2.5 ton mini digger advise

[craig]

~How about a Sunward SWE25UF btw? loads of services for equipment hammer rotate drain circa 2.55 tonne... sat in one today, tidy yoke. well priced too

I was thinking some of the far eastern machines where like European one from a few years ago.
Just had a look the swe25uf is zero swing, but there is a normal swing one at a similar weight.

 

[GazCro]

Here’s a question, is there a manufacturer producing a genuine 2.5 ton Non- zero Tail, digger. It seems not. But even the yanmar I referenced to above is going to be overweight by the time I’ve got steels, hitch and a thumb grab on. Seems to me only a 2.5t machine will have the weight tolerance to allow the above to be fitted- any smaller and it starts going down to the TB225 (2.3t) which I don’t much like the look as still want proper undercarriage rather than expanding s**t. Hitachi and case both used to make lovely machines. Zx25 and cx23 respectively, but it seems it all gone to 2.7t and zero/massively reduced arses which again doesn’t suit me.

Quite simple to answer tbh. Go back to late 90s early 00s and manufacturers weren't building machines in every 1/4 ton increment. Instead you could buy a 2.5 tonner but then add on extra counterweight and longer dipper if you wanted. Nobody seemed to bother that this pushed the weight up to nearer 3 ton so nearly everyone specced the extras. Consequently most manufacturers import machines into the uk now as a "standard uk spec" which is long arm extra weight etc. The zero swing job is a bit of a joke tbh as most people overlook the fact that the equivalent weight zero swing machine nearly always has a wider track frame so yeah they fit in a gap and turn round but the gap has to be wider to begin with.

 

[Regy53]

Does look a fairly decent machine on the face of it. Why do they have to go and call it a sunward- sounds like something from the middle of Lidl

I know it’s just what then are no different to any brand we have not heard of. I found it a nice machine to be fair, the hydraulics were a tiny bit lively but it was also brand new , I did drop the revs a bit. From a build and spec perspective I couldn’t fault it. In many ways felt better than the usual brands we use. The spec is what is very good , triple lines plus piped for a hydraulic hitch from factory’s

 

[GazCro]

I know it’s just what then are no different to any brand we have not heard of. I found it a nice machine to be fair, the hydraulics were a tiny bit lively but it was also brand new , I did drop the revs a bit. From a build and spec perspective I couldn’t fault it. In many ways felt better than the usual brands we use. The spec is what is very good , triple lines plus piped for a hydraulic hitch from factory’s

But if they do a kato and pull out of the market where are you left if you need parts?

 

[craig]

I know it’s just what then are no different to any brand we have not heard of. I found it a nice machine to be fair, the hydraulics were a tiny bit lively but it was also brand new , I did drop the revs a bit. From a build and spec perspective I couldn’t fault it. In many ways felt better than the usual brands we use. The spec is what is very good , triple lines plus piped for a hydraulic hitch from factory’s

Are you taking them on as a dealer?
I think what the lesser known makes need are a good dealers.

 

[Storrsy]

But if they do a kato and pull out of the market where are you left if you need parts?

I’d imagine most of the parts would be obtainable anyway, ie yanmar for engine parts, hydraulic components probably made bysomeone else anyway, undercarriage parts could be bought aftermarket from the likes of digbits etc. But that’s all well and good if it’s just a simple wearing part replacement, dealer backup might be another thing...

 

[GazCro]

I’d imagine most of the parts would be obtainable anyway, ie yanmar for engine parts, hydraulic components probably made bysomeone else anyway, undercarriage parts could be bought aftermarket from the likes of digbits etc. But that’s all well and good if it’s just a simple wearing part replacement, dealer backup might be another thing...

There's got to be enough demand for aftermarket parts for digbits etc to make any though. It's surprising how many bought in parts can be specced different. At the end of the day if you end up with your machine parked up for 2 week trying to source a part its not good is it. Not a risk i would take with a new to the market brand unless you know its proven elsewhere and gonna be around long term.

 

[Storrsy]

I was thinking some of the far eastern machines where like European one from a few years ago.
Just had a look the swe25uf is zero swing, but there is a normal swing one at a similar weight.

Yeah that standard swing one, is a nice weight, does have quite a basic 90s look to it - like older takeuchis, yet the zero tail looks pretty swish.

 

[Hg2702]

The sv22 is just what I’m after a bit more muscle ! But I’m holding out for now

 

[Furniss]

I once used SV17 for a few weeks that stood out a brilliant little digger but more recently hired in a brand new SV22 and it drove lovely but had hardly any tear out , we were putting a micro station in and it struggled
I would try one first.

 

[Storrsy]

I’m guessing that plate is 364kg... in which case that’s a fair lift capacity at far reach for a two tonner. Dunno about yanmar my design of track, where the middle of the track is offset, must can see it might aid stability further- bet tracks are expensive though

 

[Storrsy]

I’m guessing that plate is 364kg... in which case that’s a fair lift capacity at far reach for a two tonner. Dunno about yanmar my design of track, where the middle of the track is offset, must can see it might aid stability further- bet tracks are expensive though

look at the undercarriage though, looks proper compared with 1.8t machines

 

[Storrsy]

O

I once used SV17 for a few weeks that stood out a brilliant little digger but more recently hired in a brand new SV22 and it drove lovely but had hardly any tear out , we were putting a micro station in and it struggled
I would try one first.

Oh that’s not good! Might see if I can arrange a demo.

 

[GazCro]

O


Oh that’s not good! Might see if I can arrange a demo.

There's a fella on instagram who bought an sv18 to replace a taki 219, put couple of pics of yanmar up took down following day yanmar sent back and new taki 219 ordered.

 

[Regy53]

But if they do a kato and pull out of the market where are you left if you need parts?

this is true and something to consider . I sadly think the Kato thing was the importer pulling rather than Kato. It really depends on the manufactures intention and involvement

Are you taking them on as a dealer?
I think what the lesser known makes need are a good dealers.

Spot on, I have talked with Tom at Sunward. He bought a unit to look at today. I am swaying both ways at the moment it all looks good in person and on paper but it’s all about it it’s worth the chase. It’s a shame they do not have more exposure in the uk yet. Yanmar engine, rexroth hydraulics , known track motors and what felt like good build quality. A few things I would change but for the price very good.
One thing I do not want to be known for is selling inferior products I also don’t want to be the business with all the cheap stuff as it does affect your name. Chinese this Chinese that , nothing premium. It’s all about supporting your customers with quality goods for a reasonable cost. I would rather do used where it is lucrative enough to not need to worry where the next deal is from. Selling new is much harder given you set a area against loads of other dealers, you also have manufactures to report too and ultimately answer too. Used plant is quite black and white no machine is the same. Thinking

 

[Storrsy]

There's a fella on instagram who bought an sv18 to replace a taki 219, put couple of pics of yanmar up took down following day yanmar sent back and new taki 219 ordered.

I’d have thought the TB216 would have been the fair comparison to the SV18. And the Sv22 more like the TB219?

 

[GazCro]

I’d have thought the TB216 would have been the fair comparison to the SV18. And the Sv22 more like the TB219?

Sv22 doesn't narrow down to under a metre.

 

[hiluxman]

this is true and something to consider . I sadly think the Kato thing was the importer pulling rather than Kato. It really depends on the manufactures intention and involvement


Spot on, I have talked with Tom at Sunward. He bought a unit to look at today. I am swaying both ways at the moment it all looks good in person and on paper but it’s all about it it’s worth the chase. It’s a shame they do not have more exposure in the uk yet. Yanmar engine, rexroth hydraulics , known track motors and what felt like good build quality. A few things I would change but for the price very good.
One thing I do not want to be known for is selling inferior products I also don’t want to be the business with all the cheap stuff as it does affect your name. Chinese this Chinese that , nothing premium. It’s all about supporting your customers with quality goods for a reasonable cost. I would rather do used where it is lucrative enough to not need to worry where the next deal is from. Selling new is much harder given you set a area against loads of other dealers, you also have manufactures to report too and ultimately answer too. Used plant is quite black and white no machine is the same. Thinking

I was talking to sunward last year at a show. They were wanting 12.5k for the micro and bobcat was few meters away advertising at 13.1k.....which would you go for?

 

[Regy53]

I was talking to sunward last year at a show. They were wanting 12.5k for the micro and bobcat was few meters away advertising at 13.1k.....which would you go for?

Completely agree there. Not everything makes sense .

 

[sjs5060]

this is true and something to consider . I sadly think the Kato thing was the importer pulling rather than Kato. It really depends on the manufactures intention and involvement


Spot on, I have talked with Tom at Sunward. He bought a unit to look at today. I am swaying both ways at the moment it all looks good in person and on paper but it’s all about it it’s worth the chase. It’s a shame they do not have more exposure in the uk yet. Yanmar engine, rexroth hydraulics , known track motors and what felt like good build quality. A few things I would change but for the price very good.
One thing I do not want to be known for is selling inferior products I also don’t want to be the business with all the cheap stuff as it does affect your name. Chinese this Chinese that , nothing premium. It’s all about supporting your customers with quality goods for a reasonable cost. I would rather do used where it is lucrative enough to not need to worry where the next deal is from. Selling new is much harder given you set a area against loads of other dealers, you also have manufactures to report too and ultimately answer too. Used plant is quite black and white no machine is the same. Thinking

FWIW I looked a sunward possibly 3 years ago at a show. The outfit selling them where decent lads, I asked him to get 2 machines in a field and I’d bring him at least 10 serious potential buyers and we’d give them a good going over and try and generate some interest for him. He never did so I left them alone. I really like the look of them tho, seemed straightforward and well built. Some of us just want to get on with the job and don’t want fancy.

as for this digger for towing lark JCB 8026 2705kg and theres no machine I’ve driven lately of any size or colour that I’d rather drive than mine.