Kubota U17 long dipper arm

[Steve Blackdog]

hello all,

I’m still pondering over 1.5T diggers. I keep coming back to a Kub U17-3a, especially as Kubota is offering a good finance deal.


My builder says that a long arm excavator is much more useful for site work over the standard arm.

It costs £800 extra for a long arm, and delivery time is longer, as they aren’t so common. I am struggling to understand why the extra 130m of reach is so important.

• Max Dig Depth (mm) 2310 (Std) 2460 (long arm)
• Max Reach (mm) 3840 (Std). 3970 (long arm).

My ‘o’ level physics (45 years ago) would suggest that a long arm needs more power and weight at the fulcrum to raise the extra weight At the bucket end.

So my question is:- what can’t I do with the standard dipper arm over the standard arm? (And vice versa).

cheers!

 

[hiluxman]

Long arm you reach things from further way.
Short arm you get more power in the dipper.

There's many plus and minus to it....loading dumpers, digging deep, pushing material away. The list goes on.

But overall, I'd not pay £800 for a longer dipper on a u17.

 

[diggerjones]

More reach is better and you right with your physics. Me personally would want more reach. Think my minis are on standed dipper and you would never know

 

[Furniss]

More important is to dodge the whites hitch bullet that ruins the diggers geometry and put a decent hitch on it instead.
Long arm at £800 I wouldn't bother

 

[pettsy]

Isn’t the u17 zero tail swing, so less counterweight to compensate if thinking of going long-arm spec?

 

[Regy53]

A u17 dipper is like knee height in comparison with others…..

 

[Regy53]

A long arm jcb is 1161 or 1261 m for example im sure a u17 was 900 odd mm it will be a horrible machine to use imo , if never seen a long arm u17 in my 10 plus years of looking daily

 

[Furniss]

A long arm jcb is 1161 or 1261 m for example im sure a u17 was 900 odd mm it will be a horrible machine to use imo , if never seen a long arm u17 in my 10 plus years of looking daily

Geometry is ok on them actually - its the wagging about in the slew thats shite.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

That’s helpful, but I’m still confused how 13cm reach can make that much difference. Does that 13cm give any real world advantage?

 

[V8Druid]

That’s helpful, but I’m still confused how 13cm reach can make that much difference. Does that 13cm give any real world advantage?

over a 900mm dipper .....

 

[Steve Blackdog]

over a 900mm dipper .....

I’m obviously not expressing myself clearly. Is there a real world advantage having a 3970mm reach compared to the standard 3840mm reach?

 

[hiluxman]

I’m obviously not expressing myself clearly. Is there a real world advantage having a 3970mm reach compared to the standard 3840mm reach?

Not for £800 more. You may get it to grade ever so slightly better. But from me it's a definite no.

With reach, regardless of how long or short, you'll always want more.

 

[groundworker]

Do

I’m obviously not expressing myself clearly. Is there a real world advantage having a 3970mm reach compared to the standard 3840mm reach?

Do you ever dig deep footings?

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Do

Do you ever dig deep footings?

No.

 

[Smiffy]

The u17 is a compact machine. I personally think it's a very good compact machine. If you want more reach the a 1.9-2t machine makes more logical sense. Same track width longer reach but both the main boom and dipper are longer and more counterweights.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Thanks for replies folks. I have just placed an order for a new u17-3a - standard dipper.

If I can persuade the dealer to swap out the Whites hitch, what is the recommended alternative?

Also, is there anything I should be asking him to throw in?

 

[JerryRtilt]

Thanks for replies folks. I have just placed an order for a new u17-3a - standard dipper.

If I can persuade the dealer to swap out the Whites hitch, what is the recommended alternative?

Also, is there anything I should be asking him to throw in?

S30 hitch and buckets from @CPS, (order now for late autumn delivery )

 

[DaveDCB]

Thanks for replies folks. I have just placed an order for a new u17-3a - standard dipper.

If I can persuade the dealer to swap out the Whites hitch, what is the recommended alternative?

Also, is there anything I should be asking him to throw in?

A hat & jacket are always handy , but now the deal is done I doubt you’ll get anything!

 

[Furniss]

S30 hitch and buckets would be massive improvement over the whites.

 

[fred]

long arm makes it harder to load dumpers