Micro Digger

brendan001

Not exactly heavy machinery but looking at purchasing a micro digger one ton. Any advise on the chinese ones like rippa, dgm, rhino or jansen. Has anyone bought one. Would be hoping to get one with extendable tracks. Just for my own use not for commercial. Would only be doing work around the garden.

The Continental Op

Have you checked youtube?

Example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXIs7vmqrGs

baxterooneydoody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058374154/micro-digger

A friend of mine lives in China and bought one over there for, I think, around 2.5k in euros, he said well worth the money, he works in I.T and bought a house over there and is doing a lot of work around the house himself, for domestic work he said its perfectly fine for the job

brendan001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714869#Comment_122714869

Been looking on youtube but most of the stuff relates to US market. Would be interested to hear of ones operating in Irish weather conditions. Probably a better product support over there also.

brendan001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714895#Comment_122714895

Prices here would start out around 6K for a very cheap basic model. Not sure how it would wear.

baxterooneydoody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715060#Comment_122715060

The only thing I'd worry about is getting parts. The lad in China has a HT micro with a briggs and Stratton engine, for the money if it lasted 3 thousand hours it would be going well

brendan001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715265#Comment_122715265

There seems to be a variety of engines available, briggs and strattan as your friend has, also kubota which are well known brand but also koop. Not sure about them. Mostly air cooled also which might make them prone to overheating.A bit of a minefield trying to choose.

mickdw

Might be OK for occasional personal use but they are generally muck and wouldn't last any time if at work daily.

id buy a 0.8t kubota used and sell it for same money when finished with if you.only want to mess around with the garden for a few months.

brendan001

I suppose you get what you pay for.

have2flushtwice

Try selling it when your done with it and then you will realise what just happened.

I looked at a new one in naas auctions last year, the second I sat into it, I was so surprised i kept looking at different bits and bobs in it.

Roll bar - more strength in a mars bar.

Cover panels were paper thin. Bump it off anything and it would be gone.

Handles position, no comfort.

Tracks narrow and short , unstable.

I've drove a lot of diggers.

No grease for shipping reasons. What else did they skimp on?

Get a new 1 ton bobcat for 20k ish. Other brands for a bit more.

Bobcat lad told me this, 10 weeks rental on a smaller machine is 52 weeks repayment ( on a 5 year plan) and you have something to trade half way through if you want to.

Just my 2 cents.