Heavier machine or heavier counterweight

[MaxC]

Hi all,
I got a lot of helpful info in a post on construction regarding buying my first machine and tilty but It made me think about which machine setup is better for a tilty,
A base 3.2ton machine or for example a smaller maybe 2.7-2.9ton machine with a heavier counterweight that brings it up to around 3.2ton.

If anyone has experience in what performs better with the added weight of a tilty I would be very interested to know your opinion on this.

 

[V8Druid]

Hi all,
I got a lot of helpful info in a post on construction regarding buying my first machine and tilty but It made me think about which machine setup is better for a tilty,
A base 3.2ton machine or for example a smaller maybe 2.7-2.9ton machine with a heavier counterweight that brings it up to around 3.2ton.

If anyone has experience in what performs better with the added weight of a tilty I would be very interested to know your opinion on this.

one for you @6feetdown

 

[MaxC]

one for you @6feetdown

Haha I'm starting to get the feeling 6feetdown is a bit of a tilty specialist.

 

[6feetdown]

Haha I'm starting to get the feeling 6feetdown is a bit of a tilty specialist.

No chance I'm still a beginner, much better qualified guys on here!

I would say the bigger the better but depends on what you can tow, what sort of work you do, access to jobs.

As I said in your original post get a machine with an arse on it if you can

 

[MaxC]

No chance I'm still a beginner, much better qualified guys on here!

I would say the bigger the better but depends on what you can tow, what sort of work you do, access to jobs.

As I said in your original post get a machine with an arse on it if you can

It turns out trying to get a machine with an ass that is bigger then 2.6ton and more like 3.2ton is not easy because the only options I can find new from dealers around me that fit what I'm looking for are Kobelco SK28SR Cab, U27-4 Cab or Vio25 canopy. The ideal machine would be the KX033-4 canopy because its the only machine around the same size with an ass but it would be RIGHT on the edge of my towing capacity.

 

[Storrsy]

Id go for the bigger machine because its not just about weight. The rams, pumps, track length, reach will all be correspondingly bigger too.

 

[Storrsy]

Thing with zero tail machines is they're nearly always wider and longer in the track over a conventional tail to desperately try and make up for less stability. Only you know your line of work but find for 90% of the work it's better having the counterweight machine and for those odd 10% jobs you either make it work or hire in a smaller machine. Even a counterweight machine if used creatively with the offset can work in some pretty tight spots- just need to thinking differently about how to approach it

 

[MaxC]

Thing with zero tail machines is they're nearly always wider and longer in the track over a conventional tail to desperately try and make up for less stability. Only you know your line of work but find for 90% of the work it's better having the counterweight machine and for those odd 10% jobs you either make it work or hire in a smaller machine. Even a counterweight machine if used creatively with the offset can work in some pretty tight spots- just need to thinking differently about how to approach it

Good points, I definitely don't need a zero tail swing for most of the jobs I plan on doing and like you said anything that really needs a small machine I can just hire for, That's why I don't really want to go for one but when you look at the common brands hardly any of them have a machine In the 3ton range that is not zero swing that's why my only 2 really good options for a 3-3,3ton machine are a Kobelco SK28 if I want a cab or a Kubota KX033-4 which has an ass but I will have to go the canopy to be able to tow it.

 

[1RB]

Takeuchi tb 230 with Steelwrist xo4 tilt rotator, timer grab & some roof bars 3450kg

It’s got an arse end but still small enough machine to get in tight spaces

The comfiest machine to spend all day in I’ve found

 

[Monkeybusiness]

View attachment 63684
Takeuchi tb 230 with Steelwrist xo4 tilt rotator, timer grab & some roof bars 3450kg

It’s got an arse end but still small enough machine to get in tight spaces

The comfiest machine to spend all day in I’ve found

This is a great setup!

 

[Storrsy]

View attachment 63684
Takeuchi tb 230 with Steelwrist xo4 tilt rotator, timer grab & some roof bars 3450kg

It’s got an arse end but still small enough machine to get in tight spaces

The comfiest machine to spend all day in I’ve found

Do you use the trailer for moving soil/timber around behind the digger too?

 

[1RB]

Do you use the trailer for moving soil/timber around behind the digger too?

I was just using that trailer to move my attachments from where I could get the lorry to where I was working then I used it to move a lot of stump grindings about a mile across the estate
I use the the little timber trailer behind the digger on short runs but this job we had a 2 meter wide golf buggy track to extract a fair bit of Timber & move two miles across the estate so put it behind the little tractor

 

[MaxC]

View attachment 63684
Takeuchi tb 230 with Steelwrist xo4 tilt rotator, timer grab & some roof bars 3450kg

It’s got an arse end but still small enough machine to get in tight spaces

The comfiest machine to spend all day in I’ve found

That's a sick setup, I didn't even think about the bigger Takeuchi's because I think I just associate them with hiring machines as that's when I have operated them most of the time. I just talked to stealwrist about a xo4 setup and they are a fair bit cheaper then a similar size engcon, How has your experience been with it?

 

[Storrsy]

That's a sick setup, I didn't even think about the bigger Takeuchi's because I think I just associate them with hiring machines as that's when I have operated them most of the time. I just talked to stealwrist about a xo4 setup and they are a fair bit cheaper then a similar size engcon, How has your experience been with it?

If your not into fixing stuff then Takeuchi is your friend

 

[MaxC]

If your not into fixing stuff then Takeuchi is your friend

yeah i have never had one break on me but there's gotta be a few trade offs for that surely.

 

[Storrsy]

yeah i have never had one break on me but there's gotta be a few trade offs for that surely.

There's no such thing as a perfect machine. Some of their smaller sub 2t models are pretty basic still but the takeuchi TB230 is same cab as 6 tonners they do. I have the 228 and 125 (predecessors of the 230 but same undercarriage) and find them to be incredibly well planted, super smooth to operate.
Older takeuchis had poor paint jobs but the newer ones seem better now. Here in the UK the 230 and 228 are both illegal on a trailer but for you with that extra bit of payload I'd definitely say take a look at them. Nice features like refuelling pumps etc
Ive had 5 taks in the last 14 years and honestly barely put a spanner to any of them other than tracks and the odd hose.

 

[MaxC]

There's no such thing as a perfect machine. Some of their smaller sub 2t models are pretty basic still but the takeuchi TB230 is same cab as 6 tonners they do. I have the 228 and 125 (predecessors of the 230 but same undercarriage) and find them to be incredibly well planted, super smooth to operate.
Older takeuchis had poor paint jobs but the newer ones seem better now. Here in the UK the 230 and 228 are both illegal on a trailer but for you with that extra bit of payload I'd definitely say take a look at them. Nice features like refuelling pumps etc
Ive had 5 taks in the last 14 years and honestly barely put a spanner to any of them other than tracks and the odd hose.

Sheesh I'll have to go have a look at a 230 and see what's up. I have got a lot of hours on the little 216's but they were always hire machines and those poor things had been through hell so are probably not a good example of what a takeuchi can be.

 

[Storrsy]

Sheesh I'll have to go have a look at a 230 and see what's up. I have got a lot of hours on the little 216's but they were always hire machines and those poor things had been through hell so are probably not a good example of what a takeuchi can be.

Yeah 216s are not a great machine from an operating point of view. Plenty said on here about them. The 3 tonners are a world apart

 

[1RB]

That's a sick setup, I didn't even think about the bigger Takeuchi's because I think I just associate them with hiring machines as that's when I have operated them most of the time. I just talked to stealwrist about a xo4 setup and they are a fair bit cheaper then a similar size engcon, How has your experience been with it?

I’ve had 2 Engcon’s & 1 Steelwrist now & they all brake down but have found the the Steelwrist back up a lot better so would definitely buy from them again when I come to replace it

 

[MaxC]

I’ve had 2 Engcon’s & 1 Steelwrist now & they all brake down but have found the the Steelwrist back up a lot better so would definitely buy from them again when I come to replace it

Does the TB230 come with dual aux ready to go or did you need to have the setup aswell with the tilty?