Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China | Page 50

Jul. 07, 2025

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Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China | Page 50

All hoses/fittings I have seen are metric O-ring, and several sizes are used. DiscountHydraulicHose has them.

A friend just picked up latest auction win just 2 days ago, a Diggit EM15 Chinese excavator, featuring B&S engine and PILOT controls. $ + fees and taxes, or about $.

This unit has 43" blade, no thumb, and totally different house. Same boom, dipper, bucket, and chassis. No spares, and seems to be no hydraulic filter or cooler. The house has a locked hinged door, and lots of vent holes. I will open it up when I go see it in a week or so.

Owner reports that it runs smoother than the previous units from Ouke. 25mm bolts are still being used for pins, but they are center-drilled for grease. They look vulnerable to me. 2-post ROPS and canopy look to be an improvement.

BTW, the auction had 18 of the AgroTK 1-tons, and the range of top bids were $-. Dunno if they sold at those prices or had secret reserves. Looks like these small Chinese mini-Xs have reached saturation.

Looks like these small Chinese mini-Xs have reached saturation.

I agree. For those who already own one , bid on a few . keep your bid at about $ to $.

You might get lucky and get a whole "Spares" machine.

My question now is ,who is going to be the first importer of spares to service all these machines. Looks like a golden opportunity for some one with a wad of cash to invest.

I'd be willing to participate in a new venture. Any one else have thoughts on the subject?

dfkrug.......?

All hoses/fittings I have seen are metric O-ring, and several sizes are used. DiscountHydraulicHose has them.

A friend just picked up latest auction win just 2 days ago, a Diggit EM15 Chinese excavator, featuring B&S engine and PILOT controls. $ + fees and taxes, or about $.

This unit has 43" blade, no thumb, and totally different house. Same boom, dipper, bucket, and chassis. No spares, and seems to be no hydraulic filter or cooler. The house has a locked hinged door, and lots of vent holes. I will open it up when I go see it in a week or so.

Owner reports that it runs smoother than the previous units from Ouke. 25mm bolts are still being used for pins, but they are center-drilled for grease. They look vulnerable to me. 2-post ROPS and canopy look to be an improvement.

BTW, the auction had 18 of the AgroTK 1-tons, and the range of top bids were $-. Dunno if they sold at those prices or had secret reserves. Looks like these small Chinese mini-Xs have reached saturation.

I have noticed that the Booms seem to come from one Manufacture, even though the rest of the machine may have it's own designs. Must be 1 Factory building the Booms.

I like the Stick Placement on the Digget, just looks like they are an after thought though. scabbed on.

My JF Industrial has the Drilled Bolt Design Pins. Not sure if it is better or worse, but time will tell. I do grease often because finding the Bolts might be a challenge.

Yes Western Canada seem saturated, Eastern Canada is just starting to get on board. That is why there is a $ difference at Yesterday's Sales. It would be interesting to record Serial Numbers (now that they have some, and just see if they reappear at later Auctions.

If I had to do it again, I think I would go for the L12. Cooler Included, needs a Filter though.

My question now is ,who is going to be the first importer of spares to service all these machines. Looks like a golden opportunity for some one with a wad of cash to invest.

That company in TX that imported all the AgroTK machines is a good candidate for a US-based source of parts, accessories, and advice. No importer that I have heard of has stepped up so far. Service will have to be local, and mostly DIY. I think that with a good knowledge base and simple construction, repairs will not be difficult.

Not for me. I am old and not interested in any job or business any more. The
technical side still interests me...that is why I started this thread. I still have a lot of spares here.....

Does anyone here have any scoop on the Chinese mini excavator ...

hwy17

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Apr 6,

Posting in ground mount forum because I'd like one with an 8" auger attachment to speed up my process.

Anyone looked into it or purchased one?

I don't know if it's accessible to order one straight from china or if it's more like importers are handling the paperwork for a container full and you have to buy from a reseller.

I guess I'll go search on aliexpress and then maybe click a buy button without even contacting the seller, that's probably best.

Plum Crazy Rob

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Apr 6,

Did YouTube research and found you could get a nice unit, or a unit poorly constructed with every joint in the boom having an inch of wobble and hydraulic fluid leaking everywhere. Retreated for now.

Edit: oh, and I meant to say they looked exactly alike. A real wild west of (not so) heavy equipment.

Mattb4

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Joined: Jul 15,

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Apr 6,

Posting in ground mount forum because I'd like one with an 8" auger attachment to speed up my process.

Anyone looked into it or purchased one?

I don't know if it's accessible to order one straight from china or if it's more like importers are handling the paperwork for a container full and you have to buy from a reseller.

I guess I'll go search on aliexpress and then maybe click a buy button without even contacting the seller, that's probably best.

Bought a Typhon Terror X last year off Ebay. Lots of information from folks on these over on the Tractor By Net Forum in the Excavator area. Although you can import one the price differential is not so big that getting one from a reseller in the US may be preferable. I had a Thread here on This Forum about it. See If I can dig it up. ETA: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/justifying-new-tools-for-the-solar-off-gridder./

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OzSolar

Whatever you did, that's what you planned.

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Apr 6,

A friend has bought several new " lb" units from an auction in Kansas City that has them regularly. Sold the first one for a little bit of profit after using it for ~6 months and just picked up the 2nd one. Maybe 200 hours total on it. He had to add an electric fan to it because it got so hot after ~30 minutes the engine block would be glowing red and fuel would vaporizing before it got to the carburetor. That and adding a hydraulic filter are pretty common upgrades from what I gathered.

It has an air cooled gas engine about the same size in my 60" ZTR. From my take it wasn't too bad but no where near the Mini EX machine that I can rent for $250 weekend with a trailer from my local rental place. Not saying that's good or bad just offering that as a data point. Last edited: Aug 4,

hwy17

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Apr 6,

From my take it wasn't too bad but no where near the Mini EX machine that I can rent for $250 weekend with a trailer

That's a good reality check, I've realized it before, I should stop dreaming about what I can buy and sort out my towing ability to access all kinds of stuff at the equipment rental.

We have a 2nd gen Lexus GX which I think should be able to do stuff like mini excavators, but it never had a tow hitch yet (does have tow electronics).

Do you think buy a trailer or rent the trailer? Trailers are an extra fee at my rental, but I guess then you always get the right sized one for the equipment.

Mattb4

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Apr 6,

...

It had an air cooled gas engine about the same size in my 60" ZTR. From my take it wasn't too bad but no where near the Mini EX machine that I can rent for $250 weekend with a trailer from my local rental place. Not saying that's good or bad just offering that as a data point.

There is no question that if you have a nearby equipment rental yard, with one or two projects to complete, you are better off renting. For larger projects hiring it done is better economics than buying one of these 1 tons.

Mattb4

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Apr 6,

That's a good reality check, I've realized it before, I should stop dreaming about what I can buy and sort out my towing ability to access all kinds of stuff at the equipment rental.

We have a 2nd gen Lexus GX which I think should be able to do stuff like mini excavators, but it never had a tow hitch yet (does have tow electronics).

Do you think buy a trailer or rent the trailer? Trailers are an extra fee at my rental, but I guess then you always get the right sized one for the equipment.

Check to see if they will deliver. Often for the larger equipment it can be arranged.

hwy17

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Apr 6,

Check to see if they will deliver. Often for the larger equipment it can be arranged.

Even better. I've been standing in the line hearing them talk about deliveries so they must do.

1 Ton Kubota is $340 a day at ours though. Trailer is $85, maybe delivery is $85+.

OzSolar

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Apr 6,

There is no question that if you have a nearby equipment rental yard, with one or two projects to complete, you are better off renting. For larger projects hiring it done is better economics than buying one of these 1 tons.

And if something breaks you don't have to pay for it, assuming you didn't break it.

Bluedog225

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Apr 6,

I believe the repairability is an issue. Non standard parts. And many “fixes” to make them right. May end up with an unusable, unfixable pile of yard art.

I suspect it will get sorted after a few years.

My guy with a 3 foot bucket charges $150 an hour.

OzSolar

Whatever you did, that's what you planned.

Joined: Jan 5,

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Apr 6,

I believe the repairability is an issue. Non standard parts. And many “fixes” to make them right. May end up with an unusable, unfixable pile of yard art.

I suspect it will get sorted after a few years.

My guy with a 3 foot bucket charges $150 an hour.

That's the first thing I said to my buddy and he assures they are off the shelf parts. Of course the trick will be finding the shelf they are on since you aren't going to have any part numbers to cross reference.

Even better. I've been standing in the line hearing them talk about deliveries so they must do.

1 Ton Kubota is $340 a day at ours though. Trailer is $85, maybe delivery is $85+.

That's sounds pretty reasonable for California. That $250/day or $250 for the weekend as long as I don't go over 8 hrs on the meter is ridiculously low, even for around here but it's locally owned non chain single location place.

hwy17

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$250/day or $250 for the weekend

They get us there too lol, they're open Saturday and Sunday so every day is full price. Last edited: Apr 6,

Ampster

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Apr 6,

I ocassionally watch a Youtube channel about an English couple who have retired in the Pyrennes and they bought a mini excavator from China. They are building a home and there are not enough episodes yet to know if it will last throughout the entirety of the project.
I agree with others, that if there is a nearby rental yard, the best strategy is to rent one. Fortunately I have a towing hitch or they can be delivered.

hwy17

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Pyrennes and they bought a mini excavator

It's funny how the youtube algorithm feels like it sends you down a rabbit hole. But then it turns out any 30+ year old guy with our sort of DIY proclivity we're all basically watching the same videos. My cousin told be about this guy he saw try to run his house on the F150 I said yeah the redhead one.

Dave911

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Apr 6,

If you have an ongoing need for one Id shop the auctions and buy a brand name unit that has parts available. Oftentimes you can buy and use it for hundreds of hours and resell for what you paid for it. Just make sure its not beat when you buy it. But it will likely need some repair over a period of months of use. If you cant fix things, forget it. But since you are doing construction work, you likely have some skills.
If you just want a machine for x days. Rent it.

45North

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Location: Canada

Apr 6,

Micah Toll (Electrek) made some nice YT videos on the subject.
He imported a container full of small electric Chinese construction machines and now he's setting up a company in Florida to import and resell them.

Branch Ranch

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Apr 8,

Andrew Camarata bought a small chinese excavator a little while ago and put it to work.

Danke

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Mattb4

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Apr 9,

Nice! Did you import that yourself? Looks like an articulating steer machine. Have not seen that in a loader backhoe setup.

Danke

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Apr 9,

Nice! Did you import that yourself? Looks like an articulating steer machine. Have not seen that in a loader backhoe setup.

Yes. Imported and included a lot of attachments. I’ve not had time to really check it out yet, but everything seems to be very good quality. Thick steel and double plated on the buckets, etc.

Here are some pictures from factory before they shipped it.

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Last edited: Apr 9,

Dave911

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Apr 9,

Yes. Imported and included a lot of attachments. I’ve not had time to really check it out yet, but everything seems to be very good quality. Thick steel and double plated on the buckets, etc.

Here are some pictures from factory before they shipped it.

How did you go about obtaining that?