Looking for a 1.5t mini digger (and any advice)

[doobin]

if that is all that is urgent and the rest can wait, why impose such strict time constraints on yourself and end up with something that, ultimately, is not going to be able to cope, with what appears to be the bulk of the remaining balance of work ??
rent a little un' for a week or two, to take the 'pressure' off (why is the mayor agitating - the lakes is yours, isn't it?) then buy at a more leisurely pace, when something that actually fits the bill comes up

Fully agree.

You’re about to buy a clapped out mini digger in a rush from someone no doubt rubbing their hands together.

What prices are they asking?

 

[Lffsam]

It's a long story lol. 3 lakes, one is ours, flooding in the chemain ( caused by an empty properties small pond ) the old wash station is on our land ( lavoire ), which we don't technically own. Now the mayor is involved he is getting arsey about boundaries, fences, us doing work on public land etc...... Just want to put it to bed.
My budget just doesn't stretch to a bigger machine that I would be comfortable buying. I don't get back to the UK very often, so it's a case of making it happen whilst I am there. As I said earlier, it's not the perfect solution, but it will get me out of the "merde" , I will probably make a few quid on this smaller digger enabling me to buy a bigger machine in the future ( fingers crossed !) That's the plan anyway ..........

 

[Lffsam]

Fully agree.

You’re about to buy a clapped out mini digger in a rush from someone no doubt rubbing their hands together.

What prices are they asking?

If the ones I am looking at are clapped out ....... You would laugh at what is in sale here lol.
The prices are all around 8.5k + vat ( which I won't be paying in the uk, but will in France.
I thought they looked tidy, but you guys know far better than I.
Is that really your opinion? If so I might just sack the idea off and hire one in for the lake and call it a day for now......

 

[Smiffy]

I know some will be negative about it but you can get a fair bit more for your money if you look at jcbs. The old 801- series where good machines although the smaller ones don't have expanding tracks. They are getting a bit old now but a few around with lower hours. Not sure how the modern ones 15c etc compare but definitely a few around in your budget

 

[Lffsam]

I know some will be negative about it but you can get a fair bit more for your money if you look at jcbs. The old 801- series where good machines although the smaller ones don't have expanding tracks. They are getting a bit old now but a few around with lower hours. Not sure how the modern ones 15c etc compare but definitely a few around in your budget

I have "looked"at a few and the prices seem cheap compared to others of the same ilk, but was out of by the negative press.....

 

[Lffsam]

So is 2000-3000 hours too much work, and the machines of this era are past their sell by?

 

[Smiffy]

I have "looked"at a few and the prices seem cheap compared to others of the same ilk, but was out of by the negative press.....

The old ones with the round bonnet where definitely good machines. Flakey paint but otherwise good. Very stable and smooth.

At 2-3 thousand hours they will be tired but capable of doing a days work. its of they are a hire machine they might be a bit past it. I have driven some absolute dogs with 2000 hrs. Also driven some machines with many more hours that feel factory fresh.

 

[Lffsam]

Thanks Smiffy, I will take another look. It all seems such a lottery for a novice

 

[Storrsy]

So is 2000-3000 hours too much work, and the machines of this era are past their sell by?

It's really hard to say. A 3000hr owner op machine which has been treated well and serviced will be fine at those hours. An ex rental or utility machine will be to be frank pretty knackered and it will show visually too. However it doesn't sound like you'll put mega hrs on it so if ex rental is what you can get on your budget then it will do a job but perhaps not the right choice if you looking for a machine to keep for the long term .

 

[Storrsy]

You also seem keen to buy from dealer. My experience is the best machines I have bought have been private sales and conversely I've seen some utter s**t sold by dealers. So don't be out off with private. Ideally take someone with you who knows what they're looking or if not Spend a bit of time on you tube etc gathering as much info as poss about what to look for when buying a used machine.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Whatever you buy/look at lift it up on the blade (with the blade behind you) and make sure it can then lift itself up from the other end with the bucket. Ideally get someone else to do this whilst you watch the slew ring and king post for play (expect some play in the king post area at the hours you are considering, but use it as a guage as to how much wear there is in the machine). You don’t want any play in the slew ring (ie track frame wobbling about relative to the upper structure).
I’d be considering machines from 3.5 tonnes upwards if you are going to have to get someone to move them anyway - they tend to be cheaper ‘pound-for-pound’ as are a bit of an unusual size in the uk. Bigger machines often carry their weight better over soft ground as tend to have much more track on the ground - that’s something I’d suggest considering when comparing the models you have shortlisted (along with actual ground-clearance below the track frame, which becomes more relevant as the ground gets softer….).
From what you are saying whatever you buy/import should command a decent resale so it doesn’t sound like you can go too far wrong dipping your toe in.
Good luck - keep us updated with pics ideally!
(I want to come over fishing/drinking/digging once you are set up please! )

 

[V8Druid]

If the ones I am looking at are clapped out ....... You would laugh at what is in sale here lol.
The prices are all around 8.5k + vat ( which I won't be paying in the uk, but will in France.
I thought they looked tidy, but you guys know far better than I.
Is that really your opinion? If so I might just sack the idea off and hire one in for the lake and call it a day for now......

you'll likely regret that less, than buying some heap in a hurry and having issues on a daily basis -- if it's cheap at a dealers - there's a reason

 

[Lffsam]

Thanks Storrsy, that seems like really sound advice. I was steering away from private sellers as most seem to just be flipping ex hire stuff. I have one machine on my list which is owner op from new with full service history.......he has just moved well up my hit list.
I have been watching videos and trawling forums for a while now, and have made myself an inspection list of probable faults . I have a fair amount of mechanical knowledge relating to cars and boats, some with old tractors, but this is a bit of a new field.

 

[Smiffy]

Whatever you buy/look at lift it up on the blade (with the blade behind you) and make sure it can then lift itself up from the other end with the bucket. Ideally get someone else to do this whilst you watch the slew ring and king post for play (expect some play in the king post area at the hours you are considering, but use it as a guage as to how much wear there is in the machine). You don’t want any play in the slew ring (ie track frame wobbling about relative to the upper structure).
I’d be considering machines from 3.5 tonnes upwards if you are going to have to get someone to move them anyway - they tend to be cheaper ‘pound-for-pound’ as are a bit of an unusual size in the uk. Bigger machines often carry their weight better over soft ground as tend to have much more track on the ground - that’s something I’d suggest considering when comparing the models you have shortlisted (along with actual ground-clearance below the track frame, which becomes more relevant as the ground gets softer….).
From what you are saying whatever you buy/import should command a decent resale so it doesn’t sound like you can go too far wrong dipping your toe in.
Good luck - keep us updated with pics ideally!
(I want to come over fishing/drinking/digging once you are set up please! )

Also the OP should note bigger machines wear the hours better. A 3t machine with 3000hrs is likely to be tighter than a 1.5t machine with the same hours.
There is a 2.6t yanmar on eBay with no vat from a self build that looks quite tidy.

 

[Lffsam]

Whatever you buy/look at lift it up on the blade (with the blade behind you) and make sure it can then lift itself up from the other end with the bucket. Ideally get someone else to do this whilst you watch the slew ring and king post for play (expect some play in the king post area at the hours you are considering, but use it as a guage as to how much wear there is in the machine). You don’t want any play in the slew ring (ie track frame wobbling about relative to the upper structure).
I’d be considering machines from 3.5 tonnes upwards if you are going to have to get someone to move them anyway - they tend to be cheaper ‘pound-for-pound’ as are a bit of an unusual size in the uk. Bigger machines often carry their weight better over soft ground as tend to have much more track on the ground - that’s something I’d suggest considering when comparing the models you have shortlisted (along with actual ground-clearance below the track frame, which becomes more relevant as the ground gets softer….).
From what you are saying whatever you buy/import should command a decent resale so it doesn’t sound like you can go too far wrong dipping your toe in.
Good luck - keep us updated with pics ideally!
(I want to come over fishing/drinking/digging once you are set up please! )

I will certainly keep you updated I hate threads that have no conclusion. Thanks for the great inspection advice, much appreciated, that's what I am looking for. I have not really considered the ground clearance, so something else to consider. The wider tracks were mentioned earlier in the thread, again, something that is a bit counter intuitive to a novice.
Fishing, beer and hopefully digging soon are all in my hit list. If your ever passing give me a shout !

 

[Lffsam]

Also the OP should note bigger machines wear the hours better. A 3t machine with 3000hrs is likely to be tighter than a 1.5t machine with the same hours.
There is a 2.6t yanmar on eBay with no vat from a self build that looks quite tidy.

I will have a look at that, thanks, not spotted it before.

 

[Lffsam]

Is this the one?

Pardon our interruption...

I can't find a 2.6 from a self build

 

[V8Druid]

The old ones with the round bonnet where definitely good machines. Flakey paint but otherwise good. Very stable and smooth.

At 2-3 thousand hours they will be tired but capable of doing a days work. its of they are a hire machine they might be a bit past it. I have driven some absolute dogs with 2000 hrs. Also driven some machines with many more hours that feel factory fresh.

I have "looked"at a few and the prices seem cheap compared to others of the same ilk, but was put off by the negative press.....

my little 8015 is in fairness a nice, smooth, tidy, little machine, bought privately from a fellow member. 2400 hrs and 2002 - but well looked after - will almost always be worth what I paid for it -- they are out there if you look.
I assume VAT is only an issue to you if you have to pay it in the first place?

Yes later jakes generally get a bad press, mostly because of their dire paint and the fact that they were built down to a budget, as a rule, resulting in some pretty dire problems

my '87 3CX was built like the proverbial and'll probably still be digging when I'm in the ground - regret being nagged into selling it TBH

 

[V8Druid]

Is this the one?

Pardon our interruption...

I can't find a 2.6 from a self build

seen worse ...... anyone any idea what the seller is on about " Benefits from additional pivot on main boom which has been very useful. " -- my guess is he's talking 'offset' ??

 

[Storrsy]

seen worse ...... anyone any idea what the seller is on about " Benefits from additional pivot on main boom which has been very useful. " -- my guess is he's talking 'offset'

Yeah I think so although does swing quite far to the right. Those B27 were pretty good robust machines to be fair. Wouldn't want to pay more then though for it as pretty old machine now.