by MJ80 » 12 May 2022, 19:59
I've got an old bobcat xe320 mini digger, it's pretty useful but I would love a front loader for carting stuff about on the farm. The digger does its job and I'll be selling I on soon, but you will really need a loader or trailer if you need to move stuff about when you are working. Its no fun moving piles of earth from one place to another just using the reach on the digger.
On buying, go and see the machine, check for leaks when it's up and running, check under under seat to see if the rotary manifold leaks. Lift the digger up with the arm, feel for play between chassis and cab in the slew ring. See how much movement there is in the arm, especially on the king post. I made the mistake and bought blind, its been a running repair job and ex hire machine but cheaper than hiring one out here. I'll sell it and get my money back. I wish that I bought the kubota I saw in person it was a much better machine, even though it looked worse. Check the hours it's got on it. I'd go for something a bit bigger or one with expanding tracks should I get another. Buy bigger, hire smaller if you need to get through a door.
I don't know what they are called in the UK, but John deer and others make a small tractor that I'd like to get. It's got the hook ups and removable accessories, mower decks, front loader, drive off the back etc. For our place it would have been better than the 4wd ride on we got.