoes for my tractor and decided I liked the ability for the mini ex to split entirely around. I also liked not having to move my tractor each time I wanted to move ahead or back

[@Z-Bart]

Thanks for reminding me to grease my skid steer clam. 👍

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure. After hammering out those pins I promptly went around and greased everything I own haha

[@kenvilleneuveforesterie]

Nice little machine! Put a thumb on it as soon as possible!!! Very useful for grapping logs.Have a nice day!

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure Ken. Looking into that as we speak

[@doylerabjohn3435]

Reminds me when the old man & I changed the Hydraulic seals in the Case 580 B he had 😂. I definitely need a mini excavator, at some point I will have to install a new septic on the farm.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Bet that old Case was a good machine though

[@doylerabjohn3435]

@@sawingwithsandy Yep...Wish I would got when he past. I might look into buying another one. They are real good backhoes.

[@tonygough8713]

Sandy you was pretty intense while digging, you looked like do I cut the red wire or black wire intense, ha ha thanks for your good videos.

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahha took full brain power from me to get the controls down

[@Casey6996]

Hi Sandy. I am thinking what you are thinking. A thumb will be a great investment to move logs

[@sawingwithsandy]

Absolutely! Looking forward to seeing how that adventure goes

[@wallacefrey6247]

I would recommend using a brass hammer and brass driving rods when beating on the different pins to keep from mushrooming the ends of the pins.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great tip Wallace

[@ronaldwood9911]

On my mini it gives directions to grease the rotating surface every 90 degrees of travel should be one of the 3 grease zerts that are together. Keep up the good work you will find a mini is as handy as a shirt pocket

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that Ronald. I started rotating things when I grease for the same reason recently.

[@ozarkarky]

Since that pin is wearing faster on one end, flip it and the bushings around every 500 or 1000 hours or so and you can get a much longer life out of it, kind of like how you can turn pins and bushings on metal tracks.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I like that idea! Thanks for passing that along

[@carlmclelland7624]

Fun HUH!!! Hey, you watched the bucket rather than your hands! Good going, buddy. Don't fret, it takes time. When you're stationary using the bucket, turn the crawlers around so the blade is behind you and the drive sprockets under you, then lift the idler sprockets an inch or so off the ground with the blade. That'll give you your greatest stability and digging capability. When you were pushing the snow with the blade and it looked like the boom and arm were getting into that tree, turn the house away a little so the boom will clear it. You can still go forward/backward and push your snow or dirt. To lift that log that was buried in the snow, roll it back to the blade with the bucket, 'pin it against the blade,' and slowly lift the blade and boom. That'll let you pick up the log or stump to move it. If you want to use the excavator to put (sawing) logs on the rack, you can do it if you make yourself a mechanical thumb. You're makin' me proud, Sandy!!

[@sawingwithsandy]

I appreciate all the help Carl

[@jimstewart8818]

Awesome videos thanks for Sharing

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Jim!

[@critical-thought]

When you are swinging a loaded boom around, 1 mm of wear (.5 per surface) would be noticeable but not dangerous. You likely could have left the old pin in place and saved the new pin & bushing set for later.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Good to know

[@Andrewlang90]

I would be interested in seeing the old kingpin chucked up in a lathe and see what it’s run out is end to end. Also, as much as some of the measurements seem like small increments, in times when they heat and shrink, they can expand.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Very good point Andrew. I would also like to see what the pin actually is. May have to see if I"ve got any friends with the lathe who could give this a go for me

[@scottfoster2487]

Sometimes it is not a wore out in it is a space gained from the bushing flat being wore and all a person needs is a shim washer. Simple maintence prevents major issue. I love these old gtirlds being revived,far superior to the new iron.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that Scott. I'm not too familiar with the shim washers but now I"ll have a good look into them.

[@donreid7191]

Hey Sandy, I have started to use a product called Seafoam Deep Creep instead of WD40 for penetrating badly rusted parts. Seems to work much better and quicker. Costs a little more, but as the old saying goes you get what you pay for.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that one Don. I"ll give that a try next time I"m at the store. I appreciate the help.

[@joemccarthywascorrect6240]

I use Deep Creep all the time, it is superior to WD40 as a penetrant. It is almost as good as Kroil, but much easier to find on a shelf. But on large projects, a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone is the way to go - just mix it in a soup can and slather it on with a chip brush!

[@bryansaunter4124]

Wd 40 is not a penetrating fluid. It was designed as a water dispersant. Works good to help clean greasy areas. It is minor lubricant.

[@joemccarthywascorrect6240]

@@bryansaunter4124 but many people use it as a penetrant. I love my Kroil and my home brew.

[@terrymacleod6882]

nice work sandy! make sure you get that new seat or you're going to need a new set of chiclets.😂

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahaha isn't that the truth

[@michaelhodges3841]

Nice find, by spring you will be able to plant flowers at your mini house.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Sounds good to me. Thanks for watching Michael

[@CedarTrailsLiving]

Hard to tell in the camera but look for spiral grooves inside some of the cylinder bushings. My Bobcat Excavator has spiral grooves that guide the grease from the middle where the fitting is to the rest of the bushing. I had to clean a few of those out where they were packed with dried grease. I'm with you on the pin and leaving the bushings alone, bushings can be be a chore. I've caused more harm than good with some repairs. Awesome machine. Pretty soon you'll wonder how you lived without it. Aside from digging a ditch in a hurry, they are great for hoisting beams and setting posts.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great tip about the bushing grooves. Thanks for that one!

[@bruceguidosh2120]

OH that smile as you were going down the path....... A new toy!! Just gonna ask, if you checked the boom after pin installation, if that took out the slop?! Myself, the bushings would have gotten changed as well! Did you hear the change in tone when you hit that pin with the sledge the second time? I was here cheering you on, "YEAH! Ya got!"

[@sawingwithsandy]

Hi Bruce. I did notice an improvement in the slop in the boom although some of that may have been the placebo effect in which I think I"m seeing a difference because I want to see a difference haha. I was going to do the bushings but they were so tight in there I was a bit worried about the amount of effort it was going to take to get them out compared with the reward of replacing them. May still do the replacement but in the future. Getting that pin out after hitting it with that big sledge was nice feeling. I was thinking what else was it going to take if not for that big hammer

[@cindyb5462]

Looks like your playing an intense video game still enjoyed it 👍

[@engineeringconsulting5534]

Sandy, Using the magnet to hold the punch was a great idea. A little word of advice, though, about using WD 40 as a penetrating oil: it is not. The WD stands for water dispersant; and that is what it is. It is great for spraying down electronics to disperse moisture. If you can get ahold of a few cans of Blast, you will have a lot better luck removing rusted in parts. I have had great success with it. If you have time to let something set awhile, old used automatic transmission fluid does great as well. People use it to un-seize engines. The used transmission fluid has high concentrations of organic acids. It dissolves rust and at the same time prevents the part from rusting; while coating it with a low viscous oil. Thank you for sharing. Cheers! Blue Skies! Faithfully, James

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks James! Appreciate the info. The stuff I was using may be a bit different than the original WD40 I'm thinking as the stuff I was using is WD40 brand called specialist which they claim is for breaking up rust and penetrating stuck pieces. I"ll have to look more closely at it to ensure that's its intended use

[@engineeringconsulting5534]

@@sawingwithsandy Sandy, I didn't realize that they had started a line of items under the WD40 brand. I stand corrected, they do make a penetrant. For years people have used the original WD40 thinking that it was a penetrant or lube. I guess they decided to go ahead and make a line of penetrants and lubes so they wouldn't get a bad name. Thank you for making me aware and for sharing. Cheers! Faithfully, James

[@sawingwithsandy]

I am guilty of using the normal WD40 as a penetrant quite often actually and your comment made me think about that which I appreciate. I find I'm using that WD40 for everything these days from cleaning snowmobiles to oiling things. Next thing ya know I"ll be cooking with it haha

[@flowerstone]

Pick up an inside micrometer. Handy for checking the bushings. On the WD40 comment. He is correct. Good for removing moisture but not a good penetrant.

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure. I find the WD40 specialist which is designed for breaking up rust works quite well

[@65wldstln]

Remember plant that blade behind you. I see you bouncing around. 🤪

[@sawingwithsandy]

Good tip. Thanks for checking out the video today.

[@craignash4736]

I love that excavator, Question do they make a thumb attachment for it ? Thanks Craig Pa

[@sawingwithsandy]

Hey Craig, I think there’s options for sure. Going to see what I can do about a thumb real soon

[@PuskwaskaOutdoors]

Surprised that seat doesn’t have arm rests… it’s a lot smoother to operate when your elbows are planted so you don’t jerk the controls when the machine bounces….

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah can imagine. That seat is so old and worn it may very well have one time

[@tanyamurraygendron4828]

Right for a smoother & precise operation.Fabricate the arm rest to the machine.Thanks for all your effort filming / editing.....bring us a long. Friendly guy too ( Dan Nothern Ont)

[@sawingwithsandy]

@Tanya Murray Gendron. Thanks for that Dan. Good to have ya along for the videos. Hope the start of winter is treating ya well.

[@buddyreed2623]

Hello Sandy. Your dial calipers should be just fine as long as it is set to zero. Here is another way to look at differences in size. If you had go - no-go gauge made for the old pin or bushing and tried the new parts with them, they would not go. I ran CNC machines for a while making air foils for turbine engines and saw that .001" is enough for a part not to fit. I would have changed the bushings, but it is not my machine. The pin seemed to come out easy enough if you find the need to replace the bushings. The lip on the second pin was seen. Have you looked into how to get the track back on after it jumps off? You may find the excavator will dig up stumps. It sounds like a thumb is coming. Have good days!

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah I think I"ll hold onto the bushings for now just in case down the road I decide to take on the project. I just wasn't quite up for that challenge yet. Sounds like a big job. I'm pretty sure I know how to get the tracks back on but I"d imagine with time I"ll put that theory into practice (atleast I hope I don't have to haha)

[@mattwarren8067]

Replace pin and bushings alittle wear on the pivot will be alot at the bucket.

[@richardjacques6370]

Nice little machine

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Richard

[@richardjacques6370]

@@sawingwithsandy I purchased a Sany SU 26. And have lots of fun with it . In the snow the rubber pads slid very easily and I get very little force because the machine moves first. And yes a thumb Will greatly make your machine much handier with logs. My thumb is hydraulic but even a manual one will help you pick up logs for your mill or for fire wood. You will enjoy it

[@deprived56501]

Looks like fun to me.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Sure is a hoot to play around on

[@TheHomePros6221]

What a awesome machine!! I have one pretty similar to it. It was kinda hard watching you operating it 😅 but you will get the hang of it in no time!! BTW that little lever that you have been asking about that u said is froze up, im pretty sure it is to lock the controls so you can’t move them for when your like transporting it and stuff like that, so let me know if that’s what it ends up being. I have a channel also and I have videos of my mini and of my woodland mills saw mill if u wanna check it out 😊

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahah lots to learn still with the controls for me. Sure was trying my best and thinking hard haha

[@03treefitty]

Got the good grease tip now you need a milwaukee grease gun to make it that much easier

[@03treefitty]

Just an fyi the way them lines are ran i would make a shield so if line breaks your not covered in hot oil.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Good tip about the hydraulic lines. I do have a Milwaukee grease gun now. Got it just after getting this mini ex

[@morgansword]

Sandy, I absolutely love the little guy. On those pins that only grease that center area..... I took my pins out and drilled a quarter inch hole in either end to the depth of where it was even with the other area that did not get grease. Then I drilled a smaller hole like something close to a eighth of a inch in the pin itself to connect that hole to the one drilled in the end. I put a grease zerk in the outside hole and then it would get grease to the spot that did not get grease. I had to do it on both ends cause drilling clear though that long pin is just impossible or crazy to do. I have had to drill down through where a grease zerk went in a place and make a new spot for grease to circulate around.... just a idea but if you have a pin out, you might put it in a lath and turn a light groove in the pin so that grease has a easier way to travel around inside. I have on occasion before taken a pin out that had the locate on one spot, cut it off and turn it to another spot and weld a new locater on it for the bolt to go through and hold the pin in it. It gives it a new life of lasting as it gets worn on just one side. Hot oil will sometimes be able to get to go through a tight pin that will take grease but so very little and its just miserable to pump more in it. Careful whenever you try that as it can burn you quick if it was to come loose and spray back onto you. On those grease guns... nice to have the cordless ones, I never was rich enough to own one. So go to the auto parts store and request the locking style grease pump lock. You just lightly push this little clip on its side and put it on the zerk, then when you pump grease in it, two nice things happen. One is it can not come off and spray back at you so you can put more pressure on one, It also frees up one hand! NO more trying to hold the grease nozzle on the zerk and then try to pump with the other hand and find a place to hold the gun still. Just ideas to confuse or help... remember that everyone here commenting has a degree in their mothers basement telling you how to run your business. Are we just so lucky for these fine engineers that have lived on their mothers social security check an drank beer so their miserable lives could control us that do work. I really was a mechanic for Louisiana Pacific incorporated. I was their head mechanic in Thorne Bay Alaska back in the sixties and later on in the early seventies. I had life changing things happen that forced me to go to Anchorage for my son to be treated for cancer

[@sawingwithsandy]

Hi Morgan, great to hear from you and thank you again for all your help and experiences you share. Helps me learn for sure.

[@morgansword]

@@sawingwithsandy Sandy my canadian Friend! Its working two ways as I have learned from you as well. I am not all knowing, just older and seen a few more things at the present time than your age has allowed you. I am very envious of your find little milling operation. Maybe a tweak or two coming over the years and anyhow, nothing is broken so why change what is good. I do see you having a very fine forest of larger trees if you keep doing the select thinning and the removal of dead or dangerous timber. I am really anxious to see just what attachment you come up with for the excavator/mini digger. If it doesn't make you angry with me, there are some things that I've done to those to make them a little more operator friendly. I have forgotten quite a bit though so hesitate to offer a bit of advice that could damage or hurt you.... and again.,... kudos for the pirate ship toy playstation.!! A foot note..... Really serious about the locking grease gun tip. Its a game changer for you... which brings me to a story on a excavator that size that I made a power greaser so you could push the button and grease several fittings on the unit. I got the idea off of a old mercury car from the fifties would ya believe.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah those power grease guns sure look handy. Would like to have one sometime. I do have a locking grease gun nozzle currently that I'm using and you're right about how handy they are.

[@dustinspeelman4481]

I think everyone needs a mini to just play around with

[@sawingwithsandy]

I hear ya there!

[@danpar1184]

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE BUCKET HAD A THUMB SO THAT YOU COULD PICK UP STUFF. I AM ENVIOUS OF YOUR NEW TOY.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I agree with ya there Danny

[@weekendhack.whatsnext]

Nice little digger. Be sure to rotate the housing to different positions when you are greasing the swing bearing. A lot of people only grease when it is facing forward and that is never a good plan.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great tip. Didn't even think of that one. Thanks for that

[@weekendhack.whatsnext]

@@sawingwithsandy glad I can help.

[@jankomaksimovic6844]

it's an excellent excavator, I have the same one.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thats great to hear. I really like it

[@m9ovich785]

Practice makes Perfect. LOL Run Your RPM's higher and the "Buzz" will smooth out . Thanks Much. Mike M.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that Mike. I'm absorbing the help like a sponge

[@Grunt49]

Hope you get years of use from the machine.Happy holidays.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that! Happy holidays

[@billyhaddock5540]

Congrats SWS on getting the pins out and greese-up the excavator. did u check the greese fitings on the bucket?

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Billy. I did give the bucket a good greasing as well. Sure is a lot of grease points on these mini ex's I'm finding

[@lumberjill6598]

Well done!👏 The silly expression as your jiggling along made me laugh out loud 🤣 My neighbors recently had 2 huge ponderosas taken down and offered them to me. One was 30" in diameter, they other around 32". I cut the first 4 logs starting from the butt at 6' lengths because they were massive. Our other neighbor has a Yanmar mini excavator, little bigger then yours, and offered to get the logs up an incline and into a dump trailer and to my log yard By golly that little excavator did just that! Such a handy piece of equipment! I have wonderful neighbors! When you were buying that, what was the first project that came to mind?

[@sawingwithsandy]

Those are some big logs! That would be a sight to see that's for sure. The first project that came to mind was trail building as it will be able to get into trails and clear them in places where my tractor can't get to I figure

[@lumberjill6598]

@@sawingwithsandy they were leaning towards the house and had to go. Didn't measure total length but the sawyer that fell them said about 100' tall. Probably slab the bigger logs and make coffee tables and such, since I don't come across that size much. Have a good night Sandy! ✌

[@thepragmatic6383]

At 17 min 37 in your video, when you grease the three nipples on the front of the machine, it is recommended to pump 3 to 6 times, then rotate the swivel frame 1/4 turn, and pump another 3 to 6 times. So you grease those nipples at the 12 o'clock position, then 3 o'clock, then 6 o'clock and finally at the 9 o'clock position. These 3 nipples are used to grease the mechanism between the track frame and the swivel frame.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that I appreciate it

[@mywildholm]

We love your channel - we have just bought a 62 acre island and we are on a journey like we never thought possible!! We are new to all of this and your channel is certainly helping us with necessary info on things like buying an excavator. Is that better than getting a skid-steer do you think? We are the beginning of all of this and want to make the right choices. We are subscribing to your channel and would love it if you could do the same for us :)

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great to have ya on the channel! Sounds like a great piece of property you’ve got. I think the mini ex is a little more versatile for building trails, moving logs and digging. Skid steer is also nice to have though for material moving

[@mywildholm]

@@sawingwithsandy We do have shoulder to shoulder trees on the island... We rented an excavator this summer and got a back road started. Wow!!! The work feels insurmountable, the fun feels exhilarating!! Love every second! We'll continue to watch your progress - thanks!

[@EgilJohansen-j3v]

12 mm king bolt ?

[@artofogre3555]

Is a thumb coming to make moving logs a breeze?

[@sawingwithsandy]

Absolutely. Just trying to get one picked out

[@glennmacburnie4144]

Be very careful using the machine in winter conditions, especially on ice, the machine can slide in any direction without control.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I can just imagine. Thanks for the heads up

[@Wheelloader__]

I think I know what you’re going to put on that digger. Just can’t quite put my THUMB on it. Oh well I’ll see it in the next video.

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahah I figured I gave some good hints

[@bigtamis]

Nice work Sandy, Can you verify the diameter of the 12mm bushings and pin please, they look more like 40mm to me. Perhaps you need to zero your callipers when the jaws are closed? Love the new Excavator.

[@sawingwithsandy]

After reading your comment I got to thinking that you are absolutely right. 40mm is the actual size after going back and checking my callipers. I forgot to zero them when I was using them.

[@russellclement2058]

Hi Sandy , I would have done the same , new pin old bushes,, ,,, It doesn't have to come out on the pin ,, the pin is locked the only movement is on the bushes in the ram

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for watching Russell

[@colbiecolbie6979]

I bought a milwakee grease gun. Great investment

[@sawingwithsandy]

Those sure are handy units. I"m going ot have to check into them as well

[@xpoolguy5406]

Makes the job so easy you don't procrastinate the tedious, dirty job of greasing machines. But, as a result you need to double your budget for grease

[@AndTheCorrectAnswerIs]

.6mm is about 24 thousands of an inch. A significant difference in the world of machined precision parts like pins and bushings. Don't know why you'd take the boom off and then leave worn parts unreplaced. Most likely the new tolerance of those pins and bushings was 0.05mm to 0.1mm.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Wasn’t worth the effort to me for bushings that are likely seized in there solid. When they are in worse shape I’ll devote the time to the repair

[@delmanicke9228]

Common problem with equipment ( grease ) how that grease gets so hard not sure seem like dirt gets in there. Need to grease more often I guess. 👍

[@sawingwithsandy]

I hear ya. I wonder sometimes too

[@exotictones1054]

The hole was probably rusted shut.mine we're like that.i don't believe anyone grease those lower fittings on my machine.couldn't get pins out either.took em out cleared the rust out of the holes.just like new.you'll love a thumb buddy.i also noticed you slowed her down.works much better til you learn how to.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Sure was in there good. Was scared hitting with the big hammer

[@wizardind3203]

grind a small grove in the pin that lines up with the hole. or long gate the hole

[@sawingwithsandy]

Great Tip! Thank you

[@slamsshenanigans2296]

Greasing the carrier bearing you want to do that every 90degrees bud. Boom forward-few pumps, rotate house 90 degrees - few pumps all the way around

[@sawingwithsandy]

I appreciate that tip. I wasn't aware of that

[@ednelson1483]

Get a zerk zapper to clear out zerk and get it to take grease again.

[@dave717785]

One question how are those 11.8 mm diameter pins??? That is 0.46 inches . Those pins look to be 25 mm (1 inch)diameter or larger.

[@sawingwithsandy]

I’m not too sure why the measurements were reading that way. I hear ya though as they clearly were bigger than that . I guess as long as the calipers were reading all the same way for all measurements it won’t matter

[@sawingwithsandy]

It may also have been I misread the numbers I wrote down when I was explaining the measurements I got

[@wallacefrey6247]

If you have a local upholstery shop nearby they could redo the bottom of the seat.

[@sawingwithsandy]

That is a good point. I think I've got a lead on a low cost seat replacement that may even be cheaper than reupholstering

[@AaronTurnwald]

Needs a thumb added on it. Really like mine on my little backhoe

[@sawingwithsandy]

For sure. I just added one recently in one of my videos to make it even more useful

[@AaronTurnwald]

I must have missed that one, ill check it out!

[@brianwestveer9532]

Next video, Excavating with Sandy,

[@sawingwithsandy]

hahah I better learn the controls better

[@admrlflg8113]

Get a t Get a thumb for that bucket!

[@wizardind3203]

i would have expected about .25 mm to .4 mm CLEARANCE between them

[@sawingwithsandy]

Yeah it's a learning curve for me with the whole sizing between the bushings and pins

[@gregwitkamp5583]

if you let the rod in your grease gun go in on its own you will always know how much grease is in it when you use it the next time

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks Greg

[@TheFPSGenerationHD]

You somehow messed up your readings in the caliper. Im from Europe, so a metric Guy. The size of your Kingpin should be Something between 40-50mm. You measured 10mm diameter? Thats was way of. It is either your caliper/setting or you used it wrong.. Thats Just Something i have noticed. Like your Videos. Keep going

[@flowerstone]

I noticed you are using a red grease. If it is lithium based it can be water soluble and fail. I will use it if it’s not subjected to water otherwise I use a Molly grease. Most all of the equipment that goes outside where I worked won’t have lithium based grease.

[@sawingwithsandy]

Thanks for that info Russ, I’ve always used the farm and truck grease. I’ll have to see what’s in it