Which Chinese Mini Excavator: H12, QH12, FF12, DK12, ABC, 123….. How to choose your new Mini Digger

[bigken]

I own a FF-12 and you are correct, it's a bitch to get the engine cover off. When I did finally got it off, I threw the bolts in my tool chest, purchased a 12" piano hinge and a couple of latches. Now I have easy access to the engine. I also installed a couple of BMX footpegs on the front roof cover supports about 2-3" up to place my feet for support. Also, the hydraulic knuckle for the bucket has the grease nipple on the outside, which I broke off the first time I used it! I unbolted the knuckle, spun the rod 180o putting the fitting on the inside protecting it from being knocked off again. I have a few more mods I want to do but will have to wait until the weather gets a little warmer. Keep up the videos..

[michaelrichards]

Excellent comparison. I like the fact you went over many of the parts doing comparisons.

I've managed to speak with people involved in the changes. The reason the ff12 moved the hydraulic tank down was to combat overheating. They still need a fan, but run much cooler than the h12.

The valve body is higher flow. I machined some new spools for a friend and was shocked to find they didn't fit. I took one of the sections off his and the passages were noticeably smaller.

A number of the ff12 units I've seen came with the larger 10 or 12cc pump and hydraulic filter. You can tell they were made slightly different because the argotek units rotated the power unit to fit a 2 stage pump.

Some have a boxed blade like your h12 but it is wider and heavier gauge, but with the plate type supports. The undercarriage is also heavier gauge with a larger motor mounting plate.

I've also seen some of the ff units with a cast lower similar to the h12 but compatible with the rest of their flimsy body panels.

The reason for the frame on the ff12 was that they were trying to get rops certification, but I didn't get clarification on them achieving it.

[firekraqr]

I own an FF12. OMG that rear cover! I took it off once, then quickly looked for and purchased some adjustable hardpoint clamps, installed them, and never put the old bolts back in. I can now remove the rear cover in under four seconds and it's perfectly secure. It took me an hour and a half to remove that cover the first time and I vowed that I'd never bolt that thing back on again.

[johnmerryman]

I just picked up my FF12 from auction last week and much to my surprise it included a filter already installed. I'm planning to install a fan and a hydraulic cooler, but nice to see they're improving these machines.

[matthewfarrar]

I would definitely be interested in a filter and cooler kit! Keep these awesome videos coming!

[nicholasproietto]

Appreciate the comparison of these machines. I'm considering purchase of one in the near future. I've got a dealer maybe 20 miles from me who is selling the FF12 machines. After watching this video, I like what I see on the H12 unit better. The counter weight, and the reinforced blade seem like a better option to me over the other unit. I do like the thumb on the FF12 better though. Either unit would serve me as this will just be used around my home, but the H12 just seems the better choice to me.

[Bbutler]

Looking forward to the cooling kit and the hydraulic filtering kit. Great video.

[Mikefestiva]

Thanks for a new video! Congrats on the new machine 👍 I like that extra width of the FF12 for working in the woods for more stability. The counter weight of the H12 is really nice.
Filter and the bigger hydraulic tank is nice for the FF.
I was on the fence about buying the QH12 or the Rippa 1Ton. But overnight all the QH12 on EBay jumped up about $300 so that finally made my decision to buy the Rippa, for only about $400 more, it’s got a hydraulic thumb with 3way valves on the boom, hydraulic lines run in the boom, a fan in the engine bay with the tread on hydraulic filter. Hope it’s a good little machine.
Thanks again and once get time in on the mini I plan on making a review,
I will give your channel a big shout out. You are definitely making the best videos I have found on these machines! Thank you! 👍

[dougadams]

I bought a QH12 and the fan installation for the H12 is a NoGo for the QH12. The vents are different.

[rationalguy]

You are right about the high cost of parts but, they're a lot cheaper than bigger or, name brand machine, components. A cooler for a Kubota would be 4x.

[evan]

This was an excellent video. You apologized for the camera work, but professional camera work would not have made a notable improvement. Thanks for the detailed comparison.

[jnelson]

Fantastic video. I'm looking at a buying either a LandHero 12 or a LandHero LDH-KV16. Do you know if your hydraulic filter and cooler will fit either or both?

Also interested in the drive motor protection kit. Fit?

[RGC]

just posted a video on my new channel with my unit but I put a tree sheer on it. absolutely wild how well it handles all of the jobs I throw its way.

[nickwhitaker]

Thanks for the in depth comparison I've been wanting to get one of these and you answered alot of the questions I had . Leaning towards the ff12. I wonder if the flow on the aux to say like an auger would be better with the larger line size or if the pump is the limiting factor. As I m wanting to put a auger on what ever I get.

[TF]

The thick solid steel arms on the blade are a lot better than the box tubing
I have seen those box tubing arms break even on a cat

[EricQuimby-puix]

Keep up the great videos i appreciate them thank you

[brandonszymanski]

What is the exact model number of the Briggs and Stratton engine and the hydraulic pump, which I think…is Parker

[daveweiant]

I just got a h13R what is the difference between a 12 and 13?

[batescountry]

So am I understand correctly that ff12 and QH12 are the same ?

[michaelmcateer]

if you measured the machine at 37'' how can it fit through a 36'' gate ?