looking at Mini Ex

[EIB]

I went looking for a mini ex today. Found a used one at a case dealer.

It's a 2004 Bobcat 325 with about 950hrs on it. It also has three buckets that come with it, 12, 24, 36. They want 22,900.00 for it.

First of all is that a good machine. Pro cons?
Is it a good price for it?

[Goat]

Bobcat is a brand not a great machine. Small pins, weak design, sloppy after unreasonable number of hours. The Takeuchi and Kubota are probably the strongest mini's on the market. Built like brick $&!# houses and lowers operating costs than the Bobcat. You are also stuck buying Bobcat attachments because of their proprietary X-Change system. Call Central Ohio Takeuchi (ad above). James will find you the right machine, right price. BTW, my wife is from Honeoye. Canandaigua is a great area.

[KSSS]

Bobcat is a brand not a great machine. Small pins, weak design, sloppy after unreasonable number of hours. The Takeuchi and Kubota are probably the strongest mini's on the market. Built like brick $&!# houses and lowers operating costs than the Bobcat. You are also stuck buying Bobcat attachments because of their proprietary X-Change system. Call Central Ohio Takeuchi (ad above). James will find you the right machine, right price. BTW, my wife is from Honeoye. Canandaigua is a great area.


Those are my opinions of the BC mini ex as well. I would agree also that TK is great excavator. I also like running the Kobelco mini ex (branded as CASE and NH as well as Kobelco). I have never spent any time in a Kubota but I hear good things about them.

[xalexjx]

have a Kubota U35, bought it brand new, have over 1k hours on it. Tore one track they warrantyed it!

[EIB]

Thanks guys.

I will look into the Takeuchi and Kubota. I also looked at the Yanmar. Any opinions on it?

[Squizzy246B]

G,day EIB, I have spent a good part of 4 years on Kubotas. I would class them as soundly built and reliable. I would not class them as strong on a pound for pound basis. Thats not to say they are weak, they get the job done thats for sure. You will find Kobelco, Cat, TK & Yanmar generally have a bit more in the hydraulic grunt department. The only time this ever really annoyed me on bucket break out on stumps and tree roots...still, we generally got the job done. A KX 121 to used to get on was tweaked a bit in the hydraulic shop and it would out lift the KX 161 easily.

I've got 1200 Hrs on the Yanmar now without a drama. http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=1724

I like the machine and the dealer/service (which is the main thing) has been good to date.

Honestly, with the current crop of mini-ex out there, I don't think there is one you could call a dog. They are all pretty good at what they do. I was tempted to the Yanmar because of the cylinder protector and the factory hydraulic hitch....its a bloody bewdy:thumbsup

[hackalot]

What is your opinion of the Komatsu PC-MR2 series? Thank you

[bobcatrg]

Do Not buy a BC 325. I recently had to rent a mini and that was all they had. Very weak and slow....... and I love BC Skid Steers. I have had good luck with Kubota.

[EIB]

Squizzy,

I looked at the Yanmars, the 27 and 35. The dealer wants 30k and 32k. I like the features of the Yanmar. The two nearest dealers are Yanmar and Bobcat. I've looked at John Deere witch is a Hitachi. They what 47,500 for a 35D witch is close to the 35 Yanmar. That's just nuts.

What other attachments do you run with your mini?

[Squizzy246B]

Squizzy,

I looked at the Yanmars, the 27 and 35. The dealer wants 30k and 32k. I like the features of the Yanmar. The two nearest dealers are Yanmar and Bobcat. I've looked at John Deere witch is a Hitachi. They what 47,500 for a 35D witch is close to the 35 Yanmar. That's just nuts.

What other attachments do you run with your mini?

The Hitachi and the Yanmar come out of the same factory, although I think Hitachi build their own stick.....thats a crazy price.

Our machine is mostly fitted with a jib for laying blocks...but the rake/trash bucket is the go to tool for cleaning up.

[coopers]

# 1, squizzy, no thumb?

#2, is that facial hair on the guy in the 3rd pic?

[Squizzy246B]

Coops, no thumb...just haven't had the time to design one and get it built.....They want wayyyyy to much from the dealer.

Thats my nephew and yes...I think we both had some facial fuzz back then......I only rediscovered the razor a few weeks ago....its only been 20 odd years since I had a shave!

[coopers]

haha, very cool! That is quite the design on his face. :)

[EIB]

Squizzy,

Is the rake home made or did you purchase it? I like the boom. Thats one of the things I want to do with the mini is set rocks or stones.

In the second photo the bucket is on backwards. Are you put gravel in behind the wall?

[Squizzy246B]

Squizzy,

Is the rake home made or did you purchase it? I like the boom. Thats one of the things I want to do with the mini is set rocks or stones.

In the second photo the bucket is on backwards. Are you put gravel in behind the wall?

Yep, the Rake Bucket is a custom built job. I took a lot of photos of demo buckets on larger machines and then had this built the way I wanted. I have got to weld some heavy flat bar on the sides to stop things spilling at the sides so much...its the ultimate paving remover.

That bucket is not on backwards....its on the right way....:rolleyes::D...this is down under remember......we even drive on the left side of the road!:cool:
Lol...Yes, thats exactly what we are doing.

The block job is a great addition but takes a little setting up. Whilst I really could use a thumb for random rubble work, I have a number of block clamps I have built over the years that do the job. These clamps look pretty good but I would build a little different. http://www.the-ez-set.com/

BTW, the 27-3 has been terrific for us but the 35-5 is the same dimension and considerably more powerful. For pulling out stumps only the TK and proably the Hitachi are in the same league for sheer hydraulic grunt while still being smooth to operate. I went with the 27-3 because of weight on my truck. The 35-3 just left me no room for anymore weight...legally.

[atgreene]

I am a big fan of the Takeuchi 135. It has been a good machine despite a few minor problems. Mine has 1500 hours on it (3 years old) and I work it daily.

My next one will be either the 145 or the 153. Wanna buy a 135 with all the attachments?:) Even have a trailer to go with it! Things are so busy I'm going to have to look at expanding a little.

[EIB]

Alan,
I wanted to talk with you about your mini at Jerre's, but never had time. I'd be interested in it. When are you thinking of upgrading?

[atgreene]

Yea, I didn't get to talk to half the folks I wanted to. Pretty sad to drive all that way and still never have a conversation with some of the folks who made it.

We will have to talk. I looked at another job today from a good customer. I am offically overbooked for the summer and fall and probably into winter. I had really hoped to have some time to relax this summer, but considering the economy I won't complain.

I need to look at other options for a machine. With so much work lined up a slightly larger machine for foundations is in order, like a Tak 145 or 153. I just hate dealing with the salepeople when it comes time to make such a jump. I understand why people lease and sign on the dotted line with no questions asked, dealing with a big purchase is such a hassle. By the time I order the 3-4 buckets, a ripper and thumb it will take 4-5 weeks to get the machine in service after I own it:Banghead. What a pita. Mine is awesome, but I need to either buy a much larger one to complement it or a slightly larger one and sell mine.

We'll talk.

[KSSS]

The 153 is a sweet machine. The side to side boom system rocks.

[cat320]

Alan If you go bigger you should probably get one that will handell all the deep stuff demos etc. and still keep the small one for the areas you need a small one or small jobs that you can just throw it on a trailer and go.

[mverick]

What I did was a 015 for small, 135 for medium, 070 for big.

I'd like the 138 but the 135 is going strong so why pay more money.

[mini]

what do you think of the gehl 503 z