LGP Eddie

Personally no, you can always stick a bit of weight under the other end if required.

Nice setup, you’ll not go wrong with Kubota.? The preferred way is for the changeover to cut out the Tilt function when utilising the Hitch or Grab. It won’t show up much now, but when you come to use a Grab the Tilt is the one function you can have removed and still keep operating fairly normally, as you’ve basically just got a standard rotating Grab. Tilt is available if something is a bit trickier. It’s as close to the limit as you can get on the towing, I assume you’ll use the capacity of the tow vehicle to carry some attachments, I don’t know what is the ultimate vehicle for the 3500kg tow/payload ratio? Cabstar, Hi Cap Defender, a whole thread in itself?? I think that’s where the new Takeuchi Tb225 is going to end up selling in boat loads, they’ve hit a great weight target to leave plenty of capacity, but I’m certain it’ll still pack a fair punch. Eddie.

You have to compare like for like. It’s not a towable version, it’s a full fat machine three tonne machine with a Tiltrotator and basic control system. It genuinely would be 40k plus new. Plenty of life left in it and remember all the Tilty will transfer to the next base machine no problem. It’s clearly from someone who knows their stuff and not a self drive fleet, so hours aren’t that scary. It doesn’t have to be bargain basement money, the season is on for a lot of guys and there’s money to be made with that. Seems a lot of love for the towable machines, people forget how many guys have ditched Transits and Double Cabs to go for a bit more capacity now in other forms.

Brand new Kubota setup like that?

Can of worms with the 14 tonne zero tail, I’ve been doing much research on them of late, simply trying to find the one that will tick the box of highest capacity on the load chart at full reach. It’s taken some doing as only a few offer an extra counterweight. The CAT ended up blowing all out of the water, but she’s a big expensive girl and lacking a few hp for attachments. They have become the weapon of choice for a lot of guys, they make great all rounders, but always lack a bit of reach over conventional. Harvesting is not my thing, but I see the benefits of such a Harvadig setup, and know a guy who runs a similar Doosan rig. I’ve just supplied him with a big Intermercato Shear and Grapple Saw, he’s getting all he can from one machine and a great Operator he has. I’m as from today fully available again for anyone to hire the Liebherr and will go wherever there’s a suitable project for it. Eddie.

3 tonners fit the 7.5 tonne guys. After that things get a bit more complex and certainly much easier than a 5 tonner.

Your just thinking like someone who wants to use a Trailer. Plenty don’t and have the kit already to move them. A larger cab, air conditioning, more weight, reach, power etc etc etc. You can do a job with one class of machine, but if you can get the next size up in, it usually becomes easier. Eddie.

As long as both are to the correct level and all the systems good, it’s not going to make any real difference. He can change all his after the season at less cost, and yours may run longer.

Yes absolutely, you need to ensure your hydraulic system is in good condition, actually has oil to the correct level, (so many don’t) Keeping the rads clean is a top priority, and ensuing filter changes are done on time or sooner if required. My Kubota’s would soon darken the hydraulic oil when the Mulching season kicked in.

The Kobelco especially is on another level to a Takeuchi 225.

LIke buses now, two along at once! Unusual one this, good spec, factory piping will always keep good value. Steelwrist Twinlock Top Hitch shows someone who knew their stuff when speccing it. Should have the auxiliaries for a Grab as it’s got SS9 control system. Ross the guy dealing with the sale is A1, sold both my Kubota’s for me. Get someone up and running with a great setup. https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Takeuchi-TB228-with-Engcon-Tiltrotator-huge-specification-2013-22k-VAT/352315941075?hash=item5207aaa0d3:g:aToAAOSwY4tauk8T Eddie.

Only you know your applications and what you need in return for the outlay, but yes they do them. Eddie.

It's got to be touching 40k new I'd have thought? It's all 2017 on the plates if the Engcon went on new, so mid30's or less really? Too small for the export guys to bother with, so possibly a good saving for someone. Never operated one, all I can add is Molson have been faultless with me as a dealer. Eddie.

Just a heads up to a machine that may be of interest to a few on here. Full spec with control system so will run a Grab no problem. Would have been some money new. https://www.molsongroup.co.uk/used-machines/used-machine-category/mini-excavators/kobelco-sk30sr-6-engcon Eddie.

No problem.

I’ll DM you next week if that’s ok.

Simple fact is they’re down in money big time now and still some quality about at the price. Forget all that Tracking and Flailing, trying to emulate a Tractor on Hedgecutting etc, or the fact one of the new Robotic types literally eat the job. They are simply a great bit of kit to have in the armoury, will tidy up a lot of stuff to a very respectable finish and add another string to a carrier machines bow. Just use them as intended, do the section you can reach and move on. If you’re on a 5 tonner or up there’s some more reasonable priority valve solutions about now to eek a bit more out of them. I’m not doing the whole plug thing, if anyone in the job wants a Femac I do them at right money and have been awaiting for their latest big fixed tooth to mount under the Engcon on my Liebherr. Eddie.

Couple of acres a day easily, it's all terrain dependent and the need to minimise any impact to surrounding trees can have a major effect on production. Raking it out onto tracks, rides etc for a Tractor and Mulcher can be very successful, but generally if you need the excavator, then the Tractor isn't going very far on that type of ground. I had an 800 series Fendt attempt to drive around my Kubota off the access road and he was simply stunned, as it went completely out of sight, the Kubota track marks were there not even an inch deep! Always use a Walking leg setup with teeth, it makes it so much easier to remove material from around trees without damage and, then turn over the big roots to smash the back out of them and see them gone. So many images I see of what is supposed to be Mulched Rhodie, and it's been done with a light duty swinging hammer head, or rotary chain head. Looks great, but they've really just mowed it, and will have much more follow up than a proper mulched job. Eddie.

Just a heads up on the soon to be, or even could be released now Takeuchi Tb225. This in my opinion is going to end up the Arb weapon of choice for guys who want a towable solution. I'm trying to find out if it's finally available, but the specs stack up into what everyone really wanted, and that was just a grown up TB016. The brochure makes for some interesting reading and straight away I picked up on the twin double acting proportional circuits for the all important Grab/Rotate, but there is mention of a 4th Circuit (the other will be quick hitch) and I've been told that Takeuchi offer this on some models. Basically if you can get this machine with three proportional double acting auxiliary circuits and quick hitch pipes, you've got the ultimate mini Titrotator carrier! No need for anything fancy like control systems, just pipe up your Tilt/Rotate and Auxiliary separately and be able to use them in any combination. Expanding tracks from 1100mm to 1500mm should make this able to access tight sites, but have great stability for the heavy work. I really like the spec and the all important 2400kg with Cab. If it really is as good as the spec, I think you'll be doing well to even get one! https://takeuchiglobal.com/compact-excavators/tb225-compact-excavator/ Eddie.

No, it's not that often it'll be that high, more about the outreach to be honest. That will work pretty much where a standard 13 tonner won't , and if you can take another 5 metres or so in pass, it's a lot of area in a shift. A hi rise cab would be lovely on it though.

Thanks, it’s when it’s on the Liebherr I’ve got the problem!?

So finally got an attachment that has taken a fair bit of time and effort top get sorted all up and running. Basically a telescopic extension to carry the Mecanil Head, that can be used on either the Kobelco or Liebherr. John Craig of Jcc Group has done an incredible job on this, it all connects on the Engcon Ec-Oil system from the cab, and he's even managed to get the extra functions for the Mecanil Radio remote control running on my current Joysticks. Hopefully this has given me another dimension, and certainly made this Kobelco some setup for Roadside applications. She will work in a single lane and has all the Prolec setup to restrict any aspect of it's working envelope required. The Mecanil is completely different to a Shear, incredible control and capacity. I've not had the tape measure on it yet, but she's heading for 15 metre reach out of a single lane closure and plenty of height! Eddie.

I like the 4 arms rather than two on the nisula and twin rams definitely increase the crushing forse and I like it can be locked with a simple value in vertical or horizontal and like you say the price is quite sensible, could do with a damping link in it as swings about a lot more in vertical than a normal grab. I have a damping link on the Mecanil Head and wouldn't be without it.

Looks a great setup, I nipped up to do a deal at Wilson's and this JAK gear looked excellent quality for the price.

I’ve had a few guys contact me about doing different ones for them. The ‘Pocket’ type works brilliant for the Engcon SK type Grab, and the wider pins for more traditional timber grabs is one simple way of doing it. The ‘Steel Log’ as it ended up being named turned out to be a superb addition, and lived almost permanently on the Kubota blade. Nothing to touch it for tidying up and levelling chip.?