V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
And some that cant drive anything with sticks in front of you unless its jcb X pattern
after 5 years of X pattern, took me a while to get my head back around ISO, when I bought the duck ... 
after 5 years of X pattern, took me a while to get my head back around ISO, when I bought the duck ... 
craig
Well-known member
Any thing with levers out front thats not X pattern, either micro, old excavator, or other backhoe, I`m still thinking JCB even though its a quite a few years since selling my 3CX. I transported a Komatsu backhoe with X pattern back end a couple of months back, it was like a comfy pair of slippers
Regy53
I like cake
After 5 years and like 250 plus 3CX machines i am able to just about put the bucket on the floor in x pattern
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
After 5 years and like 250 plus 3CX machines i am able to just about put the bucket on the floor in x pattern
love it
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
Smiffy mentioned a 2CX airmaster loader, I had been thinking of running a 2Cx with the backhoe fitted. A member down south has one & loves it - says it an underrated tool. Reasons for my interest - self mobilizing, capable of lifting a full pallet of bricks off a truck & up a tight lane, capable of doing at least what a 3 tonne mini can. I have many thousands of hours on 3C / 3CX behind me. 2cx Only 6ft wide so go up narrow lane. Downsides, the hire market seems to have gone away from them, the 70 Hp engine would be thirsty - particularly if the white fuel thing happens. Would be a one man band only thing. Consensus on here seems to be mini digger offers a more favourable hire rate relative to the investment tied up in the unit. I also notice all the help on here with repairs seems more skewed to the minis.
JCB seemed to go through a Mini Cx, a Midi Cx & drop both in short order. The latter sold more in the USA than UK it seems. The idea of a removable rear hoe - leaving a small machine for other work (eg mowing) seemed good but the 17mph travel was a downside.
Is the '3cx compact' more or less a hystat (& 25mph) 2cx? - too new yet so too rich for my pocket anyway.
My other pet idea - a slopes adapted extendable wide gauge tracked mini with a winch - Rory (JD450A) seems to have actually done!! - How is this on slopes, or is the winch more for debogging (either itself or other stranded machines). Piping off blade means winch & tracks run together? If so ideal to self debog or travel on slope
I am fixing up a very small digger just now, but want to progress as see big changes coming in life - weather I wish them or not. Just do not know the best way to aim. Personally I would like the 180 machine but if no hirer does it is just a toy. The thread seems just what I can never decide on
JCB seemed to go through a Mini Cx, a Midi Cx & drop both in short order. The latter sold more in the USA than UK it seems. The idea of a removable rear hoe - leaving a small machine for other work (eg mowing) seemed good but the 17mph travel was a downside.
Is the '3cx compact' more or less a hystat (& 25mph) 2cx? - too new yet so too rich for my pocket anyway.
My other pet idea - a slopes adapted extendable wide gauge tracked mini with a winch - Rory (JD450A) seems to have actually done!! - How is this on slopes, or is the winch more for debogging (either itself or other stranded machines). Piping off blade means winch & tracks run together? If so ideal to self debog or travel on slope
I am fixing up a very small digger just now, but want to progress as see big changes coming in life - weather I wish them or not. Just do not know the best way to aim. Personally I would like the 180 machine but if no hirer does it is just a toy. The thread seems just what I can never decide on
craig
Well-known member
The early 2cx`s the back end wasnt that nice too use, the newer ones better, more like a small 3cx.
Early ones the tilt/crowd rams on the front where on the inner edge of the loader arms, later ones they where on top.
Early ones the tilt/crowd rams on the front where on the inner edge of the loader arms, later ones they where on top.
craig
Well-known member
Early ones could have the backhoe removed, leaving a 3 point linkage and pto (very rare)
doobin
Well-known member
You need to s**t or get off the pot mate….
Gunners
Well-known member
Come on Doob. That's easy to say for those of us who have done it, but cast your mind back to a time before. I certainly remember mulling over what machine to buy and a 3cx was very much in the loop back then, mostly due to @DaveDCB pretty face being smothered all over the be your own boss scheme
. Of course you never know what could have been and we chose the paths we did and havent looked back. But its a big leap to take.
S
Slick_50
Member
I'm not too sure on specifics other then 3cx prefably piped for a breaker. Budget of no more then £40k.
What have you got in at the moment?
Regy53
I like cake
hmm I have a 2012 due in on advance easy control, air con, turbo power shift, hammer pipe work 4300 hours will be circa 35k
we sold the other 3cx’s today I’m afraid
Furniss
Well-known member
In my defence I was only laughing at the expression ....I actually like the mulling over part, its more interesting than the jobCome on Doob. That's easy to say for those of us who have done it, but cast your mind back to a time before. I certainly remember mulling over what machine to buy and a 3cx was very much in the loop back then, mostly due to @DaveDCB pretty face being smothered all over the be your own boss scheme
A
AusDave
Well-known member
I tend to agree with doobin. I originally started with a small second hand 21hp Yanmar tractor with loader and backhoe as an impulsive buy and had to make it pay. Put the word around and got some work but then yellow fever struck and I bought a second hand JCB 1CX backhoe which was moving up into the big league compared to the Yanmar
Put a few cheap adverts in local media, did some word of mouth, (got a big mouth), and also happened to met a guy at a party who needed a road and and house/shed site excavated. He was complaining about the cost as it was a big job, I reckoned I could do it cheaper and I got the job. Bought a few used attachments for the 1CX, figured out the best way to do the job and learnt how to operate the 1CX, got the job done well & paid and moved onto the next job.
I often used the 1CX for work far in excess of what it was built for but with some care and skill got the job done, customers were happy and machine breakage was minimal.
Then saw an ad for a hardly used Haulotte Multijob backhoe, my dream machine, bought it and put it to work on the jobs too big for the 1CX. I could drive it on the road to jobs rather than on my truck like the 1CX. I found a niche for jobs with the equipment I had and haven't found it hard to get work. I also have a good relationship with a number of local builders and a few other people who have provided repeat business.
Sometimes you've just got to follow your interest and do it! Go and buy Some hopefully suitable equipment, get out and get some work through whatever legal means you can, put yourself under some pressure to make it happen. Have a bit of a plan but above all be flexible and confident about what you can do, even what you think you can do. Whatever you do you'll learn a lot more by doing than procrastinating. And have fun
D
DaveDCB
Well-known member
Wish I held onto my last 3cx.. 2010, 3khrs I struggled to give it away for 25k 5 years ago!!!
D
DaveDCB
Well-known member
D
Don’t blame me, I administered no yellow injections!Come on Doob. That's easy to say for those of us who have done it, but cast your mind back to a time before. I certainly remember mulling over what machine to buy and a 3cx was very much in the loop back then, mostly due to @DaveDCB pretty face being smothered all over the be your own boss scheme
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
's a crazy world Boyo ... wish i still had all the various LRs I've owned
.... could retire on the proceeds
Regy53
I like cake
strange 3cx have been golden for some time but is very spec specific
it was @Casedriver i belive where we got our first one from, never looked back
it was @Casedriver i belive where we got our first one from, never looked back
D
DaveDCB
Well-known member
Lack of aircon put a lot off, me included
6
6feetdown
Well-known member
A new 1 does sound enticing
6
6feetdown
Well-known member
Anyone watched Metronix on YouTube, Romania based but some good video and a lovely wife
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