Can anyone shed light on a 2000 Kobelco SK330 LC machine? Looking at an older one to do some digging in rocks for a mining project. I know nothing about an excavator as my questions will quickly reveal. At normal operating speed, what is the fuel consumption for an 8-hour day or by the hour? How often do you drain and replenish the 92 gallons of hydraulic oil? Can the bucket be out-fitted with a thumb? Stated another way, is the 2000 SK330 LC equipped with the controls to operate a thumb? This is a large machine with a big counter-weight. Is it intended only for flat-terrain (quarry) use or can one climb a reasonable hill on a dirt road to access a higher, flat working area? Any unkind things this model is known to do? Ignoring the condition of this particular used machine, are these machines generally good, strong units that keep going with excellent care and maintenance or are they prone to have problems? Can they be equipped with any other attachment besides a bucket? A ripper or maybe a rock breaker? Rotary drill? Considering I want to dig down through fractured and folded metamorphic shist that is broken, is this machine of sufficient size for a small mining operation to follow after mineralization? Any machine you believe is better suited for a small mining operation? Does the 2000 SK330 LC have a lot of computer and electronic ignition systems? I ask because dozers that pre-dated electronic ignition and control are far more reliable than the ones that are all electronic. That is what appeals to me about an older machine. I thank you in advance for comments or links that can take me to reliable information. Kindest Regards, Jim Mitchell
Kobelco makes an excellent machine. The company that I am currently working for has 5 of them. They are quick, strong and good on fuel. As with any machine, the operator running the machine will make or break you. I know this first hand. Operators.....good ones must be a thing of the past. Stick a knucklehead in the cab and things will start to go bad. LIke I said, Kobelco makes a fine machine. Getting parts/service....thats a different story. It seems that anything and everything is always on back order. If you should be lucky enough to have a grey market, I wish you the best of luck. Finding and ordering parts will drive you to drink. Who ever has the best parts and service in your area is the one I would look at for my equipment needs.
If memory serves me correctly 2000 yr production that should be a Dynamic Acera series machine. They should have come with auxiliary or hammer circuit as standard but 2 way or shear/thumb circuit was an option. Not that hard to install as you just add a section to the MCV. You can check and if you have the extra lines on the boom you at least have that. The only other thing required may be a hammer/shear return valve. Max fuel consumption should equal the fuel tank capacity divided by 10 hrs operation. Ymmv depending on operating conditions. They did have an ECU but there was a way to override the automatic operation by pulling the fuses, unhooking the stepping motor, Turning out the valves on the regulators and using the manual throttle In broken rock you should be OK with an appropriately sized bucket. And yes you can use them on varying terrain.
My vote would be straight 330 easy to work on easy to get parts tons of aftermarket everything is 2 days away 99 percent of the time from caterpillar in northeast. 235 is reliable and easy to work on and parts are easy available also they are lil past there prime.both will drink the fuel. Ex400 and jd 892 have great reputations also.