Mini Digger advice

[GJT]

Thinking of getting a 1.5ton Digger and use for tree work etc. No experience of one so what I'm not sure of is, for use with a rotor and grab does the digger have to be piped especially? And are the rotor and grab separate bits of kit? Any help please.

[Mick Dempsey]

I did some research and the rotator/grab combo is probably too heavy for a 1.5t digger. And at around 4k too expensive.

I got a hydraulic thumb instead. 350 quid.

You'll need another service down the arm, although many diggers already have that.

[LGP Eddie]

A Rotator and Grab is a perfectly reasonable prospect on a 1.5 tonner and depending on which manufacturer the base machine is, some of the work may already have been done.

 

Basically you need a two way auxiliary circuit which most machines will usually have and then tap into the bucket ram circuit via simple diverter valves to utilise this as the second two way circuit.

 

There are two schools of thought as to which way to pipe it, and I actually see no wrong in either way around?

Some want to pipe the Bucket Ram into the Grab open/close as it sort of replicates opening/closing a bucket, and then pipe the Rotate into the auxiliary.

This is my preferred route, but the bit that puts many off is the auxiliary pipe may have a lot of flow for a small rotator, often utilising a pedal that makes it really fast (even unsafe?) to operate.

This can be resolved with a simple flow reducer, but if you have many attachments then it becomes a pain.

 

The other way is obviously use the extra control available via the Bucket circuit to rotate the grab, and use the less controllable auxiliary circuit to simply open/close the grab.

 

Some lucky people may have a machine with two dual acting proportional circuits as standard, and it's simply a case of plugging the grab in.

Not likely on a 1.5 tonner, but manufacturers are catching on really fast in the 2.6 tonne range and up.

 

Plenty of Grab and Rotators available, I'd go with something like a Farma setup which will be cheap enough and we have great success with them on the Tracked Dumper.

Guys on here will recommend more makes and dealers, and ideally give an idea where you're based, as sometimes it's best to find a good local supplier and they will help you through the fitting.

 

1k should see even the worst case scenario sorted I'd expect?

 

 

Eddie.

[Mick Dempsey]

Well I stand corrected.

[LGP Eddie]

Well I stand corrected.

 

Just PM me anytime Mick if you are ever thinking of going with a grab again and I'll do my best to see what could be setup for you.

Obviously it's not going to set the world alight on a 1.5 tonner, but you'd not want to try and match it all day long!:thumb up:

 

 

Eddie.

[Mick Dempsey]

Thanks Eddie.

[IVECOKID]

Skip the 1.5 ton diggers and go for the 2 ton plus ,massive difference in stability and reach for tree work .

 

 

Ste

[briquette_seller]

I second Ivecokid.

Massive difference.

[IVECOKID]

Ps

 

Takeuchi’s TB016 if you cant afford any bigger .

 

Ste

[GJT]

Suddenly realise how much I have to learn about this subject! Anyway was thinking about starting small and getting a TB016 right price range about 8k and hopefully easier to learn in than a bigger machine. So it's not just a case of buying a rotor and grab and plugging in, I am based in Ireland but its likely I would purchase a machine and rotor and grab in UK so not sure how I would go about getting it all fitted up. If anyone knows of any decent dealers where I could checkout a machine that would be great. Thanks everyone for all the advice so far.