Blstr88
Well-Known Member
Hey guys, been lurking here for a while trying to educate myself on excavators.
Long story short, we have a lot of acreage and work to do that I needed an excavator for...so instead of renting one and being rushed to get everything done I figured buy one, use it until everything is done, and then either keep it for use around the property or just resell it. Even at a loss I figured its cheaper than renting one for $1400/week.
Anyway, I finally picked up a 2005 Takeuchi TB145. Enclosed ROPS, hydraulic thumb, rubber tracks, 4200 hours.
Undercarriage and tracks are in great shape, engine bay looked clean and the only leak I could find was on the hydraulic thumb piston. I picked it up about a week ago now.
First thing I did was make my way into the backyard area to pull out a few old rotten stumps. The stumps came out super easy, but I did notice two things in my time in the seat that I did not notice when I was looking it over for purchase.
The blade does not have the power to lift the machine up...is that normal? Most videos/pictures Ive seen it looks like they have the ability to do that...this one goes up and down great, but when it hits the ground it does not lift the machine.
The bigger issue (and maybe this isnt even an issue...I don't really have anything to compare it to) is that the slew seems kind of weak. What I mean is, at one point I was kind of sideways on a hill and when I would slew the bucket uphill it really went very slow...downhill it obviously was fine, but it struggled to slew uphill. I also know you arent supposed to use the bucket to slew objects over...but I had a small pile of pine shavings/chicken poop in my way, I figured I would gentle just "slew" it over with the bucket before driving over it. I lowered the bucket to the pile and slewed over and the machine was unable to push it? Seemed odd a large machine like that couldn't push over a little compost/shavings pile...but are they just intentionally designed with low power so you cant bend/tweak the boom by slewing?
I did notice after this that the hydraulic fluid was low, I added a few gallons as per the manual and its now halfway between the L and H like it should be. I havent really had a chance to try it since doing that.
I also ordered a new hydraulic fluid filter - when that arrives I'll install it and give it a go.
I'm hoping this isn't a sign of imminent hydraulic pump failure? I did also pick up a fluid testing kit, so I will take a sample of the hydraulic fluid and mail that in for analysis. Is analysis the only way to tell really if its failing?
Long story short, we have a lot of acreage and work to do that I needed an excavator for...so instead of renting one and being rushed to get everything done I figured buy one, use it until everything is done, and then either keep it for use around the property or just resell it. Even at a loss I figured its cheaper than renting one for $1400/week.
Anyway, I finally picked up a 2005 Takeuchi TB145. Enclosed ROPS, hydraulic thumb, rubber tracks, 4200 hours.
Undercarriage and tracks are in great shape, engine bay looked clean and the only leak I could find was on the hydraulic thumb piston. I picked it up about a week ago now.
First thing I did was make my way into the backyard area to pull out a few old rotten stumps. The stumps came out super easy, but I did notice two things in my time in the seat that I did not notice when I was looking it over for purchase.
The blade does not have the power to lift the machine up...is that normal? Most videos/pictures Ive seen it looks like they have the ability to do that...this one goes up and down great, but when it hits the ground it does not lift the machine.
The bigger issue (and maybe this isnt even an issue...I don't really have anything to compare it to) is that the slew seems kind of weak. What I mean is, at one point I was kind of sideways on a hill and when I would slew the bucket uphill it really went very slow...downhill it obviously was fine, but it struggled to slew uphill. I also know you arent supposed to use the bucket to slew objects over...but I had a small pile of pine shavings/chicken poop in my way, I figured I would gentle just "slew" it over with the bucket before driving over it. I lowered the bucket to the pile and slewed over and the machine was unable to push it? Seemed odd a large machine like that couldn't push over a little compost/shavings pile...but are they just intentionally designed with low power so you cant bend/tweak the boom by slewing?
I did notice after this that the hydraulic fluid was low, I added a few gallons as per the manual and its now halfway between the L and H like it should be. I havent really had a chance to try it since doing that.
I also ordered a new hydraulic fluid filter - when that arrives I'll install it and give it a go.
I'm hoping this isn't a sign of imminent hydraulic pump failure? I did also pick up a fluid testing kit, so I will take a sample of the hydraulic fluid and mail that in for analysis. Is analysis the only way to tell really if its failing?
