LGP Eddie

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.?

Another way to do that, simply get the manufacturers to put taller side plates on the Head Bracket, and space the plates at the correct width so the Grab will go under the pins and fit snugly between the plates. Obviously this makes the pins too long for the machine, but the trick is to get them to fit a larger diameter pin for strength, turned down to the correct size in the centre like a ‘dog bone’ so when on the machine it remains centred. You’ll get a nice solid bite at a better angle then and the machine won’t bother about slightly higher side plates. Eddie.

Yes been on the Alpha, does everything asked and a top quality machine, but the Dash 4 is showing it’s age now. I think the Takeuchi at present is the safer bet. The Wacker Neuson ET90 is for the brave almost certainly class leader, and as discussing the JCB, who would have thought that possible from Neuson products 4 years ago? Things move on, and we all like to think we bought the best out there. Plenty on here will remember the Blue and Red from the Tractor days, it’s just human nature. Eddie.

Usual story and unlikely any have ran any for years now. Again the example is a four year old machine, a huge amount has happened since then. Makes no odds to me what brand snobbery anyone has, I get asked to spec all different makes of machines for people, some I question in my own mind why on earth they choose that brand, but it can be as simple as a good local dealer that sways them. The 85z I specced is proving to be a classic example of a guy simply finding out for himself what’s currently on offer and so far having enough success to be placing an order for another. I recently had a guy on about an 8 tonner, and he literally expected to get his thoughts on having a Kubota Kx080-4 alpha confirmed by me. He was slightly surprised I didn’t even have it in my top three. I’m not a stick of rock brand guy, Machines move on and some get left behind, you’ve got to lose the blinkers sometimes. Eddie.

The Westtech is simply a case of if you can get it in there, it'll cut it, but it's not the tool when you want maximum manipulation and totally secure hold to section something awkward down. The Hans Habbig under the Engcon can get in some incredible places and do the business, cut capacity is poor for such a large unit, but I'm working on that at present. Absolutely nothing whatsoever in terms of any losses, JCB Insurance were brilliant, but what a nightmare process and I can't convey just how much I just want to be back in the seat putting it all behind me.

Thanks, simple is good. The jak is very similar to the nisula I have already priced up so will be taking to wilsons shortly about this as hadn't actually realised they sold them even though I'd said to Simon I was thinking of fitting one to the botex. They perhaps just concentrate on the Shears for Excavators, but quality from them looks good and there may be a deal to be had. I'd say Nisula would be well up any list. Be good to see how you get on, should be a great setup. Eddie.

Thought I'd add a few images to this thread now I'm starting to get back on my feet a bit. Unbelievably the big Liebherr is still not back out to work almost 12 months after the Arson attack, and without going into all the details, it's been an horrendous experience dealing with Loss adjusters, Insurance and worst of all Liebherr. However an awful lot of people worse off than me and just keep moving forward. I've specced up the Kobelco and that's out to work doing a fantastic job and I'm extremely happy both with it, and being back at work. The Liebherr should hopefully be out later this week, they have made an incredible job of it, it's just like new, they just manage to make a couple of tiny sagging jobs into a full blown crisis! I've taken advantage of the time to sharpen up the attachments into some great tools that fit either the Kobelco or Liebherr, with the Engcon Ec-Oil system common on both. Plus a slightly trick extension for the Mecanil Head that should make a huge difference. Eddie. Eddie

Some rubbish paint out there on some premium brands. My own Kobelco isn't a patch on the Liebherr or the best I've ever come across, Kubota which needs an angle grinder to get to bare metal! Volvo is just primer I'm certain and a few brambles can have 100k of machine looking secondhand in seconds. I think there's a clear split on what are the latest generation machines in terms of quality, the Hydradig is one clear example that really stands out as having moved up several notches, with their 8, 5 and now 1.5 tonne models having received the full treatment, but only time will tell if the paint sticks so to speak. Quite how they used to be able to paint them no issues and then went backwards is a bit crazy, but you're not wrong it's been dire on some past models. Eddie.

Sorry to derail slightly but do you have any recommendations or avoidance list for swinging tilting shear grabs as thinking of getting one for the forwarding trailer to clear roadside and trackside regen without having men on the road cutting and chipping. I'm have great success with the Mecanil, fantastic quality and really incredible performance, however that's a saw type. I was at Wilson's dropping something off and had a look over the JAK range of Shears and I liked them. Just by coincidence a guy with a Kubota asked me my thoughts on them the following week and I said I'd have no issue in going with one, he's been delighted with his since. A long way around saying maybe have a look at this one, it caught my eye as just about as straightforward way of doing whats required as possible and that's usually the best way. Eddie.

if you want a quote on any of the Intermercato Grabs and Shears just DM me, I supply a few now at competitive prices and know how to spec them. Eddie.

If you think that some JCB don’t compare with the latest Jap offerings you’re kidding yourself. They can’t do them all overnight, but their half the Compact Range has been done and the large Excavators about to follow. JCB will never compete on every level and to be honest if they cut their ranges in half and concentrated on them more it could possibly be a good thing for consumers, but as a business they seem to do more than ok. The guy who purchased that 85z took his mate who literally has every Takeuchi from micro to 14 tonner to the Factory with him, he was literally stunned by their new 8 tonner and couldn’t fault it. Its a case of getting your own experiences with JCB, not listening to the masses on Facebook and the like who when you dig deeper turn out to be a seat filler for an agency and have never even sat in the Model they are slagging off. Eddie.

They are assembled here, and yes it’s one of the few places sheet steel still goes in one end and machines come out the other. Obviously components come from all over the world, but JCB are simply the engine that powers the economy where I live. The Engine plant is close, as is the Cab plant, with the A50 literally a main JCB artery and a great place to see kit. They have good times and bad, seen massive layoffs and big Xmas bonus’s alike over the years, but they are on the up at present and so are the machines. I specced an 8 tonner for a guy before Xmas, and the reality is nothing came close to what JCB could offer straight out of the factory to the exact spec required. No messing about with third party suppliers to make modifications or buying components not required. The price saving going this route was incredible, and the machine, an 85z turned out to be fantastic. It’s in daily use in a Waste Transfer station, and is loaded up Saturday lunchtime for weekend duties on a Firewood operation and then back to the Transfer yard Monday. Heading for about 700 hours already and no issues.? I’m just starting a 6 tonner Project from them, should be a real nice bit of kit.? I had a sneak look at their new large Excavator a couple of weeks back, someone forgot to cover it, and it’s going to be a bit of an eye opener, nothing like the current JS. Eddie.

I did, I would have bought a full spec ET90 and done the whole works to it, guarding Engcon etc etc, however the factory wouldn't listen to my request to put a 50mm raising piece in the slew turret from the factory, as it's a nightmare job after, and that was the end of that. Be a JCB next if I do another 8 tonner.

Kx080-4 was a total lemon for Kubota and lost them a huge amount of sales. It can be tweaked to make it go, but most just move them on and get a later alpha version. The Original Dash 3 is still a better machine in a lot of aspects. Takeuchi have the worst reputation out there for pins and bushes, paint is like primer compared to Kubota. The KX080 was the original machine that took the 8 tonne class to another level, with 60mm pins and massive slew ring in comparison to others it was like a mini 13 tonner. Plenty have caught up now and are pushing 10 tonnes for what are supposedly 8 tonne class? You won't go far wrong with either Takeuchi or Kubota, but Takeuchi are on the up and Kubota on their way down in most peoples opinion that I know. The same message always comes through, holding onto models too long, (Dash 4 is out of date already) don't gives us features other markets get as standard,(six way blades etc) and concentrate too much time on Tractors now? Eddie.

Best Hitches are the ‘S’ type and Buckets from the two main Tiltrotator suppliers Engcon and Steelwrist to go with them are the way forward. Best of all spec it right and you’ve already got the Hitch/Buckets ready to add in the Tiltrotator at a later date if required. Takeuchi have come on leaps and bounds, they never have the fit/finish of a Kubota for me, and lack a bit of spark when operating them. I was on a TB260 recently, did everything asked, but a Kx57 would have kicked it’s arse. Komatsu is still the Mini everyone overlooks, and they are superb.? Eddie.

I think you perhaps need to rewind a bit and give some idea what you're looking for in terms of a base carrier? You looking to go new or used? Reduced tailswing or full size machine? You use Mulching Head and Flail together in your question, are you looking to Mulch standing material down to the floor and incorporate it or simply Flail scrub and vegetation. Regarding manufacturers, all will do the task in mind and pretty much without exception they will all come with the pipework required these days as manufacturers are catching up to the requirements of end users. 10 tonne is more of an emerging class led by manufacturers simply having to beef up 8 tonne machines to cope with user demands. They have eaten a huge slice of what used to be 13 tonne machine class, and 13 tonne machines have jumped to 15 tonne plus in a similar fashion. You would probably be stunned what one of the latest 6 tonne class machines can achieve now, such is progress. There's an awful lot to consider when making the purchase of the carrier machine and most come back to who is local that gives good service? Eddie.