Thread: Excavators

In the central North island anyway ~ 20 ton machines in forestry will have been mostly used for land preparation, and to a lesser extent roading. Logging crews typically don't use machines much smaller than 25 t (and commonly 30+) in my experience.

Ex land prep machines will have had a reasonably hard life trundling over cutover, but will ( should!) have comprehensive guarding required for bush work.

If cost is a real issue you could try importing a used one from Japan, only issue is most are fixed buckets, no quick hitch.
I have imported 2 x dozers from Japan and have been quite impressed with the quality. The first one was a Komatsu, bought it to do one job, used it for 6 months or so then sold it for more than I bought it for. Bugger me a year later I landed another job where we needed one so did it again, the 2nd one was a Cat, sold that at the end of the job for another gain as well. Was impressed with both buys having just looked at photo's on web pages. The Japs would fall on there sword if they sold you shit gear. The current NZ$ to Yen rate is bloody good at the moment.
Do not buy any 2nd hand machinery from China

You've got me interested now

I have talked to guys that brought brand new gear from China and by the time they have gone through and replaced all the hydraulic hoses, changed and serviced the hydraulic setup a couple of times to get it working right, beaten the electrical glitches into submission and fought with non-standard sizing on some things they haven't saved as much as they thought...

I hear about getting contacted gear in as well, but when you aren't close to town and it's a mission to get gear in sometimes getting contractors isn't as advantageous as the financials look if the same equation is worked out with the operator living a few minutes down the road.

The unfortunate thing with this, is that it makes no difference if you own the gear or contract (or even rent) the gear in, breakdowns will still happen and the time-loss costs still apply even though you might not own the gear.

If I was in that position (considering purchasing a machine) I would be letting my fingers do the majority of the work and seeing what is available around the bazaars. I have known guys overlook a smaller machine with a lot of attachments for a bigger unit that looks cheaper and find it hasn't been the right choice - and also the other way around so a very good assessment of what you want the machine to do and a chat with someone who supplies the things might help guide the size you actually need.

A large part of this equation is the status of the machine, it's health, how good and gentle the usual operator(s) were, what sort of work it was used for, how many hours it has done vs how well it's service and repair history is documented, and the general feeling you get when you start it from cold and park your bum in it and set it in motion for the first time. If the thing walks in circles its a sign haha. Possibly a terrifying $$$$ amount bill incoming!

In this case if purchasing a machine the actual type of machine doesn't really matter and I tend to run the same exercise when purchasing everything from vehicles to engineering equipment to commercial boats and marine gear.

Top speed for the dozer is 9.5kph. Gets from one end of the farm to the other a hell of a lot quicker than any tracked digger. It'll be worth bugger all now. 45 years old so will be hardly worth selling

Originally Posted by XR500

Top speed for the dozer is 9.5kph. Gets from one end of the farm to the other a hell of a lot quicker than any tracked digger. It'll be worth bugger all now. 45 years old so will be hardly worth selling

45 years old? Just run in!