LGP Eddie

I would say it's pretty obvious a 1.5 tonner will struggle for height so go for lower mount if possible, and due to geometry quick hitch etc, usually a bit of mock up farm engineering can beat the CAD drawing when a bit of real world applications are thrown in. I assume you wish to have a control on the mast rather than operate the auxiliary circuit from the actual machine? Eddie.

Anyone with larger attachments but wanting to keep a smaller carrier can scratch their head at this? Obviously it has negatives but ideal to get a larger post knocker on a small carrier Eddie.

Just seen that Ross at Sandhill Plant has got a new batch in which includes a cabbed TB016 and a lovely Kx61 Kubota. Money seems right enough on both. If my word is worth anything, he sold my last two machines for me and is 100% recommended. I can't do links on the phone so you'll have to Google it. Eddie.

It's only a phone call away! Eddie.

That's a lovely looking bit of kit.👍 Had my machine parked against a big black Bandit at the Rail show, they are just the most old fashioned common sense build it to last forever and it will machines you ever come across. That's going to serve you well. Eddie.

Always a hard call and everyone has a different take on it, but you have more than enough to purchase your trailer outright, put a tidy chunk in and take a little bit of finance to get something that in reality isn't going to be a huge chunk of money more, but almost certainly will provide a better starting point. Keeping a bit back for issues and the simple fact you will soon be looking for attachments in some form, as the reality is these are what can really earn the money in comparison to a base machine. Just a thought, and I fully appreciate both sides of the arguments, but I do know a couple of guys who have switched their thinking and running something a bit newer than they originally intended and the odd attachment has worked well for them. If that is your budget end of, my advice is go with a Takeuchi TB016 and trailer, you will be looking at real tidy examples for this money, literally no running costs and if you lost £500 getting out of it in a panic if it wasn't for you I'd be surprised. Chip away at it and perhaps a Kubota Kx61 after if you see the bigger machine is for you? Eddie.

I would say pretty much anyone I've ever come across with the Kubota 41 or Takeuchi TB016 has pretty much the same experience as yourself. The Takeuchi will always edge it for multiple operators, as damage is so easily and cheaply remedied on them, but for me Kubota always have that extra touch of refinement some owner operators really appreciate. Running costs and residual against actual work produced can be extremely low, and specialists like Digbits really help keeping consumables down in price, but not at the expense of quality. I have a brand new 1.5 hour Volvo Ecr25D this weekend on Demo to try as I'm looking myself at this end of the market and decided that I'd rather go just that but bigger than a 1.5 tonne as an all rounder, and the instances I simply must have the smaller machine they are readily and cheaply available. I'm going to demo this Volvo and the Kubota U27-4 as that's what I have my shortlist down to, but on paper they both start off on slightly different starting points. The Volvo has a very large cab, with flat floor and a lovely set of full size track pedals that allow true multi function operation just like much larger machines. The Volvo is also available with two double acting auxiliary circuits controlled by rollers on the joysticks that will allow easy installation of a grab with fantastic control. I'm looking forward to a few hours on the Volvo, but it's certainly impressed me in many aspects having studied all the details. I doubt the Kubota will dissapoint much, and I shall be making enquiries as to the availability of any extra pipework in other markets, which can happen as the UK always take low spec. Eddie.

We seemingly now have a UK Dealer for Eurocomach machines, and boy are these going to make a few sit up! I tried 3 and 8 tonne versions out in Sweden last year and all I can really say is they are total quality with absolutely silky smooth hydraulics. As for spec, nobody really offers more features or options for machines. Just to get you all going, how about this 5/6 tonner blade!:thumb up: [ame] [/ame] Eddie.

Some light trailers about now though which aren't much over the 500kg mark. The Kubota U27-4 will be a beautiful bit of kit to be honest, but the track pedals on the Volvo that you can actually use with ease are a real bonus, and Kubota are dreadful on the small machines for not offering the type of pipework setups you get from 5 tonne upwards from them. It may just be possible that Kubota do the extra pipework for Germany, as they are much more demanding of such standard items than the UK. Eddie.

Can't see much wear creeping in, and a few pins/bushes wouldn't break the bank at that size. I agree on the single side tilt, but I suspect not that difficult if you plan your work around it. Not a feature I'd be that bothered about specifying to be honest. Wacker Neuson are really on the up, the new 5 and 8 tonners are stunning bits of kit, I think it depends if you have a local dealer or not. Eddie.

I don't know if you have seen the Wacker Neuson ET20 VDS, but this would be one way around it without any mods. Other than that, yes modify the frame and don't spare the metal as any weight you add is all doing good down low. My own Kubota is incredible on side slopes, being widened, low ground pressure and a big winch in the frame all adding weight down low. [ame] [/ame] Eddie.

Just looking myself at present and shortlist started at Kubota U27-4 and Volvo Ecr25d, as I wanted reduced tail, but would tick any additional counterweight box which always adds a little. Kubota is total quality, extremely sought after and almost a no brainer purchase. However, sitting in the Volvo at 6' 4" and best described as fat, it was surprising how not only have they achieved a cab that is what some 5 toners have in terms of room, but a real set of track pedals that put many full size machines to shame. The Volvo also has the added benefit that two dual acting auxiliary circuits controlled by rollers on the joysticks are available from the factory, making for easy grab installation with excellent control. I'm going to get both on demo, but first impression and available spec, the Volvo is edging it. Kubota KX61 is totally bombproof, but always horrendously lively when trying to track carefully. Volvo Ec27 can be had with all the auxiliary pipework which is handy. If you're heading in the woods, the Yanmar has incredible ground clearance, and again great pipework options. Nothing wrong with Doosan, but price should reflect it'll be no Kubota come resale time. Eddie.

Hope you filled your boots, the blades will touch up with the grinder! Eddie.

Thanks, it's great when people see the images of what it was like before! An awful lot of thought has gone into this, as I've been and studied what others are using and hopefully raised the bar a bit with my own take on the attachments plus a few other mods. Liebherr and John Craig have put serious time into getting this just right, and the grapple saw really has pushed even John Craig pretty hard to get just right. I would have left the grapple saw with it, but this show was really for Liebherr to demonstrate the standard they can achieve refurbishing a used machine. It's home very shortly and the aim is to video it in action whilst looking A1, so hopefully it'll be worth sharing. After that it'll be available for work. Eddie.

Well spotted! Basically for absolute maximum height and reach, I can remove the actual Engcon Tiltrotator unit and go directly with the top quick hitch into the bottom position. This gives a worthwhile gain in forward reach and cutting height, with the bonus that 900kg of weight has been removed to counteract this. All this can be achieved without leaving the seat via the Engcon Ec-Oil connection system. To give some idea, the machine will handle around 1 tonne at full reach in the shear over the side in the configuration you see there, and more in the grapple saw. It's really a lot more compact than it would at first seem, and folds down superbly for transport, but once unfolded and cab set at a comfortable height, its some bit of kit and seriously quick too! Eddie.

Just a few images of the Liebherr which is making it's way back from it's final modifications by John Craig via a couple of shows. It's pictured here this week at the Hillhead Show Buxton. It's been away for final mods to the Engcon and Grapple Saw, plus a decent chunk of counterweight that I couldn't resist having a bit of fun with!:thumb up: Really looking forward to getting it back now, and doing a video whilst it's still very shiny! A few people around in the pics that give some scale. Eddie.

Worth asking I have something that would have sorted that with a bit of reasonable access. The working room would be ok. Eddie.

What's the access like into the garden, and is there much working room? Eddie.

Fuchs is simply brilliant, absolutely no reason for any mess or waste when greasing, higher pressure and pumps more each stroke. I actually run two with different grades for the Kubota and another for bits and pieces on the Liebherr that aren't on the autolube. A lot depends on how much grease you use and do you have a local stockist. Eddie.

Here's a video of the G coupler plenty swear by now. I use the Fuchs system myself. [ame] [/ame] Eddie.

If you want a third hand whilst greasing simply and cheaply, a lot of great reviews from guys using the 'G Coupler' connector on their ordinary grease gun setups. I went over to the Fuchs 'Reiner' system and never a greasy hand or wasted spot of grease since. Not the cheapest cartridges, but they hold more and you never waste any so that pulls a bit back. These come with top quality hose and connector that never seemingly needs holding on. Eddie.

That little trick machine would need to be a good earner, heading for 50k full spec I believe, but yes ultra versatile and a lot of job satisfaction I bet. A write up on one in this months Earthmovers magazine. The Hydradig is limited to 3.5tonne to hopefully keep it to attachments only not haulage, but expect to see tri axle low loaders with 13 tonne tracked machines or loaded dump trailers behind them, from the "it's ok around here" brigade. Eddie.

No it's a labour of love getting this one perfect as it's got quite a few never been done before things hanging off the end, and fair play to John Craig he's put serious work in to get it perfect. The machine was actually up in Scotland for a final modification which just happened to be around show time, so John took the opportunity to have it on the stand. No way a grapple saw should be working on a show stand in that environment with people standing next to it, and the other guys operating one on site should have known an awful lot better than that! Next job on it's return is a professional promotional film of it's capabilities, and the search is on at present for a suitable site to film on. Hard to find a site to showcase it that will be ok with the messing about that filming will require, so it looks likely someone will be getting a chunk of work done at absolute minimal cost if they are accommodating. Hopefully after that a Demo Day for interested parties. I'm really looking forward to it coming home in around a weeks time now, and being totally ready for action! Eddie.

It's been a mad few weeks, with a visit to what is possibly an event beyond words, the Bauma Machinery show in Munich, and then a couple of days at Scotplant where the Liebherr made an appearance on the JCC Engcon Stand. Bauma was a real eye opener, and I got the first opportunity to run up the steps of the much anticipated JCB Hydradig. It really is some concept this machine, and it will certainly change all manufacturers thinking for wheeled excavators going forward. Did I rate it? Yes it was certainly on another level from present JCB offerings and just the cab environment alone was worthy of much praise. I'm off to try one Thursday, so I'll see what it actually performs like in the flesh. This really caught my eye as I've been waiting for this to land from Engcon having seen the prototype last year. Basically Engcon have made the Integral Gripper into a separate unit that can be removed easily when required to save weight or reduce size when in confined trenches, but it has brought with it some added benefits. The connection point is similar to their current EC-Oil system, so there is now nothing stopping anyone coming up with attachments to fit directly onto here and have two double acting circuits plus probably electrics to power them. What these attachments could be is really down to the users applications, but the one Engcon have showcased first is a cable brush. Not really for guys on here, just look at the mounting point being ideal for other toys! [ame] [/ame] Eddie.

Personally I'd give an excavator with a decent rotating grab setup a go for a few days? Plenty of guys have gone this route and found it an extremely cost effective piece of kit to have about. Your crane budget would pretty much get you going with one and with nothing being special build the excavator will lose very little money. Obviously I'm totally biased to excavators but they really can do some work for little money, and even a nice 1.5 tonne machine setup can move serious pieces of timber. Eddie.