My You Tube channel will mainly revolve around my Groundhog mini excavators doing what they do best around the farm and occasionally doing side jobs for my family and neighbors. You'll see them clearing brush and debris, removing stumps, landscaping, moving rocks, loading logs and being an asset around the Woodyard loading large wood rounds on the wood splitter. I will also do reviews, competition, and will it start videos on other brands of equipment. Enjoy the videos and please like and subscribe. Thank You
Good videos. Nice to see the units in action doing real work. Your upgrades are great (stick extenders, chainsaw scabbard, etc.). Keep up the good work. What is the string trimmer(???) attached to your "old" groundhog?
@@ericfarrar6607 anything that runs can be made airworthy. They only made like 50,000 of these engines and I for one don't care for some hillbilly blowing them up on a weekly basis l.
@@hogleg98 The BH24D weighs 3300lb I believe with rubber tracks and 3900lbs with Steel tracks. You can double check my numbers on Groundhog Equipments website. To my knowledge they did not offer a counter weight to this design to gain better access to the engine compartment. I don't believe groundhog offers any actual counter weights as an option on this model other than the steel tracks. I Hope this helps.
Wow! I have one of those Disc Harrows! ...but sadly, I could never use it because my ATV was not 4-wheel-drive. It could only sit-n-spin its tire. I've looking into learning to weld to put the hitch like you did on your other mini-ex. But this one you drilled and bolted?? Do you have a video on putting that one on this machine? Can you do a video of using it more? ...yeah it would be really slow though,
Sorry I haven't been doing many videos lately. I've been catching up on my fishing. The Good news is both of my hitches are bolt on. You just have to locate the holes then drill and tap to mount the hitch. I really just mounted the disc to the Groundhog for more stability but it would still disc the ground but not very fast. I plan on doing so more videos as soon as this heat wave is over.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator OH, for some reason I thought you had it welded. I think I will try that then, Thx! I understand the heat stuff. I was just trying to clear an area of my property from a few trees and level the ground. But the heat, bugs and humidity...wow! Any tips on trying to grade with the blade? My blade shoots up or down with a thump and slight bounce no matter how slowly I try to adjust the stick and it makes a mess of things.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator Is there an adjustment screw or something, that you know about, that I could turn to possibly make its valve slow down? I am new to all this hydraulic stuff. I just recently got the ZH24D-2 and waiting for 9" steel tracks
@geolt3 Well I'm going to refer you to Nick Hackenberg the owner of Groundhog Equipment in Middleburg PA for those details because I haven't worked on a ZH24D-2 yet.
I love the idea. Even if just to get a little extra stability. Also, you’re doing tractor work with an excavator while I’ve always been stuck doing excavator work with a tractor……. Until 2 days from now when my H15 excavator will be delivered.I will finally have the best of both worlds with 2 Swiss Army knives. A tractor AND an excavator!
More Questions, What is the width of the steel tracks? Also, I am having difficulty keeping my rubber tracks on. I am only able to finger-tighten the lock-nut on the tensioner screw because I can not reach it with a wrench inside the deep opening.
@@geolt3 My steel tracks on the Groundhog are 7 inches wide. You'll have to get a open and closed end wrench to reach in and tighten your lock nut and another one to adjust your threaded rod. Get a tape measure to measure the nut to make sure you order the right sized wrench. You'll have to use tools to keep the proper track tension. Sorry for the late response but with everything going on I completely lost track of this comment.
The main head quarters of Groundhog Equipment is in Middleburg PA. They have more than twenty dealerships now across the country. You can check out their website and RU-vid channel for more information. If you decide to buy directly from Groundhog Equipment in Middleburg PA be sure to ask about the Gardner's Groundhog's viewers appreciation Discount. Hope this helps.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator Yep, I saw that video on doing the adjustments. I was mostly concerned about manipulating the very heavy tracks around to get them on the machine. Also, where did you get your track tensioner?
@geolt3 The track tensioner is actually a heavy duty chain tensioner that I found on eBay. I used the long strap and hook from a ratchet strap to manually pull the tracks into place and to bring the two ends of the track together so the track tensioner could take over.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator Thanks for the info. I will start looking for a chain tensioner similar to what you found because I just ordered steel tracks for my ZH24D-2 ex and I will be putting them on by myself.
The Groundhog KH14G mini excavator I believe starts at$8,900 but you should call Groundhog Equipment in Middleburg PA to get an updated price on the log grapple.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator I would have but .... I'm up in Northern Michigan! So, I bought it from their dealer SWMI-Equipment in Schoolcraft, MI and picked it up. Delivery from PA was almost about $1600
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator I like the ZH24D-2 but the foot space is a little tight and I wish I had gotten the 2-speed option for the long driveway. Do you know if it is difficult to put in a 2-speed option on your own?
Dont know if you mentioned this before in another video, but how much can this machine lift up maxed out with the boom/stick fully extended out 90 degrees to the tracks on flat ground? So the boom is over the tracks with the tracks fully retracted, max weight. Do you have a rough estimate?
Well I'm going to have to refer you to Nick Hackenberg at Groundhog Equipment in Middleburg PA. This mini is new to his brand and I haven't had the chance to put one to work. The manufacturers don't give any of those numbers but this mini excavator weighs 2200 pounds. So it should be comparable to the ones I've put to work in my videos. If you put steel tracks on it it should be comparable to my KH14G which I have many videos of it picking up logs but if you try to lift from the side like your explaining any one ton Mini Excavator would get tippy pretty quick. You should always lift heavy loads from the front with the blade down. Hope this helps.
just what I need got 35 acres disable to due Parkinson still do work around the place this will make a lot of work easy for me, I got a self cutting lawnmower that cuts 2 acres for me, this will work goot got small pines and would like to be able to get rid of them selling some land it will bring me more money if it was cleared or partially cleared
Well I originally bought my first Groundhog because of having a back injury which caused many of the jobs around my property to be put on the back burner or they weren't being done at all. Buying the groundhog was definitely life changing for me and has turned hard work into leisure time. You'll definitely find yourself looking for work to do.
that is going to be my problem already planning on using containers and vertical towers to grow a small garden mainly potatoes, carrots, onions growing food in ground is not not happening going to make the containers waste high to keep from having to ben over
I was wondering about the BXpanded ripper as it looks like it would do a better job at cutting roots than the unit I got with my ZH20D. Have you reinforced yours yet? I'm thinking a 3/8 bar stock welded to each side might do the trick. For me the hardest part is drilling out to a 1" hole. I really enjoy my Groundhog.
Just bought a rake for my H12 and using it to clean creek out its nice but teeth will bend if u pulling on them sideways dont regret the purchase but ordered the ripper off of ebay it better suited to my rocky terrian.
I definitely agree that the light weight rake will bend easily but I have bought the heavy duty rake from Groundhog Equipment and haven't had any issues with it yet. I would definitely recommend buying the heavy duty attachments.
How does it do for garden discing? I want to make a pallet fork bolt on to the blade and not the arm to move heavier pallets. The arm could help support also.
Well it definitely disc's up the ground but I think on a mini excavator it's a little slow to get the job done. You would probably be better off using an ATV for this application. I definitely like how it makes the mini excavator more stable when picking the. heavier loads and then transporting them. I have a few ideas to improve on this function but it works for now.
There is a feature on my RU-vid comments page to translate comments in a foreign language but I didn't know RU-vid was translating my videos if this is what you mean. Good to know And Thanks for watching.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator drága barátom a markoló gép csipegető 360 fokban forgatóra gondoltam. Európából Magyarországról írok. Itt nem igazán elérhetőek ezek a munka eszközök.
Just a heads-up I posted those pictures in the community chat of how I mounted the lever to the pedal. Hope it helps. Feel free to make improvements and share what you did. Thanks for watching!
im not seeing how this is more useful then just using the thumb, if anything you are having a harder time getting that top log off the pile since the pinch point is not adjustable like when using the thumb
Well I've used every grapple attachment Groundhog Equipment has offered so far and I have used the thumb with a bucket, rake, and ripper to move logs and firewood. The log grapples have the ability to grab larger logs and hold them longer giving you the ability to cut them into firewood at waist height. You can move smaller logs with the thumb but it will not usually hold on as well with these little one ton Mini Excavators. If you want a good alternative to buying a log grapple you should think about using a thumb and ripper. The ripper is definitely one of the best multi purpose attachments allowing you to move logs, dig stumps, pick rocks, rip up pavement and so on. The heavy duty rake would be another idea to use with the thumb. You can see all of these attachments in action in my other videos. Hope this is some help and thanks for watching.
To be honest I don't really have a use for it other than needing the extra hydraulic functions for my rotating log grapple. It's a feature that is needed when your digging in tight locations like between two houses. If your on the fence about it just think about all the attachments you might purchase with that money. It a feature that a contractor might find useful from job to job.
I bought the one for the Kubota bx23 for my Groundhog but I had to run a 1 inch drill through the new ripper for my pins to fit. It's a pretty cool ripper but I've managed to bend mine four times now. They aren't made thick enough. I would recommend just buying a heavy duty ripper which is a multi purpose tool. You can rip up roots and then turn around and rip up pavement. After that you could pick up logs and move rocks with it. You'll damage the BXPANDED ripper if you try to use it for all that. Hope this helps.
I prefer gas chainsaws especially if I'm going to be cutting all day but the electric one is nice for quick jobs. The main down fall of the electric saw is the battery. They take to long to charge, very expensive to replace and just like every other electric tool the battery will be obsolete in a few years. I've got gas saws that are thirty years old and still run. Just my opinion though.
This attachment will not work with the standard log grapples offered by Groundhog Equipment. Groundhog does offer a rotating log grapple which you can see in some of my other videos though. Hope this helps.
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator TY/, Just trying to save $ as I decide what to buy with a new 14 series mini. BTW, if you had only $12K for a mini-ex to partially clear some wooded acreage with sand and clay soil and make some trails, remove some stumps, what series, model, options and attachments would you buy?
@geolt3 Well with a 12 thousand dollar budget I would definitely look at the Groundhog BH14G-2. Which you can see in many of my videos. These normally start at $8,900 but go on sale a couple times a year leaving you some left over money for attachments, taxes ,and shipping. You'll get a 16 inch bucket and a hydraulic thumb that comes standard with the excavator. I would recommend buying a heavy duty ripper as your first multi purpose attachment. I've used my ripper to rip out stumps and roots. I've also used the ripper to break up old pavement, pick rocks, and move logs when used with the thumb. I would also recommend getting the internal and external counter weight package with it . This should keep you within your budget especially if you get one on sale. The KH14G and BH14G standard units have similar performance but already have the counter weight. These two machines are normally a little more money. The BH14G pro is going to eat up your budget pretty quickly and I would recommend waiting tilll it went on sale usually in December if you decided on it. The ZH12G is going to be your cheapest option but it is about 100 pounds lighter than the 14 series and I don't believe Groundhog Equipment offers any counter weight packages for it currently. Just my opinion. Hope it helps
@@gardnersgroundhogminiexcavator Wow! Thanks for that awesome reply. I've been watching everyone's videos and reading thru all the GroundHog and dealer websites. What about the tracks? You mentioned that you like the steel tracks in one of your videos. If I am doing all of this in the woods, should I put that as a priority?
@@geolt3Well the the steel tracks are definitely the better way to go in the woods in my opinion but that being said I've been using rubber tracks on my BH14G-2 since I bought it. I'm just more cautious about skid steering over roots and rocks with it. Knock on wood I haven't thrown a track on it yet. The steel tracks definitely have better traction in mud which I noticed when pulling logs.
I would like to see a comparison video between the 14 series groundhogs and the 14 series Kymron units. These groundhogs sounds to bog under load more than what I can tell with the Kymron units.
Well to be honest this model was undergoing research and development when I approached Nick about making this video. The Pro in this video uses the same engine as the one's in my Groundhog KH14G and BH14G-2. Nick was still working the bugs out of the Pro with hydraulic and heat issues but that was awhile ago. If your on the fence about which to buy just head over to Groundhog in Middleburg PA and test one out. I've never seen a kymron in PA so I don't really have a way to compare the two. To be honest with kymron being a prior Groundhog dealer your probably going to get a comparable machine but because kymron is further away from a port their prices are going to be higher with most of their machines . I would recommend going to your closest dealer either way for parts and dealer support. Both Groundhog and Kymron offer comparable warranties and it really comes down to which you like the most. Hope this helps.
You convinced me I need to get that rake for my mini! Perhaps think about getting the quick attach add on, makes that task take minutes and only 1 bolt.
Well to be honest I already have a quick attach but it doesn't fit all of my attachments. You also loose some breakout force that I've noticed when Im using my ripper to tear up roots. I think a quick attach would be more handy on a larger Excavator where the attachments are heavier and harder to manhandle. Just my opinion though. Some owners are very happy with their quick attach.
This is a Groundhog KH14G which I purchased from Groundhog Equipment in Middleburg PA. Give them a call and they should be able to fix you up with a log grapple for your machine.
