I have an H15. Done all the main mods like a hydraulic oil cooler and filter, digital hour meter, volt meter, a switched 12” fan, swapped to backhoe controls, oil change, hydraulic change, added a few flow reducers, hydraulic thumb, etc…. Best immediate mod you can do is remove that canopy. It’s useless and makes it a lot more simple to get on/off without it. Definitely use AW46 hydraulic fluid. It makes it a little more tame. It’s also very possible to not tear up grass if you keep both levers near the “almost not moving” position while moving and just barely take one back a bit and you’ll turn in that direction less violently. It’s just practice but I drive it all over grass without issue.
Did the flow reducers help a lot? I’ve done the fluid/oil change, next is the fan and cooler. I have some work to do in the woods then the canopy is gone lol feel like a gymnast getting in and out haha
Hey brother i jusy got one of these as well amd was wondering what size trailer i can get away with to tow this as far as lenghth with the boom resting on the deck..mine doesnt arrive until next week and im trying to get a trailer before it gets here so if ya could gibe me some insight id really appriciate it...for the record im looking at a 10' x 5' wide 4k load wt 5k GVW trailer w/ breaks ...think that will fit it ok?.. Thanks man!
@@truthfirst4249 oh yea. Bucket curled in it’s about 7ft from the back to the farthest point. I’ll be using my little utility trailer without trailer breaks. But that’s just because I have a gooseneck to use if I need to go farther off. They weigh enough they won’t move a lot but not enough to put the boom and blade down and just use the Bluetooth straps lol
I think you’ll enjoy it I love my groundhog new engine at a 1000hrs so easy to work on an there very handy for all sorts of things good video keep cranking
That was my logic behind the purchase. They are so easy to work on and make it what you want. I also love is an engine I can easily obtain/upgrade. Thank you for watching
I have been playing for few year now. The h15 is ok. If you wount few more fetchs its the QK18KXS-C. This is diesel and they have a gas. The only draw back is a little shorter tracks. But does have swing boom and hydraulic thum. The next step up is the nt18k it is like the qk18. The nt18k weight is 3000 pounds. No hydraulic thum. Its manual thum
Main things I was looking for is things that I can add fairly easily such as (hydraulic thumb, engine mods, and ease of use mods) . The swing boom is nice for larger machines but the h15 is plenty small enough to get the here I need to be. Haha
@DeepImpactGarage QK18KXS-C comes setup with hydraulic thum, has swing boom. All machine are close to same size. If you have some close go set on them. Find which is best. The reason I didn't do the h15 could not get in to easy.
I'm not 100% but I believe it cuts the power to the valves for the pilot controls. Since they are not direct to a valve like the pedals are and it only lockouts out them.
@@bigbluram that’s alittle different then pouring a couple bags of quickcrete in a mold with two bolts holding it on. lol I’m sure Cat uses fiber with reinforced steel tubing as some sort of mounting hardware.
Just open the cap on the tank, take the back door off, take the main hose off and let it drain from there. Really all you can do is drain the tank and empty some lines out. You wont get every last drop but its 1000% better then letting the vegetable oil they ship it to you with staying in it. Some models come with a drain in the bottom of the tank (witch I may be adding) I'll be posting a video soon on it, oil change, and other common things I think you need/will want to do to this model off the rip. Loving it so far though!
@@kroach2653 it’s not too bad. Just keep the boom out to act like a stabilizer and be smart. I will be adding more counter weight and I believe that will help tremendously. They are naturally light in the back.
@@DeepImpactGarage Thanks for the reply. I'm about 50/50 on one of these or the northern tool towable. Seems the nortrac is more stable but these are way more convenient to move to different places around the property.
@@kroach2653 If you just need something to dig and it doesn’t need to be in a tight area then go with the towable. If you need something more versatile and can go anywhere go with the mini. Also the resale is better with the mini. That was a good selling point for me and about 90% of the stuff I purchase haha
@@DeepImpactGarage Yeah, I think the towable is probably what I need to get, the majority of my property is hills. But these little minis have such a cool factor lol
@@212Prospectors in my areas cheapest I could get one for was around 4k before fees and driving to get it at a auction in tn or eastern Nc. Settled for this one brand new with a hydraulic thumb delivered 5 minutes from the house for 6300. Little more then I wanted to spend but I think it was a fair deal and didn’t have to meat with an auction house.
No, they are being sold at auctions all over North America. I picked up an H15 last week in British Columbia for $4k Canadian dollars. Came with a hydraulic oil cooler and cooler fan also.
Main reason is to get rid of the cheap crap it is shipped with. Break in with proper oil goes a long way for the life of the motor. Plus in 20$ on oil I’ll take the safe of mind that I’m not running a 6k machine with 3$ canola oil hahah
I bought a 1.5 ton , a couple of years ago. Great Buy, already paid for it self, Win Win situation.
Can already tell,AWESOME INVESTMENT
100%
I have an H15. Done all the main mods like a hydraulic oil cooler and filter, digital hour meter, volt meter, a switched 12” fan, swapped to backhoe controls, oil change, hydraulic change, added a few flow reducers, hydraulic thumb, etc…. Best immediate mod you can do is remove that canopy. It’s useless and makes it a lot more simple to get on/off without it. Definitely use AW46 hydraulic fluid. It makes it a little more tame. It’s also very possible to not tear up grass if you keep both levers near the “almost not moving” position while moving and just barely take one back a bit and you’ll turn in that direction less violently. It’s just practice but I drive it all over grass without issue.
Did the flow reducers help a lot? I’ve done the fluid/oil change, next is the fan and cooler. I have some work to do in the woods then the canopy is gone lol feel like a gymnast getting in and out haha
Hey brother i jusy got one of these as well amd was wondering what size trailer i can get away with to tow this as far as lenghth with the boom resting on the deck..mine doesnt arrive until next week and im trying to get a trailer before it gets here so if ya could gibe me some insight id really appriciate it...for the record im looking at a 10' x 5' wide 4k load wt 5k GVW trailer w/ breaks ...think that will fit it ok?..
Thanks man!
@@truthfirst4249 oh yea. Bucket curled in it’s about 7ft from the back to the farthest point. I’ll be using my little utility trailer without trailer breaks. But that’s just because I have a gooseneck to use if I need to go farther off. They weigh enough they won’t move a lot but not enough to put the boom and blade down and just use the Bluetooth straps lol
@@DeepImpactGarageEl ventilador y el enfriador donde se consigue , es fácil su escalamiento?
@@truthfirst4249 De dónde la compraste y también estoy pensando en recoger una ,Suerte amigo.
Got one of them myself. Fun little digger. Fantastic for trenching or clearing smaller stumps. 🤘
Really enjoying it so far. Can already feel my back saying thank you
I think you’ll enjoy it I love my groundhog new engine at a 1000hrs so easy to work on an there very handy for all sorts of things good video keep cranking
That was my logic behind the purchase. They are so easy to work on and make it what you want. I also love is an engine I can easily obtain/upgrade. Thank you for watching
Nice up grade is the rear cover, hinges on one side, latches on the other side.
For the money these things are great. I like mine. 👍
Thanks for sharing！Great vedio! How to move the excavator to the left or right？Thanks!
@@wyp2929 left pilot control. Watch my first video with it and I explain controls
What did everyone pay for theirs?
I have been playing for few year now. The h15 is ok. If you wount few more fetchs its the QK18KXS-C. This is diesel and they have a gas. The only draw back is a little shorter tracks. But does have swing boom and hydraulic thum. The next step up is the nt18k it is like the qk18. The nt18k weight is 3000 pounds. No hydraulic thum. Its manual thum
Main things I was looking for is things that I can add fairly easily such as (hydraulic thumb, engine mods, and ease of use mods) . The swing boom is nice for larger machines but the h15 is plenty small enough to get the here I need to be. Haha
@DeepImpactGarage QK18KXS-C comes setup with hydraulic thum, has swing boom.
All machine are close to same size. If you have some close go set on them. Find which is best. The reason I didn't do the h15 could not get in to easy.
My biggest complaint , not enough foot room .
@@waynemurphy7394 yes! I’m about 6’ 2 and I have no idea where to put my feet. Thought about making a foot rail to bolt on the front
😂 your all set crocs and socks.
How does the hydraulic lockout work? I assumed they were all direct to the valves.
I'm not 100% but I believe it cuts the power to the valves for the pilot controls. Since they are not direct to a valve like the pedals are and it only lockouts out them.
Down near the tank is a electric solenoid.
Concrete counterweight is crazy huh ? What do u think cat uses in their counterweights? Yep u got it, concrete 😉
@@bigbluram that’s alittle different then pouring a couple bags of quickcrete in a mold with two bolts holding it on. lol I’m sure Cat uses fiber with reinforced steel tubing as some sort of mounting hardware.
Basically a honda motor lol
Coolest shit I’ve seen this month
And we are only half way through
Hola amigo , el recambio lo tiene fácil esta máquina..? Saludos.
Not to bad. Well worth there value
How do you bleed the hydraulic system on these beasts?
Just open the cap on the tank, take the back door off, take the main hose off and let it drain from there. Really all you can do is drain the tank and empty some lines out. You wont get every last drop but its 1000% better then letting the vegetable oil they ship it to you with staying in it. Some models come with a drain in the bottom of the tank (witch I may be adding) I'll be posting a video soon on it, oil change, and other common things I think you need/will want to do to this model off the rip. Loving it so far though!
Have you used it on any hills? My property is nearly all hills and slopes. I want one of these but i worry it would be too unstable.
@@kroach2653 it’s not too bad. Just keep the boom out to act like a stabilizer and be smart. I will be adding more counter weight and I believe that will help tremendously. They are naturally light in the back.
@@DeepImpactGarage Thanks for the reply. I'm about 50/50 on one of these or the northern tool towable. Seems the nortrac is more stable but these are way more convenient to move to different places around the property.
@@kroach2653 If you just need something to dig and it doesn’t need to be in a tight area then go with the towable. If you need something more versatile and can go anywhere go with the mini. Also the resale is better with the mini. That was a good selling point for me and about 90% of the stuff I purchase haha
@@DeepImpactGarage Yeah, I think the towable is probably what I need to get, the majority of my property is hills. But these little minis have such a cool factor lol
How much?
@@212Prospectors video coming soon explaining
I paid $4k Canadian last week for the same model, in British Colimbia. Brand new at an auction. Others sold for 3,350.
@johnverney wow
@johnverney I'm trying to get one at an auction for about that price. Let me know how you like it I always like to hear about these Chinese ones
@@212Prospectors in my areas cheapest I could get one for was around 4k before fees and driving to get it at a auction in tn or eastern Nc. Settled for this one brand new with a hydraulic thumb delivered 5 minutes from the house for 6300. Little more then I wanted to spend but I think it was a fair deal and didn’t have to meat with an auction house.
Did you have to order from China?
No, they are being sold at auctions all over North America. I picked up an H15 last week in British Columbia for $4k Canadian dollars. Came with a hydraulic oil cooler and cooler fan also.
You should not have done this video until you knew what you were doing.
@@robertbutler8004 thank you for the comment and will take what you said in strong consideration.
"Uhm..."
@@KalebBroadhead hahaha think next video I’m gonna have a Uhm meter in the corner.
HAD A STROKE . HAD PROJECT TO ADD, REMOVE, REPLACE, ELEVEN PLANTS. BACKHOE WASTE OF MONEY, NO CHINA EXCAVATORS. GOT SMALLEST KUBOTA TRACK HOE.
Lol.. changing oil is useless do 50 hours then change.
Main reason is to get rid of the cheap crap it is shipped with. Break in with proper oil goes a long way for the life of the motor. Plus in 20$ on oil I’ll take the safe of mind that I’m not running a 6k machine with 3$ canola oil hahah