U27 vs KX27

J

jurassic86

New member
Hi guys

I'm looking to buy my first digger for around my house (large grounds) and also on sites we have.

I've done my homework and compared the U27 to the KX27, and other than the engine size and zero turn, I wondered if anyone can give me some pointers on which one to grab.

I understand the four cylinder engine in the KX27 might give a bit more grunt when coming to digging and the extra weight makes moving the builder sacks a lot easier, but can anyone who's got some first hand experience with both give me some pointers.
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
jurassic86 said:
Hi guys

I'm looking to buy my first digger for around my house (large grounds) and also on sites we have.

I've done my homework and compared the U27 to the KX27, and other than the engine size and zero turn, I wondered if anyone can give me some pointers on which one to grab.

I understand the four cylinder engine in the KX27 might give a bit more grunt when coming to digging and the extra weight makes moving the builder sacks a lot easier, but can anyone who's got some first hand experience with both give me some pointers.
Click to expand...
If you are lifting any weight go conventional tailswing.
 
S

Smiffy

Well-known member
I personally think the u27 drives a lot nicer than kx27. Nothing about stability just the ability to grade and dig smoothly and safely. And personal preference. I also think the poverty spec kub is naff. No track pedals not even flip down.
 
Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
jurassic86 said:
Hi guys

I'm looking to buy my first digger for around my house (large grounds) and also on sites we have.

I've done my homework and compared the U27 to the KX27, and other than the engine size and zero turn, I wondered if anyone can give me some pointers on which one to grab.

I understand the four cylinder engine in the KX27 might give a bit more grunt when coming to digging and the extra weight makes moving the builder sacks a lot easier, but can anyone who's got some first hand experience with both give me some pointers.
Click to expand...
Why Kubota .... Local dealer ?
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
I am doing my research on this size. Lots of advice has been given on the subject (towable excavator thread) Just looking at Bobcat E27 (not the E27z) compared to the Kubota KX027-4 high spec and it seems ahead on most things apart from warranty. 5 on the Kubota and 2 on the Bobcat. 0% for 3 years available on Bobcat though..
 
J

jurassic86

New member
I'm open to looking at any other models, but to be fair the bobcat was a good 14% more and I didn't see it had much more spec.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
jurassic86 said:
I'm open to looking at any other models, but to be fair the bobcat was a good 14% more and I didn't see it had much more spec.
Click to expand...
Not priced the bobcat but today was quoted 34K for the high spec Kubota. Bobcat slightly higher aux outputs and power (but on 3 cylinders?) and is 6" wider so assume more stable over the side?
 
J

jurassic86

New member
I think for me the residual value also plays a an import factor. The Kubotas seem to hold their money a lot more than others in the same class.

Be interesting to see how the hold up now the HS2 has been knocked on the head.
 
Vinpetrol

Vinpetrol

Well-known member
I hired and tried various under 3t . I wanted to prioritise weight for towing and I also wanted a counterweight. I had very recently hired machines without an arse and they are way to unbalanced in my opinion . I've owned a Hanix h26 and a Volvo ec18c . I also hired ec27d Volvo , a Wacker Neuson and went to see the yanmar (which I also liked)
I went for the kx27 high spec last year. It's now done 220 hours. The good points , great for towing on gh1054. Very well balanced. Nice spacious cab. Bags of power , I know others have reported not great to grade with but my one is as smooth as silk to grade with , even when you bring in the slew at the same time. The engine is low revving as it's the 4 cyl so it's also very quiet . It's very comfortable to be in for a day , seat is decent and has good adjustment if you're tall and wide.
bad points , the door catch is stiff as feck and one of the windscreen open catches isn't catching properly . I've reported to HRN so should be sorted at 250 hour service. The boom slew is on a pedal on the floor. all the rest of the hydraulics is through the levers . My little Volvo has its boom slew on the lever which I really liked . It annoys me that kubota didn't put it through the levers when they did it with the aux feeds. 🤔
You need to open the bonnet to refuel, if your filling with a drum it's quite difficult to get it in past the end of the bonnet . Just bad design .
The standard lights are s**t. I'm going to swap mine with a decent set of lazer lamps as soon as I get round to it.
The cab switches for lights heater wipers etc dont light up when you have the lights on so it's hard to see them in the dark .

It was so well balanced I fitted it with an engcon tilt rotator . I have it direct mounted . It handles it really well . I've got a engcon grading bucket on it and if you fill it up and turn it away from the machine you can feel it lifting the arse but anything would at that reach . I have a 2ft digging bucket on it which it handles so well I'm going to convert my 2ft 6 bucket for it also .

All in all it's a very good machine, the niggles are annoying but certainly wouldn't stop me recommending it.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Vinpetrol said:
I hired and tried various under 3t . I wanted to prioritise weight for towing and I also wanted a counterweight. I had very recently hired machines without an arse and they are way to unbalanced in my opinion . I've owned a Hanix h26 and a Volvo ec18c . I also hired ec27d Volvo , a Wacker Neuson and went to see the yanmar (which I also liked)
I went for the kx27 high spec last year. It's now done 220 hours. The good points , great for towing on gh1054. Very well balanced. Nice spacious cab. Bags of power , I know others have reported not great to grade with but my one is as smooth as silk to grade with , even when you bring in the slew at the same time. The engine is low revving as it's the 4 cyl so it's also very quiet . It's very comfortable to be in for a day , seat is decent and has good adjustment if you're tall and wide.
bad points , the door catch is stiff as feck and one of the windscreen open catches isn't catching properly . I've reported to HRN so should be sorted at 250 hour service. The boom slew is on a pedal on the floor. all the rest of the hydraulics is through the levers . My little Volvo has its boom slew on the lever which I really liked . It annoys me that kubota didn't put it through the levers when they did it with the aux feeds. 🤔
You need to open the bonnet to refuel, if your filling with a drum it's quite difficult to get it in past the end of the bonnet . Just bad design .
The standard lights are s**t. I'm going to swap mine with a decent set of lazer lamps as soon as I get round to it.
The cab switches for lights heater wipers etc dont light up when you have the lights on so it's hard to see them in the dark .

It was so well balanced I fitted it with an engcon tilt rotator . I have it direct mounted . It handles it really well . I've got a engcon grading bucket on it and if you fill it up and turn it away from the machine you can feel it lifting the arse but anything would at that reach . I have a 2ft digging bucket on it which it handles so well I'm going to convert my 2ft 6 bucket for it also .

All in all it's a very good machine, the niggles are annoying but certainly wouldn't stop me recommending it.
Click to expand...
Great review
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Maybe we are overthinking things trying to find a towable machine. Sell the plant trailer and buy a gooseneck and tow a better less compromise 3.5t machine compliantly on a B+E licence... without O licence or Tacho? Seems a very grey area.


Screenshot_20240124-100148_Chrome.jpg
 
Vinpetrol

Vinpetrol

Well-known member
Stroppymonkey said:
Maybe we are overthinking things trying to find a towable machine. Sell the plant trailer and buy a gooseneck and tow a better less compromise 3.5t machine compliantly on a B+E licence... without O licence or Tacho? Seems a very grey area.


View attachment 56819
Click to expand...
Thats worth looking into . I'd be quite keen on something like that as the pick up is also very useable anyway. You'd need to be sure you were belt and braces within the law though .
 
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