Thoughts on an old Deere mini excavator?

[Mikefromcny]

Hi all,
Found the proverbial mini ex, sitting behind the shed of an old couple, family wants it gone. Hasn't run in 2 years, but did run. I think it's a 20 or 35 class machine. I believe it's 80's-early 90's, all yellow vintage. Anything to look for or watch out for on these? They were originally asking $6k, but open to offers.

What do these normally bring? In my area it's difficult to find anything that runs and works for under $10k.

Heavy equipment tech by trade, but most of the ones I work on are under 5 year old cats.

 

[hvy 1ton]

Is it super boxy looking? If so, it will be a rebadged yanmar excavator. Don't know what they yanmar model would be, but it will be a deere 25 or 30.

 

[merv1]

Don't know about those particular models, but I bought a JD15 of about the same age last summer for $7500 CDN. Abt 3500 hrs.on the clock. and runs like a top. Brand new rubber tracks installed. The old tracks which were still very serviceable were included. Only real issue I have with it is that the charging system is a no go, (have been batting zero in getting a wiring schematic) so I just added a battery maintainer to keep it topped up. On mine at least, the tag says "Made by Yanmar Diesel for John Deere". I am told it is a rebranded Yanmar model although I haven't managed to find out which one. Maybe more info available on the Yanmar version.
As far as being useful, it is amazing what that little thing can do. Will try to upload a picture later.

 

[merv1]

View attachment 181162 View attachment 181163

Don't know about those particular models, but I bought a JD15 of about the same age last summer for $7500 CDN. Abt 3500 hrs.on the clock. and runs like a top. Brand new rubber tracks installed. The old tracks which were still very serviceable were included. Only real issue I have with it is that the charging system is a no go, (have been batting zero in getting a wiring schematic) so I just added a battery maintainer to keep it topped up. On mine at least, the tag says "Made by Yanmar Diesel for John Deere". I am told it is a rebranded Yanmar model although I haven't managed to find out which one. Maybe more info available on the Yanmar version.
As far as being useful, it is amazing what that little thing can do. Will try to upload a picture later.

View attachment 181162 View attachment 181163

 

[Sagamore1]

Hi. Just going through some old posts and saw this one.. was wondering if you ever got his sorted out? might be able to give some tips. I have a Yanmar B17-1 that was built sometime in the 80's and Never had a problem with the drive gear but do have a parts and wiring diagram as well as some knowledge of the systems. apart from the physical damage to the drive it sound to me like a pressure relief valve is jammed or a gallery in the control valve slice may be blocked. Is it a twin pump or a triple? They are very simple machines and pretty much bullet poof but subject mechanical wear. I have found it usually something very simple like pin wear in the hydraulic lever system that will catch you out not usually the main components.
Anyway, I was just interested to know if you managed to get it sorted and what the issue turned out to be if you are still on the forum

 

[merv1]

Hi. Just going through some old posts and saw this one.. was wondering if you ever got his sorted out? might be able to give some tips. I have a Yanmar B17-1 that was built sometime in the 80's and Never had a problem with the drive gear but do have a parts and wiring diagram as well as some knowledge of the systems. apart from the physical damage to the drive it sound to me like a pressure relief valve is jammed or a gallery in the control valve slice may be blocked. Is it a twin pump or a triple? They are very simple machines and pretty much bullet poof but subject mechanical wear. I have found it usually something very simple like pin wear in the hydraulic lever system that will catch you out not usually the main components.
Anyway, I was just interested to know if you managed to get it sorted and what the issue turned out to be if you are still on the forum

Hi there:
Yes I did find a service manual for my JD 15 at automotive-manuals.com. I ended up replacing that bogus charging system that was originally there. Couldn't find a voltage regulator that would work. I looked at the alternator in my John Deere 4200 tractor and it measured out that it would fit in the cramped space available. Purchased an aftermarket alternator which has the voltage regulator built in. Fit absolutely perfect- even the belt lined up right on. Had to magiver a belt tensioner from a piece of 1/4 x 1 flat bar which didn't even need to be bent to line up. I probably could have made the original work but I didn't want to trash it just in case. I put in an ammeter on the instrument panel as well as a fusible link to protect the the whole thing. Works like a charm! It probably cost me about $100 to 150 in parts to fix it. The manual was $100, but is very worth having.
Now to replace the blade control cable and new sprockets to stop the chucking while moving. I don't want to damage my brand new tracks! Found an aftermarket cable and sprockets which should fix everything up just fine. The sprockets listed for this machine are totally wrong - too many teeth. Someone else on this forum found that the ones from a Yanmar Vio15 will work. A bit pricey with the exchange and taxes but still way cheaper than hiring someone else to do the work I need done and not near as much fun. LOL

 

[Sagamore1]

Hi Merv
Glad to hear you got your digger sorted. I had to replace the voltage regulator a couple of years aric diverter valve ogo an had the same problem finding one. Hit an electric fence and stuffed it. Bad earth it seems. I went to an old auto electrician who specialises in restored vehicles an he it took him all of 10 seconds to find a brand new one in the book for under $100 NZ and had it the next day. Thats the beauty of an old machine, I understand how they work I also needed a blade cable and the cost was incredible ( talking many hundreds $) here so did the smart thing and went online to a marine shop and got a ready made Morse control cable the right length and fittings for under $50 delivered. Apart from that I have not had to do much to the digger at all. It is a mid 80's YanmarB17-1 and god knows how many hours on it. Has to be well over 10,000 and coming up to 40 years old. The jD15 is the Yanmar painted green. so everything is exactly the same. I have had it 10 years and use it for everything around the place from planting trees and clearing thick bush to moving my firewood logs so I don't have to cut on the ground. Made a hydraulic thumb A simple task to do with an electric diverter on the curl circuit and it is the best thing I could have done. Makes it a whole different machine and widens the uses a hundred fold. In fact it doesn't do a lot of digging these days a it is always being used for everything else. I am in the process of saving for pins and bushes for the boom but the cost is high here. It has more slop than a pig pen in it. I have found a source for bronze bushes that are 1//4 the price of the parts suppliers so once i work out the right sizes which is tricky around the king post joint without stripping everything out and taking it out of service but will get here when i can do without it for a few weeks But until then I just keep using it and the missus thinks i am working hard doing stuff.

Anyway, glad to hear you got your machine sorted an it is running well. I love he simplicity of the early models, They are not as comfortable but i can at least repair, cajole or shonky up a solution to get keep it running
regards
greg

 

[merv1]

Hi there.
Me again.
Would you mind posting a few pictures of your thumb add-on. I have a BUNCH
of dead spruce trees that I need carted away and a thumb would help a lot in moving them. Handling a dead spruce tree by hand is like handling a porcupine!
Hope all is well with you there.
Merv