Welcome to the forums rscritch!:drinkupI'll answer the easy questions first.I don't have a lowboy either and move my machines around 5-6 times a year, just can't justify the O/O costs of having a lowboy. Second don't worry about the control pattern (I run Deere/backhoe controls too on an excavator), there are pattern changers available or you can swap the lines around.The harder part of this question is your budget, $18K is going to buy a machine that will do the job but will require more extensive repair and maintenance along the way, be prepared for that.Here is a list of machines priced $15k-20K from Machinery Trader -http://www.machinerytrader.com/list...tains&PF=15000&PT=18000&SO=2&btnSearch=SearchI would look towards the older Cat 200 series machines - 225 or so.
what sized minis do you have? and whats your plan with this new larger excavator when your done with your 2 projects? can you afford to spend a little more to get a machine that isn't going to need as many expensive repairs? what other machines do you have? if you can get by doing some of the projects and helping on the others with the machines you already own, your probably better off hiring someone to do the big digging and then you do the backfilling and septic systems with your minis if they're large enough. i think you'll end up spending more money on the machine and fixing it, and then trying to get rid of it or keep it busy when your finished with it.
I agree with Eric, but if you're going to get one for whatever reasons, I'd think the specific machines available in your area would be a much bigger factor than one particular model or size.It's not like you're building a new machine, and you're deciding which is the more reliable manufacturer. Old machines have individual personalities. Something old has the advantage of having a track record, so ask about the ones you find.
cm1995thanks I have pattern selectors on my minis and was worried abut getting a machine with cat controls as I am like a fish out of water. I know its just practice but if dad wants to use it I need it to all be the same. Great suggestion about switching the hoses.I have noticed that a lot of the machines in my price range are either ruff looking or have a nice layer of paint covering everythingEric12I have a 6k scat trak and a 10k Daewoo My hope is to find some work on occasion after Im done with my projects to justify keeping it around. I have a builder that has asked me before to dig his basements but he only dose 4-5 a year so Ive never been able to justify buying a machine for him but depending on what I find I may start. I have been working on the basin as time permits with my machine and dozer but am just not making a dent in it based on the time Im investing, my time to work on this is due to non ideal condition to work on my projects, ie wet, cold ect. I found a kobelco 150 with 5700 hours on it that's alittle ruff around the edges steel wise that Im going to look at on tues and another kobelco 130 mark IV wth 8600 hours but with a new uc at 8k that Im going to look at on wed. What are your thoughts on the Kobelco's?Delmer,there is not much in my area the dealers seem to just have much nicer machines than I can afford to Im looking with in about a 200 mi radiusMost of MY personal projects are done as my schedule permits so renting isn't an option and I absolutely love dirt work so I just cant pay some one to do what is one of my favorite things to do. Its my form of stress relief
kobelco makes a nice machine, they are basically the same as link belt, new holland and case. what are your 6k scat track and 10k daewoo? a 3 ton dozer and a 5 ton excavator? if they are you should have no problem doing some ditch work and septic systems with a 5 ton excavator. and the pattern selectors you can buy and install in most any excavator that doesn't have one for a few hundred dollars. and if your going 16 feet deep id want something bigger than a 120-160 sized machine, you either need to dig a fair amount of dirt out to shelf it correctly or else you'll need shields to work safely which means buying a shield or renting one. id look at a 200 sized machine and plan on spending double what you want to currently spend then you'll have a decent machine to work with and dig basements.id still recommend just sticking with what you have and hiring someone to dig the 8" line for you and then you can backfill and clean up after them so you don't have to worry about buying a machine and putting someone at risk if you've never worked that deep or installing that much pipe and either doing it wrong so it has to be done again or having a trench collapse and killing someone because you like playing in the dirt.do you own a skid steer? if your in the landscaping business that $18,000 might be a lot more beneficial to you by buying a skid steer to work with your current machines to not only use in your landscaping business but to also help with the other projects your trying to do.also if your building a sub division what machines are you planning on using? are the utilities and road already in and your just doing 8 septic systems and some driveways with ditches? or are you building the whole sub division?
For the record, Kobelco is no way related to Case and Link Belt. I've yet to run a Kobelco I didn't like, they are pretty good machines.I wouldn't buy a machine unless you have a solid plan to keep it busy after your projects are done. $18K is a tight budget. Also, for what it sounds like you'll be doing, 20 ton hoe will be plenty and I would even lean toward a 16 ton machine so you could have it moved with a tilt top instead of lowboy.
http://investors.cnh.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61651&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=162285&highlight=they are very similar
I agree with CM1995. I spent a bunch of time looking at options in the <$20k range, and a Cat 225 is about the best you'll do. You should be able to find a machine in good shape (B series, if you can) that fits your budget.From what I could tell, anything newer in that price range was either in BAD shape or very small. Parts and helpful service advice is still plentiful for the 225's, and they are still good machines. A company near me just replaced several neighborhood's worth of waterlines in Haverhill, MA using a 225B as the primary machine. They still work just fine.
Ok, here are my 2 cents... 18k don't get you much more than something to turn wrenches on and throw more money at.Here is what i'd do... sell the mini you like the least, its worth the most, or has been the most trouble. Now you should have 36k give or take to play with, that will buy something decent.I haven't heard anything good about kobelco's when they get the hours on them, but as with anything its maintence more than hours. w/ 36 to spend I'd be looking for a 135 size machine with a blade, it saves so much time when your digging on a slope and handy for pushing the odd trench shut and everything. Don't overlook the deere 490e's and hitachi 120's. They are solid machines.
Thanks for all of the feed back. I cant sell either of my two minis as each one has its use and some times both will be out at the same time. I have two skids and don't need another but that was a good suggestion My dozer is a little mit 2b2g I believe. Working that deep isn't an issue as once upon a time I picked up some stackable boxes that have been collecting rust on the side of the shop and its about time I actually got some use out of them in stead of loaning them out. dad has worked that deep before and we run pipe. Im going to look at a kobelco 150 mark III that I will go see tomorrow any thing in particular that I should be looking for? I found a 93 cat 231D with 7k on the clock for 19k on machinery trader would that be worth looking into? seems a little large for my needs. other than not having enough money to spend what should I look for on machines of this size?
Hydraulics issues are all repairable, just a question of the money/time you want to spend. In the price range you are looking at there are bound to be things that are either broken or in need of some service. Just a matter of avoiding lemons and finding that gently-used hoe that just needs a pump rebuild or engine overhaul.Others may correct me....but look for a machine with good "bones". Boom, frame, swing bearing, bushings, rust, etc. If it looks like it has been beat to death, a "new pump" or "recently replaced engine" is probably the least expensive problems it had.What you tolerate for hydraulics issues are purely a function of the time and money you want to put into it. Most of your major things like pumps, seals, and valves are all replaceable wear items that just have a price tag. Obviously avoid any major issues. I would take a machine with leaky hydraulics but good bones over a machine with recently serviced hydraulics but signs of severe abuse. A toasted pump is much cheaper than a destroyed swing bearing or a garbage boom.
I have seen some decent machines going up for auction here lately.there some heavy equipmentAuctions around fall time, I know there is one around Columbus Oh, and Pittsburgh Pa. Commi.g up.There are more probably closer in your area, Richie Brothers is one company I know there is anotherbut I'm drawing a blank on the other name. We saw some nice machines go under 20k.
eric12 they were in bed for a while and it was the biggest mistake Kobelco ever made. They have since parted company and Kobelco is again building there own design excavators they went so far as to sell the factory in Georgia. By the way the mini and short tail machines were always Kobelco and built overseas.
Is there a reason why the engine oil would have a bluish tint on a used machine? Coolant leak? Or special oil? Or off road fuel dye?