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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:32 pm
by bigchasbroon
Hi guys
I've been a member a long time but not been active for ages.
I'm a chippy by trade and I'm a bout to embark on a little family cooperative development of 3 houses. They're good size plots at around 1500 sqm each and there's a road to go in. I'm considering buying a second hand machine maybe a 2.5 ton but I don't have a clue.
How many hours generally is past it? I know your going to say it depends on if it's been hashed etc but comparing it to a car say 250,000 miles is pretty much very close to the end of its life whereas 100,000 might need some repairs but could still have some life in it.
Does that make my question clearer?
And any other advice related to machine purchase. It might be you think it's better to hire. The only trouble with that is that when you hire you really want it to be working all the time whereas there will be times where it's handy to have it available but not worth shelling out on hire.
Thanks in advance
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 12:31 am
by rxbren
Not wanting to sound a dick but if you need to ask would you not be better hiring a man with machine as and when needed at least they will have the experience to get the job done a lot better and at a faster speed as alot of damage can be done quickly if the digger is in the hands of a beginner.
Generally speaking if you buy a machine you'll also need a trailer plus entitlement to tow plus a motor capable of legally towing 3.5t.
It will always depend on budget there are always a few cheap machines for sale but there cheap for a reason if your not mechanically good with fixing things you could end up with alot of downtime and expensive repairs if you snap a track its easily £200 plus for a replacement plus how ever many days it takes to get delivered before you even waste potentially a few hours fitting it.
You could always hire a larger machine for a few weeks then off hire it and replace with a mini digger
Ideally a good size machine on site is an 8 toner they have decent reach digging power plus can load muckaway wagons off the floor:rock:
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:10 pm
by bigchasbroon
No sound like a dick tell me how it is 
I've used diggers before so I'm not a beginner but I'm far from an expert. Since I've also only hired machines I have no experience of the upkeep and what sort of things can go wrong. I've changed tracks before but that's it.
Downtime isn't a major concern with a bought machine. Im more worried about hiring a machine and having to hold on to it because it's needed in 3 days time and you can't keep off hiring every few days.
I hear you on a bigger machine. I think that's the way to go for the initial site scrape and found trench.
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:32 pm
by dig dug dan
Buy a 2.6 tonne kubota. It will do all you need, looked after will not go wrong, and will hold its value. A 3000 hour machine, 2010 will set you back 12k
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 1:33 pm
by GB_Groundworks
Kubota carry a premium of like 15% to 20% up on used market as big following for them, but a cheap Jcb 803 no one wants them, FYI rubber tracks for 3 tonner are more like £700 each.
You got public liability insurance or a cat scan can do some damage with a machine in inexperienced hands
Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1459082031
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 5:18 pm
by rxbren
Wow didn't think they were that much had a quick look tufftrack come in around £350 but still costly when I picked up my machine my tracks had loads of depth left but within a few months ended up replacing both tracks due to cleats disappearing from the tracks
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 4:30 pm
by lutonlagerlout
as said it may be cheaper long run to use a local man and machine
the guy we use has access to an 8 tonner,a 3 tonner and a 1 tonner
he is nearly retired so is happy doing a few days or weeks whatever is required
LLL
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:57 pm
by jwill
5000 hrs seems to be the equivalent of the 100k ex fleet car. Although don't think they hold premium for motorway hours!;)
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:07 pm
by rxbren
Not even close probably closer to a car engine that's done 250k
But it all depends on the work the machine has been doing and the frequency on servicing if its spent most of its time attached to a breaker its had a very tough life.
At 5k hours most pins and bushes are going to be worn undercarriage probably not far off.
Also king post would probably be worn