Digger

[John boy]

Hi. Looking at buying a digger and doing a bit of work with it but looking to work out if it pays. Looking at a 14 tone volvo. any one know how much fuel per hr they use and how much i should be putting aside for wear and tair. Thanks for any help.

 

[john432]

So many excavators out there looking for work..you'd need to have all the fancy attachments, tilting bucket, grab, maybe a tree shear etc ,etc to entice customers..and be a dam good operator.. then the red or white diesel rules. Moving the machine about with a farm tractor? Insurance...bad payers .. they'll be the ones wanting you first...

 

[goldeneagle]

Do you have a dealer local or mechanic who is knowledgeable on them.

Age and engine Tier status will make a big difference in how thirsty it is would think. Type of work also as some jobs can be done at minimal revs and others need full power.

House builder had a 2014 Volvo and few times Volvo technician attended it which was 2 hours travel each way. Good machines by all accounts but some things need dealer support and the closer they are the more economic it is.

Proper assessment by someone experienced with heavy equipment prior to buying will give you good idea of what needs doing and how much it costs.

New set of track chains which are wear items will be between 4-6k as an example.

 

[John boy]

So many excavators out there looking for work..you'd need to have all the fancy attachments, tilting bucket, grab, maybe a tree shear etc ,etc to entice customers..and be a dam good operator.. then the red or white diesel rules. Moving the machine about with a farm tractor? Insurance...bad payers .. they'll be the ones wanting you first...

Thanks for the reply. I have thought about all the things you have listed. Red or white fuel I don’t see much problem as i will just price accordingly no doubt someone will do it on red but let them crack on. Moving machine about is no problem as we have a lorry. There are bad payers in all aspects of life.

 

[John boy]

Do you have a dealer local or mechanic who is knowledgeable on them.

Age and engine Tier status will make a big difference in how thirsty it is would think. Type of work also as some jobs can be done at minimal revs and others need full power.

House builder had a 2014 Volvo and few times Volvo technician attended it which was 2 hours travel each way. Good machines by all accounts but some things need dealer support and the closer they are the more economic it is.

Proper assessment by someone experienced with heavy equipment prior to buying will give you good idea of what needs doing and how much it costs.

New set of track chains which are wear items will be between 4-6k as an example.

Thanks for the reply. It’s a 2018 don’t know a lot more about it atm as there is no point me giving it the big i am and go and see it until i have done my maths. It’s not set in stone that this is the machine as i have allso seen a couple of hitachi’s aswell.

 

[Hilly]

Just get a job deiving one for someone else and save yourself a load of greif …. And make more money , times have changed .

 

[nick...]

I’m sure you would hire a new 14 ton machine for £5/600 a week .i reckon depending on work you would use less than 80 litres a day.track chains and associated part are expensive and someone may have a figure in mind but you could call someone like midland steel traders MST to get an idea
nick...

 

[Lakesdigger]

Everyone wants a BIG digger. It's worth bearing in mind that the bigger the digger the higher the running costs and also the bigger the jobs you'll need. Unless you already know the type of work you want to be doing or have the chance of does it need to be a 14 tonner.

 

[daveydiesel1]

We have a volvo 140. Very economic digger. On easy digging itl be between 4-6 litres hour

 

[Fendtbro]

Lots of negativity here. There will be work available with standard buckets and a tilting ditcher. If you are a good operator and not too greedy people are bound to use you. It will take a while to build up a customer base. Tracks are not an issue. When shot they are cheap for chains and sprockets. Lots of sweat swapping the chains and pads over but just do it on the weekends. Build up the track guides and add more so the tracks can’t fall off easily. 13 tonners are not big machines, they are sensible machines that can tackle almost any job. You get loads of metal for your money compared to 8 tonners and they are vastly more productive. The older Isuzu ones used to be great on fuel, Don’t know about modern ones. We used to run older stuff with almost zero depreciation and They ran about £4-6 an hour in parts. Never counted labour tho. Very little trouble with older cat and kobelco. Newer machines seem to offer no advantage in output of control and getting involved with dpf and add blue can see all sorts of bills from dealer! Much cleaner running of course so far nicer for people working outside the machine. AC is essential! Avoid newer Jcb’s?! Zero tailswing opens up even more work opportunities with the right operator. You have to work with them, we have a few and love them. Buy one that has been greased and looked after, cats seem to stay tight the longest, the pins and bushes are very hard. Kobelco our favourite so far.

 

[John boy]

Lots of negativity here. There will be work available with standard buckets and a tilting ditcher. If you are a good operator and not too greedy people are bound to use you. It will take a while to build up a customer base. Tracks are not an issue. When shot they are cheap for chains and sprockets. Lots of sweat swapping the chains and pads over but just do it on the weekends. Build up the track guides and add more so the tracks can’t fall off easily. 13 tonners are not big machines, they are sensible machines that can tackle almost any job. You get loads of metal for your money compared to 8 tonners and they are vastly more productive. The older Isuzu ones used to be great on fuel, Don’t know about modern ones. We used to run older stuff with almost zero depreciation and They ran about £4-6 an hour in parts. Never counted labour tho. Very little trouble with older cat and kobelco. Newer machines seem to offer no advantage in output of control and getting involved with dpf and add blue can see all sorts of bills from dealer! Much cleaner running of course so far nicer for people working outside the machine. AC is essential! Avoid newer Jcb’s?! Zero tailswing opens up even more work opportunities with the right operator. You have to work with them, we have a few and love them. Buy one that has been greased and looked after, cats seem to stay tight the longest, the pins and bushes are very hard. Kobelco our favourite so far.

Thanks very much for your input appreciate it.

 

[Skintagain]

You might do as well with a small digger

small jobs keep getting paid

I know a lad that has a 2.7 tonner does 1, 2 or 3 days per week with it depending how many jobs he has lined up and time of year etc. if he is letting folk down or on holiday etc his brother goes and does a day or two to keep jobs going.

Also has a job on a big machine 4 days per week. If his private work goes quiet he has an income.

 

[TripleSix]

You can get a job on site driving someone else's machine for £25+ per hour

 

[Hilly]

^^^ verses lees than £40 for your own machine , get a job and have a life , was a time having your own was the way , not now imho.

 

[Fendtbro]

^^^ verses lees than £40 for your own machine , get a job and have a life , was a time having your own was the way , not now imho.

Bit of both not a bad idea. If nothing else, the contract work buys and maintains the machine which you then have for your own work.

 

[Skintagain]

^^^ verses lees than £40 for your own machine , get a job and have a life , was a time having your own was the way , not now imho.

Old fella had one. Said 80’s and 90’s were good, machines weren’t dear diesel and oil not dear. He said now drive someone else’s let them pay for it and mend it put white diesel in it etc.

 

[Hilly]

Old fella had one. Said 80’s and 90’s were good, machines weren’t dear diesel and oil not dear. He said now drive someone else’s let them pay for it and mend it put white diesel in it etc.

Them days are gone sadly , high wages now better off on the books with no stress and heap of benfits holidays sick pay etc unless your going to build up to ten or machines then the stress womt be worth it , its futile now .

 

[Zetor]

We have a volvo 140. Very economic digger. On easy digging itl be between 4-6 litres hour

Wow what age is that? I can’t get anywhere near that figure with any of mine

 

[daveydiesel1]

Not sure. Its the pre ad blue model. Now thats on lighter work like fencing and digging drains etc