Looking at a zx25clr and bobcat e20z

[Big Jordy]

Well with all the time off over Christmas and having been floored by a flu I’ve had loads of time to look through machinery for sale local to me… and I’ve decided I’m going to go and look at the two mentioned above a very tidy 2008 hitachi zx25clr one owner I think from new with about 4k hours and a 2021 bobcat e20z 500 hours on it.. Just to say the hitachi I’m going to look at because it was the first machine I ever operated many years ago and I honestly love the zx25 30 and 50 of that era.. and the bobcat because it’s a tidy little machine and a handy size. Both are easily transportable and a good size for my mucking about.. so anyways gents any wisdom or experience of what to look out for other than the norm? Any bad experiences with either? Basically anything that you can think of.
Thanks in advance..
Jordan

 

[CPS]

Well with all the time off over Christmas and having been floored by a flu I’ve had loads of time to look through machinery for sale local to me… and I’ve decided I’m going to go and look at the two mentioned above a very tidy 2008 hitachi zx25clr one owner I think from new with about 4k hours and a 2021 bobcat e20z 500 hours on it.. Just to say the hitachi I’m going to look at because it was the first machine I ever operated many years ago and I honestly love the zx25 30 and 50 of that era.. and the bobcat because it’s a tidy little machine and a handy size. Both are easily transportable and a good size for my mucking about.. so anyways gents any wisdom or experience of what to look out for other than the norm? Any bad experiences with either? Basically anything that you can think of.
Thanks in advance..
Jordan

Well you know yourself the hitachi will have the hours on it compared to the bobcat. Its the time frame when Final drives can give bother in them. The bobcat is alot fresher... should be trouble free for along time.

That said the hitachi is a hitachi and tou know what they are like... and probably wouldn't lose a pound in about 5 years time

 

[Big Jordy]

Well you know yourself the hitachi will have the hours on it compared to the bobcat. Its the time frame when Final drives can give bother in them. The bobcat is alot fresher... should be trouble free for along time.

That said the hitachi is a hitachi and tou know what they are like... and probably wouldn't lose a pound in about 5 years time

Aye that’s it’s Aidan I know the hitachi’s well enough and I’m pretty much hitachi through and through and I suppose it’s a bita nostalgia with the wee 25 as well.. it has 3900 hours on it and like I said I think it’s been with the one firm from new haven’t been to see it yet but I’d say it would be fairly easy to gauge if it’s and honest wee machine or not.. I know or a fair few of the series one Zaxis machines with north of 10k hours on them and just routine maintenance and servicing and then @Left hooker wee zx30 is still about over here somewhere..
and yea I like the wee bobcat and I get about the newness and hours again I know very little about them but on paper they look well and good specs.

 

[V8Druid]

pumps, final drives, as Aiden says and slew ring ..
(motors seem to just keep going in the 'Tachis) ...
they'd be the biggest concerns on the much older machine .....
but ............
they are/were exceptionally well engineered tools, from the get go
the Bobber'll probably give you better 'facilities'

how are they, comparatively speaking, on price ?

 

[Big Jordy]

pumps, final drives, as Aiden says and slew ring ..
(motors seem to just keep going in the 'Tachis) ...
they'd be the biggest concerns on the much older machine .....
but ............
they are/were exceptionally well engineered tools, from the get go
the Bobber'll probably give you better 'facilities'

how are they, comparatively speaking, on price ?

Yea that’s my experience of hitachi’s it says it’s a kohler engine in it honestly wouldn’t know what engine is meant to be in the wee ones I know the bigger ones 60s 120s and 130 are Isuzu .. but most hitachi’s just seem to keep going? Yea I’d say the bobcat would be far more creature comfortable as you say but saying that I quiet liked the 25 30 and 50 cabs spent the guts of 2 1/2 years on a zx30 and dash 1 zx130 saying that though it’s been years since I’ve been in one…

There’s 5k in price difference.. the 25 is up for 13k bobcat for 18k.. both plus vat.. there’s also a few kx027 kubotas full arse end models up for sale as well 2018/19 running the same money as the bobcat.. I’ve only 60 or so hours total experience of the kubotas so don’t really know enough of them

 

[doobin]

Surely the question is which machine fits your work better?

 

[TiltyShaun]

I don’t know either machine but I feel you are not comparing similar weight. I think the point @doobin asks is quite relevant, especially when you throw a Kx027 into the mix.
I have run bobcats 1.5 and 2.8 back in the early 2000’s and was always quite happy with them. Having moved onto a Kubota Kx71-3 6 years ago I can’t fault it for its size.
It all depends on what you are hoping to do!!

 

[Big Jordy]

Surely the question is which machine fits your work better?

Dobbin and Shaun simply put it’s a machine to have about home if it goes out and does a bit then it does if not then I’m not worried.. I live in a fairly rural area for Northern Ireland and to be honest there’s enough around me with micros and 1.5/8 tons doing work for silly money.. also you can hire a 2.5/3 ton around here for 320 a week so..All the machines are within an hours travel for me so easy to go and scope out.. I’m looking at the hitachi as I said because I know hitachi and have most operated hitachi’s about 70 percent of my working life so I know how to work on them if something should go wrong.. and I have a fair good relationship with out local hitachi dealer regarding getting parts and stuff. Bobcat excavators I know very little about would know more about bobcat skid steers.. and like I said have very little seat time on kubota

 

[Smiffy]

Dobbin simply put it’s a machine to have about home if it goes out and does a bit then it does if not then I’m not worried.. I live in a fairly rural area for Northern Ireland and to be honest there’s enough around me with micros and 1.5/8 tons doing work for silly money.. also you can hire a 2.5/3 ton around here for 320 a week so..Both machines are within an hours travel for me so easy to go and scope out.. I’m looking at the hitachi as I said because I know hitachi and have most operated hitachi’s about 70 percent of my working life so I know how to work on them if something should go wrong.. and I have a fair good relationship with out local hitachi dealer regarding getting parts and stuff.

Don't you have a zx33 ?? Or is it a 38?
Would the bobcat compliment that better than the Hitachi?

 

[Big Jordy]

Don't you have a zx33 ?? Or is it a 38?
Would the bobcat compliment that better than the Hitachi?

Last place I worked I had a zx33 first and then the zx38 wish that wee machine,I loved it in my own opinion was the best mini I’ve ever operated but again I had it from new with that company and was only ever me operating the 38.. no the machine I’m
Looking at are for me like I said for about home mostly and maybe an odd job

 

[TiltyShaun]

What can you tow?

 

[Big Jordy]

Can tow 3.5 behind the ranger.. so 2.8 probably my maximum size machine

What can you tow?

 

[Diggerdavey]

Can tow 3.5 behind the ranger.. so 2.8 probably my maximum size machine

Have you had an upgrade to Ranger towing capacity? I’m sure mine is 3000kg but will check the plate to be sure

 

[Big Jordy]

Have you had an upgrade to Ranger towing capacity? I’m sure mine is 3000kg but will check the plate to be sure

Yea mine was originally 6500 train weight with. 3500kg towing but I got the uprated train weight to 7000kg set of airbags in the rear and a paperwork exercise more or less sv tech done it.. had it done now 4 years

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Can tow 3.5 behind the ranger.. so 2.8 probably my maximum size machine

You’re in NI? Surely you can tow 1.5T per trailer axle!? That seems to the the way

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Yea mine was originally 6500 train weight with. 3500kg towing but I got the uprated train weight to 7000kg set of airbags in the rear and a paperwork exercise more or less sv tech done it.. had it done now 4 years

SV Tech did a downrate for me on a 4.5T tipper. Couldn’t fault them for the work they put in for what was relatively little money

 

[Big Jordy]

SV Tech did a downrate for me on a 4.5T tipper. Couldn’t fault them for the work they put in for what was relatively little money

Yea think it was 750 for the uprate was really handy few pics of the airbags installed and the tyres on the pickup and a pic of the towbar rating plate.. job done… and 1.5ton per axle lol rookie numbers lol it’s effectively a who can fit the most on lol

 

[William127]

SV Tech did a downrate for me on a 4.5T tipper. Couldn’t fault them for the work they put in for what was relatively little money

Phoned them up for advice when I was looking at a crafter van, very helpful