Off Brand/Chinese Equipment

Brando CalPankian

Brando CalPankian

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Pine City, MN
Screenshot_20240203-144723.png


Anyone have experience with off brand/Chinese made equipment? There's a local guy who sells mini skids and stuff, brand new, for super cheap. He's a legit company, still sketched out about buying something that's not reputable.
 
I'd be concerned about parts availability. IF you can get them, what would the lead time me? Will parts still be available in 5 years???

I've look. The price is attractive.

As to the pics in OP...0 hours, but they changed oil and hydraulic fluid and it has been "gone through"? Doesn't smell of honest/upfront dealings. Maybe it is...but of all the things you can say about the machine, why that? I'd assume 0 hours doesn't need an oil change. Now it has me wondering: Is it really 0 hours (looks plausible/likely) Did they really change the oil? If they didn't why say they did? It'd be an outright lie,and to gain what? If they did change it, WHY?
 
ATH said:
I'd be concerned about parts availability. IF you can get them, what would the lead time me? Will parts still be available in 5 years???

I've look. The price is attractive.

As to the pics in OP...0 hours, but they changed oil and hydraulic fluid and it has been "gone through"? Doesn't smell of honest/upfront dealings. Maybe it is...but of all the things you can say about the machine, why that? I'd assume 0 hours doesn't need an oil change. Now it has me wondering: Is it really 0 hours (looks plausible/likely) Did they really change the oil? If they didn't why say they did? It'd be an outright lie,and to gain what? If they did change it, WHY?
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Right? That part makes no sense. I wonder if it's a shipping thing. At Cummins when we get gens in we often have to drain fluids and refill, as they've been on a shelf? Coming from China in a crate, could be something like that.

Either way, same concerns I've had. Wasn't sure if anyone had ran these cheap skidders before.
 
I put a Duromax (not Duramax) 999cc engine on my 9” Carlton a couple years ago. The Briggs and Stratton wasn’t available due to supply chain issues at the time. It was a cheap solution. It was damaged in freight and I wasn’t able to get the plastic cover for the air filter for months. The fan melted off the engine or something to that effect a year after. We got a replacement engine under warrantee, which developed electrical issues within a couple months. Getting parts for it has always been a hassle. Even getting a proper replacement for the oil filter was difficult. The Briggs is back in stock and significantly cheaper than back in 2022 so when it fails again we will get that put in, even if we could get another replacement Duromax engine under warrantee, the downtime costs so much money.

southsoundtree said:
Enough problems can come with quality products.
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True wisdom right here.
 
Spending 6.5k is being 6.5k further away from a quality machine.
Yet spending the 6.5k might generate enough to replace it with a quality machine.

Can you make enough not only to pay for the machine + maintenance costs + generate funds for a replacement when it’s service life / depreciation + turn a profit? Those are the requirements on equipment.
So sticker price, and all that taken into consideration probably not worth cheaping out. But if it saves you labor and worker hours (employee) it can pay itself off in under 10 work weeks. Lots of weights to scale out
 
evo said:
Spending 6.5k is being 6.5k further away from a quality machine.
Yet spending the 6.5k might generate enough to replace it with a quality machine.

Can you make enough not only to pay for the machine + maintenance costs + generate funds for a replacement when it’s service life / depreciation + turn a profit? Those are the requirements on equipment.
So sticker price, and all that taken into consideration probably not worth cheaping out. But if it saves you labor and worker hours (employee) it can pay itself off in under 10 work weeks. Lots of weights to scale out
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Right on the money. If I could get 100 hours of production without an issue totally. I don't know how they last or what issues there are. I'd imagine getting parts is hard.
 
Stumpsprouts said:
I put a Duromax (not Duramax) 999cc engine on my 9” Carlton a couple years ago. The Briggs and Stratton wasn’t available due to supply chain issues at the time. It was a cheap solution. It was damaged in freight and I wasn’t able to get the plastic cover for the air filter for months. The fan melted off the engine or something to that effect a year after. We got a replacement engine under warrantee, which developed electrical issues within a couple months. Getting parts for it has always been a hassle. Even getting a proper replacement for the oil filter was difficult. The Briggs is back in stock and significantly cheaper than back in 2022 so when it fails again we will get that put in, even if we could get another replacement Duromax engine under warrantee, the downtime costs so much money.


True wisdom right here.
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Totally. Agreed, most of the time the cheapest option isn't the best.

I'm looking in to an SBA loan for spring/summer time. I'd most likely get all new, brand name equipment. Downtime is too expensive and it'll help keep my guys happy. Just weighing options.
 
I bought one at the start of the 2023 season - the brand is lynx, but more or less looks like the first one you posted. I've put around 160 hours on the machine and have been very happy with it. It's got a Honda motor, simple hydraulic system and straightforward wiring. The only issue I've had was after a track popped off I had to replumb the grease lines to standard fittings so I could tension the track.

I'm anticipating running into problems down the road but honestly for the price I don't care- I bought a machine I could afford to buy outright and it has been a great addition to the business.
 
adolan said:
I bought one at the start of the 2023 season - the brand is lynx, but more or less looks like the first one you posted. I've put around 160 hours on the machine and have been very happy with it. It's got a Honda motor, simple hydraulic system and straightforward wiring. The only issue I've had was after a track popped off I had to replumb the grease lines to standard fittings so I could tension the track.

I'm anticipating running into problems down the road but honestly for the price I don't care- I bought a machine I could afford to buy outright and it has been a great addition to the business.
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No shit really? 160 hours isn't bad. It's paid for itself by then. Did you get a grapple for it? What are you using it for?
 
Brando CalPankian said:
No shit really? 160 hours isn't bad. It's paid for itself by then. Did you get a grapple for it? What are you using it for?
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Ya it came with a bucket and a set of forks and I got a BMG grapple for it too. Using it to drag brush, feed the chipper and load wood. Lifting capacity isn't great but it definitely lifts more than I can hahaha. I've got no problem loading my dump trailer over the side with it.
 
adolan said:
Ya it came with a bucket and a set of forks and I got a BMG grapple for it too. Using it to drag brush, feed the chipper and load wood. Lifting capacity isn't great but it definitely lifts more than I can hahaha. I've got no problem loading my dump trailer over the side with it.
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Huh, I'm intrigued. I might go demo one. It could be really useful.
 
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