Great review Cam. I picked up one of these machines and accepted all the pitfalls you mentioned and plan to modify them all at some point. Adding to your list could be exhaust relocation/heat wrap and/or additional cooling fans for the engine bay. I figure I’ll be able to utilize the 3rd pump on my trencher attachment eventually. Unfortunately I don’t think there are many continuous attachments that this machine could run given the low pump flow (~4.5 ish gpm)
I picked one up at auction as well. Sought this one after watching tons of videos of different models and was sold with the triple pump. And after having a mini excavator for a while and doing all the mods I kinda feel that’s the fun part aside from actually using it a getting work done. It’s a labor of love for sure! And helps being a gear head as well makes easy work of getting mods done. Now I’m trying to get better at welding to re-enforce the bucket arm/cylinder assembly. Your videos have been quite helpful and informative! Waiting til it warms up a bit to install the cushion valve that you recommend for the mini ex! Let me know if you get some GC T-shirts!
This is the best review of a cheaper Chinese equipment that i have seen. This man understand that you can't pay for peanuts and expect a Caterpillar to show up. And just like every other manufacturer the quality is going to rise up together with the price...
Awesome review! Do you have any opinions/thoughts on any of the mini excavators? Looking at a few at auction and wondering what your favorite gas and diesel models are....
For me the spindle issue is the single largest issue that will stop me from owning one. I don't know a single machine shop in my area able to make new ones. I would rather have a little dumper. As usual a very good in-depth review.
I have one of these CRT23 but have not put it to real work yet. I got a really good deal at auction on it and now have a small list going of mods that might need to be performed on it. Good initial review 👍
Bad news guys. 3 pump sounds good until you realize that it only has 4gpm per pump. The two pump machines have 6 per pump. this translates to a 50% slower speed compared to the other Chinese mini skids. But that's ok because it can run an attachment with its dedicated auxiliary 4gpm pump right? Nope! Trenchers, stump grinders, brush hogs, all these attachments require a 10gpm flow or more to run. I tried my CRT23 with a good trencher attachment and it just didn't work. you could dig down 8" but as soon as you started to move the machine to start the trench it stops the chain. 4GP just doesn't cut it. For a CRT23 to actually work with any real attachment that requires a third pump you will need to completely overhaul the hydraulics. If you don't believe me, go ahead and buy it and see for yourself!
This video should have been called (CRT the slow, wasteful 3 pump failure) Sadly the 3 pumps are the slowest of all mini skids because they waste 30% of the power all the time. 4 gpm auxiliary flow is not enough to do anything useful. We have proven with plumbing changes a 2 pump mini can out perform a 3 pump in every way. I have a few videos on this topic. ua-cam.com/video/awWmTkYvH6U/v-deo.htmlsi=Al__51t_uOJAgm7c Also Cam, please learn what a A1 vs a A2 rollers is for future videos. Best upgrade for a CRT is a 15 gpm single pump and a re plumbing.
I’ve owned 7 different models of the mini skids, from Roda to EGN, IR, AGT, HFT. By far the CRT23 is the fastest, most powerful, and works the best with all the hydraulic attachments. Downgrading it to a single large pump would be a terrible idea, not only because of the loss of the dedicated aux pump, but it would introduce much more hydraulic noise in the system. If they, or someone, really wanted to make a meaningful change, they would keep the three pumps, but dedicate one pump to just tracking, the 2nd pump to just loader/bucket, and 3rd pump upgrade the GPM and keep it to just aux functions
@@thegarageconnection You really should review what @natsterlive has to say. He is correct regarding how the hydraulics work in these machines and your reply was inaccurate.
Great review Cam. I picked up one of these machines and accepted all the pitfalls you mentioned and plan to modify them all at some point. Adding to your list could be exhaust relocation/heat wrap and/or additional cooling fans for the engine bay. I figure I’ll be able to utilize the 3rd pump on my trencher attachment eventually. Unfortunately I don’t think there are many continuous attachments that this machine could run given the low pump flow (~4.5 ish gpm)
Yeah, it’s definitely a low flow machine, but I’ve gotten a lot of work done with it.
Great video. I bought one of these and did the same”fixes” and love it. I am a former machinist and still fabricate so the spindles don’t scare me. 😉
Yeah, that's a good skill to have!
I picked one up at auction as well. Sought this one after watching tons of videos of different models and was sold with the triple pump. And after having a mini excavator for a while and doing all the mods I kinda feel that’s the fun part aside from actually using it a getting work done. It’s a labor of love for sure! And helps being a gear head as well makes easy work of getting mods done. Now I’m trying to get better at welding to re-enforce the bucket arm/cylinder assembly. Your videos have been quite helpful and informative! Waiting til it warms up a bit to install the cushion valve that you recommend for the mini ex! Let me know if you get some GC T-shirts!
The cushion valve is a game-changer, you won’t regret it!
So far what have you run that you needed the third pump?
This is the best review of a cheaper Chinese equipment that i have seen.
This man understand that you can't pay for peanuts and expect a Caterpillar to show up.
And just like every other manufacturer the quality is going to rise up together with the price...
Dude - nice job on the video.
Awesome review! Do you have any opinions/thoughts on any of the mini excavators? Looking at a few at auction and wondering what your favorite gas and diesel models are....
From what I know now, I’d get a Rippa from Robert Lee Ray in Georgia and never worry about a thing again
For me the spindle issue is the single largest issue that will stop me from owning one.
I don't know a single machine shop in my area able to make new ones.
I would rather have a little dumper. As usual a very good in-depth review.
It's a fair point, but they're pretty solid if they're taken care of.
I have one of these CRT23 but have not put it to real work yet. I got a really good deal at auction on it and now have a small list going of mods that might need to be performed on it. Good initial review 👍
It’s a beast, can’t wait to see what you do with yours!
When will the store be restocked?
When I’m back from deployment
Bad news guys. 3 pump sounds good until you realize that it only has 4gpm per pump. The two pump machines have 6 per pump. this translates to a 50% slower speed compared to the other Chinese mini skids. But that's ok because it can run an attachment with its dedicated auxiliary 4gpm pump right? Nope! Trenchers, stump grinders, brush hogs, all these attachments require a 10gpm flow or more to run. I tried my CRT23 with a good trencher attachment and it just didn't work. you could dig down 8" but as soon as you started to move the machine to start the trench it stops the chain. 4GP just doesn't cut it. For a CRT23 to actually work with any real attachment that requires a third pump you will need to completely overhaul the hydraulics. If you don't believe me, go ahead and buy it and see for yourself!
What’s the flow rate of the auxiliary pump?
4-5ish GPM
Nice review!
Glad you enjoyed it
👍
This video should have been called (CRT the slow, wasteful 3 pump failure)
Sadly the 3 pumps are the slowest of all mini skids because they waste 30% of the power all the time.
4 gpm auxiliary flow is not enough to do anything useful.
We have proven with plumbing changes a 2 pump mini can out perform a 3 pump in every way. I have a few videos on this topic. ua-cam.com/video/awWmTkYvH6U/v-deo.htmlsi=Al__51t_uOJAgm7c
Also Cam, please learn what a A1 vs a A2 rollers is for future videos.
Best upgrade for a CRT is a 15 gpm single pump and a re plumbing.
I’ve owned 7 different models of the mini skids, from Roda to EGN, IR, AGT, HFT. By far the CRT23 is the fastest, most powerful, and works the best with all the hydraulic attachments.
Downgrading it to a single large pump would be a terrible idea, not only because of the loss of the dedicated aux pump, but it would introduce much more hydraulic noise in the system.
If they, or someone, really wanted to make a meaningful change, they would keep the three pumps, but dedicate one pump to just tracking, the 2nd pump to just loader/bucket, and 3rd pump upgrade the GPM and keep it to just aux functions
@@thegarageconnection You really should review what @natsterlive has to say. He is correct regarding how the hydraulics work in these machines and your reply was inaccurate.