I also have the exact same machine. I hardly ever run it at full engine speed. It is much smoother when the engine is running slower. I also noticed your machine pulls a little to the right when traveling. I had the same issue, and it was a loose track tension. I evened the tension and now it drives much better. I'd also recommend a full nut and bolt check. I found a lot of loose things on mine. I really like the machine. Hydraulics a pretty powerful. I did have to reset the main hydraulic pressure as well. Mine was set at 1800 psi, and it would not push the dozer blade. I adjusted it to 2500 psi. Much better pushing power with the dozer blade after setting the hydraulic pressure properly.
It's better than a shovel, I will say that. I run equipment for a living, and I spend most of my time in a 6 ton mini ex, a Kubota KX-057, I have run a couple of these little machines, and while they are better than nothing I would rather save my money and buy a little bit bigger and better used machine with alot of hours before I spent the money on this. A buddy of mine bought one and I tried to talk him out of it but he didnt listen, he wont admit it but he wish he wouldn't have. And he got a Chinese mini ex that was like $18k, I dont remember exactly what it was
You go to a construction site and operators will crank up the RPMs and it looks like a smooth classical dance when they work. As the mechanic who came to fix what they broke I'd idle it down a lot because I never got the practice to smooth out my movements. Cylinder size will determine power and both machines are similar. I think the track system will be most useful moving around the job site and backfilling with the blade. Here again idling down some may help prevent digging down and getting stuck. Don't be afraid to consider the bucket as a helping hand for maneuvering. Think of it as a cane. Use it to stabilize movements such as maneuvering a side slope. Also to prevent unexpected drop offs like coming off the trailer. Much better to slide off something riding on the bucket then to tip over. Yes the thumb is likely lighter duty. Mostly used to stabilize than to pinch and pickup. After you get the garden in, chicken coop built and occupied, and a donkey guard critter, then it's officially a homestead. 🤣
I’ve got 2, very hard to precisely operate, easy to damage things that are near by, cars , house, ac units , fences etc. yesterday I used my 1.5 ton to dig out around my HVAC unit, with nearly 3 years of experience now I’ve learned that I have to use 2 hands to make slow precise movements , ac unit is still intact but after the fact, I just should have used a pick and shovel , and not risked having to put in a new HVAC system. Almost ran into / through my bedroom window with the boom, just caught it in time. Very early to forget about you surrounding and get caught up in the task at hand, one of which should be not to cause more / extra. damage or repair work Know when you need it and when it makes more sense to get all dirty and sweaty. That sounds odd about getting stuck, never had a problem in any surface, except mud, sand causes my tracks to come off if I try to turn on sand. Tracks are a hassle to put on by yourself. Keep an eye on track tension , especially from the changing seasons , give that engine a few house of static idle run time for break in then change oil. Oh yes, they can be easy to tip n flip. , "never" jump off if n when tipping over "stay with it" I’ve never tipped over yet, but have come mighty mighty close. Know it’s center of balance and limitations.know where to put your hands before hand and definitely get a seat belt in there, my goodness it should be a requirement,all mine had shipped with them, tho I’ve replaced with better quality ones.
You increase the stability while maneuvering by using the backfill blade or dozer blade, by pushing it to the ground, like an outrigger. It will always feel that way for smaller machines. Once you are on a bigger machine it's more stable. Throttle it down some. Watch some videos on excavators and minis. Always boom out in forward facing to prevent tipping side to side. Then boom in before swinging.
Thank you so much for doing this video - it answers all the little questions hubby & I had about this unit. This may be perfect for our little homestead (moving lg rocks we can't lift already on property for free landscape). I like your honesty on the unit & see your same concerns as well. Yes, I'd install a seat belt for sure (and a secure phone holder for emergencies, a stereo & a/c, lol). I'm anxious to see if you can get up the hill but can see that may be too dangerous. I can't get a perspective without seeing the unit at the foot of the hill. I wouldn't chance it if you're skeptical. Hopefully this new unit reviews pushes you over the 10K SUBSCRIBERS soon - that'll be a huge marker & maybe more sponsors calling to give you free stuff for reviews.
Plenty of seasoned pros on these machines. Plenty being used on homesteads and landscaping companies. Just saw a landscaping company give their review after 800+ hours on it and they love it. Another older couple with a channel homestead uncontained or something like that has many videos on what they have done on them including mods and repairs when needed.
Get online and get some peel and stick heat and sound shield padding and install under the cab to reduce the motor echo. Slow the rpms and go easy till you get better exseperience. Remeber fast is slow and fast is slow when running equipment. Always keep boom stretched andj the bucket off the ground a tad when off loading. This is a single pump unit so everytrhing will want to herk and jerk,lower the rpm to allow the pump to find a balance point. Most important lesson is to have fun Brother :)
On the mini excavators I rent when I need one they always have like really massive 1 foot extensions for the dozer blade that you can put on each side. those make it a lot more stable with the dozer blade down, but that's a totally different price range 😅. Otherwise all looks pretty much normal and totally OK. That's just how they are. dial down the idle so long as you don't need full power to be more precise, and be way more sensitive on the levers. For driving with the tracks always try to turn when also driving forward (speeding up one track instead of braking the other. Mainly just practise and get used to it 😁
I’ve had this exact QH13R since April. You’ll love it the more you use it. Mine has really impressed me. A list of things I’ve done to “improve” mine. - Cooling Fan for the engine compartment - Nipple grease fittings - Rubber floor mat - Swapped the controls to mimic a JD - Hydraulic thumb
Wow, Dalton it certainly is not as stable as the Harborfreight. I watched our water company excavate to repair water leaks, they keep the tracks on the road surface. I am looking forward to the testing as you get more experience. The noise factor is about the same as my first Champion generator.👍
Fun machine! You will enjoy it! I’ve watched these on other videos, and the hydraulics are way to fast, on my log lift I put a valve that slows down the speed on the cylinder for safety, I've been curious if you could put a speed control valve on the return line of the main valve, to help maintain safety, the valve I have I can control the speed with a lever, anyways, have fun!
I like the rocks/boulders near the edge of your new parking area. Softens the edge view. Watching you with the bucket, if you curl it back towards the boom you will be able to pick up that boulder. Rely on the thumb less.
Half throttle, I have basically the same one but with a hydraulic thumb and yes they are very jerky which is annoying but if you run it at half throttle it is more manageable, slow movements on the sticks. They are also very tippy, get some counterweights off the back/bottom and will help some.
These are pretty decent excavators the only thing that could be improved on is the fuel capacity it has. Get you some dynamat and put in the engine compartment. Its doesnt solve all the noise but it does help. Im curious as to how much exhaust fumes fill the cab when the door is closed.
Yaaaaa I wouldn’t keep the cab on it with it looking so tip happy lol.. comparison vids should be good! At 6’6” I’m not sure I’d fit in it either, what do you think?
Slow and steady is always safer till you get comfortable with all the controls. Be careful we all care about you and getting a seat belt sounds like a really good idea.
Whoa that thing is really loud but it moves faster than the HF backhoe. You can't even hear the HF at all while you're using it in your older videos🤣 I'm sure once you do more thorough testing it'll prove it's capabilities more. It does look fun to use😁
I bought one new but won't start when I crank the engine. Ignition key tries to get going but engine won't start. Battery is working fine. Anyone has any suggestion. There is sticker by Ignition switch that says turn on engine switch first but I don't see any engine switch.
Without pilot control valves it’s going to be jerky, not much help for that. It does seem like the hydraulics are too fast. As far as turning the tracks you may have to learn to put the bucket down and use the swing gear to help it turn Though that’d be hard with hand-only track controls. It’s definitely narrow so be careful on sidling slopes for sure. One last thing, trying to jump off of a machine while it’s turning over almost never works out pleasantly 🙁
Well theres no staying on it with no seat belt. I agree its better to stay in the seat with a roll cage and a seat belt. But theres nothing to keep you there, so you’re likely to end up between the ground and the roll bar during the fall.
Yes very jerky but there is something you can do about it and its simple. I bought 2 flow control valves for the 2 closest hydraulics to the cab on the boom and now my QH12R is a tamed beast!
Digginlife21 has recently been doing videos including teaching his daughter to operate equipment. He gives pointers on operation on a regular basis. The techniques for not toppling the small excavator will work for the mini.
Dalton that is cool! You’ll get used to it and e able to control it better. In manual can you adjust hydraulic flow to slow it down? 🤷🏻♂️. Ya you need to to in the upper field and dig some holes👍👍 Would be interested in seeing comparisons.
Few things... I have the QH12R. The machine is plenty strong enough and even stronger then the harbor freight backhoe. Your lack of experience on the controls is why it didn't grip the rock or pile. My mini bucked like a bronco until I got some flow control valves from central diggers. I put the valve on the first 2 hydraulics on the boom closest to the cab. Plenty of people with knowledge of how to operate these machines doing work in fact a landscape company just did a review on theirs after 800+ hours on it. Its a great machine for the price and you just need more time with it to learn it. Have fun and dig!
is there a hydraulic flow control valve somewhere on the hydraulic manifold block that you can adjust so the controls are less twitchy? Thinking that the hydraulic fluid flow is too fast and adjusting can limit flow and slow it down to a more controlled speed. I’m not sure on foreign machines if there’s even an adjustable valve. Best of luck on your future projects with this piece of equipment in your arsenal.
There are 2 things you can do to You can one slow engine down a bit The second thing is make control arms a bit longer that will slow down the movement so fast
How do you think it compares to the HF backhoe? Power wise? Obviously its nice that this one moves on it's own but the HF unit seemed more stable for those sharp angles when building your driveway up that hill?
a friend has one and wants me to do some work with it. I refuse to operate it as the controls are backwards from any other machine, which makes it easy to put it through the wall or harm someone standing near by. Real death trap as far as i can see
It will get smoother the more you use it. You need some sound buffer on the floor and sides. You almost fill the compartment. It looks like a toy with you inside. Be careful. Start small and work up.
I'm just thinking out loud ... could the issue with the gravel be because the gravel is not that deep and it is sitting on concrete? It almost creates a slippery surface with nothing for the gravel to dig into. Even on packed earth, there is some give. Also, for stability, maybe you should determine the center of gravity when the machine is in various positions.
@@susanlee2660 the first spot i got stuck in was the new addition that doesn’t have any concrete underneath it. And the problem wasn’t that it couldn’t get traction, it didn’t have the strength to turn the track with the resistance of a mound of gravel around it
I think it would be helpful for you to watch videos here on UA-cam of excavators being used. One channel called Dirt Perfect comes to mind but there's a bunch of them. Just watching how they use and maneuver them might help you. Of course you will have to adjust what you see to fit the size of what you have.
Your too young to remember this but years ago a guy in San Diego went postal and drove around in a military tank destroying everything in his path. I can just picture you in that mini excavator running around freaking out your neighborhood. 🚜😱👍
@@garyp1930 i’m not crazy about the cab so far. I just got it because it was cool but it seems like more of a hazard and an inconvenience than anything beneficial
I've tried everything to get one but run into blockades and circles. What's the deal with China advertising the 3.5 ton new for $2000 & free shipping ? If they are wanting to sell them why make it nearly impossible?
@@marchingmoto Sounds like it would be definitely worth just loading it in the back of a pickup instead of paying a shipping company, even if a person was driving across the U.S.
Um...homestead? A homestead was 160 acres of land that was deeded to people by the government to help settle the American "west." There were certain conditions that had to be met...like planting trees, farming etc. Using that term today is erroneous and it's specific to the US. You qualify for the US part anyway lol. It's a very overused word, especially on UA-cam, without most people even understanding what the word means or the history behind it. The biggest thing that would scare the crap out of me with that miniX is tipping over. Even with the enclosed cab I would use the seatbelt...if it has one. **typed that before I finished watching 😆
@@marchingmoto Maybe a headset mike would work? Closer to your mouth? I think a good set of noise cancelling headphones would work better than the earplugs, but maybe you'd know better.
Your property is a homestead for certain, Dalton, providing ability for self sufficiency which you have, just need a few chickens and critters to complete! I'm not an experienced equipment operator or mechanic, but have worked with/around machinery (Captain-Max made some great suggestions) like this several years and know how easy it is to have fails resulting in bad outcomes and this machine appears to be one that could be very unstable; I would suggest securely installing a seat belt with aircraft grade materials. Hope you have good use with the new piece of equipment for your project. Maybe too late, perhaps renting a roll-off for house demolition debris would have been a possibility? PS: ever observed that most of the youtube crazy catastrophic disaster videos involve track hoes, back hoes, sometimes cranes and all seem to be located in China or the Far East? Hhhmmm....
This purchase makes for very good video! He is in the way of making videos for US now! This will surely pay off! We are not going anywhere ( except wherever he is going!)
I just bought one. The controls are awful. It's going to get hot and boil the fuel in the tank that sits rite on top of the motor. That has to be changed. Thicker hydro fluid will help with the jerky controls. Add a fan to help cool it, maybe cut the back of the engine cover off. I have these problems at 2 hours. It needs some reengineering to run better. Extend the exhaust tip out another inch and a half. It's blowing hot exhaust into the engine compartment. I'm not impressed. At all.
Morning, watching you in that machine was making me a nervous wreck. You just fit with your wide shoulders with inches to spare. When it was tipping I had to close my eyes because I didn't want to see you fall. Please be very careful with that deathtrap.
Firstly, you wldnt be sticking that hard but more gentle and finesse. Secondly, be careful, slamming and perking like that, and lastly, it takes time to get used to any unit.
I’m sorry but I think this is a very unfair review of the machine because as he said, he had no idea what he was doing. I suggest knowing how to use the machine before reviewing. He did answer the one question I had though when he lifted that big rock because I have a lot of rocks that size to move. I think a hydraulic thumb would be a good upgrade
@@marchingmoto It would help if the reviewer had experience using similar sized sized machines in that way a comparison could be useful but your review tells the viewer nothing because so called deficiencies might be because of your lack of experience and not the fault of the machine.
@@PatrickKelly-lz3pv like i said, if its a problem i have due to lack of experience, its a problem the typical homeowner would most likely also have. It doesn’t do someone else looking to buy this any good if an experienced operator glazes over issues another inexperienced operator, that’s thinking about buying a machine like this would have. This is marketed towards people with no experience. Not professionals
@@marchingmoto What you have described is the blind leading the blind, would you go to your Butcher to get advice about financial investments, or why not get your Barber to draw up the plans for your new house, if i need advice i would want the advisor to have knowledge and experience of the thing i am seeking help for. I understand what you are doing in your video, you are testing the machine as if you were the first time buyer with no experience of using the machine, but how can you offer any practical advice when any fault you find with the machine might be your fault and not the excavators.
@@PatrickKelly-lz3pv nowhere in my video am i telling people to base their decision on wether or not to buy the machine on my opinions of it. I’m just documenting my experiences and sharing them for entertainment.
It's like a thousand UA-camRS get their equipment free just because they make these pointless videos that are only helping themselves. Screw yals opions
That thing looks dangerous not to mention it appears it would get stuck pretty often. Might have to put her for sale and stick with ya already have. I don’t see being to be able to do a whole lot of things with it kinda seems like it will piss you off more than do work.
Think u might be out of ur wheel house bro . I'm confused. U got 0 hrs on any excavator big or small , but ur gonna do a review on the equipment that u don't know how to operate . I was a operator engineer for 15 yrs and owned a grading , paving , concrete contractor for 10 yrs. That would be like me giving a review on hospital equipment. But here's a little tip when u set up to start digging drop the back fill blade down till u fell the under carriage stiffin that will make more stable .
I also have the exact same machine. I hardly ever run it at full engine speed. It is much smoother when the engine is running slower. I also noticed your machine pulls a little to the right when traveling. I had the same issue, and it was a loose track tension. I evened the tension and now it drives much better. I'd also recommend a full nut and bolt check. I found a lot of loose things on mine. I really like the machine. Hydraulics a pretty powerful. I did have to reset the main hydraulic pressure as well. Mine was set at 1800 psi, and it would not push the dozer blade. I adjusted it to 2500 psi. Much better pushing power with the dozer blade after setting the hydraulic pressure properly.
It's better than a shovel, I will say that. I run equipment for a living, and I spend most of my time in a 6 ton mini ex, a Kubota KX-057, I have run a couple of these little machines, and while they are better than nothing I would rather save my money and buy a little bit bigger and better used machine with alot of hours before I spent the money on this. A buddy of mine bought one and I tried to talk him out of it but he didnt listen, he wont admit it but he wish he wouldn't have. And he got a Chinese mini ex that was like $18k, I dont remember exactly what it was
You go to a construction site and operators will crank up the RPMs and it looks like a smooth classical dance when they work. As the mechanic who came to fix what they broke I'd idle it down a lot because I never got the practice to smooth out my movements. Cylinder size will determine power and both machines are similar. I think the track system will be most useful moving around the job site and backfilling with the blade. Here again idling down some may help prevent digging down and getting stuck. Don't be afraid to consider the bucket as a helping hand for maneuvering. Think of it as a cane. Use it to stabilize movements such as maneuvering a side slope. Also to prevent unexpected drop offs like coming off the trailer. Much better to slide off something riding on the bucket then to tip over. Yes the thumb is likely lighter duty. Mostly used to stabilize than to pinch and pickup. After you get the garden in, chicken coop built and occupied, and a donkey guard critter, then it's officially a homestead. 🤣
Maybe i can dig a little pond and add some fish and call it a homestead haha
Great advice!
I’ve got 2, very hard to precisely operate, easy to damage things that are near by, cars , house, ac units , fences etc. yesterday I used my 1.5 ton to dig out around my HVAC unit, with nearly 3 years of experience now I’ve learned that I have to use 2 hands to make slow precise movements , ac unit is still intact but after the fact, I just should have used a pick and shovel , and not risked having to put in a new HVAC system. Almost ran into / through my bedroom window with the boom, just caught it in time. Very early to forget about you surrounding and get caught up in the task at hand, one of which should be not to cause more / extra. damage or repair work Know when you need it and when it makes more sense to get all dirty and sweaty.
That sounds odd about getting stuck, never had a problem in any surface, except mud, sand causes my tracks to come off if I try to turn on sand. Tracks are a hassle to put on by yourself. Keep an eye on track tension , especially from the changing seasons , give that engine a few house of static idle run time for break in then change oil.
Oh yes, they can be easy to tip n flip. , "never" jump off if n when tipping over "stay with it" I’ve never tipped over yet, but have come mighty mighty close. Know it’s center of balance and limitations.know where to put your hands before hand and definitely get a seat belt in there, my goodness it should be a requirement,all mine had shipped with them, tho I’ve replaced with better quality ones.
This is the kind of comment these videos need! The informed and knowledgeable insight of someone who knows!
Flow control valves and its smooth as you want it to be. Best mod I have done on mine.
Awesome video 😃 Yes, I'm very interested in seeing what it can do.
You increase the stability while maneuvering by using the backfill blade or dozer blade, by pushing it to the ground, like an outrigger. It will always feel that way for smaller machines. Once you are on a bigger machine it's more stable. Throttle it down some. Watch some videos on excavators and minis. Always boom out in forward facing to prevent tipping side to side. Then boom in before swinging.
Thank you so much for doing this video - it answers all the little questions hubby & I had about this unit. This may be perfect for our little homestead (moving lg rocks we can't lift already on property for free landscape). I like your honesty on the unit & see your same concerns as well. Yes, I'd install a seat belt for sure (and a secure phone holder for emergencies, a stereo & a/c, lol).
I'm anxious to see if you can get up the hill but can see that may be too dangerous. I can't get a perspective without seeing the unit at the foot of the hill. I wouldn't chance it if you're skeptical.
Hopefully this new unit reviews pushes you over the 10K SUBSCRIBERS soon - that'll be a huge marker & maybe more sponsors calling to give you free stuff for reviews.
@@onamissionfortruth6326 i have a lot more planned for it, i definitely think it’ll be good for the channel. Thanks!!
I agree with a secured phone holder. It’s a cool machine! Stay safe.
Plenty of seasoned pros on these machines. Plenty being used on homesteads and landscaping companies. Just saw a landscaping company give their review after 800+ hours on it and they love it. Another older couple with a channel homestead uncontained or something like that has many videos on what they have done on them including mods and repairs when needed.
I just got one of these to dig out a few holes around the property. Hoping it’s capable of doing so! Best of luck with your machine.
Get online and get some peel and stick heat and sound shield padding and install under the cab to reduce the motor echo. Slow the rpms and go easy till you get better exseperience. Remeber fast is slow and fast is slow when running equipment. Always keep boom stretched andj the bucket off the ground a tad when off loading. This is a single pump unit so everytrhing will want to herk and jerk,lower the rpm to allow the pump to find a balance point. Most important lesson is to have fun Brother :)
Yeah some sound dampening material could probably help
On the mini excavators I rent when I need one they always have like really massive 1 foot extensions for the dozer blade that you can put on each side. those make it a lot more stable with the dozer blade down, but that's a totally different price range 😅. Otherwise all looks pretty much normal and totally OK. That's just how they are. dial down the idle so long as you don't need full power to be more precise, and be way more sensitive on the levers. For driving with the tracks always try to turn when also driving forward (speeding up one track instead of braking the other.
Mainly just practise and get used to it 😁
I’ve had this exact QH13R since April. You’ll love it the more you use it. Mine has really impressed me.
A list of things I’ve done to “improve” mine.
- Cooling Fan for the engine compartment
- Nipple grease fittings
- Rubber floor mat
- Swapped the controls to mimic a JD
- Hydraulic thumb
This one came with the fan and it’s very nice lol
Wow, Dalton it certainly is not as stable as the Harborfreight. I watched our water company excavate to repair water leaks, they keep the tracks on the road surface. I am looking forward to the testing as you get more experience. The noise factor is about the same as my first Champion generator.👍
It does sound a lot like a generator or a pressure washer
Fun machine! You will enjoy it! I’ve watched these on other videos, and the hydraulics are way to fast, on my log lift I put a valve that slows down the speed on the cylinder for safety, I've been curious if you could put a speed control valve on the return line of the main valve, to help maintain safety, the valve I have I can control the speed with a lever, anyways, have fun!
@@melissahilton-v9r i’m sure anything is possible! I may have to do something like that haha
As an East Dutch farmer area originated we would say: "kiek 'm goan!" (Look at him go!) With a heavy dialect haha. Cool little machine
I like the rocks/boulders near the edge of your new parking area. Softens the edge view. Watching you with the bucket, if you curl it back towards the boom you will be able to pick up that boulder. Rely on the thumb less.
Half throttle, I have basically the same one but with a hydraulic thumb and yes they are very jerky which is annoying but if you run it at half throttle it is more manageable, slow movements on the sticks. They are also very tippy, get some counterweights off the back/bottom and will help some.
These are pretty decent excavators the only thing that could be improved on is the fuel capacity it has.
Get you some dynamat and put in the engine compartment. Its doesnt solve all the noise but it does help.
Im curious as to how much exhaust fumes fill the cab when the door is closed.
Yeah it doesn’t smell like exhaust in there and it has An exhaust pipe leading out but it’s possible there’s still some escaping into the cab
Cool 😊 becareful while learning!!
That looks like fun! But please be safe!!!!!
How much we already care about this guy!!!
All I want is you to be safe. Scary to watch for an old duck🤣🤣🤣
Just a word of advice. You don’t have to run those at high idle to get the job done. Most folks operate them at half throttle most of the time.
I could definitely see that. It helps with the hydraulic speed too keeping the throttle down
When it comes to these I hear different advice from different people on where to run them.
I look forward to seeing the comparison between the two excavators, but ya, that one is loud.
Im looking forward to seeing more of your content!
Ok I was on the edge of my seat!! Be safe. 😳
Run at lower throttle for smoother control. 1/2 maybe
@@Acekg1911 yeah that works it just greatly decreases the already weak lifting strength
This gave me a lot on deciding between the two of these
I would think coming down (or up) the ramp would be safer with the bucket toward the front, acting as a counter balance.
@@jeepman5982 i don’t trust the stability of this thing yet i wanted to be able to catch myself with the boom if it tipped
Yaaaaa I wouldn’t keep the cab on it with it looking so tip happy lol.. comparison vids should be good! At 6’6” I’m not sure I’d fit in it either, what do you think?
It might be cramped depending on how long your legs are. I’m 6’2 and i have lots of extra room actually. I expected it to be a lot tighter in there
@@marchingmoto nice. Ya you’re a good sized dude. So it’s probably big enough!
Slow and steady is always safer till you get comfortable with all the controls. Be careful we all care about you and getting a seat belt sounds like a really good idea.
I want a small excavator and dump trailer to play on my 8 acres now. Cool machines you got there.
I have mini excavators which can meet all your demand.
Whoa that thing is really loud but it moves faster than the HF backhoe. You can't even hear the HF at all while you're using it in your older videos🤣 I'm sure once you do more thorough testing it'll prove it's capabilities more. It does look fun to use😁
I bought one new but won't start when I crank the engine. Ignition key tries to get going but engine won't start. Battery is working fine. Anyone has any suggestion. There is sticker by Ignition switch that says turn on engine switch first but I don't see any engine switch.
Without pilot control valves it’s going to be jerky, not much help for that. It does seem like the hydraulics are too fast. As far as turning the tracks you may have to learn to put the bucket down and use the swing gear to help it turn Though that’d be hard with hand-only track controls. It’s definitely narrow so be careful on sidling slopes for sure. One last thing, trying to jump off of a machine while it’s turning over almost never works out pleasantly 🙁
Well theres no staying on it with no seat belt. I agree its better to stay in the seat with a roll cage and a seat belt. But theres nothing to keep you there, so you’re likely to end up between the ground and the roll bar during the fall.
Not ideal!😑
Yes very jerky but there is something you can do about it and its simple. I bought 2 flow control valves for the 2 closest hydraulics to the cab on the boom and now my QH12R is a tamed beast!
Digginlife21 has recently been doing videos including teaching his daughter to operate equipment. He gives pointers on operation on a regular basis. The techniques for not toppling the small excavator will work for the mini.
Dalton that is cool! You’ll get used to it and e able to control it better. In manual can you adjust hydraulic flow to slow it down? 🤷🏻♂️. Ya you need to to in the upper field and dig some holes👍👍 Would be interested in seeing comparisons.
@@Larry-325 its all in the plans!
Few things... I have the QH12R.
The machine is plenty strong enough and even stronger then the harbor freight backhoe. Your lack of experience on the controls is why it didn't grip the rock or pile.
My mini bucked like a bronco until I got some flow control valves from central diggers. I put the valve on the first 2 hydraulics on the boom closest to the cab.
Plenty of people with knowledge of how to operate these machines doing work in fact a landscape company just did a review on theirs after 800+ hours on it.
Its a great machine for the price and you just need more time with it to learn it.
Have fun and dig!
I hope they come with side booms to help with tip over
Speedwise that baby doesn't fool around! Looks like you're in fast motion!😂
@@Outdoorsy368 I know it really does lol
Sounds like more tests are definitely needed,can't believe they didn't give u a manual or anything.
@@JaneiroRoad-mm5zv they did i just didn’t mention it
😃 Very Nice 👍
is there a hydraulic flow control valve somewhere on the hydraulic manifold block that you can adjust so the controls are less twitchy? Thinking that the hydraulic fluid flow is too fast and adjusting can limit flow and slow it down to a more controlled speed. I’m not sure on foreign machines if there’s even an adjustable valve. Best of luck on your future projects with this piece of equipment in your arsenal.
How much do you think it going to lift? 😅
Hey, I ordered one. When you get it, is it all ready to go? Fuel and fluids etc? Thanks.
@@mdkrush don’t know as far as ordering one. I bought mine from a local dealer and they handled all that
How do you learn to operate this equipment?
Hi Dalton, practice makes perfect. Glad you had earplugs, it is loud.
There are 2 things you can do to
You can one slow engine down a bit
The second thing is make control arms a bit longer that will slow down the movement so fast
How do you think it compares to the HF backhoe? Power wise? Obviously its nice that this one moves on it's own but the HF unit seemed more stable for those sharp angles when building your driveway up that hill?
I’ll get into that some more with my next excavation project. I think they’re gonna be a closer comparison than i thought
a friend has one and wants me to do some work with it. I refuse to operate it as the controls are backwards from any other machine, which makes it easy to put it through the wall or harm someone standing near by. Real death trap as far as i can see
The controls are an easy fix. I’ve got the exact same QH13R and actually just swapped my controls today to mimic a JD.
It will get smoother the more you use it. You need some sound buffer on the floor and sides. You almost fill the compartment. It looks like a toy with you inside. Be careful. Start small and work up.
Cool!
Yes!
I'm just thinking out loud ... could the issue with the gravel be because the gravel is not that deep and it is sitting on concrete? It almost creates a slippery surface with nothing for the gravel to dig into. Even on packed earth, there is some give.
Also, for stability, maybe you should determine the center of gravity when the machine is in various positions.
@@susanlee2660 the first spot i got stuck in was the new addition that doesn’t have any concrete underneath it. And the problem wasn’t that it couldn’t get traction, it didn’t have the strength to turn the track with the resistance of a mound of gravel around it
I think it would be helpful for you to watch videos here on UA-cam of excavators being used. One channel called Dirt Perfect comes to mind but there's a bunch of them. Just watching how they use and maneuver them might help you. Of course you will have to adjust what you see to fit the size of what you have.
Interesting. Definitely loud AF.
Watch some videos on how to operate and also make adjustments. There are a few for this exact model on YT.
Your too young to remember this but years ago a guy in San Diego went postal and drove around in a military tank destroying everything in his path. I can just picture you in that mini excavator running around freaking out your neighborhood. 🚜😱👍
Amazon sells seat belts. It's a matter of picking where to bolt one in.
that is really fast half way with the throttle is best
closed or open cab better?
@@garyp1930 i’m not crazy about the cab so far. I just got it because it was cool but it seems like more of a hazard and an inconvenience than anything beneficial
Merrium Webster
A: the home and adjoining land occupied by a family
It fits! It's a homestead! 🏡
If he says homestead one more time!! 😂😂😂
Killer excavator its fast aggressive 😂 you may want to redo that slope to upper part of property that will handle the leveling much better.
Yes thats part of the reason i got this. Lots more dirt work that needs to be done
Where did you buy this?
@@ymat5306 local dealership in Oklahoma. I wasn’t sure about ordering one so i found someone selling them in person
You can buy it from China
I've tried everything to get one but run into blockades and circles.
What's the deal with China advertising the 3.5 ton new for $2000 & free shipping ?
If they are wanting to sell them why make it nearly impossible?
@@troychambliss784 i didn’t want to mess with any of that because i knew it’d be a nightmare so i found a local dealer to buy from in person
@8:00 This dude look like he movin at 1.5x on a TEMU app commercial. 😂
welp, now you gotta do a weight pick up test with it
Oh my!
At 8:22 I’m dying laughing 😂
Where did you find a brand new Chinese mini excavator for $5000? On Ebay the cheapest ones I have found are $6800.
@@MyLifeThai371 i got it from an equipment dealership in Oklahoma.
@@marchingmoto Sounds like it would be definitely worth just loading it in the back of a pickup instead of paying a shipping company, even if a person was driving across the U.S.
@@MyLifeThai371 yeah it worked out great for me. About an hour away and they loaded it on my trailer. No worries about shipping or importing
yes, please look at me. I come from China and I can provide you $4000
Texas... Homestead is your primary residence.
Um...homestead? A homestead was 160 acres of land that was deeded to people by the government to help settle the American "west." There were certain conditions that had to be met...like planting trees, farming etc. Using that term today is erroneous and it's specific to the US. You qualify for the US part anyway lol. It's a very overused word, especially on UA-cam, without most people even understanding what the word means or the history behind it. The biggest thing that would scare the crap out of me with that miniX is tipping over. Even with the enclosed cab I would use the seatbelt...if it has one. **typed that before I finished watching 😆
Is anyone else having issues with hearing Dalton over the noise of the miniX? lol
@@SagebrushRambles i can’t even tell what i was saying there lol i was gonna add text but i couldn’t tell
@@marchingmoto 🤣
@@marchingmoto Maybe a headset mike would work? Closer to your mouth? I think a good set of noise cancelling headphones would work better than the earplugs, but maybe you'd know better.
@@cdoggyish i want the dji mic 2 it has the noise canceling ability
Your property is a homestead for certain, Dalton, providing ability for self sufficiency which you have, just need a few chickens and critters to complete! I'm not an experienced equipment operator or mechanic, but have worked with/around machinery (Captain-Max made some great suggestions) like this several years and know how easy it is to have fails resulting in bad outcomes and this machine appears to be one that could be very unstable; I would suggest securely installing a seat belt with aircraft grade materials. Hope you have good use with the new piece of equipment for your project. Maybe too late, perhaps renting a roll-off for house demolition debris would have been a possibility? PS: ever observed that most of the youtube crazy catastrophic disaster videos involve track hoes, back hoes, sometimes cranes and all seem to be located in China or the Far East? Hhhmmm....
Why did you buy that?
I don’t know
This purchase makes for very good video! He is in the way of making videos for US now! This will surely pay off! We are not going anywhere ( except wherever he is going!)
I just bought one. The controls are awful. It's going to get hot and boil the fuel in the tank that sits rite on top of the motor. That has to be changed. Thicker hydro fluid will help with the jerky controls. Add a fan to help cool it, maybe cut the back of the engine cover off. I have these problems at 2 hours. It needs some reengineering to run better. Extend the exhaust tip out another inch and a half. It's blowing hot exhaust into the engine compartment. I'm not impressed. At all.
@@mikehenry7848 I’m not very impressed either I’m probably gonna sell it honestly
Morning, watching you in that machine was making me a nervous wreck. You just fit with your wide shoulders with inches to spare. When it was tipping I had to close my eyes because I didn't want to see you fall.
Please be very careful with that deathtrap.
It does kind of feel like a death trap hahaha. Yeah i’ll be slow and meticulous with all my projects with it
be ok once you get used to it
100% you’d be better off with a good shovel.
@@vrooooooooooooooooooom come here and I’ll give you a shovel and we’ll race haha
Beats a shovel.........
Nissan hardbody
Firstly, you wldnt be sticking that hard but more gentle and finesse. Secondly, be careful, slamming and perking like that, and lastly, it takes time to get used to any unit.
I’m sorry but I think this is a very unfair review of the machine because as he said, he had no idea what he was doing. I suggest knowing how to use the machine before reviewing. He did answer the one question I had though when he lifted that big rock because I have a lot of rocks that size to move. I think a hydraulic thumb would be a good upgrade
@@RobertMuschera-f9l this video doesn’t say it’s a review anywhere in anyway. It’s just a vlog
You need animals for a homestead
@@streetsharkz is that in the criteria haha
Maybe a cat?
You admitted you have no experience operating any excavators yet you think you can review this one.
@@PatrickKelly-lz3pv like a regular homeowner? The type of people that would be buying this? You didn’t make a point at all with this comment.
@@marchingmoto It would help if the reviewer had experience using similar sized sized machines in that way a comparison could be useful but your review tells the viewer nothing because so called deficiencies might be because of your lack of experience and not the fault of the machine.
@@PatrickKelly-lz3pv like i said, if its a problem i have due to lack of experience, its a problem the typical homeowner would most likely also have. It doesn’t do someone else looking to buy this any good if an experienced operator glazes over issues another inexperienced operator, that’s thinking about buying a machine like this would have. This is marketed towards people with no experience. Not professionals
@@marchingmoto What you have described is the blind leading the blind, would you go to your Butcher to get advice about financial investments, or why not get your Barber to draw up the plans for your new house, if i need advice i would want the advisor to have knowledge and experience of the thing i am seeking help for. I understand what you are doing in your video, you are testing the machine as if you were the first time buyer with no experience of using the machine, but how can you offer any practical advice when any fault you find with the machine might be your fault and not the excavators.
@@PatrickKelly-lz3pv nowhere in my video am i telling people to base their decision on wether or not to buy the machine on my opinions of it. I’m just documenting my experiences and sharing them for entertainment.
Need to turn your RPMs down that's why you're all jerky
It's like a thousand UA-camRS get their equipment free just because they make these pointless videos that are only helping themselves.
Screw yals opions
@@troychambliss784 yals opions?
learn to use it before you do a vid
@@peterpapaleo5781 you might notice the title is “first thoughts and usage” not “review of”
@@marchingmoto my sincere apologiese, i got rapped up in yor vid and lost all consciousness. my bad
First of all, always put the blade down second you don’t need to keep it cranked up like that unless you’re picking something up heavy
That thing looks dangerous not to mention it appears it would get stuck pretty often. Might have to put her for sale and stick with ya already have. I don’t see being to be able to do a whole lot of things with it kinda seems like it will piss you off more than do work.
You idle is too high!
Think u might be out of ur wheel house bro . I'm confused. U got 0 hrs on any excavator big or small , but ur gonna do a review on the equipment that u don't know how to operate . I was a operator engineer for 15 yrs and owned a grading , paving , concrete contractor for 10 yrs. That would be like me giving a review on hospital equipment. But here's a little tip when u set up to start digging drop the back fill blade down till u fell the under carriage stiffin that will make more stable .
@@markroberts362 never said i was giving a review. This is just a vlog
@@marchingmoto my bad , I'll pay better attention on ur next on buddy .
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Acts