13 ton v 7 ton with tiltrotator?

[ZTS Plant]

I looked at the Kinshoffer unit a few months back and ask the salesmen where would go to see one working. Correct me if i'm wrong, but they didn't have one in the UK they could show me! I looked at the price to repair the tilt unit and it was about £3500 if it went wrong and to replace two rams on a tiltrotator is about £700 - £800. The initial cost of the Kinshoffer was about 20% more than an Engcon. If something goes wrong with my tiltrotators I like to try to fix the thing before I call anyone in, but in the Kinshoffer everything is sealed in the top of the unit. Hard to get to.
Steelwrist looks like a good machine, but you must consider service on kit like this!
I am based near Inverness are you close by?

[ZaxisMac]

I have you sent you a PM ZTS

[Eddiebackblade]

Zaxismac the 312cl is long gone I believe, however I had it from a good source that it came direct out of a large CAT dealer for around £36,000 and was truly as new. I would of chearfully paid over 40,000 for it.
I was absolutely torn between buying it or going with the Kubota, and the simple fact of the size of an LGP converted 312 was simply too big for my intended market.
Stupid thing was I had a CAT 311c on hire for over 3 months straight after I chose the Kubota!

[cps]

Found this Kobelco Sk135 on Mascus

It's for sale in france for £22,250 has a Engcon EC15 10500 Hrs, Year 2000 80% undercarrage, You may not be intersted but i thought i'd post it let you see whats out there!

[Deep Digger USA]

Hey ZTS,
You are right about the dilema of tiltrotator VS no tiltrotator, I had heard about tiltrotators for a couple of years but never had seen one up-close here in the US. I always assumed i'd be able to get the same amount of work done with or without it. My buddy out in the Salt Lake City, UT area told me he attended an engcon tiltrotator demonstartion put on by a local dealer, he showed me some video footage and I was amazed! Being able to dig in and around vertical object all while keeping the excavator stationary, trenching is virtually no effort at all, and all the jobs you can perform with the grab are awesome. I spoke to an engcon dealer here in Southern California and I think they have a demostration coming up some time soon, I will definitely be attending.

Demo Footage from Salt Lake:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DigProUSA

Originally Posted by ZTS Plant

Hi ZaxisMac,

I run a few machines here in Scotland all zero tail swing and all with tiltrotators, what area are you in? I hope you understand I don't want to give my competition a heads upon my rates. I read in your previous post you spoke to JCC, these guys just sold my last JZ70 machine and wanted the Engcon with it. They may have offered you it to you, where you there customer?
On the dilema of tiltrotator or no tiltrotator, alls I can say is anyone can dig a hole but to do the fancy jobs you need to look ahead and at the better paid work!
Good Luck!!

[cps]

Hi ZaxisMac, Hows things,

Did you ever make the jump and go it alone yet?

[ZaxisMac]

Hi cps

I've been away from the forum for a while, sorry for the late reply! I haven't yet got a machine, work is a bit slow up here just now - almost everyone is on 4 day weeks at the moment. It shouldn't be too long though, there is quite a few big jobs going to come off in a few months, so I'm aiming for around april/may.

I've been making a few enquiries though and I've spoken to Steelwrist and I must admit that I feel that they seem to have the edge on Engcon. It is slightly more expensive but from what I've been told I think you get a lot more for your money. Unless Engcon make some changes to bring their tiltrotator in line with the Steelwrist product I'll be going to steelwrist for a tiltrotator when I get one fitted.