Early 1980's Kubota with unusual feature?

[Gavin Phillips]

I've seen a couple of Kubota KH10's on eBay over the years; an early 1980's era machine with an unusual side-shift feature allowing a greater range of movement for the backhoe. Was this the only model that Kubota built with this feature, or were there more? :confused:

Thanks

[texascadillac42]

When you say side shift, do you mean the boom slides left to ride on the house of the machine? Or the boom has 2 extra pivot points along it, allowing it to be offset from the mounting point, but still dig parallel to the machine?

[Gavin Phillips]

The boom slides from left to right on the front of the machine housing. Certainly never seen a mini excavator outfitted like that before but it does seem odd that Kubota would only produce one model with that feature...:beatsme

[Seaside LPS]

picture might help!

[Gavin Phillips]

picture might help!

http://image61.webshots.com/161/0/49/0/415504900zGSzUu_ph.jpg

I am unable to find the pictures of the two KH10's that I saw on eBay (I'm sure I saved them as I did think the machine looked unusual) but this picture seems to be alot more clear anyway.

I have seen some pictures of the smaller KH5 and the larger KH11 and KH20 and these machines do not have this side-shift feature.

[coopers]

I have a feeling that was just a random trial and error machine. Kubota as of right now does not produce a machine of that nature. I don't think the European market makes them either, similar to the euro backhoes.

[bobcat ron]

All of the "Grey Market" machines that come from over seas to the dealers here are the older Zero Radius machines with the Parallel Offset Boom rather than the traditional swing boom that we have here.

There were also certain machines that have the combination of the 2 types of booms.
First pic is the Parallel Offset and second is the more traditional Swing Boom:

[Gavin Phillips]

Thanks very much for the pictures and explanation of the different boom types.

I believe the "parallel offset" boom is also referred to as a "knuckle boom" over here (at least I have read it described as such in auction listings etc). I have only really started seeing these in the last couple of years - mostly on smaller Hitachi EX60 and somewhat larger EX135SUR zero-tailswing machines. With the number of Volvo mini excavators running around here I find it odd that I have not seen any of those outfitted with this type of boom - but having said that I probably will soon enough.

Thanks again.

[atgreene]

Was it more like this? Takeuchi has 3 models now with the sideshift/zero tail models. Allows you to swing the entire boom to the right side of the machine. It would be some handy to trench along a foundation or doing a ditch w/o straddling it.

[Gavin Phillips]

Was it more like this? Takeuchi has 3 models now with the sideshift/zero tail models. Allows you to swing the entire boom to the right side of the machine. It would be some handy to trench along a foundation or doing a ditch w/o straddling it.

If the kingpost can slide the full with of the front machine housing then yes. Here in the UK all of our backhoes have this feature:

http://www.lucidstar.net/heavymetal/backhoes/New%20Holland%20LB110%20backhoe%20a.jpg The kingpost is controlled hydraulically and slides the full with from outrigger to outrigger. Very handy for excavating close to walls etc without parking the machine at an angle.

But seeing it installed on a mini excavator is highly unusual. Maybe Takeuchi found a use for the design idea.

[atgreene]

Yup, same idea but only one way. I've seen a bunch of older JCB's hoes with that set-up.

[Gavin Phillips]

To add more smoke to the mystery I've been told there is another side-shift Kubota machine called the KH10D. A brochure of which is on its way, being sent to me by a contact over in Australia of all places. I quizzed him last night about the machine but he has no clue on this one and has certainly never seen a mini excavator fitted with the UK-style backhoe side-shift feature.

Not sure when the brochure will arrive but I will get a scan if anyone is interested. I cannot imagine it would look much different to the KH10 however...

Thanks

[d4c24a]

a freind of mine had one of these on the farm for a few years ,the arm could be moved side to side like a sideshift backhoe
cheers graham

[Gavin Phillips]

a freind of mine had one of these on the farm for a few years ,the arm could be moved side to side like a sideshift backhoe
cheers graham

Do you happen to have any pictures of the machine your friend had?