What 13 to 15 ton digger?

[stablegirl]

We are looking to buy a 13 to 15 ton digger, for some building work and making tracks along with loading muck spreaders and cleaning sand slurry out of our stores.

Not going to do massive amounts probably 200 hours a year but its little bits and pieces so want to own the machine.

Looking at £20-25k budget and have been looking at 2010-2014 machines with 6 to 8000 hours.

We have quite a lot of JCB machines on farm but people warn us off the diggers? Are they really that bad? Looked at some js130 and some jz140.

Also looked at a doosan dx140.

Any recommendations? I know condition is important,with us only doing low hours I don't want to be putting tracks on.

 

[bigrigg150]

tracks and everything that go's with it tends to be ready for alot of money spending on them at around 6000 hrs. 13 ton machines are in high demand at the min. We have been looking for a while and just found a 2014 14 ton hyundai with 2500 hrs. . Alot of painted ladies out there aswell that have had a haircut and paint chucked at them. be aware.

 

[Matt77]

I was in exactly the same position two year's ago, brought a 2012 JS130 with just over 6k on it, quick hitch, 3 buckets, £21500, I'm made up with it, done so much more with it than expected and for our new grainstore site it's been incredibly convenient, I'm no digger expert but I like the JCB, feels familiar, we run a JCB handler too.

 

[massey765]

got a volvo 140 lc year 2011 2 years ago with 3800 hours on... has 5100 on it now, apart from door behind cab deciding ta come open up against a wall and twisting it and a week later a bleddy tree lent on the other door ......so got both doors done and painted at the same time.......other than that just oil and filters.....got a price for turning pins /bushes in tracks .....just under £1000 +sprockets

 

[Phil P]

I was in a similar position to you, plenty of bits of jobs and wanted my own machine. I ended up buying a hitachi ZX130 and been very happy with it.

Which excavator?

So, I’m thinking of getting a tracked excavator, got quite a few jobs need sorting, drains (there’s always drains to look at?), ditches to clean, tracks to repair, possibly some muck loading, shed project in the next couple of years, etc etc......... Looking at something around the 13/14 ton...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

It’s ended up doing so much more work than I expected! Pretty much not stopped since November and still a load more jobs to do including some contracting work. It will be on muck loading when it dries up again as it makes a lot less mess than the telehandler. I’ve an old telehandler bucket I’m going to do up and reinforce just for loading muck.

 

[Matt77]

I've plans to do the same with an old 3cx front bucket, just need the extra time to think about angles and if to buy a top bracket to weld on or cut my own up out of plate, time is the problem here, if you get as far and don't mind posting up some of your work I'd be interested so I can draw inspiration

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I was in a similar position to you, plenty of bits of jobs and wanted my own machine. I ended up buying a hitachi ZX130 and been very happy with it.

Which excavator?

So, I’m thinking of getting a tracked excavator, got quite a few jobs need sorting, drains (there’s always drains to look at?), ditches to clean, tracks to repair, possibly some muck loading, shed project in the next couple of years, etc etc......... Looking at something around the 13/14 ton...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

It’s ended up doing so much more work than I expected! Pretty much not stopped since November and still a load more jobs to do including some contracting work. It will be on muck loading when it dries up again as it makes a lot less mess than the telehandler. I’ve an old telehandler bucket I’m going to do up and reinforce just for loading muck.

That's a great use for a 360. I used to use our old 900B to load muck. Hardly any soil damage because there's no constant moving back and forward. Easy to clear up as well.

 

[Phil P]

I've plans to do the same with an old 3cx front bucket, just need the extra time to think about angles and if to buy a top bracket to weld on or cut my own up out of plate, time is the problem here, if you get as far and don't mind posting up some of your work I'd be interested so I can draw inspiration

I’m still scratching my head over what to do about the brackets myself . Do I buy or make a top hat bracket and then do I make it an adapter plate to fit the cone and pin or make it a permanent digger bucket and weld them on? So much to consider and so little time

 

[Tomr10]

Having brand choice can only be done when there lots available. Buy the best one that's available if the condition is there hours is less important

 

[Lakesdigger]

I’m still scratching my head over what to do about the brackets myself . Do I buy or make a top hat bracket and then do I make it an adapter plate to fit the cone and pin or make it a permanent digger bucket and weld them on? So much to consider and so little time

If you make an adapter so you can pick up cone and pin with the digger you can use all you're handler attachments on the digger.

 

[Matt77]

If you make an adapter so you can pick up cone and pin with the digger you can use all you're handler attachments on the digger.

I thought about this, even bid on some JCB Q fit headstocks at the Does online auction just gone, but they all went for well out of my very limited budget

 

[deleted user 837354]

Any advantage to having a 4 in 1 on a digger off an old 3CX?

 

[Tomr10]

Dumping ?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Any advantage to having a 4 in 1 on a digger off an old 3CX?

It quickly coverts into a blade....

Works as a grab as well (thinking moving tree trunks etc)

 

[Muck Spreader]

That's a great use for a 360. I used to use our old 900B to load muck. Hardly any soil damage because there's no constant moving back and forward. Easy to clear up as well.

Yep, our old Case Poclain spends most of its time on the muck. Can't beat it.

 

[stablegirl]

Are the jcb 2012 on as bad everyone says?

 

[Matt77]

Are the jcb 2012 on as bad everyone says?

I bloody hope not

 

[Richy12]

I’m still scratching my head over what to do about the brackets myself . Do I buy or make a top hat bracket and then do I make it an adapter plate to fit the cone and pin or make it a permanent digger bucket and weld them on? So much to consider and so little time

How I mounted the shear grab, for ideas.

 

[robs1]

I’m still scratching my head over what to do about the brackets myself . Do I buy or make a top hat bracket and then do I make it an adapter plate to fit the cone and pin or make it a permanent digger bucket and weld them on? So much to consider and so little time

We got Taylor attachments near bristol to make an adaptor bracket for our 13 tonne, we can now use every loader bucket, pallet fork etc on it, originally we bought it to use the pallet forks so we can use our man cage on it, its brilliant for cleaning out high gutters etc and far longer reach but now use other buckets etc too.
Was about £ 800 iirc, money well spent

 

[Phil P]

We got Taylor attachments near bristol to make an adaptor bracket for our 13 tonne, we can now use every loader bucket, pallet fork etc on it, originally we bought it to use the pallet forks so we can use our man cage on it, its brilliant for cleaning out high gutters etc and far longer reach but now use other buckets etc too.
Was about £ 800 iirc, money well spent

Got any pictures? I love a project