Entered a low key title cause sometimes brand topics tends to create (shall I whisper) not-so-constructive commentary. Buyer is in NC and has some property; does occasional jobs involving excavating etc and was looking for a mini ex and was scrolling around on an auction site and ended up getting a Cat excavator with low hours for what he perceives is a good value. I dare say when I first looked at the pics, the machine looked very sim but upon review is not a Cat, but a XCMG machine. From what he can discern the machine is brand new. It also has a sticker from a dealer in Michigan dated Jan 2023. Because the appearance shows no sign it was ever taken for a demo, maybe just moved around the yard, is indeed profoundly amazing. Around 125 hours IIRC. 12k# machine w 40HP engine for about a lttle less than $50k w auction fees, tax and delivery. One bucket and a hydraulic thumb. All OEM. Toward his assistance, I located a dealer whom is a coupla hours away from him and has been a dealer of these since 2020. They reported parts were warehoused in Atlanta and Nevada. They are able to get parts books for the machines. Maybe a service manual. Haven't inquired if they have a service tech with a diagnostic setup. Initially, I had some hope [because I am a fan of right to repair] that perhaps the machine was say more straightforward and less computerized and this would save service tech trips for the inevitable codes that newfangled machines provide as a bonus....this doesnt seem to be the case. There is also a hope maybe a kubota dealer can assist w the engine codes. One point that I seldom see mentioned is: if the machine being considered/debated is of a type and style that is readily available at a rental store, then could this factor there is at least a method to get the job/project done be a part of the decision tree? For some folks. Let this tale begin. Will update.
XCMG is a machine under China's XCMG Group. What is the machine model?
XE55U at a guess
Is this the machine? What difficulties are you facing now?
The machine is indeed the "55" model. At this point, ownership is permanent - being an auction sale. A big concern is the possibility of some fault causing codes and the cost to involve the dealer (ala issues from owning deere equipment). Other interests include obtaining service and parts manuals....machine is operating correctly with no discernable issues. As a contingency plan, if the machine developes issue(s) a rental machine will have to be involved to complete the project. The inevitability of parts - consumables such as filters and other wear parts such as hoses and pins bushings will be of interest how these are obtained as dealership is not nearby. Buckets are not known to be of universal fit so a rental house wont be a place to obtain a bucket. Machine was sold with only one bucket. More to follow.....
I can purchase on your behalf. Do you have a maintenance manual at present? What I can do now is to purchase parts.
Work is in progress on obtaining parts and maintenance manuals.
A few tanks of fuel working the machine and only one issue: the track kicked off the undercarriage and was believed to have been caused by being poorly adjusted - ie not tight enough as shown in the operators instruction manual. Since the buckets are not the usual style available to rent at a rental yard, expense had to be incurred for buckets and not too much focus has been applied to topics associated with "import machine with no nearby dealer" such as (1) stocking maintenance items and (2) obtaining both parts manuals and service manuals.
XCMG is a large company, their presence in the USA is not as big but big especially in China and overseas. I have an XCMG single drum roller with a Cummins engine. The only issues we have had were codes thrown by the Cummins. That has been fixed. There are rental companies here renting out their rollers, lifts and mini excavators. Filters, parts and so forth are not hard to get, just not as easy if you don't have a dealer close. I would guess the buckets are similar to others in that size. Likely 45-50 mm pins. IF you research it, you will likely find that you can make another bucket fit easily enough. Especially if you have a pin grabber coupler. If you don't have a pin grabber, WB can help you out with a manual coupler very reasonable, pinned for the 55 with whatever spacing you want on the bucket end.
Ohhhh Lordddd
So far, there has been no return calls from the dealer near him in NC, and he indicated the call to the XCMG LasVegas location was voice mail and no return call after a couple days. I have just sent an email to the XCMG corporate location in Georgia outlining the actions taken to obtain a modicum of after sales support and hopefully they can initiate some followup care such as mfg manuals and possibly parts supply. I have a couple machines which have no local dealer support but I was readily able to obtain manuals and order parts from afar. I could mention certain folks who have popular well regarded import machines but the local dealership keeps a rude and indignant employee at the counter - but they also are able to keep their machines operating by purchasing parts from on line dealerships located afar. Once upon a time, I was a diehard 'local dealer support is how one decides to buy equipment' as we had a local Case dealer ~ but they pulled back to the sister location 3 hours away and then that company was sold and their service deteriorated ..... but thankfully other dealers maintain a strong reliable on line presence and all our locally owned Case machines are able to continue to work. Following this along - so far the machine has performed adequately. Buckets are in the works from an aftermarket supplier - not sure which one he picked.
This is why I buy Cat equipment. Thompson Tractor will always be Thompson Tractor for the rest of my working career.
Summary: An inquiry was made to a (just learned they are now a Former Dealer) and they didnt return calls (duh), a new dealer who was very bullish, and the LV and Atlanta offices for the company. Action achieved to date: an email was returned from the Atlanta office and they attached a pdf of the operating manual although the need is for the following manuals: service & maint, as well as parts. The parts manual cant be emailed as the file is too large but there was a caveat with that as well, and no offer was made to help otherwise (ergo print cost reimburse, then mail) nor was any mention about the service & maint. This sums up the status to date. Looks like there will next have to be a concerted effort to find a dealer who can access these manuals (if in fact they are available to be sold to the end user) and provide the support...... Background bugle music "Day is Done"