JD450A
Feral as Fk 🐾
So it's time to have a thread for the craic of it. I've had a good look this morning at the Sany SY18C, a look is very different from the long-term abuse it's liable to suffer at my hands and I'm preemptively starting this thread in anticipation of the purchase. Namely, so you lot can say your bit and be negative about my choice in advance.
Background for those that don't know.
Firstly a foreword on what has got us here. I like Takeuchis. I grew up with three diggers, a Ford 555 wheeldigger, a Kubota KH101 and a Takeuchi TB015, all 3 exist still and all 3 still work. At the time (2008 ish) Takeuchi was starting to get a reasonable foothold but was still "foreign". Knowing what I now know, Takeuchi had been building equipment for Priestman back in the day. Takeuchi has been a good brand and historically, I have enjoyed all the machines I've owned. The TB175's both have Around 10,000hrs on each, the 138FR has nearly 7000hrs and my beloved 015 is at 5000hrs or so. The 219 is pushing 1800hrs now. Good solid reliable machines with the only bugbear ever being electrical corrosion in the 175's, causing gremlins in an overcomplex analogue ECU system. I do not like electronics and the fewer present on a digger the better in my opinion.
Having also had a Bobcat and a Kobelco (the latter was a dog but earned some coin) I am not against other brands, but I do like my Takeuchi's, solid and reliable - However in recent years, some things have been hard work..... Parts roulette pisses me off and there are some unreal corkers in ridiculous pricing for Takeuchi, there is little contest between dealers and significant complacency within the dealer network with regards to the quality of their machines. I love Taki, but like all major brands I also know the chances of Me, Myself and I getting a quality deal are about as significant as the likelihood of N.Korea landing on the moon in my lifetime - It's possible, but highly unlikely and not worth the effort to pursue. The same can be said for JCB, as I do like their new Mini's, but I dislike the price....
I have followed Sany with interest since around 2015, I haven't had an interest in a new digger until recently. I like second-hand units because whilst I do like kit, I also like being able to choose when to work and what to do, I will never be rich, but I'm not poor, and I'm not a slave to a bank!
Long and short any new mini digger with cab from a known brand will be 20k+. A TB216 (which I dislike and there are two others here with similar opinions) would be 22k. I fundamentally think a sub 2t digger should be under 20k, but that's just me. Money is a major factor in purchasing for me as I like to buy outright. The gauntlet was thrown at the Sany dealer two weeks ago.... A number they needed to give me for the P/X machine (Takeuchi TB138).... they hit that target and started the ball rolling on serious discussions on a 2t ish mini excavator. Options being either the SY20 or SY18.....I like low tech, the SY18C is nicely basic, Yanmar engine..... Like a Takeuchi.
Sany SY18C - Thoughts in the dealer's yard.
So I apologise for the lack of photos - namely, as I was shopping and thinking.
Niggley issues I dislike -
Now this is either going to be a very short thread...... I may hate it when actually digging. But I suspect I won't.
A brief word on the CCP/Politics.
The title of this thread is there for a bit of a laugh, but in all honesty, it's very apparent that a barrier to buying a Chinese machine is the politics and the simple reality that China is arguably morally bankrupt.... I do hold some very negative views on Chinese politics - notably two things: dogs/animal cruelty and the exploitation of "third world" countries via financial lending/resource extraction. It is odd having to put this on a thread about a machine I intend to buy and defend a decision to effectively promote (or not, it might wind up being a bag of s**t!) a manufacturer from a country I have views/concerns on. However, here goes.
Firstly, China is a country that is following some other "democracies" in their pursuit of selling to Western markets. Hitachi, Kubota and Takeuchi are some of the most respected brands in the UK..... from a country that actively committed some of the gravest atrocities but a few decades before. Likewise Doosan and others are from S.Korea.... whilst I'm sure it's better than the North it's not western roses for the labour there either..... China was our ally in the last world war, and whilst we have fought against them in Korea I'm not entirely sure they are our enemy..... they aren't our friends either at present. But I do not know of have enough insight into China or it's culture to make a fair judgment.... and in all honesty, beyond the ethical problems of supplying cheap tat and expensive loans to the third world and a minority of their citizens being insanely cruel to animals, I cannot judge..... But I can say we have equally morally reprehensible bastards within our country.
A huge amount of s**t is made in China..... A huge number of people buy it, including mainstream manufacturers who stick their part number on it and flog it to us at an inflated price.
Does buying Chinese sit right? In all honesty, it's unavoidable, and I choose to hope I'm buying off the progressive part of China that believes in its slogan - "Quality changes the world". Will buying a Chinese digger help the CCP? Probably if enough people do. Will buying a Chinese digger kill the UK manufacturing industry? It's dead already, and my purchase would almost certainly not have been built in the UK anyway. Perhaps if UK manufacturers/or others priced their kit sensibly, I'd buy it. Special mention to be fair to Hitachi, who aren't far off the mark..... But I don't really like their minis.
Resale - the elephant in the room:
Here is my expectation..... I will pick the digger up and it will drop in value to £10,000....... I fully anticipate this.
I also anticipate the digger to last 10 years. I work on the basis a digger alone should earn £10 a clock hour net, at 5000hr warranty that should be £50,000....
Will it blow up before 5000hrs? Possibly, but I doubt it.
There we go anyway.... plenty to discuss, all bets are off where this goes. But I'm probably going to put my money where my mouth is.
And lastly, if the Unmentionable "journalist" reads this..... No, and the Dealer is going to be explicitly told NO.
Background for those that don't know.
Firstly a foreword on what has got us here. I like Takeuchis. I grew up with three diggers, a Ford 555 wheeldigger, a Kubota KH101 and a Takeuchi TB015, all 3 exist still and all 3 still work. At the time (2008 ish) Takeuchi was starting to get a reasonable foothold but was still "foreign". Knowing what I now know, Takeuchi had been building equipment for Priestman back in the day. Takeuchi has been a good brand and historically, I have enjoyed all the machines I've owned. The TB175's both have Around 10,000hrs on each, the 138FR has nearly 7000hrs and my beloved 015 is at 5000hrs or so. The 219 is pushing 1800hrs now. Good solid reliable machines with the only bugbear ever being electrical corrosion in the 175's, causing gremlins in an overcomplex analogue ECU system. I do not like electronics and the fewer present on a digger the better in my opinion.
Having also had a Bobcat and a Kobelco (the latter was a dog but earned some coin) I am not against other brands, but I do like my Takeuchi's, solid and reliable - However in recent years, some things have been hard work..... Parts roulette pisses me off and there are some unreal corkers in ridiculous pricing for Takeuchi, there is little contest between dealers and significant complacency within the dealer network with regards to the quality of their machines. I love Taki, but like all major brands I also know the chances of Me, Myself and I getting a quality deal are about as significant as the likelihood of N.Korea landing on the moon in my lifetime - It's possible, but highly unlikely and not worth the effort to pursue. The same can be said for JCB, as I do like their new Mini's, but I dislike the price....
I have followed Sany with interest since around 2015, I haven't had an interest in a new digger until recently. I like second-hand units because whilst I do like kit, I also like being able to choose when to work and what to do, I will never be rich, but I'm not poor, and I'm not a slave to a bank!
Long and short any new mini digger with cab from a known brand will be 20k+. A TB216 (which I dislike and there are two others here with similar opinions) would be 22k. I fundamentally think a sub 2t digger should be under 20k, but that's just me. Money is a major factor in purchasing for me as I like to buy outright. The gauntlet was thrown at the Sany dealer two weeks ago.... A number they needed to give me for the P/X machine (Takeuchi TB138).... they hit that target and started the ball rolling on serious discussions on a 2t ish mini excavator. Options being either the SY20 or SY18.....I like low tech, the SY18C is nicely basic, Yanmar engine..... Like a Takeuchi.
Sany SY18C - Thoughts in the dealer's yard.
So I apologise for the lack of photos - namely, as I was shopping and thinking.
Niggley issues I dislike -
- Fuel filler is on the side, which is wank.... but it's no worse than other makes, same as a Takeuchi, Or JCB or Kubota, or Hitachi...... Can you fill with cans? Not easily.
- Sides are tinplate..... But that's the same as Hitachi or Kubota.
- Cab is very Chinese with the special chrome-tinted air vents and buttons..... But that's just stealing JCB's style.
- Kingpost - It turns the wrong way further (cab door offside) and is nowhere as great as the 219/Taki.... the SY20 is worse in this regard again.
- Beacon wiring protrudes a silly distance from the cab on a welded lug..... It's untidy and would be a PITA if tracking between, say, two houses. I'd rather it didn't have the stupid beacons and wiring and it will get damaged or ripped off. I may even lop it off first tis last.
- Aerial is mounted the same on the side of the cab..... in fairness the TB219 is no better in this regard.
- Keybarrel/Starting feels wank..... sounds odd but it's the biggest bugbear sitting in it.
- Undercarridge play on the expanding tracks when retracted, but it's no worse than a 500hr digger of any make with the tracks extended. And in all honesty, tight as the proverbial nun when expanded..... You tend to dig when they are out so I don't see it as an issue.
- Curved rear window..... Never like curved glass in diggers - expensive and unnecessary.
- Built heavy. Like the blade, track frames, etc., seem twice as thick as the Takeuchi..... Now the quality of the metal remains to be seen (I'm sure we will discover if it's s**t), but having looked around, there is a lot of metal in the right places. It's a shame the side skirts are not made with the same overengineering.
- Welded kingpost - I'm a big fan of this stemming from the 015. Welded kingposts can easily be cut about and new bosses welded in if required!
- Hose routing through the kingpost is very tidy.
- Footpedals (which are s**t according to @Storrsy) In all honesty, although slightly awkward, they are better than no footpedals.
- Cab floor space is big enough for my purchasing manager/dog.
- Slew lock pin..... Underated thing.
- Two lights on the cab...... yeah that's my autism, I like balance.
- Tracking power - Jesus why the FK can Taki not master this.
- The amount of grease/oil sprayed on them for the boat trip here is unreal!
Now this is either going to be a very short thread...... I may hate it when actually digging. But I suspect I won't.
A brief word on the CCP/Politics.
The title of this thread is there for a bit of a laugh, but in all honesty, it's very apparent that a barrier to buying a Chinese machine is the politics and the simple reality that China is arguably morally bankrupt.... I do hold some very negative views on Chinese politics - notably two things: dogs/animal cruelty and the exploitation of "third world" countries via financial lending/resource extraction. It is odd having to put this on a thread about a machine I intend to buy and defend a decision to effectively promote (or not, it might wind up being a bag of s**t!) a manufacturer from a country I have views/concerns on. However, here goes.
Firstly, China is a country that is following some other "democracies" in their pursuit of selling to Western markets. Hitachi, Kubota and Takeuchi are some of the most respected brands in the UK..... from a country that actively committed some of the gravest atrocities but a few decades before. Likewise Doosan and others are from S.Korea.... whilst I'm sure it's better than the North it's not western roses for the labour there either..... China was our ally in the last world war, and whilst we have fought against them in Korea I'm not entirely sure they are our enemy..... they aren't our friends either at present. But I do not know of have enough insight into China or it's culture to make a fair judgment.... and in all honesty, beyond the ethical problems of supplying cheap tat and expensive loans to the third world and a minority of their citizens being insanely cruel to animals, I cannot judge..... But I can say we have equally morally reprehensible bastards within our country.
A huge amount of s**t is made in China..... A huge number of people buy it, including mainstream manufacturers who stick their part number on it and flog it to us at an inflated price.
Does buying Chinese sit right? In all honesty, it's unavoidable, and I choose to hope I'm buying off the progressive part of China that believes in its slogan - "Quality changes the world". Will buying a Chinese digger help the CCP? Probably if enough people do. Will buying a Chinese digger kill the UK manufacturing industry? It's dead already, and my purchase would almost certainly not have been built in the UK anyway. Perhaps if UK manufacturers/or others priced their kit sensibly, I'd buy it. Special mention to be fair to Hitachi, who aren't far off the mark..... But I don't really like their minis.
Resale - the elephant in the room:
Here is my expectation..... I will pick the digger up and it will drop in value to £10,000....... I fully anticipate this.
I also anticipate the digger to last 10 years. I work on the basis a digger alone should earn £10 a clock hour net, at 5000hr warranty that should be £50,000....
Will it blow up before 5000hrs? Possibly, but I doubt it.
There we go anyway.... plenty to discuss, all bets are off where this goes. But I'm probably going to put my money where my mouth is.
And lastly, if the Unmentionable "journalist" reads this..... No, and the Dealer is going to be explicitly told NO.
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