Gunners
Well-known member
Oh my days, boys, where do I even start with this. Information on spec's is limited to say the least and there are only a handful of pictures on the dealers website and a short paragraph of blurb (which differs from one site to the next!) to get a feel for this machine. But I'm not sure we need anymore info if I'm honest....
On the face of it, a nice simple design from 20 years ago Kubota - much loved and to be honest, I'm all for no thrills when it comes to a digging tool. However, look at the details. No expanding tracks, no mention of twin speed tracking in blurb so assume it doesnt have it, Front screen doesnt open - its one piece of glass! And whats going on with the tracking motor? Cant see a planetary gear hub so have to assume its direct drive?
Closer inspection would appear to show @doobin welds for them
If you don't get it right the first time - weld it again!
Inside the cab looks basic but tidy, windows where you want them, plastics look a bit thin and cheap and no cup holder but I'm really picking here.
Oh hang on a minute - that's bare hoses INSIDE the cab.... How did this pass the CE certification again? I'd complain about the exposed random wires too but to be honest, Kubota are no better at that either...
And that doesn't look like a Kubota engine to me. Dealer blurb describes it as a Kuboto on his main website and Koop on another he advertises on.... Not building confidence with that kind of discrepancy for me.
You can make your own mind up lads, but for £14k its not worth the risk for me personally. New 1.8t price from main players are 19-20k before you negotiate. But you would get more power, more dig depth, better pumps, an engine you have heard of, twin speed tracking, expanding track frame, twin acting aux, warranty you could rely on, parts you can buy next day, and resale value when you sell.
I think its a bit unfair to compare this HZM against the main players 1.8/1.9t models as its not in their league really. This is an equivalent to the KX015, JCB 8014/15c type machine. Basic spec, nice and simple and unfortunately even against those its not cheap enough - I'd say you could get either the Kubota or the JCB for £15k even in todays money - and I for one would pay the extra £1k all day long knowing that I would make it back 5 times over in resale value alone.
Now if the HZM was £10k then it might start being tempting....
On the face of it, a nice simple design from 20 years ago Kubota - much loved and to be honest, I'm all for no thrills when it comes to a digging tool. However, look at the details. No expanding tracks, no mention of twin speed tracking in blurb so assume it doesnt have it, Front screen doesnt open - its one piece of glass! And whats going on with the tracking motor? Cant see a planetary gear hub so have to assume its direct drive?
Closer inspection would appear to show @doobin welds for them
If you don't get it right the first time - weld it again!Inside the cab looks basic but tidy, windows where you want them, plastics look a bit thin and cheap and no cup holder but I'm really picking here.
Oh hang on a minute - that's bare hoses INSIDE the cab.... How did this pass the CE certification again? I'd complain about the exposed random wires too but to be honest, Kubota are no better at that either...
And that doesn't look like a Kubota engine to me. Dealer blurb describes it as a Kuboto on his main website and Koop on another he advertises on.... Not building confidence with that kind of discrepancy for me.
You can make your own mind up lads, but for £14k its not worth the risk for me personally. New 1.8t price from main players are 19-20k before you negotiate. But you would get more power, more dig depth, better pumps, an engine you have heard of, twin speed tracking, expanding track frame, twin acting aux, warranty you could rely on, parts you can buy next day, and resale value when you sell.
I think its a bit unfair to compare this HZM against the main players 1.8/1.9t models as its not in their league really. This is an equivalent to the KX015, JCB 8014/15c type machine. Basic spec, nice and simple and unfortunately even against those its not cheap enough - I'd say you could get either the Kubota or the JCB for £15k even in todays money - and I for one would pay the extra £1k all day long knowing that I would make it back 5 times over in resale value alone.
Now if the HZM was £10k then it might start being tempting....
Lancs Lad
Well-known member
Very valid points. Shipping etc can't be helping them either atm...Oh my days, boys, where do I even start with this. Information on spec's is limited to say the least and there are only a handful of pictures on the dealers website and a short paragraph of blurb (which differs from one site to the next!) to get a feel for this machine. But I'm not sure we need anymore info if I'm honest....
View attachment 31555
On the face of it, a nice simple design from 20 years ago Kubota - much loved and to be honest, I'm all for no thrills when it comes to a digging tool. However, look at the details. No expanding tracks, no mention of twin speed tracking in blurb so assume it doesnt have it, Front screen doesnt open - its one piece of glass! And whats going on with the tracking motor? Cant see a planetary gear hub so have to assume its direct drive?
View attachment 31556
Closer inspection would appear to show @doobin welds for them
View attachment 31557
Inside the cab looks basic but tidy, windows where you want them, plastics look a bit thin and cheap and no cup holder but I'm really picking here.
View attachment 31558
Oh hang on a minute - that's bare hoses INSIDE the cab.... How did this pass the CE certification again? I'd complain about the exposed random wires too but to be honest, Kubota are no better at that either...
View attachment 31559
And that doesn't look like a Kubota engine to me. Dealer blurb describes it as a Kuboto on his main website and Koop on another he advertises on.... Not building confidence with that kind of discrepancy for me.
You can make your own mind up lads, but for £14k its not worth the risk for me personally. New 1.8t price from main players are 19-20k before you negotiate. But you would get more power, more dig depth, better pumps, an engine you have heard of, twin speed tracking, expanding track frame, twin acting aux, warranty you could rely on, parts you can buy next day, and resale value when you sell.
I think its a bit unfair to compare this HZM against the main players 1.8/1.9t models as its not in their league really. This is an equivalent to the KX015, JCB 8014/15c type machine. Basic spec, nice and simple and unfortunately even against those its not cheap enough - I'd say you could get either the Kubota or the JCB for £15k even in todays money - and I for one would pay the extra £1k all day long knowing that I would make it back 5 times over in resale value alone.
Now if the HZM was £10k then it might start being tempting....
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
We used to have a great engineering background as a country! There are many empty factories that need investment to help the Uk move into the future with hydrogen powered plant! The rest of it is the same, and most of it was once design by us
Vinpetrol
Well-known member
Have you been tempted to look at dealership for any of them ?
Vinpetrol
Well-known member
Definitely Mick . Manufacturing back in the uk is definitely the way forward as far as I’m concerned . We need to move away from the reliance on everything being built in China or Europe .We used to have a great engineering background as a country! There are many empty factories that need investment to help the Uk move into the future with hydrogen powered plant! The rest of it is the same, and most of it was once design by us
S
Smiffy
Well-known member
Trouble is you couldn't even start for 30years as you would need to convince an entire generation that they arnt all going to become social media influencers. And stop the idea that manual work is a dirty word.
Was talking to a very nice swedish lady the other day very well off but she spoke to us with the upmost respect. She told us how back home the workforce are respected for there skills and university is not considered a must with there being no shame in taking on a trade
Gunners
Well-known member
Hold fire on that idea until I have made it as an influencer from doing manual work
But in all seriousness the tide is starting to turn slowly... very slowly. Thanks to the lockdown, excessive tuition fees and Brexit (therefore a labour shortage), I think we might just see a revival of tradesmen being seen as a respectable career. But you are right, its going to take a decade or more to start noticing a difference.
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
30 years! China would have run out of Coal by then!
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
listening to a guy on the radio yesterday and he was saying his container costs had gone from 1500 quid a box, pre covid, to £16,000 a box currently
GazCro
Well-known member
It needs schools to stop obsessing over everyone going to uni first.Hold fire on that idea until I have made it as an influencer from doing manual work
But in all seriousness the tide is starting to turn slowly... very slowly. Thanks to the lockdown, excessive tuition fees and Brexit (therefore a labour shortage), I think we might just see a revival of tradesmen being seen as a respectable career. But you are right, its going to take a decade or more to start noticing a difference.
CPS
Well-known member
Tea it was defo a yellow one i seen, can't remember if it was the M1 or M2, but it was defo the moto
rway
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
Yep learn a trade from the bottom up, get the knowledge along side the experience, and pay good money to the people doing the job, our trainee goes to college 3 days a week has a folder, he works with us in the workshop 2 days a week, he has learned more at work than college!
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
have taken on many a youngster from school .. usually starting with a couple of weeks work experience (remember that?) first .. they and I'd get an idea of what it/they were all about and most went on to be very valued members of our team .... set them up for life/even better things and still keep in touch with most of them
pettsy
Well-known member
Agree with all that, but nowadays few want to start at the bottom and work their way up learning along the way. I was fortunate to get a decent day-release apprenticeship with a family firm back when I started. Been on my own nearly 8yrs now but with all the paperwork/red tape/admin it doesn’t exactly make me want to take on an apprentice much as I’d love to give someone the chance I got!
S
Smiffy
Well-known member
I think looking at TikTok if you want to be an influencer in this industry you need to have titsHold fire on that idea until I have made it as an influencer from doing manual work
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
this will make you laugh! Back in 1993 I started an apprentice, and taught him and others all I know, I now work along side him as my boss, another I worked with, who went on to start a successful hire business, and another moved into Agri, has his own contracting company, my line manager was also one who’s interview I sat in on back in the 90’s
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
We actually had a girl at college that went on to be a brilliant diesel pump and injector engineer, and a Mum!
Mick-the-fitter
It’s what I do!
Lancs Lad
Well-known member
Mums are usually injection engineers...
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