8 ton digger

J

JB123

Member
Hi folks, I am looking at purchasing an 2nd hand 8 ton machine in the near future. I seem to have picked one of the worst times possible but it is what it is.

I have been contracting with a 2.8 ton machine for 9years and looking to expand plus tackle a few jobs on the farm at home which I havnt managed.

Hiring is not an option due to location.

Looking for something fairly stable, which is or can be fitted with steel tracks as ill be on steep terrain quite often. Also may want to run a flail head and post thumper.

Originally planned a takeuchi tb290 but now wondering is something like a kobelco sk75 with fixed boom would be slightly cheaper and more stable.

40k was the upper limit of my budget, should have bought one last year, but too late now. Any recommendations?
 
Thomas7740

Thomas7740

Well-known member
If it’s mostly farm work a fixed boom model would be the way to go imo. Hitachi zx70/85, Case 75/85 and Kobelco SK75 all good options.
 
Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
40k should get you something Tidy if its plus vat👍

I have 8t Kubota but there is better out there .. our resident Takeuchi rep will know 🙂 but I think the 290 was a bit weak in the tracks which might not suit your requirements.

Stock levels seem high in dealers but prices are still looking strong.

Good luck and keep us informed 👍
 
Giles

Giles

Well-known member
40k should get you something Tidy if its plus vat👍

I have 8t Kubota but there is better out there .. our resident Takeuchi rep will know 🙂 but I think the 290 was a bit weak in the tracks which might not suit your requirements.

Stock levels seem high in dealers but prices are still looking strong.

Good luck and keep us informed 👍
What do you think of your 8 ton Kubota? Still thinking of adding one to my fleet instead of the tbfr180 we have, we used to have affixed boom sumitimo sh70 on steels was a cracking machine sold it to a local farmer Who's ruined it poor thing
 
Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
Had it 5 years it has 5700hrs and had 3200hrs when I got it - It came with a tracking motor that wouldn't go into high speed when its warm and still is like it 😁 but will sort it before I move it on in the spring wtf I never got round to it I dont know 🤷‍♂️ and a corner of the frame on front sliding window cracked off a while ago other than that its been v reliable.
To drive I find its a bit noddy esp with the tilt bucket on and sups a fair bit of juice if you run it flat out.
Personally I wouldn't get another but if you want a no frills workhorse you could do worse .... in fact you have done 🤣 i had a tb180fr and didnt like it much at all but it hadnt been looked after tbf.
 
J

JB123

Member
If it’s mostly farm work a fixed boom model would be the way to go imo. Hitachi zx70/85, Case 75/85 and Kobelco SK75 all good options.
Am I right in thinking a fixed boom machine will have less reach but is more stable? Its alot simpler i guess the question is how much id miss the offset🤔
 
J

JB123

Member
40k should get you something Tidy if its plus vat👍

I have 8t Kubota but there is better out there .. our resident Takeuchi rep will know 🙂 but I think the 290 was a bit weak in the tracks which might not suit your requirements.

Stock levels seem high in dealers but prices are still looking strong.

Good luck and keep us informed 👍
I was looking for an sk75 on the Internet earlier and only found 2 or 3 in the whole UK. Maybe I'll need to make some phone calls because I can't find many
 
Hg2702

Hg2702

Well-known member
was on a jcb 86 at the start of the year, great machine I was very surprised by it
 
Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
Yeah I had JCB for 15 years and laterly had some issues with them that sent me the way of Kubota .... just when I think I might look again I hear things like the cock up Brendan had with his new 8026 🙄 Im not a big Kubota fan (even though i have 3 at the moment) but you just don't seem to hear about people having much aggro from them.
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
any good .. dunno as JB'd be up for a trip to bonny Scortlan' though :ROFLMAO:

engine bay and cab are remarkable on that for the age ... and not easy to tart a cab .... Known the man a long time - 'bout 8-10 miles from me
 
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J

JB123

Member
any good .. dunno as JB'd be up for a trip to bonny Scortlan' though :ROFLMAO:
I do like a volvo. Been told acouple of times the 88 isn't any good for grading. Not sure if that is true or not.
 
6

6feetdown

Well-known member
Hi folks, I am looking at purchasing an 2nd hand 8 ton machine in the near future. I seem to have picked one of the worst times possible but it is what it is.

I have been contracting with a 2.8 ton machine for 9years and looking to expand plus tackle a few jobs on the farm at home which I havnt managed.

Hiring is not an option due to location.

Looking for something fairly stable, which is or can be fitted with steel tracks as ill be on steep terrain quite often. Also may want to run a flail head and post thumper.

Originally planned a takeuchi tb290 but now wondering is something like a kobelco sk75 with fixed boom would be slightly cheaper and more stable.

40k was the upper limit of my budget, should have bought one last year, but too late now. Any recommendations?
I may know of someone who has 1 it was going to auction but not sure when
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
I do like a volvo. Been told acouple of times the 88 isn't any good for grading. Not sure if that is true or not.
never sat in one ... only the smaller Ovlov machines and weren't too exciting :LOL: .... could always go an' have a play with it for you ;)
one of the guys off CEF had asked me to go give it a once over for him, but not heard anymore from him, so assumed he'd bought summat else, or I'd have already looked at it :rolleyes::)
 
Bucket on wheels

Bucket on wheels

Well-known member
I do like a volvo. Been told acouple of times the 88 isn't any good for grading. Not sure if that is true or not.
My advice is to stay away from the 88 it's the worst 8 tonner I have ever ben operating, and I have bin in numerus different Ones
 
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Bri963

Bri963

Well-known member
Anyone tried a 7-8 tonne Wacker Neuson? All of their smaller and bigger machines that I’ve operated have been good, well balanced and well nailed together. Can’t imagine the 7 & 8 tonners are going to be any different.
 
Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
Anyone tried a 7-8 tonne Wacker Neuson? All of their smaller and bigger machines that I’ve operated have been good, well balanced and well nailed together. Can’t imagine the 7 & 8 tonners are going to be any different.
They seem to be well liked but biggest job will be finding one in budget.
 
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