Hyundai HW65A

[Vinpetrol]

It would probably work better in more rural communities where an 8t machine cost more than £300 a week and £50 each way on delivery

If I could get an 8t machine at that prices I’d sell all my plant tomorrow !

 

[Vinpetrol]

My big jobs are 4-6 weeks in length then loads of small jobs in between . The wee duck would be handy on the small jobs and in the big ones when sites are tight . Might not be great travelling far but with the state of the roads it’s not great in the pw140 . Thing is the Komatsu is just not getting used enough as it’s too big most of the time

 

[Smiffy]

That sounds cheap?

It might be a bit more than that but not much.
I don't hire an 8t very often we usually have 6t and below.
Even have one firm doing free haulage for the first 10 miles.
We are currently paying the same for a 1.5t machine as we are for the breaker for a 1.5t machine.
Haven't had increase in over a year though so it will probably go up.

 

[hiluxman]

It might be a bit more than that but not much.
I don't hire an 8t very often we usually have 6t and below.
Even have one firm doing free haulage for the first 10 miles.
We are currently paying the same for a 1.5t machine as we are for the breaker for a 1.5t machine.
Haven't had increase in over a year though so it will probably go up.

£360 here for an 8t, and haulage been a flat rate of £100 each way.

 

[Grahams]

I

I’d like to think the same but I fear the reality is a 2.8t would still work out cheaper. If you need more muscle than the 2.8t can do in two days then you hire in a proper size machine on tracks.

Can’t forget about being able to have all your tools/creature comforts in the truck too. There’s more to that kind of local work than just the machine size. And I bet roading that duck would be very painful indeed.

I’ve seen them roaming round central London and looks perfect. They were as fast as the rest of the traffic most of the time and had a load of attachments and stuff on a blade tray. Repeated moves of an 8t track machine on a plant lorry would waste so much time and effort. But, that is very niche. What suits your type of work and local environment may be something completely different.

 

[Danny]

I like my TB295W. Our workload has changed, but I don't really want to get rid as its such a handy tool

 

[Grahams]

It looks like Craig has a picture of one on these micro ducks in his bio. May be able to contribute personal user experience?

 

[craig]

It looks like Craig has a picture of one on these micro ducks in his bio. May be able to contribute personal user experience?

Yes I`ve got a little Neuson duckling the older cousin to the Wacker Neuson EW65.
I have changed the tyres from the OE type which where similar to big skid steer tyres, pneumatic but very solid and square on the shoulder to a floatation type, its lost a little stability, and bounces slightly more on the road, but is a lot better if you have to go on grass (doesn't cut on the shoulder) or softer ground, definitely not a tracked replacement!
Roading is OK, but don't expect to rush anywhere, we`re in quite a hilly area, the backhoe was better for traveling. Storage is a bit of a problem if its the only vehicle going to a job, there's not a lot of room in the cab for your flask, butties, and coat, differently needs a blade tray for your buckets. With a little thought some clips and brackets on top of the undercarriage for your brush and shovel, small items like marker spray, chains, tools, etc go in the boxes behind the steps.
One problem with all (most?) ducks is the permanent 4x4, being able to disconnect it would have to improve the road travel/wear/damage, it had crossed my mind to axle lock it on 3 wheels to release some of the wind up
It will work comfortably in a single lane closure, or single track lane cross carriage, with the axle lock on, FoW stability hasn't been a problem.
The higher cab vs tracked machine is great for visibility especially loading or digging out the back of trucks, but access can become a pain if your in and out a lot, loading and driving the dumper for example, also off road crossing banks etc can make you twitch

 

[craig]

Yes I`ve got a little Neuson duckling the older cousin to the Wacker Neuson EW65.
I have changed the tyres from the OE type which where similar to big skid steer tyres, pneumatic but very solid and square on the shoulder to a floatation type, its lost a little stability, and bounces slightly more on the road, but is a lot better if you have to go on grass (doesn't cut on the shoulder) or softer ground, definitely not a tracked replacement!
Roading is OK, but don't expect to rush anywhere, we`re in quite a hilly area, the backhoe was better for traveling. Storage is a bit of a problem if its the only vehicle going to a job, there's not a lot of room in the cab for your flask, butties, and coat, differently needs a blade tray for your buckets. With a little thought some clips and brackets on top of the undercarriage for your brush and shovel, small items like marker spray, chains, tools, etc go in the boxes behind the steps.
One problem with all (most?) ducks is the permanent 4x4, being able to disconnect it would have to improve the road travel/wear/damage, it had crossed my mind to axle lock it on 3 wheels to release some of the wind up
It will work comfortably in a single lane closure, or single track lane cross carriage, with the axle lock on, FoW stability hasn't been a problem.
The higher cab vs tracked machine is great for visibility especially loading or digging out the back of trucks, but access can become a pain if your in and out a lot, loading and driving the dumper for example, also off road crossing banks etc can make you twitch

An other thing, while roading visibility is quite poor to your right with the king post mounted boom, not so bad with a conventual boom.

 

[APhillips]

I know a guy down in Cornwall who had a Volvo EW60 with a Steelwrist on who has had one for 5 - 6years and loved it, as far as I know he has the newer version of it turning up very soon, I think this was his old one:

 

[Vinpetrol]

Well the deal is done . The Komatsu is going and this is coming

It’s an ex demo with 50 hours done . It’s a standard dipper which is quite short so it’ll get a 4 pipe ec206 with top hitch and I will be very selective about the size of the buckets .
I flew down to see it on Friday stayed overnight and had a look Sat morning . It’s a very well balanced machine and seems very nice but if it wasn’t well balanced without any buckets on I’d of been walking away ! I never took any decent pics as had to rush to get flight back but I will post more when it comes up the road .

 

[craig]

First thing I noticed was the dipper and thought it was shortish for a tilt rotator
2 wheel steer, and blade at the back?

 

[doobin]

Looks fantastic mate

 

[APhillips]

Looks great, that's in Molson's isn't it? It originally had a Steelwrist on it for a demo which never went anywhere, we will still have the S40 coupler in stock, ex demo we'd do a deal on.

 

[6feetdown]

That sounds cheap?

Yes thinking the same

 

[Vinpetrol]

Looks great, that's in Molson's isn't it? It originally had a Steelwrist on it for a demo which never went anywhere, we will still have the S40 coupler in stock, ex demo we'd do a deal on.

Yes that’s right . I would be interested in that ! . I saw a pic of the unit on the machine . The bucket looked very big though . As the machine has 4 pipe set up I thought that would suit me rather than the 2 pipe steel wrist set up that was originally on it. I’d also like to go for a steelwrist grading bucket .