I just got myself one of these as well. Tons of fun, and power is no joke, but 100% for the 'tinkering' type.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Yes agreed, agreed and AGREED!!! lol. I’m just learning how to “tinker” with and work on this thing. So far, very easy stuff. Nothing to it.

The access hole in the rear cover might also be for the exhaust of a Kubota engine which is usually a option.

@OurLifeInTrees

21 күн бұрын

That’s one I haven’t heard before. Yeah, you are right! Great idea. I wonder if it is for another engine.

Harbor Freight offers an oil pump to suck the oil out instead of removing the plug. Works great.

@OurLifeInTrees

14 күн бұрын

That’s a great idea.

I was gifted one of these with only 33 hours on it. It defently just needed some tuning and some love. Im going to be using it to install small recreational ponds.

@OurLifeInTrees

2 ай бұрын

Awesome! So much better than a shovel!

For your next oil change, grab one of those thin flexible plastic cutting boards, like 12"x14", from the kitchen and maneuver it into a position to act as a funnel into your collection pan. You can bend and roll them all sorts of ways. You could add an extension to the drain tube but you'll still need something to guide that oil into your pan.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Ohhhhhh great idea! I like it. I may just try that. Thanks!

@portnuefflyer

4 ай бұрын

Looks like if you ran the the opposite track from the oil drain plug up on a couple 2x6's, 3" of tilt would make that oil change a bit less problematic.

I love this series from you. Anything on these mini excavators, and if they're worth it (I think they possibly are, for a small property/farm. Don't have to get a 5-ton machine)!! Great job! I'm saving pennies, in hopes of getting one someday (I hate digging with a shovel!!)! Love watching what they can do and how they operate. LOL Have a great weekend. Cheers, -- J.Andre. / Old Iron Acres

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Awesome! I glad it helps. If there is anything you want to know, just ask. Also if you do end up getting one, feel free to ask anything about your new toy… tool… toy…. Whatever it is! Haha

Great video. Very helpful 👍🏻

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Thanks. I figured it would help some people out. Glad it does.

I would unbolt the motor and slide in some rubber to reduces friction and reduce vibrations .The plastic pieces are for hose clamping. I would modify the rear cover to be easier to remove with out tools.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

The rubber for the motor seems like a good idea. I’m not sure what hoses to clamp. I do want to hinge the rear cover, just not sure which way.

@scottfoster2487

4 ай бұрын

@@OurLifeInTrees Clamps for the hydraulic hose. Taking about making the smaller vent panel quick removeable.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Ohhh. Hmmm I bet that would be easy enough to do.

You definitely like to spin around & around alot 😂

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Hahahaha. Not my favorite thing to do, I just think it looks funny sped up on videos. So does that make it my favorite thing to do? lol.

I have a new HT10BZ if you want to compare. The core looks identical. My counter weight has the same holes, my engine is on a slant, and I have a hydraulic oil cooler in the same place. The only thing I see different is the control group is configured slightly differently. I am happy to compare if you like. Thanks for the great video. I haven't taken my back off yet, I have been dreading it.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Yes! I see the control panel is different but the rest? They seem the same. I would love to know about the pumps and valves. Are they the same? I’d have to take them apart and put them on a bench. Thanks! I’m glad it is helpful. I have been trying to make some videos that I would have liked to watch to learn more about my machine. I searched around and couldn’t find videos on what I wanted. So I have been making them. lol Don’t worry about taking it apart. It’s really not scary as they built a very simplistic machine that comes apart with simple hand tools. So far, everything I have encountered on this is easy, besides getting somewhere fast and not being tippy. Haha

@DiggerDaveSea

3 ай бұрын

@@OurLifeInTrees I am getting ready to take mine apart to do some upgrades (weather permitting). I am putting together some videos and I am happy to share and collaborate. The more I watch your videos the more I am convinced they are the same machine just rebranded. And I love mine.

@OurLifeInTrees

3 ай бұрын

@@DiggerDaveSeawhere did you buy yours from? Was it from an auction?

@DiggerDaveSea

2 ай бұрын

@@OurLifeInTrees i bought direct from Hightop China and imported it.

@OurLifeInTrees

2 ай бұрын

@@DiggerDaveSea oh nice. How was that process? Do you mind sharing what it cost?

I would like to see a side by side comparison of your excavator and a sub compact tractor with a backhoe ( jd 1025r maybe). These machines are close to the cost of a backhoe attachment. Also I think it would be nice if they designed the counterweight so you could bolt one or two more onto the existing one for more ballast

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Agreed. It sure would be nice to have a bucket. I think a Chinese mini skid steer is on the future list of purchases.

@chrisreibold1634

4 ай бұрын

The skid steer would be nice. But I was referring to comparison of sub compact backhoe vs mini digger. Side by side comparison.

@normhowes2975

4 ай бұрын

I can share that with the mini excavator you a 360 degree pivot. If you get one with a side swing boom then you can get closer to walls as well as by swinging boom just a little you can see the bucket better. With a tractor loader you move dirt and other stuff faster as mini excavators are VERY slow moving. You can always cheat and and buy both LOL

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

@@normhowes2975 I want to cheat and buy both. lol.

@portnuefflyer

4 ай бұрын

@@chrisreibold1634 I had a small Kubota tractor with a backhoe (sold it 20 years ago, don't remember the model) but it had the little 3 banger engine. More recently, I bought a U-25 mini X Kubota, same engine! That thing could outwork the tractor many times over, nothing beats the ability to swing 360 degrees, plus it just had more hydraulic power.

Okie here as well, east side okc area, looks like your in the tulsa area, or eastern side of the state, . I have a mms 13 c, myself. But looks identical to yours , other than it's not a kymron, couldn't afford one of those

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Nice. Not familiar with that model. So many are just the same. I live in Norman near Lake Thunderbird, but we have property east of Talihina in SE OK. So I have videos from both places. SE Oklahoma is a much nicer backdrop! Haha

Nice video. What happened to the oil drain extension?

@OurLifeInTrees

Ай бұрын

I bought one based on what other users in a Facebook group said worked. It did not. It was too small a diameter. I have a new one I think will fit now, just need to change the oil again.

Do you have enough hose slack to move cooler up and in so that air exhaust hits grill on side better and no longer is a factor with rear cover?

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Good question. I will check and see if that’s possible. I might reroute and add a filter anyway.

Nice video. Helpfull. I have a machine ordered but haven't got it yet. I have watched a ton of videos, these seem really loud. Any thoughts or ideas on a really quiet muffler modification?

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

It doesn’t seem crazy would to me. Like a lawn mower…. I just tested it. Same volume as my riding mower. Yes loud, but not crazy.

@tracy419

3 ай бұрын

I don't have one, but have been daydreaming about having one the past week or 2 and was thinking that I'd likely be listening to a book/podcast/video/music while working and my pixel buds with noise cancelling would likely be perfect.

@OurLifeInTrees

3 ай бұрын

@@tracy419 I must admit, I have listed to a podcast with earbuds and while using it.

Great video. Just got my H12. My complaint is that when going forward or reverse, it is extremely jumpy and almost violent. The Briggs & Stratton is a 13.5. Not sure, but yours didn't seem to exhibit my unit's symptom. I noticed that your hydraulic fluid window appears to be about 1/2 up from the bottom. My question or inquiry relates to mine being full to the top of the window. Do you or anyone else think that it is overfull and could be the cause of the jerky track movements? Other than that, I am impressed with everything else. Again, thanks for the video.

@OurLifeInTrees

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, I like this machine a lot. Is the window for level or temperature? Mine is kinda jerky too, especially on hard pavement.

@Jtwizzle

3 ай бұрын

It also depends on if the cylinders are extended or not. The manual may say where to have the boom positioned when checking fluid.

@brettdaley5497

20 күн бұрын

I have an H12 aswell and have done tons with it. Evens lowered under a house to dig out with my bigger 50z3 by wacker..Thing is a beast has crazy power..I run mine at Half throttle has plenty of power ..full throttle they get crazy fast so if you know how to run them and use more than one function at a time it helps to take power to all functions..I can dig a 6ft hole in 15-20 minutes..unbelievable machine..recently got all the attachments including a 40" hydraulic tilt ditching bucket .Auger , jackhammer and other buckets and ripper..They are made very well..I got mine from auction buddy for 5500 Don't regret one bit as iv used it on over 200,000 worth of jobs I couldn't complete without or a shit ton of shovel work I didn't wana do.

@brettdaley5497

20 күн бұрын

window is for level mine is full and not jerky unless you jerk controls..Move both at sametime or move them slowly at half throttle..Absolutely no reason for full throttle on these machines as you'll most likely hurt yourself!

How many hours were on that oil before you decided to finally change it? Luckily replacement motors are fairly cheap at hobo freight. A 20 dollar drain hose is a useful permanent addition as are an 18 dollar set of 4 latches for the rear panel.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

25 hours on the oil. I bought a drain hose based on a link in a Chinese digger Facebook group and it was completely the wrong size for my machine. My rear cover is behind the weight, so I’m not sure about the latches on this. Mind you, 5 12mm bolts I can get with my power ratchet, one 13mm bolt with a gear wrench, and two 27mm bolts, I can have the back panel off in about 2-3 minutes.

@customprc

4 ай бұрын

@@OurLifeInTrees Next time you have the drain plug out slip metric open end wrenches over the threads. The one that fits the closest will tell you your metric thread size so you can order the correct size hose

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

@@customprc really? I never knew that! Ok I’ll try it. Thanks!

I bought a Miva brand of similar build. I understand most of the maintenance required, but am curious about the undercarriage. Do the three non powered wheels need grease? Or is it all sealed bearings?

@OurLifeInTrees

27 күн бұрын

Ohhhh great question that I honestly don’t know the answer to. I haven’t seen any grease sitting around them. I assume sealed bearings.

do you know the flow of the hydraulic cooler thanks

@OurLifeInTrees

3 ай бұрын

I don’t. That’s a good piece of information to look up.

Does this unit have an oil filter, hydraulic filter?

@OurLifeInTrees

3 ай бұрын

It does not.

At 4:53 - "I bought an extension tube for that - to make future oil changes"... not messy. Got it. So at 6:13 when it would be Easy to install the extension tube so that future oil changes are not messy - you don't bother. Ok. Another mess coming up in the future.

@OurLifeInTrees

Күн бұрын

Nice catch. I bought the wrong size. I ordered one that another Chinese mini excavator owner bought assuming it would be the same size It was not. Sigh…. Yes, another mess is coming. I have the correct size tube now.

@daves7775

Күн бұрын

@@OurLifeInTrees Thank you for the explanation. I am in the process of purchasing direct from China - a mini excavator. From various YT - I thought all parts were mostly the same...

@OurLifeInTrees

18 сағат бұрын

They are not all created equally. I hear many cheap ones have fake Briggs & Stratton engines as well. I have not personally verified that though. Like the cheap auction skid steers have issues with the tracks falling off and failing bearings. The ones a little more expensive from the manufacturer usually don’t have those basic issues.

If a Lowe’s lawn mower becomes an excavator… pos

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

Would be cool it Lowes sold these. Thanks for the useful input. I personally think it’s awesome. Have a nice day shopping at Lowe’s!

@mrbojangles9841

4 ай бұрын

Rob Mitchell, what's wrong with a "mower" that can dig? If it digs and is cheap it works for basic home digging. Now if you're in the digging business get a $30,000 machine. I've learned that people with cheaper equipment and tools are usually the ones that actually have a 401k own real estate have cash, investments... and the people who talk trash on cheaper equipment usually can't even afford the cheap model anyway.

@robmitchell3633

4 ай бұрын

It’s still a pos tho

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

I agree! Well said.

@OurLifeInTrees

4 ай бұрын

@@robmitchell3633 I’m happy with mine. Did one hurt you? Strange to keep coming back to a video to comment about how much you hate something if you don’t have personal experience with one. Sorry it hurt you.