Best towable excavator (over next 10 -20 years)

[Simon edwards]

The 3t kub I have sounds like that - I bought it off a mate who bought it new, first day it arrived he called dealer back about noise, they came out and said all ok, 4500hrs later still sounds the sale.

Are all 71-3's the same ? If not how might variance between machines of same model be explained ?

My recently moved on 61 was noisy I guess but never to the point of it being a big issue.I started out when all machines were noisy,rattly things ,my first 3cx had a radio and the odd occasion you could get a clear signal you had to turn it up so high it became distorted anyway.they all seem pretty good by comparison these days.

 

[Simon edwards]

yesh I asked on Wacker facebook page one bloke says his ET24 rattles terribly. I've tried my dad's cat around the farm a few times and never really picked up on the noise untill now when I've borrowed it for a job.
I now think the best/only way to try out a machine for purchase is to hire one for a week. Almost useless just spinning around in a flat dealers yard.

I agree ,10 minutes of imagonery grading in a tarmac yard goves you no idea of a machones characteristics really.
How many dealers now offer a proper demonstrater machine for a couple of days?

 

[Smiffy]

I agree ,10 minutes of imagonery grading in a tarmac yard goves you no idea of a machones characteristics really.
How many dealers now offer a proper demonstrater machine for a couple of days?

Someone on the old forum recommended grading but keep the bucket edge consistently 50mm of the ground as one of the best ways to guage grading in a dealers yard. Not much you can do for other things. Since reading it I have suggested doing this to people just getting started as the best way to learn to grade and it really seems to help them

 

[Storrsy]

Hard to know how to proceed with the Wacker really. I dont really want to muck the dealer about- think machine is due to come over from Austria this week. Either I get the machine see how it goes in the hope it's quieter than my dads 10yr old one.
If I can't live with it which I won't want to if it is that noisy then probably will loose a significant chuck trying to sell it on again,
or if it that noisy take DIY steps to reduce the noise- sound deadening matting between seat and engine etc.
Trouble is the rest of the machine is really nice and I believe the best specced 2 ton machine on the market in almost all areas. Just shame they can't bring cab into the 21st century.

 

[doobin]

Hard to know how to proceed with the Wacker really. I dont really want to muck the dealer about- think machine is due to come over from Austria this week. Either I get the machine see how it goes in the hope it's quieter than my dads 10yr old one.
If I can't live with it which I won't want to if it is that noisy then probably will loose a significant chuck trying to sell it on again,
or if it that noisy take DIY steps to reduce the noise- sound deadening matting between seat and engine etc.
Trouble is the rest of the machine is really nice and I believe the best specced 2 ton machine on the market in almost all areas. Just shame they can't bring cab into the 21st century.

Can you get one on hire for the next week from somewhere? That’s what I’d be doing for sure.

I agree, dealers should go back to doing proper demos, and hopefully they will now times are harder for them. I bought by Hyundai (my first ever new machine) and the strength of a proper demo- the rep brought it out to the yard.

 

[Storrsy]

Can you get one on hire for the next week from somewhere? That’s what I’d be doing for sure.

I agree, dealers should go back to doing proper demos, and hopefully they will now times are harder for them. I bought by Hyundai (my first ever new machine) and the strength of a proper demo- the rep brought it out to the yard.

Yeah. I'm a in a bit of a race against time both because machine is on its way and also tax year ending I need to spend the cash before the end of the month (cash accounting here).

I'm just going to be honest with my thoughts with the dealer on Monday I think and see where we go. Like I say I did try an ET20 in the yard with Rory but didn't seem to notice the noise then.

 

[doobin]

Yeah. I'm a in a bit of a race against time both because machine is on its way and also tax year ending I need to spend the cash before the end of the month (cash accounting here).

I'm just going to be honest with my thoughts with the dealer on Monday I think and see where we go. Like I say I did try an ET20 in the yard with Rory but didn't seem to notice the noise then.

Well then surely the obvious thing to to go and have another good go in the yard with that machine?

 

[Simon edwards]

Hard to know how to proceed with the Wacker really. I dont really want to muck the dealer about- think machine is due to come over from Austria this week. Either I get the machine see how it goes in the hope it's quieter than my dads 10yr old one.
If I can't live with it which I won't want to if it is that noisy then probably will loose a significant chuck trying to sell it on again,
or if it that noisy take DIY steps to reduce the noise- sound deadening matting between seat and engine etc.
Trouble is the rest of the machine is really nice and I believe the best specced 2 ton machine on the market in almost all areas. Just shame they can't bring cab into the 21st century.

To be fair if the dealer is confident in their product you would hope they would take your order with the caveat that your noise concerns are ’abated’ on delivery .
When I bought the Cat,first job,10 hours in I had a massive hydraulic leak,turned out the tank split!I refused the repair as it was a full strip down,they agreed a replacement after only a minor kickoff from me.Gave me a demonstrater machine until replacement arrived.They w very good,now Wacker Neuson dealer not Cat dealer hence being keen to upgrade to WN.
Think I’ve digressed,might be the three beers

 

[6feetdown]

Tbf my ez26 maybe a little noisy but not so much it annoys me. I think sometimes once something annoys you it plays on your mind.

 

[pettsy]

The 71-3 a friend has sounds noisy on the pump, but works well and has pretty high hours on it iirc

 

[Storrsy]

Tbf my ez26 maybe a little noisy but not so much it annoys me. I think sometimes once something annoys you it plays on your mind.

Whilst thats true and it sounds a trivial thing I spend almost all day in my machine. The thought of spending the next 3000/4000 hrs wearing ear defenders and not being able to listen to the radio comfortably or take a phone call without shutting the machine down to me in this day a manufacturer should be able to do better

 

[Storrsy]

If I was just doing an hour here and there during a day to facilitate a job then the noise wouldn't bother me so much but a full day in the racket is really quite tiring

 

[hiluxman]

If I was just doing an hour here and there during a day to facilitate a job then the noise wouldn't bother me so much but a full day in the racket is really quite tiring

Loudest machine I've been in by far...and it's one I own, its the jcb 8025.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Get it bought @Storrsy - if you’ll have to give more to the tax man otherwise then buy it now and worry about any issues later!
You can always move it on if no good for you (and work the figures to be beneficial tax-wise)…
If you can afford to keep hold of your existing kit in the short term (in case it actually is a lemon) then do so, but in reality I reckon you’ll end up with a lovely new machine that makes your existing gear feel old and knackered!!!

 

[Lancs Lad]

Get it bought @Storrsy - if you’ll have to give more to the tax man otherwise then buy it now and worry about any issues later!
You can always move it on if no good for you (and work the figures to be beneficial tax-wise)…
If you can afford to keep hold of your existing kit in the short term (in case it actually is a lemon) then do so, but in reality I reckon you’ll end up with a lovely new machine that makes your existing gear feel old and knackered!!!

Aye, then we can move on to a debate about Bluetooth ear muffs

 

[hiluxman]

Aye, then we can move on to a debate about Bluetooth ear muffs

Without the Bluetooth bit, what's a decent set of ear muffs? I wear them more and more now so recommendations are appreciated

 

[Storrsy]

Get it bought @Storrsy - if you’ll have to give more to the tax man otherwise then buy it now and worry about any issues later!
You can always move it on if no good for you (and work the figures to be beneficial tax-wise)…
If you can afford to keep hold of your existing kit in the short term (in case it actually is a lemon) then do so, but in reality I reckon you’ll end up with a lovely new machine that makes your existing gear feel old and knackered!!!

Perhaps your right. hopefully a new one will have a lot less rattle and noise in the system than a 11 year old one and have been looking at various sound proof matting probably wouldn't be too hard to make a decent job out of matting out the panelling between engine bay and cab if it comes to it. seems a bit silly to be defeated by the noise when the rest of the machine is just what I'm after

 

[6feetdown]

Without the Bluetooth bit, what's a decent set of ear muffs? I wear them more and more now so recommendations are appreciated

I have stihl pro com great if want to communicate, iso tunes head set i prefer for blocking out sound.
Both are comfortable

 

[Smiffy]

Without the Bluetooth bit, what's a decent set of ear muffs? I wear them more and more now so recommendations are appreciated

Always had MSA peltor ones in the past and they where brilliant, had lots of different models but all good. Just got a set of JSP sonis and don't think much of them. They are helmet mounted ones and they don't give the eerie quiet feeling that MSA ones do.

 

[Storrsy]

I don't mind earmuffs in the winter but find it all becomes a bit sweaty in the summer months so tend to opt for stick em in your ear ones instead and just chuck them at the end of the day