Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLV9ilHcqg (17 min)

Mike parks the three smallest Rippa mini excavators side by side to answer a common question: which one should you buy?

R10

- The entry-level machine. It has a manual quick-attach coupler and very long tracks.

R13

- Very narrow, so it is the one to pick if you need to get through a gap about 30 inches wide.

- Powerful for its small footprint, with true two-speed drive motors.

- The tradeoff is cab room: it is tight inside. The rubber track inserts can be removed if you need extra clearance.

R15

- The one Mike recommends for most buyers.

- A roomier operator area, much wider tracks than the R13 (roughly 7 to 9 inches), and a hydraulic quick attach.

WHAT THEY SHARE

- About the same digging depth (the R10, R13 and R15 can reach deeper with a boom extension).

- The same hydraulic thumb, an adjustable chassis and a hydraulic swing boom.

Need help choosing? Call Rippa USA Sales at 817-382-3201 or visit RippaUSASales.com. We deliver nationwide with flat rate shipping, and you get 50% off attachments when you buy a machine from us.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5uszRDJ2Y (5 min)

People ask us daily what separates the R10 from the R15. Specs are on the website, so Mike focuses on the practical difference: comfort and body size.

COMFORT

- Mike is 6'1" and 250 lb. In the R10 there is very little room (about two inches behind his heel). He is fine for two to three hours, then wants out, though he's not claustrophobic and the seat is comfortable.

- In the R15 he could sit all day. There is a lot more room on the operator platform.

SIZE

- R10: a 1-metric-ton machine, about 2,150 lb. R15: a 1.5-metric-ton machine, about 3,100 lb.

- The R15 has slightly larger tracks. Digging depth is about the same, and the roof and rock cage are similar.

- The R10 has tabs for adding lights, and a work light is an easy add-on.

QUICK ATTACH

- The R15 has a hydraulic quick attach like our larger machines.

- The R10 has a manual quick attach, where you pull a silver knob to release it.

BOTTOM LINE

If you are larger, spend long days in the seat or want the hydraulic quick attach, step up to the R15. If space and budget matter most, the R10 is a capable little machine.

Questions? Call Rippa USA Sales at 817-382-3201 or visit RippaUSASales.com. We deliver nationwide with flat rate shipping, and you get 50% off attachments when you buy a machine from us.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63YgHoris-Y (6 min)

Mike and Jake at Rippa USA Sales show how they check and adjust the main hydraulic pressure on a Rippa R10 mini excavator. The dealership does this check on every machine, in addition to checking fluids, before it is delivered.

TARGET PRESSURE

The spec range shown in the video is 2,300 to 2,600 PSI. On this machine the reading was 2,300 PSI and it was adjusted up to 2,500 PSI.

WHAT YOU NEED

- A hydraulic pressure test kit, about $110 in the video

- A 17 mm wrench

- A 6 mm Allen wrench

- A rag, because a little fluid drips when you disconnect the line

THE TEST

1. Remove the screw and disconnect the hydraulic line with the 17 mm wrench.

2. Install the tee fitting from the kit (a 14 size fitting was the right one here) and connect the pressure gauge to the other end.

3. Start the machine and bring the boom all the way back, then pull it back a little further. The reading you get at that point is the number you adjust.

THE ADJUSTMENT

1. Shut the machine off and remove the front cover, held by three screws.

2. Find the relief valve. Loosen the nut with the 17 mm wrench.

3. Use the 6 mm Allen wrench on the adjuster: turn right to increase pressure, turn left to reduce it.

4. Tighten the nut, run the test again, and close everything back up.

The whole job is simple once you have the tools. If you are not comfortable doing it, or want it checked on a machine you bought, call us. Always follow the specs for your exact model.

Questions? Call Rippa USA Sales at 817-382-3201 or visit RippaUSASales.com. We deliver nationwide with flat rate shipping, and you get 50% off attachments when you buy a machine from us.