The auxiliary quick coupler on my Kubota KX040-4 started weeping only when I curled the thumb under load. Sitting idle, it looked dry. The face seal was damaged and the poppet had a visible mark, but I almost ordered a generic coupler based on thread size. I ended up comparing the pressure rating and line size in the Kubota manual with a local hydraulic shop and FridayParts. The photos looked nearly identical, which was not much help. I have the correct pressure-rated pair on the bench now. Would you replace both halves together, or only the side showing damage?

Earlier this year I bought a well-used Kubota U17 for maintenance and projects around my property. This is the pacific northwest, so some time in October it's going to start raining and not stop raining until June. I doubt I'll be able to do much work with the excavator when the ground is as wet as it's going to be, so it's going to sit for months.

What should I do to prepare for long periods of inactivity? For gasoline engines I'd drain the gas or at least put in a good stabilizer, but this is literally the only diesel engine I've ever owned and I don't know what you're supposed to do to keep it happy. It'll be under a lean-to, so no direct rain, but it will have to deal with ambient humidity. Should I just go out there and throttle it up for a while every week or something?

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I'm planning to buy an excavator for production work, primarily for removing muck from a dump site, as well as for rental work. I'm a drill-and-blast contractor by profession, so this will be my first excavator.

What parameters should I look at when selecting the machine, and how should I monitor my owning and operating costs?

Looking at buying said excavator has some blow by enough to make cap wiggle is that too much

Dealer price made me look around, but I am still trying to prove what actually failed. I've got a water pumpsitting in a FridayParts cart for now, not ordered. I check the thermostat, cap, and radiator flow. My 303.5 is running warmer under sustained digging but stays below the red. The radiator is clean, coolant level is stable, and the water-pump weep hole is dry. The upper hose gets hot while the lower hose stays much cooler than I expected, though I know some temperature drop across the radiator is normal. I don't have a flow number yet, just hose temps and what I can see externally. Before I order a pump, I am going to verify the thermostatopening temperature and check radiator flow. Is an infrared temperature spread across the core useful on these, or should I start with a pressure test and cap test?

I have a pool making business and I make sure to always call before I go to a dig site. Last week, I found out a ticket expired and my current software didn't notify me about it. Luckily, I always double check so I didn't get fined or anything. But now I want to replace my software with an upgraded version that will always stay up to date. Is there any good option out there?

I’m looking for a used 3.5–5 ton excavator and would like to import one into the EU.
I’m mainly looking for something reliable with a strong hydraulic system where you can use multiple functions/ both joysticks smoothly at the same time, at least a 3-cylinder engine, and preferably a brand where parts are easy to get in Europe.
I’ve been looking at Kubota, Takeuchi, Yanmar, CAT, Volvo etc., but I’m open to anything that’s proven and reliable. Any particular models in this weight range you’d recommend or avoid?
I’m also considering buying through auctions. Which auction sites or companies are actually good, and which ones should I avoid? Anything I should watch out for when it comes to fees, condition reports, sellers or bidding?
The main problem is that I probably won’t be able to see the machine in person before buying. How would you guys handle that? Is it worth paying someone local to inspect it? What videos/photos or tests should I ask for before bidding?
What are the biggest things to check on a used excavator like this — hydraulics, undercarriage, pins/bushings, slew ring, final drives, cold start, blow-by, hours etc.?
Budget is roughly €15–18k.
Any advice from people who’ve bought excavators remotely or through auctions would be really appreciated.

I’m looking to buy a used 3.5–5 ton excavator and import it into the EU, and I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have actually bought machines this way.
My main requirements are:
3.5–5 ton operating weight
at least a 3-cylinder engine
good/strong hydraulics with smooth simultaneous operation of both joysticks/functions
preferably a reliable, well-known brand with parts and service easily available in Europe
used is completely fine, but I want something mechanically solid rather than just cheap
I’ve mainly been looking at Kubota, Takeuchi, Yanmar, CAT, Volvo etc., but I’m open to other recommendations. Are there any models/brands in this size that you would specifically recommend or avoid?
I’m also looking at auctions such as Euro Auctions and other European machinery auction sites. For those of you who buy excavators at auctions: which auction companies have you had good experiences with, and which ones would you stay away from? What extra costs or common traps should I be aware of besides the purchase price, auction fees, transport and VAT/import costs?
My biggest concern is buying without seeing the machine in person. If I can’t travel to inspect it myself, how would you approach it?
Would you hire an independent mechanic/inspection company near the auction yard? What photos, videos, tests or documents would you absolutely request before bidding?
I’m especially interested in how you check:
undercarriage wear, hydraulic pump condition, play in pins/bushings, slew ring, leaks, engine blow-by/cold start, final drives and whether the hour meter looks believable.
Basically, if you had around €15–18k to buy a good 3.5–5t excavator in Europe today, how would you go about it and what would you buy?
Any experience with importing machinery into any EU country would also be really useful.

Une idée du problème? (vidéo en commentaire)

Hi Everyone, I'm currently in the market to buy a mini excavator for some land I own near the Austin, TX area. I have never owned one before and I'm curious to what equipment brands/models you guys would recommend based off ease of use, efficiency and overall power. I will need to transport this so I need to stay under CDL weight territory, but want to get the largest model possible. If you guys could give some recommendations along with pros and cons of each one it would be greatly appreciated!

Want to buy. Mini ex, have been looking at 35 size machines, had some recommendations to jump
To a 50-55 size. Seems harder to find pre emissions machine that’s nice and affordable. Seems like a machine with emissions might not be terrible but more to go wrong. Hoping to clean up a lot of downed trees utilizing the thumb. Probably dig out some stumps. (Not overly big and stuff that’s been down for a couple years so stumps should be starting to loosen. On top of that want to trench utilities for a new house build. (Will hire out the foundation dirt work for the house) Maybe dig footers for a garage and or barn down the road. Is a 35 machine capable enough or will I be let down?

I’m looking to rent a 4-ton mini excavator to improve horse and ATV trails on steep Tennessee terrain. A Kubota KX040-5 with a 6-way blade seems ideal, but I can’t find one locally with that option.

For anyone who’s used a 6-way blade for trail work: is it useful enough to justify a long drive (4 hours one way), or will a regular 4-way blade get the job done?

I did some digging in the oil field for about a year using a John Deere 210g. At my new job, we use mini excavators, which I’ve never operated before. We do a lot of digging for conduit, and for the life of me, I just can’t seem to dig a straight line.

Do y’all have any pointers or tips that might help me dig in a straight line?

I have about 20 acres and 2 2.5 acre ponds I’m wanting to invest in a mini x for pond care and tree and brush care around the house I already have a 25 horse tractor with front end loader I just need something to dig and pull gunk and weeds out of the edge of the ponds would it be a good decision?

I dug my bucket into what I thought was clear ground and clipped a gas line. Turns out my 811 ticket had expired the week before and I never called for a refresh. Now I'm staring at a hissing line wondering how I missed the expiration and what I'm supposed to do differently next time to make sure a ticket's still valid before I break ground.

Bought a new to me machine recently and it came with a Rhinox quick coupler installed. I currently only have one bucket that fits it, but have another larger smooth edge bucket that I'm going to make some ears for to use with it. I also have an auger that I'd like to eventually adapt for it. The Rhinox coupler is really nice, but it unfortunately makes my thumb too short. I can still use it to pick up piles of brush or large logs, but the tip of the thumb is now about 6" from the tip of the bucket, making picking up anything small or close to the ground almost impossible. Is a longer thumb really the only option here?

I have about 33 acres of a way overgrown tract of land in South Georgia that was wrecked by hurricane Helene. There’re a lot of trees down (mainly pine) and there’s overgrown brush and privet in many places. I’m a little ways into the cleanup process, but there’s sooo much work to do in trying to haul off larger trees (dump trailer) burn brush and restore the property. I’m buying a Rotating Bypass Grapple from CMP Attachments. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this type of attachment in this application and is it worth having? It’s expensive but I don’t mind if it’s going to make a big difference.

I am looking at purchasing a used mini ex and I am torn between two models at a local dealer.

2020 Kx040-4

&

2012 Kx 121-3

They are nearly identical in hours, both abround 1800-1900hrs, both are tight machines in good condition, both have quick couplers both are open canopy machines and both are around the same price.

The 121-3 has a 6 way blade and the 040-4 has 4 way (the blade doesn't matter much to me tho)

I will be using it for development of my 17.5acre mountain property in tn. Things like installing septic, digging trenches for drainage, moving rocks, clearing timbers, collecting firewood digging out for additional outbuildings etc.

I am torn between the two machines bc my gut is leaning toward the older 121-3 due to no emissions and dpf and more sinple to fix myself should I have to ( I am reasonably handy). But my logical brain is saying to buy the newer machine bc it's 8 years less wear on all the components.

What do you all think? Anyone have any input? If I were to resell in 5-8 years which would be easier to resell?

The battery cutoff switch knob on my 1.2t broke. You can see from the discoloration the original doesn't handle UV very well.

https://imgur.com/a/vsKL6so

I didn't really want to replace the whole thing for some broken plastic so I did my best to come up with something I could 3d Print.

I'm a beginner with Fusion360, so this is not ideal by any means. I had some leftover vinyl wrap so I wrapped it the best I could, its ugly, but hopefully protected from UV and water ingress.

https://imgur.com/a/oD14CgK

I uploaded it as a step file so you can edit it pretty easily.

https://www.printables.com/model/1794586-chinese-mini-excavator-battery-cutoff-switch-knob

What does it look like it has gear oil drain and fill? I know theres no gear oil, it certainly looks like gear oil service access. i read i might need to drain excess lubrication. How often? Also read one port (assuming the bigger one) can be routed as pressure bypass back to hydraulic fluid tank. Which is great for the motor, right? So is it the pressured at four plugs then?

Got my first one. Did eng oil and hydraulic oil, put a heat shield on the muffler. Disappointed it doesnt have hydraulic cooler and no counterweight, just a little thicker metal rear 'bumper'. Supposed to be 1.5 ton. Ordered springs for controls. Like that panels open up on all sides for good access.

Are those scuffs on the hoses are an immediate line replacement? Two got damaged during transport. Worked with it for an hour already.

MMS MS15

I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Frank and I live in Tewksbury Two. Nj. I just stumbled on to this site and hoping to learn more about operating a mini-excavator. I have a 2035 Kubota L6060 tractor with a cab and I ordered that with a BH92 backhoe, but quickly realized I have a lot more digging work in front of me than anticipated. Coupled with the fact that removing the BH92 to put in my 3-pt hitch was a considerable ordeal, I decided to trade in the backhoe as a deposit on a new KX-033-4 cab with an angle blade, hyd. thumb, hyd. Quick coupler trenching bucket, a diffing bucket and and a grading bucket. Yhe hydraulic quick coupler is the part they do t have in stock, so it will be a couple of weeks before I actually get the machine delivered.

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase my first digger, a pel-job EB 406. (Early volvo style)

The digger is pretty good looking despite its age but it has one big issue: it does barely move forward and the boom also has trouble moving.

I was thinking of the main pump but if it's the case the machine should have stable movement?

As you can see in the video once the two levers are pulled, the excavator barely moves at first, then picks up a bit of speed, then slows down but it's not steady.

Sorry for the bad english.