Mini-EX Pricing

[ioilyouin]

I wondering where I should be on my mini-ex? Just curious to see what others are pricing for excavating. Also I'd be interested to hear from Minimax, ARPI, or anyone else who is running a mower on their machine as well. Thanks for the info. I'll post some pics this evening.
Tom

[ioilyouin]

Got to this quicker than I thought. I forgot to take some pics before I put the machine away. So shed pics will have to do for now.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/DSCN2832.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/DSCN2831.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/DSCN2834.jpg
Two pics of some ditch I mowed for a little practice.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/DSCN2835.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/DSCN2836.jpg

[Junior M]

No cab?! Man your braver than I am! ;) :eek:

[ksss]

I have 6 ton machine and I charge $80.00 an hour. Did you fab the expanded metal or was that an option from Kubota?

[stuvecorp]

Is that Allis in the background an old loader?

What did you think of the mower/mini x combo?

[ioilyouin]

Junior - In what way am I braver? I bought the ex used and that's what I could find in my price range, so a cab wasn't an option. Anyway do cabs come with automotive glass? I don't know.

Ksss - I fabed the screen myself and will definitely take off when not in use.

Stuvecorp - That is a 1976 AC 840B that we purchased new. Just overhauled it last summer. Has an AC 6 cyl and we had to take cab off to take out engine...just haven't got back to putting it back together. It's our backup machine.

[YellowDogSVC]

Junior - In what way am I braver? I bought the ex used and that's what I could find in my price range, so a cab wasn't an option. Anyway do cabs come with automotive glass? I don't know.

Ksss - I fabed the screen myself and will definitely take off when not in use.

Stuvecorp - That is a 1976 AC 840B that we purchased new. Just overhauled it last summer. Has an AC 6 cyl and we had to take cab off to take out engine...just haven't got back to putting it back together. It's our backup machine.

i like that screen and I too am interested in mulching with my mini. Looks like you have a good setup. Do you have a lot of debris hitting your screen?

I have been charging $87.50/hr for an almost 5 ton machine with thumb (same as I charge for Bobcat work (everything from shearing and dirt work to mowing but not including running the forestry mower).

[Junior M]

Junior - In what way am I braver? I bought the ex used and that's what I could find in my price range, so a cab wasn't an option. Anyway do cabs come with automotive glass? I don't know.

Ksss - I fabed the screen myself and will definitely take off when not in use.

Stuvecorp - That is a 1976 AC 840B that we purchased new. Just overhauled it last summer. Has an AC 6 cyl and we had to take cab off to take out engine...just haven't got back to putting it back together. It's our backup machine.
I wouldnt run a mower without a cab.. But thats just me..

[stuvecorp]

That Allis may need it's own thread. Pretty neat that you have had it since new.

[wanabe]

Better tell JR that he owes you a few cold ones for mowing along his field LOL!

[Junior M]

Better tell JR that he owes you a few cold ones for mowing along his field LOL!
:confused: ??

[wanabe]

:confused: ??

Sorry, the guy that owns the field of corn stalks is named JR.

[ioilyouin]

JR gives me plenty of work. I'll let him have that much.

Yellowdog - just ran the mower for the first time today, but I stayed just in the tall grass. Nothing came my way. That's part of the reason for this thread, I 'm trying to get an idea where to price myself at, as an ex and a mower.

I just got this ex as a toy more or less and then we stumbled into the mowing part. I really don't want to get into the woodier side of the cutting. I'd rather stay on ditchbanks and pondbanks. I'm actually hoping to market my services to the townships in the area. Several are in need of a boom mower on occasion and some don't even have a hoe.

[RockSet N' Grade]

ioil........townships is where I get alot of work. I have an idea where I need to be, but talking to the towns that sub out will dictate the rate. I find that we all like to charge even numbers like, $80, $85, or $90.........I am trying to get off of that and go for $82, $87, $94 or so just to see if I can bump it up just a bit. In the final analysis, it is what the market will bare right now and even getting those kind of numbers can be hard to do.

[NEUSWEDE]

Ok I need your input, I have a u35 too what size head is that a 30"? Have you run it in woody conditions does it bog down? Im looking at getting the same.

[ioilyouin]

Neuswede - Yes it's a 30" head. I thought I read in another thread that you demoed a us mower. If so in what manner and on what machine? I have already noticed that the head spools up nicely, but immediately looses speed as soon as I start to move it. I don't know how much loss is common if at all.

[NEUSWEDE]

Neuswede - Yes it's a 30" head. I thought I read in another thread that you demoed a us mower. If so in what manner and on what machine? I have already noticed that the head spools up nicely, but immediately looses speed as soon as I start to move it. I don't know how much loss is common if at all.

I demoed on a 121 I was worried about loosing speed at 9gpm isn't much most others in its class are around 15gpm

[ioilyouin]

No cab?! Man your braver than I am! ;) :eek:

I bought the mower from Bobcat of STL. I was interested to talk to anyone else they had sold one to. I was directed to a local farmer that uses an open cab 331, if memory serves me. Anyway he told me that he mows with a motorcycle helmet. I thought I'd just go ahead and put a screen on in place of the helmet.

[Junior M]

I bought the mower from Bobcat of STL. I was interested to talk to anyone else they had sold one to. I was directed to a local farmer that uses an open cab 331, if memory serves me. Anyway he told me that he mows with a motorcycle helmet. I thought I'd just go ahead and put a screen on in place of the helmet.
Yeah, that was a smart move.

Bush hogging on an open cab skid sucks, especially when you gotta come down on top of the plant. s#its going everywhere, I got my hands blocking my face, head is down. :laugh: I've yet to have the oppurtunity to mow with a trackhoe..

[NEUSWEDE]

ioilyouin was just noticed there are 3 lines from machine to mower what is the 3rd line for?

[ioilyouin]

Case Drain Line...someone else can probably elaborate better, but it is used to qucikly return oil to the resivoir to keep everything cool.

[NEUSWEDE]

Case Drain Line...someone else can probably elaborate better, but it is used to qucikly return oil to the resivoir to keep everything cool.

Ohh didn't know that was needed. Any chance you can get some video of it next time your out running it?

[ioilyouin]

Swede - will do, but I don't know how soon that will happen.

[NEUSWEDE]

Swede - will do, but I don't know how soon that will happen.

no rush I am waiting till spring to buy one have a couple jobs it would work well on sure would beat doing it buy hand but just want to make sure Im making the right investment. Might still have a way to pump up the gpm.

[ioilyouin]

Might still have a way to pump up the gpm.

From what little I've seen I think that some more GPMs would be nice. I was looking for a company that could do that but I haven't found anything yet. Does ANYONE know of such a business?

[stuvecorp]

From what little I've seen I think that some more GPMs would be nice. I was looking for a company that could do that but I haven't found anything yet. Does ANYONE know of such a business?

No but I sure would like to find a way also.

[minimax]

I have been getting $85 per hour with the mower or not.

minimax

[ioilyouin]

Stuve & Swede- I talked to my local hydraulic shop and was told optimistically that there were avenues to upping my GPMs. As soon as I find something out I'll update. Probally after the new year.

[NEUSWEDE]

Stuve & Swede- I talked to my local hydraulic shop and was told optimistically that there were avenues to upping my GPMs. As soon as I find something out I'll update. Probally after the new year.

Defintely keep me in the loop, I did the same thing I have a local hydraulic shop about 2 miles from my shop and we are going to see if we can't get more gpm, now that the excavator is not in use for a couple weeks going to tear into it and see what we can do. I will let you know what happens at my end as well.

[ksss]

Defintely keep me in the loop, I did the same thing I have a local hydraulic shop about 2 miles from my shop and we are going to see if we can't get more gpm, now that the excavator is not in use for a couple weeks going to tear into it and see what we can do. I will let you know what happens at my end as well.

Getting the machine to build the GPM may not be as difficult as cooling it will be. I would be cautious that you will have more gpm than you can in reality use. These machines tend to struggle with cooling anyways when working hard, without pushing more oil than designed to. Just a thought.

[NEUSWEDE]

Getting the machine to build the GPM may not be as difficult as cooling it will be. I would be cautious that you will have more gpm than you can in reality use. These machines tend to struggle with cooling anyways when working hard, without pushing more oil than designed to. Just a thought.

Yea instead of just pummping it up trying to redesign it and figure in stuff like why the smaller u25 has more gpm than mine and try and see if there is an overall package that can be done rather than pumping it up and having constant break downs. I would like to have an efficent mower but my this machine is very profitable digging just always looking to make it more profitable.

That is what I like about winter plow some snow and do shop projects, got to start on the custom tilt bucket I am making from a 40" cat muck bucket and the metal will be custom except the bucket and should be able to do it for less than 1k.

[ioilyouin]

I took the U-35 with the mower to my local hydraulic shop yesterday. I brought along my shop manuals and we looked at it for about two hours. They looked to see if there were any adjustments on the valves, but nothing could be done. They said that the gearing on the mower motor could be changed to consume less oil, but that would be done at the expense of torque. The only adjustment we could do was to increase the entire flow of the unit. I must add that this will prematurely wear out hyd. pump, and you will run into problems with the oil getting too hot.

I asked if they would do it if it was their machine, and they didn't have a problem upping the flow as long as it was done incrementally. So I have turned up the flow and did notice a positive change on the mower head speed. I will be running the mower in the next few days hopefully, so I will update when I have a chance.
Tom

[NEUSWEDE]

I took the U-35 with the mower to my local hydraulic shop yesterday. I brought along my shop manuals and we looked at it for about two hours. They looked to see if there were any adjustments on the valves, but nothing could be done. They said that the gearing on the mower motor could be changed to consume less oil, but that would be done at the expense of torque. The only adjustment we could do was to increase the entire flow of the unit. I must add that this will prematurely wear out hyd. pump, and you will run into problems with the oil getting too hot.

I asked if they would do it if it was their machine, and they didn't have a problem upping the flow as long as it was done incrementally. So I have turned up the flow and did notice a positive change on the mower head speed. I will be running the mower in the next few days hopefully, so I will update when I have a chance.
Tom

Defintely keep me and everyone else in the loop. Shoot some video if you have the means to do so.

Also what had to be done to up the flow?

[ioilyouin]

On the end of the pump there is an allen head screw with a nut on the outside as a backer. Simply loosen the backing nut and screw in the allen head.

[AWJ Services]

On the end of the pump there is an allen head screw with a nut on the outside as a backer. Simply loosen the backing nut and screw in the allen head.

Did you just adjusted the pressure valve at the valve block.
Kubota uses a common source bank assembly which prioritizes the flow in the direction of the higher pressure. The aux block has adjustable flow which is adjusted by loosening the lock nut and screwing the allen in and out.

I do not see how you can wear the pump out by increasing flow unless you drastically increased pressure.

[ioilyouin]

Did you just adjusted the pressure valve at the valve block.
Kubota uses a common source bank assembly which prioritizes the flow in the direction of the higher pressure. The aux block has adjustable flow which is adjusted by loosening the lock nut and screwing the allen in and out.

I do not see how you can wear the pump out by increasing flow unless you drastically increased pressure.

I think we are on the same page, but I do not have the terminology. By tightening this allen, you are compressing a spring inside the pump and not allowing it to deflect as much.

I am only repeating what my experts told me. I am very green by hydraulic standards.

[AWJ Services]

I think we are on the same page, but I do not have the terminology. By tightening this allen, you are compressing a spring inside the pump and not allowing it to deflect as much.

I am only repeating what my experts told me. I am very green by hydraulic standards.

Hydraulics has flow and pressure. The higher the flow and or the pressure the more effective that it can be.

You have pressure regulation and flow regulation. The pump should have a workable pressure range and a max flow output vs rpm. If you exceed it's pressure tolerances excessive stress can cause damage. However if you increase the flow without exceeding the max pressure tolerance of the pump there can be no damage.

[ioilyouin]

Took some video of my U-35 in action. I was only mowing weeds and cattails. Take note of how slowly the dipper extends. Towards the end I shut off the mower and cycle the dipper normally. I also mowed using the mower like a traditional boom mower, slowly creeping along. I get more rpms from sitting still and swinging the house, but as long as the material isn't too heavy I get more production I just set the mower and creep along.

This was my first video, I know it's not up to Chris or Ron's standard. It took me 4hrs 20min to upload a 3min 50sec video. Is this normal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPP8wsqxYPs

Thomas

[ioilyouin]

I should add that the operating methods I am referring to are for ditches only. This has been my only experience running the mower sofar. I will cut some brush in the future and post a video for that.

[AWJ Services]

Took some video of my U-35 in action. I was only mowing weeds and cattails. Take note of how slowly the dipper extends. Towards the end I shut off the mower and cycle the dipper normally. I also mowed using the mower like a traditional boom mower, slowly creeping along. I get more rpms from sitting still and swinging the house, but as long as the material isn't too heavy I get more production I just set the mower and creep along.

This was my first video, I know it's not up to Chris or Ron's standard. It took me 4hrs 20min to upload a 3min 50sec video. Is this normal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPP8wsqxYPs

Thomas

Nice video.
Anytime the aux circuit is engaged it will slow down other movements.You can always bump the aux circuit off and then make your movements and then turn it back on.

[ioilyouin]

I finished up cleaning out the ditch I was working on today. After having run the mower for a couple of hours, I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I'm satisfied. It did good in the heavy cattails and volunteer saplings, and it took out a fairly large tree for the mower(by my estimation). The problem is I know that there is room to grow, the mower still wants more oil. I still want to get into some more consistently heavy stuff and see what it's limits are.

Are tree measurements taken near the base or higher up?

[AWJ Services]

I finished up cleaning out the ditch I was working on today. After having run the mower for a couple of hours, I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I'm satisfied. It did good in the heavy cattails and volunteer saplings, and it took out a fairly large tree for the mower(by my estimation). The problem is I know that there is room to grow, the mower still wants more oil. I still want to get into some more consistently heavy stuff and see what it's limits are.

Are tree measurements taken near the base or higher up?

Usually 12 inches up is an accurate place to measure.
A 4 inch tree can be 30 feet tall.

[ioilyouin]

I thought I'd add some pics of some cleanup I did at my Grandfathers. The mower really did good work reshaping some blackberries and cleaning out a fencerow, although I didn't get any pics of that. Here are some before and after of the driveway and one of the property lines.\
Before
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2851.jpg
After
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2852.jpg
Before South
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2847.jpg
After South
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2849.jpg
Before North
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2848.jpg
After North
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/ioilyouin/work/DSCN2850.jpg

[curtisfarmer]

I want a miniX mower so bad for my KX121....but looking at those pics makes me reconsider. No offense intended, but my FS85 Stihl trimmer does just a good as job, and about $40K cheaper. Any pics of heavier stuff? I would be getting a similiar mower and your experience is one I am closely watching.

Thanks:drinkup:

[curtisfarmer]

Check out this vid......looks pretty good from here, throws some serious shat though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qodc4bKR5gY&NR=1&feature=fvwp

[bobcat_ron]

Your video quality was damn good, if it's damn near HD it will take some time to upload.

[93turbo]

Same stlye mower I use at the township to mow the ROW along the roads except the front corner is 45'd so the blade sticks out so you can cut the limbs off. Hard to mulch the stuff up very small but it works good if you need to cover a lot of ground with trees and grass

[ioilyouin]

I want a miniX mower so bad for my KX121....but looking at those pics makes me reconsider. No offense intended, but my FS85 Stihl trimmer does just a good as job, and about $40K cheaper. Any pics of heavier stuff? I would be getting a similiar mower and your experience is one I am closely watching.

At what point is there 40k difference between my mower and your stihl? If you are referring to the excavator attached that is a sunk cost so suck it up. I wish I had a KX121 to mount it on, it would be very cool to have the extra flow. I have a FS 85 and short of trimming against a vertical object I will not be using it. While I know that the mower has more potential, I am satisfied (as of right now). I will keep my eyes open for a larger compatible machine in the future.

Check out this vid......looks pretty good from here, throws some serious shat though.

I looked at one of those but didn't like what the salesman had to say in general. The biggest drawback is the fact that you have little control as to which direction your debris is headed, so you're a target more often than you'd like.

Your video quality was damn good, if it's damn near HD it will take some time to upload.

I borrowed the good camera for that shot. I normally am delegated the old camera for my escapades.

[bobcat_ron]

I borrowed the good camera for that shot. I normally am delegated the old camera for my escapades.


Yeah I get that too, all my man tools are actually Fisher Price labelled.

I'm kinda slow in a fast way.

[YellowDogSVC]

Check out this vid......looks pretty good from here, throws some serious shat though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qodc4bKR5gY&NR=1&feature=fvwp

I can't believe they sell that thing. OSHA in US has looked into boom mowers because of accidents and blade ejection. You would need guards and lexan to be safe and NOBODY should be anywhere near the work area.

[AWJ Services]

I want a miniX mower so bad for my KX121....but looking at those pics makes me reconsider. No offense intended, but my FS85 Stihl trimmer does just a good as job, and about $40K cheaper. Any pics of heavier stuff? I would be getting a similiar mower and your experience is one I am closely watching.

Thanks:drinkup:

If you already own the mini ex you can get a quality flail mower for about 5k.

[curtisfarmer]

I was quoted about $8K for a similiar mower mounted to that U35. That is alot of $ for something I want, but have concerns about the performance. Looking at the U35 and mower makes me say no, I just don't know about 1 on a KX121. Does anyone think it will be substantially better than the U35 video? I mow many field accounts bi-annually and have a huge farm where we are always mowing. I have my guys do by hand what my bush hogs (I use a 5,6, &7' bushogs for different purposes) won't get to such as ditches and hedgerows. No fun for sure, but 2 guys with FS85s can cover some good ground. If I can get a mower for $5K that will mow stuff better and thicker than the U35, than yes to maybe, at $8K and same performance, no way...too much $. There is not alot of mulching (if any) up here and little to none for miniX mowing either. That rotary mower I posted seems to do a pretty good job for $4K, and yes, it needs some serious shielding. Anyone notice he doesn't have shield, cab, helmet, or ANYTHING?:confused:

[ioilyouin]

I'll take some pics of the leftovers that I have chopped. You also have to take into account that the trees are not green right now, so they are pretty hard. A KX 121 has a greater reach (I think), more gpms, and better counterbalance.

[AWJ Services]

I was quoted about $8K for a similiar mower mounted to that U35. That is alot of $ for something I want, but have concerns about the performance. Looking at the U35 and mower makes me say no, I just don't know about 1 on a KX121. Does anyone think it will be substantially better than the U35 video? I mow many field accounts bi-annually and have a huge farm where we are always mowing. I have my guys do by hand what my bush hogs (I use a 5,6, &7' bushogs for different purposes) won't get to such as ditches and hedgerows. No fun for sure, but 2 guys with FS85s can cover some good ground. If I can get a mower for $5K that will mow stuff better and thicker than the U35, than yes to maybe, at $8K and same performance, no way...too much $. There is not alot of mulching (if any) up here and little to none for miniX mowing either. That rotary mower I posted seems to do a pretty good job for $4K, and yes, it needs some serious shielding. Anyone notice he doesn't have shield, cab, helmet, or ANYTHING?:confused:

You are shopping the wrong place.
What if you do not want to have to pay 2 guys?

Flail mowers by design no matter how heavy duty are just only going to do so much no different than a bushhog on a tractor. The hyd flow on the 121 as the U35 will be what determines what size material the head will cut efficiently. So even if you bought a mulching head for it it is not going to help allow it to cut larger material.
The rotary mower will work but the negative is projectiles so foe minimal more money why bother.


https://www.theedgeindustries.com/Industrial-Brush-Mowers.html

Call and talk to Cody

[YellowDogSVC]

I'm waiting for a mower that will work off a backpack on the mini just like the big ones.
I figure a 30-50 hp motor dedicated to the mower would do a fair job of mulching and not be too heavy.

[curtisfarmer]

A backpack, that is interesting:) It would surely power it, I wonder how well it would fit. I am suprised manufactures of minis haven't juiced up the flow, make it an option or designed better systems to power mowers. Then again, I am sure I am wishing the world and if it could be done better easier....it would have been done by now.

[YellowDogSVC]

A backpack, that is interesting:) It would surely power it, I wonder how well it would fit. I am suprised manufactures of minis haven't juiced up the flow, make it an option or designed better systems to power mowers. Then again, I am sure I am wishing the world and if it could be done better easier....it would have been done by now.

I was thinking about a backpack that fit on a custom rack on the rear of machine. Would act as a counterweight for the head. The other option is a self-powered head, similar to sneller's heads but smaller.

http://www.snellermachine.com/

[93turbo]

I can't believe they sell that thing. OSHA in US has looked into boom mowers because of accidents and blade ejection. You would need guards and lexan to be safe and NOBODY should be anywhere near the work area.

A lot of townships and countys here use that type of mower along public highways infront of houses and right beside driveways and they are pretty easy to predict where the wood is going.

[YellowDogSVC]

A lot of townships and countys here use that type of mower along public highways infront of houses and right beside driveways and they are pretty easy to predict where the wood is going.

there has been three fatalities that I know of and scores of injuries and property damage from the rotary mowers used along right of ways. I read a report where two people were actually decapitated because a blade came loose with the mower in the area. I am not 100% positive it was on a boom mower but it was a mower that was off the ground. Freak accident.

[Ausman]

Anyone know why edge industries are not answering their phone or returning email?

[Treemow]

I'm waiting for a mower that will work off a backpack on the mini just like the big ones.
I figure a 30-50 hp motor dedicated to the mower would do a fair job of mulching and not be too heavy.

http://www.versatracind.com

[Treemow]

http://www.versatracind.com/versatrac_en.asp?no=153
Even better.

[ioilyouin]

Anyone know why edge industries are not answering their phone or returning email?

Their website is not active, one can only speculate.