Mini/Micro digger cheap chinese okay

[Trevorleach]

I am after a mini digger, keep seeing the cheap chinese ones brand new for just over 4.3k, any views on these?

This kind of thing, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32616182...aVxMpryWPyacR07ZQ==|tkp:Bk9SR7KAs92eZA&edge=1

 

[dieselsamurai]

First impression looks lightly built and suspect will not be very powerful for its size . I would imagine the hydralics are simple though but for me not having an offset on the boom would be a not starter as i find i use that all the time

 

[Agrismith]

Carter Diggers

Hi, The following is the a true description of the no end of problems I have with a CT08 digger. I would advise anyone considering buying one of these please read this or message me. I'm not the only one though. Businesses who have bought these machines, certainly the CT08 have got rid. They...

www.planttalk.co.uk

 

[Trevorleach]

Carter Diggers

Hi, The following is the a true description of the no end of problems I have with a CT08 digger. I would advise anyone considering buying one of these please read this or message me. I'm not the only one though. Businesses who have bought these machines, certainly the CT08 have got rid. They...

www.planttalk.co.uk

Seems he got a full refund.

 

[KimB]

I wouldn’t touch one. Better spending a bit more on a used second hand one. It’ll be ten times better.

 

[8ob]

Seems he got a full refund.

I wouldn't be put off by that post, its dated 2021, the Chinese take feedback/complaints very seriously and are incredibly quick to update/modify a machine. A friend of mine imports those mini tractors that turn up here as a flatpack, any complaints and the next batch arrive with the modifications.

Bob

 

[iNf]

@Matchless just bought one I think, maybe ask him how he's getting on with it.
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...er-anything-around.136509/page-4#post-2447526

 

[Agrismith]

I wouldn't be put off by that post, its dated 2021, the Chinese take feedback/complaints very seriously and are incredibly quick to update/modify a machine. A friend of mine imports those mini tractors that turn up here as a flatpack, any complaints and the next batch arrive with the modifications.

Bob

There are different levels though.
Sany, luigong and possibly sunward are all major companies now with serious products. But the ones that arrive with no name out the box to be branded over here are a different matter. Quite a few threads across the internet about them.

 

[JMS1972]

Andrew Camarata bought one and gave it a good workout.

He's not gentle with equipment. I thought it looked pretty unstable on rough ground.

 

[Onoff]

I've imported Chinese stuff for work.

There's wow, that is 90%+ on par with the previous German / US stuff I've had. Price was half to 2/3rds European / US kit. They were attentive though and chasing replies on emails etc to the point of it getting annoying. All "You like? We make now!"

Then at the other end of the scale there's "it looks like what I wanted" but in the flesh is by and large a waste of even then, dubious quality materials with vague and suspect technical documentation.

I should have sussed that one when they wouldn't send physical samples only photos and videos. The advertising pics were clearly their best effort or doctored as the critical part was hard to see. When I complained they openly said that they had studied the German kit what it was copied from but I couldn't expect such quality for the price. Give them their due they did remake the 50 pieces FOC but still the quality was lacking. Worth taking a chance for US$500.00.

 

[8ob]

Andrew Camarata bought one and gave it a good workout.
He's not gentle with equipment. I thought it looked pretty unstable on rough ground.

That man shouldn't be let loose with levers

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

There are different levels though.
Sany, luigong and possibly sunward are all major companies now with serious products. But the ones that arrive with no name out the box to be branded over here are a different matter. Quite a few threads across the internet about them.

I tried a Sany, very good machine, not overly cheap though compared to more traditional brands. Id stay clear of the really cheap unless you can touch and feel it first!

 

[sako243]

He's not gentle with equipment. I thought it looked pretty unstable on rough ground.

Anything that size is probably designed to go through garden gates and doorways for small DIY projects rather than hogging out ground on hillsides and farmland. I'm not surprised it's unstable - small and compact usually does not equate to such.

Going up the scale I'm amazed at how "unstable" a Komatsu PC240 (24 tonne) is once it's got a full bucket at full reach, you can feel the back of the machine lifting off the ground if you haven't got a decent work platform.

When I did my dumper ticket to help a mate out with his firm his son was doing his 360 ticket. The words the assessor said always stuck with me - "Tell your son to stop fannying about tickling the ground." He then clarified to us what he meant was the PC210 (21 tonner) is meant for hogging out ground, yes you can be delicate with it but it's far more efficient to just dig the ground then level the loose stuff rather than level as you go. The sun was meant to be making a platform on which he could load us in the dumpers and was just scraping at the ground trying to level it off rather than ripping it out and pushing / pulling it level. The same has held true of smaller machines, often far better, if you can, to build yourself a level working platform for the machine and then work off that.

 

[Welderpaul]

I think i'd go with a used known entity. At least you're getting a something where spares etc are available

 

[arther dailey]

I think i'd go with a used known entity. At least you're getting a known entity where spares etc are available

yup agree with that , where will you get the service parts etc?

 

[winchman]

We have a very old JCB, it looks like it's been on the Titanic but it works, bits are readily available. Its all down to how much you are going to use it, I feel if its a one off buy one then sell on when finished, if you get your money back its free, if you loose a bit its still cheap.

 

[Smallfry]

The problem with these machines is the light build weight, and the lack of availability of spare parts in the not too distant future. They are almost throwaway, but whether that is a problem depends on your usage. Not a problem if you are earning good money from it, while it lasts, but a real bummer is its more for home DIY type use, which will mean you have to buy another machine.

I have got an old Yanmar (1995) mini digger. I can still get ALL the parts required for it, but it has never broken down, and always starts first time.

Despite appearances, all excavators can be unstable if the ground is loose, digging on a slope etc. I have turned mine on its side twice, trying to be clever and traversing a slope incorrectly, but part of the problem is the hydraulics, because they will lift far more weight than is sensible on a small machine. You just have to be careful.

 

[dieselsamurai]

interesting review on the small chinese 1ton types

personally id buy used , as long as its Kubota powered spares easy , mine has a mitsubisi engine parts are a nightmare

 

[addjunkie]

My Case has a Mistibushi L3E engine….spares not an issue ….old and rough, but does what it needs too, though needs a new seat as base rotten!

 

[Erie Fred]

That man shouldn't be let loose with levers

Bob

Nor welders, nor hydraulics.
I've "unsubscribed" soon after I subscribed( subscribed because all my non-technical friends are so wowed by him).