Buying the CHEAPEST Chinese mini excavator on facebook marketplace
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2023
- in this video we'll cover the first few hours of owning one of these chiness excavators. I got alot of use out of it, made some improvements and broke it. My overall thoughts on this machine are at the end of the video.
My Amazon Storefront - find all the products I use and recommend in one place!
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Here are a few links for products I use almost EVERY DAY.
Milwaukee Fastback 6 in 1 Utility Knife
amzn.to/45URfNt
or
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Hour Meter (used in this video)
amzn.to/3tBObY8
Gopro HERO 10
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DJI Mini 2 Drone
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How cute this machine really is! a real helper for working people.And the same time a real toy for people who love it.
I extended my exhaust out past the body and angled down & warped with exhaust pipe insulation, I’ve never been close to hitting it on anything. I as you did ,removed the back access plate. I also added reflecting insulation metal taped in under the set plate. No more hot seat.
Great content, I busted out laughing when you walked into your shop, opened tool box draw, and with calibrated eye-ball; grabbed an exact sized pin. What actually made me laugh was your comment...."Well look a there" as the pivot pin fit exactly "Hoarding" it's never let me down!" Thanks for sharing your experience with your equipment.
Thank you for watching and commenting I really appreciate that’s.
“My calibrated eye” I like that lol
Nice job! Great job showing the preparation of getting ready for first use and showing some samples of what it can do.
Thanks. I have a few other videos on my channel now, demonstrating what it can do
Do yourself a favor and put some anti seize on your track adjusters. I’d even put it on and run the nut back and fourth to get some under that nut!
That’s a good idea. I’ll do that next time I adjust them, thanks
On the old Bombadeers I use to weld peace of pipe to the nuts to protect the threads an keep the never seze clean. Dirt free
I’m assuming “anti seize” is exactly what the name implies? Not being an ass, just zero mechanical knowledge.
@@ConcreteLand anti seize won’t allow parts to rust together like threads you need to adjust or remove in the future. Works better than grease
You can paint an entire house with one drop of antiseize lol.
3 min into this I just want to say that your doggo is the goodest boy
Man I love watching you having so much fun. So many red powered big boy toys. You just pick which one, which day, and let the good times roll. Now how awesome is that!!!
I actually do have a blast making these videos. Thanks for watching
From time I’ve spent around excavation the engine cover probably does more for dust protection than impact protection. If there’s low dust while you’re running the machine I wouldn’t worry about it.
Great demonstration and fair evaluation. You are also resourceful and looked like nothing stopped you, no whining, and got straight to fixing and finishing the job. We need more of you in America. Best wishes.
Thank yiu
It's always such a pleasure to watch someone who has the confidence to make his own additions/parts to a machine like this one, not to mention seeing the easy troubleshooting when something goes wrong. To echo a number of posters below, great job! Thanks for a very entertaining and educational video.
Great idea to add that hour meter right off the bat! Congrats on the new machine. We recently got a new mini-ex too and have made a couple videos about it. It's amazing the work that these things can do! I can't believe I didn't save up and buy one years ago.
Thanks, yea same here. They have there place for sure but I’m pretty impressed with it so far. Probably have 15/20 hours on mine.
Those grease fittings that are flush won't break off. Plus you should have gotten a grease gun and a tip for those flush fittings in your toolbox.
@@josephmistretta6211 the use the same needle that a normal gun fitting plugs onto needle. Lots of u-joints for Axle, shafts and on good built lawn tractors use them same flat needle fill fittings. No room to fit a normal grease gun fitting between the Knuckles
The reason that fuse blew was because of the loose wire that you found on the starter solenoid. The loose connection will draw more amps there for blowing the fuse. Thanks for the video, I'm researching buying one for some small projects
Btw $8k thru $12k it’s a good price range.
Just south of you my friend, our counties border
each other via I-79… at most, 40 minutes.
I like Timer you rigged up with the Spark Plug. 😊
My friend’s farm has too many stumps. I have sent him your video. Thumbs Up 😊
Cheers,
Vince
Congrats on getting ur new Mini Excavator. it will do fine around the home.
Subbed, looks like an interesting channel, just up my alley. Let me confirm about the Chinese mini excavator, I bought one with the controllers upfront, and if I get another it will be the type you have, mine has come in handy and saved me hours of hard work (after getting used to its stability) but it has caused me plenty of back pain because of the controls placement. Another must do is break it in properly and change filters after each season or by hours used. I don’t use mine that often and have changed filters oil etc twice. Track tension must be maintained,seasonally or drastic temp changes. It’s been difficult for me to pin track tension down tho, thrown a track or two due to conditions, I have found that on deep loose sand, I will throw a track if I make a turn, every time. Mine is a manual track tensioner too. Prefer it also. I also bought a backup set of tracks, not used them yet. Getting tracks back on by yourself,like I have to, I put on an aftermarket hydraulic thumb with some mods to make it work, must have also. I have not flipped my bucket teeth, yet, may not ,seems to do just fine as is. I would have to do some grinding to fit properly.
A suggestion on tying it down on the trailer. besides the chain across the front blade, you should also square up the bucket to centerline and chain down the bucket to prevent the arm from swinging. Also, the tie down in back should be two chains going back to the corners of the trailer, rather than one chain centered. You can check your state DOT site for their specific requirements. Better safe than sorry...
Beside that, I loved the video review!
DOT on Excavators. 5 tie down points. Its the safest thing to do.
Great Video, learned a lot about these little machines.
Thank you for the review. I've been looking at a machine like this for my small farm tasks.
Thanks hope it helped
Hello Sir, have you bought a small excavator?
Kool video 👍 from your editing, the music, the commentary, everything 😁your clearly the mini Andrew Camarata channel 😋
Grind out that ledge so the teeth fit flat. Looks like a nice little machine for the money. Dig a sewer line, get around a house or camp, get small stuff done. The engine is a HF replacement easy. I think this has a lot of use.
Also the best mod i made for this guy is a nice tall solid steele lever for the blade, i used an old mobile home tie down bit, cut off the blades of the bit, and the square end with square slot holes bolted to the old yanmar style foot operation once i removed the pedal. Grading made beautifully easy!!!
I did add a steel bar for the blade. That was an excellent upgrade 👍
Neat idea
As you said it felt different and a bit shakey at first (to be expected, it doesn't have the weight to stabilize itself compared to bigger machines) but you were learning to work within its parameters. Same thing with its capabilities. Be thankful it can do more than you can by yourself but be aware it too has limitations. Working it that way you should get a long and useful life out of the excavator. Have fun. By the way, I like their zerk fittings. Nothing to knock off with the errant rock when digging deep.
Yea, it’s faster than a shovel and iv gotten a lot better at running it just by spending time on it.
After I found the right grease gun attachment for the grease fitting that’s came on the machine, I’ll probably switch them all back. I agree, I like them they don’t stick out
@@Username-qx9gk i am trying to figure out how to change the controls or adjust so there is fine control
@@Username-qx9gk The only function i really have fine control issues with is the swing. The other functions can be worked out by the operator.
And honestly i think some of that is my own problem bcuz when i swing, my brain listens to the engine RPMs and i dont swing smoothly. Its hard to explain but the machne will swing smooth
What’s the actual brand and model number. Thanks
There's a reason why they're inexpensive and jerky. Single stage positive displacement pump, spool valves, no crossover relief valves, single speed traction motors, no boom swing, no load holding valve, no real pilot controls and a gasoline single cylinder engine. It looks good but it's going to fatigue the operator and fail when you really need it. I did the research, hired and tested the different Chinese/Korean/Japanese products. There's only two Chinese excavator that are good enough, the Korean and Japanese were pretty much perfect.
Someone else commented on the greasing of the slew bearing and rack. These are greased by the two zerks that are close together on the lower front of what I think is called the house. You need to slew the machine 90 degrees and repeat the greasing until you have done a complete 360 degrees.
Can see you buying a bigger, say 2.5 to 3.5 ton machine, (what ever your trailer can safely transport) after a few hundred hours (ie a Kubota etc) and hanging onto this little machine for smaller tighter work and the portability.
I’d like to get a bigger nicer machine in the future sure. Definitely keep this one as well
Careful about adding twisting leverage to that little stick. A wider thumb will pick a log or such way off the balance point. Gotta keep in mind it is a little machine and work around that without overloading it.
That’s a good point. I thought about that before, I just trying to work with what I have
as a Chinese products user I recommend to protect all threads not by loctite or similar locks but by a viscous grease. Their nut-to-bolt connections in non-big-trademark products are more vulnerable to rust than usual... IMHO
I got my lil 1.5 T about a year and a half ago. I was aware of the things like loose bolts and whatnots. I also knew I wanted a diesel, so allocated extra for that. Best money spent, Kubota is the way to go. Great lil rig you got. Take care of it, should last a long time. Excavators are so useful. I would spend twice what I paid for such a neat machine
Did you get a kubota machine or a Chinese machine with a kubota diesel?
It was suppose to come with a Chinese diesel, though I was explicit in telling them I wanted a Kubota instead. Where I live at the Kubota dealership is ten minutes away. The Chinese diesel is 🤔.No support what so ever. So yes it came with my machine. I did not add it to it once it was here. Though that is possible to do. But it was cost advangtage to do it there, it cost an extra $1,500.00. The engine by itself bought, it like two or three times that price. Mine is Chinese excavator with a Kubota.@@99Projects
I got a Kubota engine in the lil China 1.5T
I have one of these and payed only 9,400 no tax for it. Literally One of the best purchases of my life. I've used the bit larger bobcat EX for years on and off of my brothers, and this little em15 can take anything I throw at it. Just like the bobcat! Not a problem after months of daily use. I've welded on some extra supports here and there, and also put 200 or more lbs of counter weight to the back, as there is plenty of room for kubota tractor weights under the back cover. The weight increase made it much smoother in all manners of operation. I plan on eventually getting another one for jobs, and the original for the farm. Absolutely love this machine!
Iv been wanting to add weight.
I hope your machine works out well 4 u…
That's great BV. I love my lil machine as well. Like you said, throw anything at it and it has not lost one fight yet. Love to see people's mouth wide open with Amazement 😉
Think I got mine for about $8,700.00
Where did you get it?
I have a small kubota backhoe and the factory teeth actually split the end of the bucket like a clothespin with half going on the inside of the bucket and half on the outside; so i still have drag marks when trying to smooth the bottom of a trench. I've seen several reviews on the chinese machines is longevity.
Yea I see the teeth for sale like that. Might grab a set.
Time will tell on longevity
Watching your youtube channel is like that clip from malcom in the middle were the dad has to replace a lightbulb and then goes to get one then the shelf is messed up so then he tries to fix that and other things lead to him working on his car to fix it to go get a part and when the wife gets home she asks why he didnt replace the lightbulb and he yells IM WORKING ON IT! lmao love your vids
That’s how I feel lol thank you
What is your email address? Tell me, I'll give you a quote
I like the fact that you can remove the teeth and you have a smooth bucket for digging drainage ditches without having the need for another bucket
I love this video, and I’m already digging into FB to see if I can find one near me. Thanks for the video. Just subscribed
Thank you, I’m about to post another video on this machine doing some tree work. I was pretty impressed by what I was able to do with it
@@99Projects I’ll check it out when it drops
As someone who has zero experience, tons of ambition, and limited funds, your video was perfect for me. I am looking at a unit like yours tomorrow, and now I will have some knowledge upon which to make an informed purchasing decision. Thanks.
Glad it helped
Did indeed buy the mini and love it already. I now have the motivation to get several back breaking projects going, minus the heavy lifting. Thanks again.
You operate the excavator decently for a beginner. I've been operating my mini excavators and skid steer loaders for a few decades now and rent the big equipment when needed. I can demo a typical size house and haul off in a day or two with a 30,000 pound excavator and two 14-15' bed dump trucks.
holy crap at the 31 minute mark where you are removing that tree stump, that is awesome, it’s doing a super job
Thanks. Iv done a bunch of stuff since then that will be in upcoming videos. It’s a impressive little machine
4:21 you need to turn the upper carriage 90 degrees and greese again, the repeat it to full revolution. Ringgear is so big that it wont get greesed in one position.
I have greased that gear
I always use the red hi temp grease, it is very tacky 😊. Help it get all over the place.
@@hamop3 greeeses that are dark have graphite in it. It tolerates higher temperatures before coming liquid but it’s not always used because a bit higher price and if macine has light color it’s more visible.
I'm glad to see that you unit has a hinged back panel.
I just took it off…helps with cooling
What is the model? do you have a link you can share where you bought it from? Price$?$?$?
Thanks for the information!
I like the way yours has a swing out engine door !
This was a great video I’m thinking of getting one and you just made my day with this mini excavator. For what I need it for. Thank you
Glad I could help
I have a 1.5 ton Groundhog with the diesel 20hp and have only put about 125 hours on it so far. Only issue to date was the tracks needed tightening a few times till around 75 hrs. I also changed the zerk fittings for convenience and ease of greasing. Many of the attachments from mine should fit yours. I bought the root ripper but I'm not 100% happy with it thus I need to build a different design that's not as wide.
That’s cool, I was really interested in the groundhog diesel machines but just couldn’t swing the funds on them.
Good vid mate, I enjoyed that, nothing like the satisfaction of building something yourself.
Bob. UK
You are certainly right about the controls, all machines are different in feel, just takes a few hours to smooth it out, then you never notice it.
Yep. It’s like second nature now. Almost 70 hours on the machine
Thank you for this video! I am new to this and want this for my property. You taught a lot in this video and would love to learn more about things i need to do like you did when i get one.
If I bought a trailer for this woukd a normal car trailer work?
4:35....Dam!! I thought I was the only one who kept my spare hour meters in the spark plug storage bin🤣🤣
Sure would like a review at 1000 / 2000 hrs!
Gr8 Vid and Thank you for your time!!
GOD Bless😇🙏👍
Love the video I wld like to have another machine that size mine is just a one ton unit
Super handy!
Ive run plenty of name brand machines, especially from rental places, that are super shaky. Just takes some getting used to, especially for fairly rough jobs like youre doing. You dont need the thread a needle precision
True. Iv gotten a lot better on it, like you said, takes some getting used to. It’s a pretty impressive machine for what it is
How heavy a rock do you think that you could pick up pinched between the thumb and bucket before it slips out? The rocks here are flat and rectangular 2’ by 3’ on average so there’d be nothing but friction to hold them.
Really enjoyed the video,shows a great deal what to expect,what it can and can't do,the noise level,the comfort level and how quickly you can get onto it if you just put in some time,may I ask what this one cost spected the way you got it...thanks,great video...
Cost would be between 8-12k depending on machine and attachments
Camarata-esque
Good content good vid!
Thank you
Since you're a welder. Flip that bottom edge over. Bolt the teeth back on where they fit. Use "Plough Bolts" and counter sink holes to fit plough bolts on bottom.
When you can't find your rake and are using the push broom you can flip the broom upside down to use the rigid part of the broom head so your bristles don't wear out as quick.
What are you doing when you hang over the front of the machine? Is that just so you can see when you push?
Yea the foot pedal runs the blade. It’s kind of annoying, it’s easier to run it with my hand
looks to be an awesome machine for around the house, I'd like to have one myself
It is an awesome machine.
excellent video.
good video. Not just another bashing video like other on faketube.
As time has went on you got much better at running it. What name brand is it?
Im gonna get one of these Chinese excavators but I have limited mehanic skills, do you think id be better off getting the Briggs and Stratton gas engine over the diesel Kubotaor Yanmar engines? Im guessing the diesel is pretty reliable but gonna cost more and be more complicated if it does need repair work.
The gas engine will be cheaper to fix and replace, but it won’t last as long. Diesel will be more expensive to repair or replace but I’ll last a lot longer.
You should be able to get 2,000-3,000 hours on a gas engine if maintained properly where as you should see 5,000-10,000 on a diesel.
It depends on what you’re doing with it but I think gas is a better option if you are buying of of the Chinese machines.
And learn how to work on your own stuff it’s a good skill to have an you know it was done right
I have a feeling that blown fuse was due to the loose screw at what looks like the starter motor. Hope you fixed the issue when tightening the loose screw!
boom pins have no replaceable bushings on boom side? Cylinder eyes are easy fix but boom holes are pain to fix. With low grade steel these wear out fast
What is the exact brand of the excavator? I've been checking them out and I like how yours has the joysticks on the armrests and all of the ones I see for sale are awkwardly out front and looks really uncomfortable
Mines a dig-it em15 I think. The brand and models really don’t matter. There all the same just different color. I would definitely recommend finding one that has the controls on the arm rests. They cost a bit more but it’s worth it
Excellent purchase for a new plumbing company that doesn't have enough underground utilities work to justify the purchase of a 40k plus diesel unit would enable you to use this cheaper one to acquire the larger diesel one in the future with earnings from this cheaper one
I see a lot a guys buying them for that reason
I enjoyed this video.
Thanks
When installing zirk at 3:37 is the boom cracked or are they made that way
thats actually just a rust stain
Keep up good work
Looking at side view. What if you flipped the bar and teeth as one piece, would that work better?
Yes but you’d have to cut the bucket apart. I don’t think it makes enough difference to justify the work
A 51-minute video and you can't mention the price? It's kind of important.
What I paid for it would not be helpful bcuz, for one you can google Chinese mini excavator and find pricing and second, the prices will change depending on your area.
Price doesn't matter. It all depends on where you go.
@@shermdog6969 Yes it does. At the very least he can tell us if it cost $5k or $50K. Why so secretive?
@@MrSteeDoolol he sounds a little insecure on disclosing the price
10,000
nice video go on man.
Appreciate it!
Usually the bolts to fasten the bucket teeth use elevator bolts that are recessed into cutting edge so they don't wear out on outside edge. The ends with nuts will wear with use.
OK, love the vedio.... but you never mention the manufacture of the equiqment or the model, etc.... like if interested where can I find more information on this machine...maybe I did notsee it belowin teh cmments... what is the nmae, model I can take it from there. Thanks
Seems like the zirt fitting sticks out around the buck too much and would break?
Last year 3.2022 we bought ht10. For 11,500 after taxes. No one had any and this one was the cheapest we could find. Now everyone is selling these mini excavator for cheaper prices. If the one you have i would had like that style of controls on it
The only problem i have had is broke the swing arm. It cost me 300 to 500 to replace. If it had been a Kubota it would have cost 2500. To 3500. Plus other parts if need. Would have added cost.
Yea they’ve become popular. I definitely prefer the controls where these are as opposed to the ones in front of the operator
@99Projects a hydraulic thum is a big help. About 100.00 is what it will cost. I put quick connects on mine. Will have to find a hydraulic hose place that carries the connections from metric to sae. There about 10.00 each. I would buy extra so you don't have to go back if it's a distance away. Also buy the quick connections there. Keep all the same
@@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666 im used to the manual thumbs, and i think there stronger
@99Projects the one I bought of ebay is heavy duty. It was a manual and I fitted it for hydraulic. I did fit it to work.
@@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666 i mean when you curl the bucket into a hyd thumb, generally, the bucket will push the cylinder back in or itll bend the cylinder, at least in my experience. The manual thumb you can curl the bucket as hard as you want and it wont move
great vid!
Thanks
Hi hi!
Nice video! Any link to the product selling page? 😊
What brand make or model is this?
I think I would have mounted the hour meter some place I could see it when I was running the machine. That way I'll be able to know how much gas it's using. Example if it runs 2 hours on a tank I would know to get ready to fill it up at 1 hour 45 min
Your dog seems like a gem
He’s the best
What brand is it? How much was it? I want it. What you’re saying about being able to replace parts easy is a huge plus for me.
Where is the place that sell this mashing?
Bob
Is there a brand name for the machine or just tagless?
This is a Diggit EM15 aslo sold under the LeKing Kv13Plus and, though a bit different specs-wise, the FF Industrial FF15.
First reaction within seconds: "No thumb!" I guess fixed one would be easy to add.
I would love to know where you bought that.
All I can find are ads that say they are looking for dealer or need agent business and Customer.
That little machine can do a lot.
Yes it does
I need this machine in my life.
What is your email address? Tell me, I'll give you a quote
Thanks for the video, what is the part number and where did you get the grease fittings you used to replace the plugs? I bought a mini excavator and its coming Tuesday. I'd like to get the grease fittings and have them ready before it gets here.
Check the description of this video. Go to my Amazon store front, the kits I use are in there
thanks
Yeah, I’ve been looking at getting an excavator myself. What’s the name of that Excavator?
Have you found out any information on this machine. I have bought one to flip. I do plain on getting me one. What is the motor in then. Net says briggs. Logo says otherwise or as for looks. What is the cost on yours
I hope you didn’t chance the grease fittings, they put those in purpose, so they won’t stick out and break during digging.
As a new buyer I would tell anyone that a diesel motor has much more torque, why this matters is breakthru power. When the bucket punctures the ground having that torque from diesel is unmatched.
For price gas works if time isn't an issue.
What is your email address? Tell me, I'll give you a quote
I also purchased a 1-ton excavator made in China with a B&S gasoline engine.
Does the engine have a cooling fan?
Even if you run it for just 20 minutes, it gets very hot.
I need to install a cooling fan because it seems like the engine will be damaged.
My excavator doesn’t have a back door to open.
Mine did not come with fans. If you can’t take the door off or even another access door/panel I would recommend getting a 12v cooling fan from Amazon
A TH-cam poster, B&M Excavating, has made numerous upgrades to his B&S equipped Groundhog including a cooling fan. He has over 500 hours on his and has broke a few things. Check him out also.
@@normhowes2975
Thank you
His excavator design is the same as mine. Manufacturers are different.
I installed two 10" and 8" cooling fans, but the voltage drops even when they are running.
So I'm only using 10", and it seems like the amount of power generation is slightly insufficient even if I only use this.
@@storagewoods That is an issue with the internal generators on the smaller engines. Most are designed to charge the battery and run 1 or 2 small lights, A contraption I wish to build needs 5 plus amps for the fan and battery but the engine I have makes about 3 amps.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, experience and creative expertise. Blessings to you in Jesus's Name. Stay safe, healthy, strong, discerning and successful. Looking forward to your next video. ☝🙏🙌💪🇺🇸
Good looking machine. What make and model is it?
looking into those little gems myself for my cabin property, what brad is that?
He said it was a Dig-it em15
What brand is that chinese excavator? I noticed the controls are just like a regular excavator. A lot of the chinese models like agt have the controls up front. Please tell me the brand. Thanks
It’s a digit em15. But there a lot of other brands that make the controls the same way. The brand is kind of irrelevant
I would have welded washers on those pins to protect the grease fittings. Those will be a problem for you.
And check your hydraulic fittings they may the loose also.
How much play does your slew have? I just bought one and when I push on the boom with it off the ground I have around 2" play. Wondering if its normal.
That doesn’t seem normal at all. Mines pretty tight
How much is this one and do you know how much more it is with a cab .
Do you have a link or the brand and model for the excavator?
This! Subbed your channel and now looking for this machines info
a enjoyable video
Thanks glad you enjoyed it
If the teeth of the thumb are proud of the body it works better for holding rocks and larger stuff. Otherwise you are forming a 'V' to try to grip materials. Works with some but having the teeth protruding works with logs and everything.
I was thinking about making the thumb a little wider