13 tonne excavator. What to buy?

[Lincs Lass]

Sunward, that's the one .............
When you say basic controls, can you close the door and still use the handles, I wonder ...........

The instruments are actual gauges ,not digital ,built cheaper but if the one in our quarry is anything to go by ,works aswell as the higher branded machines they have

 

[James]

Man that does our digging his 13t+ machines are JCB. His 7t and smaller are Hitachi.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

20 k machine purchase , 10 days at 10 hrs each per year ,£40 per hour £4000 per year in hire , over 5 years machine is paid for , and it's still worth 15k , and when neighbours see you with one they will take it on self drive for £100 per day , I've 2 8 tonners that are never at home

We were going to buy a digger for the farm and for site work, couldn't make the figures work out probably 35 days a year. Our digger man is £25/hour and could shave you with the thing he's a good operator.

 

[rob1]

we bought a 13tonne komatsu in the summer very pleased with it,just wish I had time to use it more and could be out for weeks on hire if I had time too

 

[james ds]

we bought a 13tonne komatsu in the summer very pleased with it,just wish I had time to use it more and could be out for weeks on hire if I had time too

I've a 2006 komastu pc130 , I bought it new , still on origionial batteries , very easy to start , 7200 hrs on it now , new tracks a yr and a half ago . Great long reach . Highly recommend .

 

[Thomas5060]

I've a 2006 komastu pc130 , I bought it new , still on origionial batteries , very easy to start , 7200 hrs on it now , new tracks a yr and a half ago . Great long reach . Highly recommend .

Is it a -7?We had a -5k and a -6, both good diggers, had a -8 on Hire for a month, biggest piece of sh1te we have ever used, dead as a doornail and very very unsteady, bravin hard on diesel. The JCB and Volvo we hired were far better diggers. All using the same size buckets. We very happy to be sending the Komatsu back

 

[Cardi]

There's a very tidy Hitachi 130 entered with Fred Davies at Synod inn Sale next Saturday from a local contractor who died a few months ago. About 5 years old I would think and exceptionally maintained.

 

[james ds]

Is it a -7?We had a -5k and a -6, both good diggers, had a -8 on Hire for a month, biggest piece of sh1te we have ever used, dead as a doornail and very very unsteady, bravin hard on diesel. The JCB and Volvo we hired were far better diggers. All using the same size buckets. We very happy to be sending the Komatsu back

Your right the new models are not as good from what I hear , mine is the -7 , . I think the new model is giving trouble as well.

 

[Dragon]

Any one got any links to website that sell diggers, looking for a 13t machine leaning towards jcb because they seem good value. They do seem to take a fair hit on depreciation, are they less to buy new?

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

There's a stack of Chinese manufacturers now strongly pushing their wares in the European market. Admittedly haven't driven one but they don't (yet) look like they have the sophistication and finesse of the latest machines from the established guys. No doubt they are learning fast and in one or two generations will match their Japanese and Korean competitors.

They must have some faith in their product as there are some long warranties being offered. Component choice also looks pretty good.

The biggest question marks in my mind would be backup and depreciation (if buying new) as they're untested really on both counts. Bet the big fleet and rental buyers will be examining them very closely especially with the wafer margins now in rental and the continued pinch in construction

If I was an owner-operator, going new, spending my own money and time in one I would still plump for an established brand for the reasons stated, at least until the dust has settled on the first generation or two of from the Chinese dudes.

In few years time when these things filter down to mere mortals there could be some second hand bargains to be had.

 

[dusty]

We've got 2 2006 js 130,s been great machines ones just about 10k hours just had a new pump but hopefully that's it for a while again.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

anyone wanting to buy any plant kit keep an eye out for the auction of hewden kit, I know some bits of the company were baught but there will be a fair bit of kit up for sale

 

[Zetor]

Sanny is another chinese built machine ,much cheaper than most but they only use the basic controls,,no fancy computerized gizmos

Most of the computer shite that's fitted to modern excavators is to do with emission control, sadly the most basic of Chinese machines won't be immune from this.
Sanny seems to be the most popular of this group I think they use a Isuzu engine/Kawasaki pump (sound familiar?)

 

[Zetor]

We've got 2 2006 js 130,s been great machines ones just about 10k hours just had a new pump but hopefully that's it for a while again.

They're good machines, the last of the good ones so I keep being told but they are over 15 ton

 

[Lincs Lass]

When our local quarry got a new Volvo 300D ,i had a quick nosey round it ,,guy there said it would be lovely to operate if he was allowed to ,,it was all GPS linked back to head office ,,no fear of it overheating or running low of oils ,,everything was monitored ,measured and transmitted back ,,service van turned up one day as the onboard system said it needed a filter change and if it wasnt done in a certain time the computer would shut it down untill it was done ,,he couldnt over work it because the computer said no

 

[dusty]

They're good machines, the last of the good ones so I keep being told but they are over 15 ton

Yip 15200. That's why we like them do a bit of loading terragators with a big bucket it helps to keep steady

 

[Sparkplug]

We've got a CAT 312 bl here at home. It's got over 10,000 hours on it now and we're looking to replace it with something a bit newer.

Wouldn't be keen on another CAT as those flat face hydraulic pipe couplings ain't handy to source.

JCB is the nearest dealer and they give good service. The jcb don't get the best name for reliability though?

Ideally looking for something with 4 or 5000 hours on it. With hydraulic quick hitch.

Quite a few JS130 ex Hewden just hit the market, mainly 2011 with Isuzu Common Rail that dealer friends are not happy with, (prefer earlier engine or latter JCB Engine) most are advertised around £25,000 with 3-4500 hrs on the clock - if you want to know where they are, depending on your location, PM me.

 

[Sparkplug]

Any one got any links to website that sell diggers, looking for a 13t machine leaning towards jcb because they seem good value. They do seem to take a fair hit on depreciation, are they less to buy new?

What age and price range were you thinking off - PM me if you prefer

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

When our local quarry got a new Volvo 300D ,i had a quick nosey round it ,,guy there said it would be lovely to operate if he was allowed to ,,it was all GPS linked back to head office ,,no fear of it overheating or running low of oils ,,everything was monitored ,measured and transmitted back ,,service van turned up one day as the onboard system said it needed a filter change and if it wasnt done in a certain time the computer would shut it down untill it was done ,,he couldnt over work it because the computer said no

Telematics practically standard now on larger kit. Nothing much to it really just hook into the CANbus (the electronic backbone of all machines now) and add a mobile data connection at very little capital and run cost. The benefit is stacked in favour of the servicing dealer/workshop/manufacturer as it allows them to predict and proactively plan maintenance and head off potential expensive warranty claims - a boon if the machines are sold on a warranty and service agreement as 99% of them are now.

Should be included as standard zero cost as the direct benefit for the owner is very little...geofencing and a few other perks. The fleet capital and run cost for the manufacturer/importer is small but the benefits are substantial.

 

[Garth77]

Stick to a Cat, we've found them to be built to last. A bit more pricey than the other makes but worth it in the long run especially the running gear if kept genuine. Service kits are now very competitive but genuine parts can be on the expensive side but again do last. We've found case to be a good machine but share a similar build quality to JCB.