Yanmar SV26 vs Kubota KX027-4 vs Bobcat E27

[S B Rural Contracting]

I'm thinking of getting a new 2.6-2.7t machine. I've currently got a kubota kx61-3 but have spent about 1000hrs in the seat of someone else's kx027-4 . I do a lot of grab work, fencing etc and I'm often on fairly steep slopes, along with the usual earth moving duties. The kx61 is getting on a bit now and although it's a solid machine, it would be nice to have the two aux circuits on the joysticks.

There are a few things I don't like about the kx027 - really jerky tracking on the foot pedals, basic cab, constantly having to press the aux button every time you get out of the machine - also quite often when you get back in and press the button it doesn't actually turn on both aux functions, if you open the side window it never stays put and they rattle like mad even when closed. Apart from that it's a great machine and a nice weight for towing with implements.

Does anyone own/spent a good bit of time in the Yanmar SV26? How does it compare? First impressions are that it's a well thought out and well built machine. Again it's got a pretty basic cab and is either really noisy or the three cylinder engines just don't sound as smooth as the kubota 4 cyl. Nice big track pedals but they're at a funny angle so would have to be modified a bit. I like the nice big and wide 38mm bucket pins, should really help with pin wear.

Bobcat E27 is about £3.5k more than the yanmar. The dealer hasn't got one for me to look at but judging by the e27z, the cab is a lot more comfortable and it's nice and quiet.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Brendan]

Won't be very helpful as it got any experience on them but been on a u27 this week and if the kx is the same the stupid seat belt buckle is the worst. Sits in a small slot barely moves and just pokes into you all day

 

[doobin]

E27. Case closed.

They grade a bit funny but they lift and shift big lumps and track about on steep slopes no bother whilst still retaining use of all functions. Track pedals are the most ergonomic I’ve ever used. Take steel tracks well for winter work. Very stable. Cab is super comfy. Runs a 4 pipe tiltrotator well also if that’s something you’re considering.

I do the same work as you and I’m on my second e27. Tried the others when it was time to change but none came close. You have to push the dealers though, get other prices for different brands and tell them to stop being stupid on price. What are you being quoted?

Where are you based? Must be someone near to you with one you can try. I drove 80 miles to test the yanmar and I’m glad I did as it was horrible compared to the e27.

 

[S B Rural Contracting]

Won't be very helpful as it got any experience on them but been on a u27 this week and if the kx is the same the stupid seat belt buckle is the worst. Sits in a small slot barely moves and just pokes into you all day

Yeah I get you. Funny how small things like that can make or break your experience of living with a machine day in day out

 

[Monkeybusiness]

The Bobcat is a good machine but you will probably struggle to get a demo on one in this country (the E27z is the common version). It needs the heavy counterweight, and I’d want to be certain that Bobcat were going to guarantee the paint as mine was dreadful (though they reckon that is sorted now). The dealers are crackheads though - every one I spoke to when I wanted to buy another new one came up with a totally different massive number for the same spec machine (straight cash purchase, no part-ex so no confusion with valuations there). I gave up in the end and bought a Takeuchi.
I don’t have first hand experience of the other two you are considering.

 

[S B Rural Contracting]

E27. Case closed.

They grade a bit funny but they lift and shift big lumps and track about on steep slopes no bother whilst still retaining use of all functions. Track pedals are the most ergonomic I’ve ever used. Take steel tracks well for winter work. Very stable. Cab is super comfy. Runs a 4 pipe tiltrotator well also if that’s something you’re considering.

I do the same work as you and I’m on my second e27. Tried the others when it was time to change but none came close. You have to push the dealers though, get other prices for different brands and tell them to stop being stupid on price. What are you being quoted?

Where are you based? Must be someone near to you with one you can try. I drove 80 miles to test the yanmar and I’m glad I did as it was horrible compared to the e27. View attachment 81443View attachment 81444

Thanks. I did notice the track pedals in the e27z felt right, and it turned on the grippy tarmac at the dealers pretty smoothly. The kubota would have been jerking all over the place. The blade lever on the yanmar is about 200mm longer than it needs to be.

All prices are 4aux and bare stick and no buckets, hyd hitch pluming fitted.
Yanmar sv26 £30k
Kubota kx027 £31k
Bobcat e27 £34k

Yanmar has a good trade in price for my kx61 which bobcat will match. Yanmar also have an new old stock ec02b for around £8.5 with no buckets, manual top hitch. Been a bit of a minefield actually getting a price for anything to do with engcon. I'd need hyd top hitch but getting anyone to agree it is possible without a control system was a challenge. I'd be happy fitting that myself.

Was thinking of getting steel track from Evans and Reid for whichever machine. Bit concerned about towing weight but hey ho.

 

[doobin]

Thanks. I did notice the track pedals in the e27z felt right, and it turned on the grippy tarmac at the dealers pretty smoothly. The kubota would have been jerking all over the place. The blade lever on the yanmar is about 200mm longer than it needs to be.

All prices are 4aux and bare stick and no buckets, hyd hitch pluming fitted.
Yanmar sv26 £30k
Kubota kx027 £31k
Bobcat e27 £34k

Yanmar has a good trade in price for my kx61 which bobcat will match. Yanmar also have an new old stock ec02b for around £8.5 with no buckets, manual top hitch. Been a bit of a minefield actually getting a price for anything to do with engcon. I'd need hyd top hitch but getting anyone to agree it is possible without a control system was a challenge. I'd be happy fitting that myself.

Was thinking of getting steel track from Evans and Reid for whichever machine. Bit concerned about towing weight but hey ho.

I think you need to call me…

07765 776454

(Zoom in on the 6 pipe plumbing)

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Get a price for a Rototilt R1, and a top hitch from Aiden @CPS.

 

[doobin]

Get a price for a Rototilt R1, and a top hitch from Aiden @CPS.

IN S30!!!!!!

 

[CPS]

Get a price for a Rototilt R1, and a top hitch from Aiden @CPS.

Im pretty sure we have spoke

 

[Storrsy]

I'm thinking of getting a new 2.6-2.7t machine. I've currently got a kubota kx61-3 but have spent about 1000hrs in the seat of someone else's kx027-4 . I do a lot of grab work, fencing etc and I'm often on fairly steep slopes, along with the usual earth moving duties. The kx61 is getting on a bit now and although it's a solid machine, it would be nice to have the two aux circuits on the joysticks.

There are a few things I don't like about the kx027 - really jerky tracking on the foot pedals, basic cab, constantly having to press the aux button every time you get out of the machine - also quite often when you get back in and press the button it doesn't actually turn on both aux functions, if you open the side window it never stays put and they rattle like mad even when closed. Apart from that it's a great machine and a nice weight for towing with implements.

Does anyone own/spent a good bit of time in the Yanmar SV26? How does it compare? First impressions are that it's a well thought out and well built machine. Again it's got a pretty basic cab and is either really noisy or the three cylinder engines just don't sound as smooth as the kubota 4 cyl. Nice big track pedals but they're at a funny angle so would have to be modified a bit. I like the nice big and wide 38mm bucket pins, should really help with pin wear.

Bobcat E27 is about £3.5k more than the yanmar. The dealer hasn't got one for me to look at but judging by the e27z, the cab is a lot more comfortable and it's nice and quiet.

Any help is much appreciated.

Sound similar situation to me and similar work too. Can never seem to get anywhere because ultimately can't find any modern machine that really feels better on an upgrade on my nearly 20 year old TB125, aside from having 4 auxiliaries on the joysticks Ridiculous situation.

Bobcat- s**t paint and weak track frame design, but otherwise ticks the right boxes,

Kubota- same experience as you

Volvo EC27- superb undercarriage- proper robust, but feels like your sitting perched up high and uncomfy cab, plastic panelling which is pros and cons.

Yanmar sv26. Noisy cab, Crap offset boom arrangement- apparently new model coming though?. The track motors look a bit puny too but seems ok.in practise.

Takeuchi TB230. Heavy for towing. But lovely spacious and quiet cab and general layout, probably what I'd go for. Although admittedly the bent dipper monkeybusiness had with his isn't really a selling point!

Thinks that's all the proper arsed machines- anything zero in this size is a waste of time for grab/attachment handling IMO

That doesn't help you at all but just my thoughts!

 

[JD450A]

I've not looked at the thread..... But go look at the Sany and XCMG offerings.

The bonus is they come with a free bag of prawn crackers behind the seat......

 

[V8Druid]

I've not looked at the thread..... But go look at the Sany and XCMG offerings.

The bonus is they come with a free bag of prawn crackers behind the seat......

and a year's supply of fortune cookies - all with bad news

 

[S B Rural Contracting]

Im pretty sure we have spoke

Yeah thanks again Aiden, very helpful conversation.

The Bobcat is a good machine but you will probably struggle to get a demo on one in this country (the E27z is the common version). It needs the heavy counterweight, and I’d want to be certain that Bobcat were going to guarantee the paint as mine was dreadful (though they reckon that is sorted now). The dealers are crackheads though - every one I spoke to when I wanted to buy another new one came up with a totally different massive number for the same spec machine (straight cash purchase, no part-ex so no confusion with valuations there). I gave up in the end and bought a Takeuchi.
I don’t have first hand experience of the other two you are considering.

Thanks for the input, I'll definitely ask about the paint on the bobcat. Trouble is with the takeuchi is its weight, no spare room on the trailer for a post driver etc. Got a good local tak dealer too but they just don't do a machine that fits the bill.

 

[S B Rural Contracting]

Sound similar situation to me and similar work too. Can never seem to get anywhere because ultimately can't find any modern machine that really feels better on an upgrade on my nearly 20 year old TB125, aside from having 4 auxiliaries on the joysticks Ridiculous situation.

Bobcat- s**t paint and weak track frame design, but otherwise ticks the right boxes,

Kubota- same experience as you

Volvo EC27- superb undercarriage- proper robust, but feels like your sitting perched up high and uncomfy cab, plastic panelling which is pros and cons.

Yanmar sv26. Noisy cab, Crap offset boom arrangement- apparently new model coming though?. The track motors look a bit puny too but seems ok.in practise.

Takeuchi TB230. Heavy for towing. But lovely spacious and quiet cab and general layout, probably what I'd go for. Although admittedly the bent dipper monkeybusiness had with his isn't really a selling point!

Thinks that's all the proper arsed machines- anything zero in this size is a waste of time for grab/attachment handling IMO

That doesn't help you at all but just my thoughts!

Yeah I feel your pain!! It's a lot of money to part for not much more than some fresh paint and aux on the joysticks. Still not sure why more 3 tonners don't have air con. Would really help in the winter when you're in and out the machine and it fogs right up.

 

[Storrsy]

Yeah thanks again Aiden, very helpful conversation.

Thanks for the input, I'll definitely ask about the paint on the bobcat. Trouble is with the takeuchi is its weight, no spare room on the trailer for a post driver etc. Got a good local tak dealer too but they just don't do a machine that fits the bill.

Yeah same problem. Not sure what post knocker you have but mine is 350kg and wouldn't be legal with any of the above models. When I take my tak (2.9ton) to a job I just have to move the machine bare stick or one bucket, bring the knocker/ attachment separately with dumper or materials. Not ideal but kinda works for jobs that are more than a day or 3 long.

 

[Brendan]

Yeah I feel your pain!! It's a lot of money to part for not much more than some fresh paint and aux on the joysticks. Still not sure why more 3 tonners don't have air con. Would really help in the winter when you're in and out the machine and it fogs right up.

Only seems to be lately and a massive premium, I tend to always have at least the front window up all year round, in summer it would help not being a complete sweatbox as the crappy fan in my 8026 only blows hot no idea why they even bother with a sticker that shows blue to red as it's either hot or hotter

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Only seems to be lately and a massive premium, I tend to always have at least the front window up all year round, in summer it would help not being a complete sweatbox as the crappy fan in my 8026 only blows hot no idea why they even bother with a sticker that shows blue to red as it's either hot or hotter

I had a week in a new Case 2.6 and that heater was utter shite.. I was cold all week.

 

[Brendan]

I had a week in a new Case 2.6 and that heater was utter shite.. I was cold all week.

Bet it has proper vents though Vs just one poorly positioned heater making the back of your legs dry like the crappy JCB one

 

[Storrsy]

Bet it has proper vents though Vs just one poorly positioned heater making the back of your legs dry like the crappy JCB one

My Wacker is the same. Crap tbh. Hot legs sure but no ducting to take it to the windscreen.