This thread has been really helpful to me, thank you.
I need your advice. Anyone who is reading this.
I am not an excavator operator, but may be soon, so I really know very little about all this.
I have the opportunity to buy a 1980 poclain CX75 (or equivalent). It is about 9 tons and has a 24 inch bucket. It has recently been serviced, with over $5000 going into Engine Repairs, and apparently it is running "perfect".
Here are the tasks I am hoping to achieve with it. I will try to be specific, and I would love to hear from you if you think that I can do it or not.
Dig a pond about 200cubic yards. this land has lots of stumps in it with max size of 25 inches. Most are under 20. they are oak and hickory, and in a thick clay soil with NO rocks. (NE missouri).
Put in a road, which will be built through a forested area, on pretty hilly terrain (It is about 1/4 of a mile long, and I will need to put in three culverts).
Dredging out an existing pond. Just reaching as far as I can and putting the sludge to the side.
So, I guess it is two questions. Are those things possible with this mid size machine? And second, can I, as a rookie, with no experience (I have about 3 hours logged!) do this work? I am a fast learner and pretty smart about strategizing, so I think I can learn the machines? The process of digging the pond is not a problem. I have worked with excavator drivers on the digging of three ponds/dams, and know the process. It is really just the skill of actually doing it I am wondering about.
Also, does $9,000 sound like an exceptional deal for this excavator. It is an old-timer that listed it in a local classified ads paper. Just so you know, I realize that a newer and bigger excavator would be better, but I cannot really afford to spend more money that this. I am hoping to buy it, use it, and sell it, and thus save money on these projects. I have a lot more time than money! (Do you think being able to sell and excavator like this will be any problem?)
Thanks so much for your help.