Kobelco SK55SRX vs Takeuchi TB260

Sorry to make another this machine or that machine post. I just haven't seen any comparisons of the Kobelco to Takeuchi Mini Excavators.

I am in the market for my first mini-excavator and have narrowed down my choices to a Kobelco SK55SRX-6E or the Takeuchi TB 260. I have found all kinds of reviews and videos on the Takeuchi, but am coming up sort on the Kobelco. I especially haven't found any resources where the two machines are directly compared by actual users.

Most of the specs I have pulled directly from the Kobelco Comparison page have the Takeuchi looking better on paper. Horsepower, Bucket Breakout, Dipper Tearout, Hydraulic Capacity and Flow, and Swing Speed all go to the Takeuchi. Quotes I have gotten from my local dealers for similarly equipped machines are within a few hundred dollars of each other. While on the subject of the dealers, both are local and seem to be accommodating.

I plan to use whatever machine I end up with to help clear some land (removing stumps & leveling) for a new building. I will also be digging out a small hillside for a retaining wall and doing other odd jobs around the property that isn't easily accomplished by my front end loader.

What I'm looking for is anyone that has first hand experience with these machines; be it running them or servicing them. I have found service videos and instructions for the Takeuchi online and it looks straight forward, but so far nothing for the Kobelco. While I am leaning towards the Takeuchi; I don't want to overlook the Kobelco as it seems to also be a quality machine.

Any help or enlightenment that is willing to be shared with me is greatly appreciated.

-Mike

Rent or demo them both first.

Not a Kobelco fan, between dealer knowledge, and, as you've discovered, internet help is sparse.
Broken and repaired all 7 Takeuchis here, 4 @ TB180FR, 1 @ TB53FR, and 2 TL150.
For my last two Mini Excavators, I went Yanmar, 1 @ Vio80-1A and 1 @ Vio55-6A.
For the last two CTLs, I went Kubota, 1 @ SVL75 and 1 @ SVL75-2.
The Yanmar are extremely similar to the Takeuchis under the hood, but more refined with better AC design and more cab room (my Taks are FR machines).
The Kubota CTLs are miles ahead of my Takeuchis, except for the AC.

Myself, if it were going to my house, on my money, it'd be a Yanmar, but, I'm more familiar with machine repair than most people, so internet help isn't as needed.

If you want the best internet how-to help and lots of machines, volume wise, I'd say, go Kubota. I have nothing bad to say about Kubota Mini Excavators, as several friends have them.

The icing on the cake with my Yanmars is the factory installed, hydraulic, multi fit, pin grabber coupler. I put Strickland on my last 2 TB180FR machines @ $6k each.

I have rented the CASE version of the Kobleco 55. Same machine. I liked it. Kobleco builds a good mini ex in my opinion. I own Taki FR machines. I have also run the 260. I think they are fine as well. If I went had to go back to a typical swing boom machine, not sure I would buy the 260 but since Taki reintroduced a new FR machine I bought one of those. I think both machines would suit you, like some one mentioned, spend some time in each one and make a decision.

What did you decide? Im also in the triangle. Trying to make the same decision. It appears though, the new 7 series kobelco has considerly less breakout out than the 6e series. Unless its a typo. Unfortunately, with the shortage right now. Im unable to test either machine. Mostly just want the maximal power to be able to excavate a 36" stump.

Sean, when it comes to removing a 36" stump, a bigger heavier machine like a 9 ton or bigger is always better. For a mini, a machine with a big butt is always better. You don't need a zero turn machine unless you have no room to work. Kobelco makes great full szie machines, but they don't specialize in mini excavators like Takeuchi and Kubota. I'm a Takeuchi guy with four of their machines. The TB 260 or TB290 would be good machines in the Takeuchi line. Pulling stumps is hard on a machine. Easy to do damage to pumps, hose lines, and pins and bushings, especially on FR machines. That being said, many machines and a patient operators can get a 3' stump out by digging slowly around, cutting the root arms off with a sawzall, and then dragging it out. So you could go down to a 4-5 ton machine as well. When it comes to buying a machine, consider buying a good used one, doing your project and selling it off. There are a lot of Deere 50G, and takeuchi's for sale, which is also good if you need to get rid of it fast.

If you're digging out stumps, a ripper...not a bucket...is your best friend!! You'd be amazed what a ripper can do!!!

Definitely plan to get a ripper. Albeit. Pulling out a 36" stump isnt something I plan to do more than a couple times a year. But I don't want to have to rent a bigger machine to do it. On paper the kobelco and takeuchi are close! 11.3k and 12.7k in breakout. Compared to a lot of 15-20k pound machines with 14-16k in breakout. Kobelco has a better warranty and lower lead time right now. I haven't heard any bad things about kobelco, but they do seem to be considerly less popular!

3 years ago I operated a new 8 ton Kobelco. It had all the do dads but no real ability to dig hard ground. There was some serious noise some where in the swing that wasn't being addressed. I did some research and found that there was a definite issue, showed the owner to which he shrugged his shoulders so I pulled the pin and left. He had got me out of retirement so I didn't need the shyt that was going to go down. That machine and agent were on the same level which wasn't high.

Looking at the specs, the 260 specs a bit better. Whether it is enough to matter, is perhaps another question. Bucket breakout numbers from all OEM's can be misleading. A bucket with a short tip radius will generate a lot higher breakout number, so depending on the bucket used in testing by the OEM the numbers can be off from the bucket you put on the machine. I don't think it matters that Taki and Kubota specialize in mini excavators. An argument could be made that all Kobelco builds are excavators. They don't build CTL's, SSL or anything else, just excavators of all sizes, so all RD spent is on excavators. Dealer access and quality would be a big part of the decision for me. If I were looking at both of these machines, I would try and locate one of each and go there and run it. A 70K plus investment would be worth the cost and time to be sure of the purchase.

sean holland said:

What did you decide? Im also in the triangle. Trying to make the same decision. It appears though, the new 7 series kobelco has considerly less breakout out than the 6e series. Unless its a typo. Unfortunately, with the shortage right now. Im unable to test either machine. Mostly just want the maximal power to be able to excavate a 36" stump.

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I bought a TB260 with 18" 24" and a 36" grading bucket EROPS and thumb for $83,800 brand new out the door in November 2021. Machine has been excellent. I took out some 24" tree stumps with it. Took about 15 minutes each these were Cottonwood trees I believe? AC isn't that powerful, pretty common complaint apparently.