MINI EXCAVATORS - Australian National Field Days - Orange 2023

[@dinomite_diggers3453]

Another very good video Dave, thank you. There's some very nice machines there but are they really that much better than the Chinese stuff that we drive. I think it's great that folks like me who just want to potter round on their own property can these days afford to buy something new. I'm confident that by being the only operator and being conscientious regarding maintenance, my little Rhino should last well. The heart of the excavator is the engine and most of the little Chinese diggers now seem to have Yanmar or Kubota engines. Still I watch your video and can't help but do some dreaming. Cheers bro.

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

Thanks for watching Mike. I was watching another KZbin channel from the UK today and they were restoring a Kubota digger and mentioned that the Chinese machines don't use the 'proper' Yanmar' and 'Kubota' engines but they are a knockoff chinese copy. I think they called it a Kupuka engine! Cheers Dave.

[@user-ro7ik4gt5y]

Has anyone heard anything about the achilles mini excavators ?

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

I have only looked at their web site. I like the 1.7t machine but noticed it has steel tracks with rubber pads. Might be possible to purchase with a rubber track option. A while back it was one of only a few suppliers that sold a 1.7t machine with the additional implements, however I notice now that UHI have a similar machine with the implements at a similar price. Cheers Dave.

[@68mustangmustang77]

Just found this video on the mini excavator. Like you said would have been nice if some of the other Chinese brands were there. Its not easy making a decision with so many brands available. What are your thoughts on these brands. Achillies, xcmg, dougies diggers, digger king. Thanks for video 🍻👍

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

I would really like to get up the Brisbane and have a look at the Achilles. I like the A18SE. Specs wise it is very attractive. Yanmar engine. Pump flow of 61 litres a minute which is high for a digger this size. Looks like it has a proper travel motor of 3.8 kph which is double my UHI 1.2. I don't like the steel tracks with the rubber pads though. I do see on the website that there is a rubber track option.. Plus for a 1.8 machine it comes with all the attachments for under $30K. Cheers Dave.

[@68mustangmustang77]

@TreeChangeFarmer cheers that's the model I was looking at. I was actually keen on the steel tracks as some of my property is quite rocky and thought the steel tracks with pads would be more durable. I guess it's a personal preference. Will have another look at spec. 🍻👍

[@Ful-OGold]

If looking for a good reliable brand machine just look at what the rental markets are using, those guys can’t have anything going wrong with their machines

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

Yes I don't see many Chinese machines being offered by rental companies. Although near where I am there are few guys hiring out their machines at the same rate as a new CAT or KUBOTA. Cheers Dave.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I just don't know who can afford these machines for their own use. I would love them all but hence going the cheaper chinese route. Like you said below, they shoudl be giving the big boys a run for their money. Great walk through Dave 👍🏻

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

Thanks Ian. The machines shown all seem to be targeting the commercial sector where they will need to keep running for years and thousands of hours. Not the case for us. I like the bigger machines but when you do the math of paying maybe double the cost of my machine (and I wouldn't use it any more really than now) and currently what I have does the job - and pretty much has paid for itself over the two years I have owned it. Cheers Dave.

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

What I did notice at this Field Day was the absence of the distributors of the Chinese Mini Excavators like UHI, Rhinoceros, Achilles etc. I talked to many farmers off camera and they all wanted the cheaper (chinese made) diggers because of the inclusion of the 8 or 9 attachments that are regularly advertised on social media and in trade magazines. I think those manufacturers are loosing a lot of potential sales by not being involved with Field Days like these ones. Just my thoughts! Cheers Dave.

[@louistorcello3525]

Beware the Sany they do everything they can to NOT honour their warranty.

[@JamesThomas-fk3hu]

And they are horrible to operate, I hired one once as I was interested in buying one but after using it for a day decided it wasn’t for me Bought a bobcat E17z instead

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

Interesting. As mentioned in the video, it would have been good to run the machine but it was not allowed to be started under the conditions of the organiser. Thanks for watching. Cheers Dave.