Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPI3MWuSTTw (27 min)

The first video in our technical series on excavators. Mike and Robert from the dealership go through preventative maintenance on the Rippa R57, and most of it applies to the smaller Rippa excavators too.

KEY TIPS

- Fuel filter: fill a new filter with fuel before installing it, then use the hand primer until it gets firm, and cycle the key. Do the same any time you change the filter.

- Grease points: the swing gear (turret) fittings lubricate the gear splines. Wipe the fittings clean first, and clear any paint from the fitting opening with a screwdriver so you don't push paint into the joint.

- Track adjustment: lift the track off the ground, then adjust the tension.

- Hydraulic fittings: never use Teflon tape anywhere on the hydraulic system. Bits of tape in the oil can cause serious, expensive damage.

- Drain plugs: clean the threads after draining so the plug doesn't gall the threads or damage the O-ring.

- Cab heat/air: a stuck blend door flap is a common reason the heater or A/C seems off.

- Throttle: Mike and Robert say operating above about 40 to 60% throttle, unless you need the power, wastes fuel and wears the machine out.

Need parts, filters or service advice? 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=CAOkccK4BRA (27 min)

Mike walks the Rippa factory in China after a week of looking at larger excavators, and the site has grown a lot since his visit the year before. Where the first phase was about 80% complete, both buildings are now finished.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The new office building and a full display area with every current model except forklifts, which are shown separately.

- Rippa attachments in several colors. Some, like the puller, have been rebuilt heavier, at roughly double the thickness of the earlier version.

- A fresh R57 excavator coming off the line after passing vertical load testing, where the base is stressed to 100% above spec.

- The QA area, and an inspection pit where Mike would like a machine to be driven over for easy undercarriage work at his own future building.

- Grease points on the excavator swing ring and the right way to grease them: a couple of pumps, rotate the cab a little, repeat all the way around.

- A reminder that draining the factory fluids can void an engine warranty, because the engine is meant to run on the factory oil for its first 50 hours.

Part 2 continues the tour through production.

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=52F_8--ZwOk (3 min)

Mike closes out his factory visit with the Rippa R57 (also called the RM57) with the new four-way dozer blade and a built-in toolbox.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

- A manufacture date of September 2026 or later, which marks the newer build.

- The four-way blade, redesigned from the ground up because Rippa did not want structural weakness. Mike compares the leverage on the blade to holding a gallon of milk at your chest versus at arm's length. The steel is around an inch thick.

- This unit moved from prototype to production after thorough testing.

Mike's one wish is for the lights to be mounted further forward so more light shines out. He also asked the factory about a six-way blade, which would take a complete redesign. He was told maybe next year if sales justify it.

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=_cCF_EDFE9M (15 min)

Mike goes over the latest changes to the standard Rippa R57 excavator (not the RM57 with the four-way blade) at our Boyd, TX dealership, where about 14 machines arrived in a single week.

WHAT'S NEW

- A larger welded tie-down opening, about 2.5 x 4 inches.

- A redesigned door with a latch you can flip from inside.

- Cab comfort upgrades: an air-suspension seat with a sliding headrest, an adjustable platform, and about 6 to 8 inches of headroom over Mike's head.

- A new, slightly bigger computer that we understand to be water-tight.

- A slightly better hydraulic pipe design.

MIKE'S WISH LIST

- Shift the controls and armrest a little for larger operators.

- Tint all the glass for hot Texas summers.

Questions about the R57? 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=UZ-sVxaZSNw (6 min)

Mike walks around our first refreshed Rippa R57 at the Boyd dealership.

SIZE

- R57 means 5.7 metric tons: just over 12,500 lb empty, and close to 13,000 lb with diesel, hydraulic oil and engine oil.

WHAT'S NEW ON THE REFRESHED MODEL

- Pointed grease fittings everywhere, including the cylinders, instead of the flat-faced kind. That is the quick way to spot a refreshed machine.

- A welded thumb, so there are no bolts to shear or wallow out when you pick up something heavy.

- A big bucket with large teeth and a diverter valve.

USING THE DIVERTER VALVE

- To run a brush cutter, rotating grapple or other hydraulic attachment, plug into the diverter lines and turn the valve instead of disconnecting the thumb line.

- When you go back to the thumb, set the diverter valve back. One customer thought their machine was broken because they forgot to switch it back.

Part two goes deeper into the 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=9jbzgo-yL28 (14 min)

Mike from Rippa USA Sales shows the first Rippa R57-2 refreshed model to arrive at the dealership, a 12,500 lb class excavator, and walks around the machine and through the cab.

CHAPTERS

- Introduction to the R57-2

- Machine specs and maintenance

- Under the hood

- Operator cabin features

- Controls and operation

- Final thoughts

HIGHLIGHTS

- Several major changes from the earlier R57. See the R57 page on RippaUSASales.com for the full list.

- Load charts are available near the bottom of each excavator page on our website.

- Under the hood: battery disconnect, two hydraulic pumps, the diesel fuel tank, hydraulic oil tank, hydraulic filter, cold air intake and plenty of grease fittings.

- Cab: an air adjustable seat that is very comfortable, a seat that slides back and forth, LED lights, a radio with Bluetooth speakers, and four heater and air conditioner vents on each side.

- Controls: the engine speed throttle, dozer blade control, lights, windshield wiper (fast and slow) and engine start are on the side console. There are no floor controls other than the travel pedals.

- Visibility: a large front window, about 40 inches wide and roughly 32 inches tall, plus a glass roof panel like the R32, makes it easy to see what you are doing.

- Shipping: only two of these fit in a 40 foot container, which is why supply is limited.

We do our normal setup on every machine: fresh grease on every fitting, a gasket around the steel floor plate and a gritty non slip surface under the floor mat.

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=9MuWL1UrVzE (5 min)

This factory demo video shows the Rippa R57, a medium sized excavator, digging out a stubborn tree stump, grabbing it with the hydraulic thumb and backfilling the hole.

SPECS SHOWN IN THE VIDEO

- Working weight: 5,775 kg

- Bucket: 0.175 cubic meter

- Maximum digging force: 32 kN

- Maximum digging radius: 6,160 mm

- Maximum digging depth: 3,785 mm

- Dumping height: 4,080 mm

Specs can change with newer versions such as the R57-2, so check the R57 page on RippaUSASales.com for current numbers and load charts.

WHAT THE DEMO COVERS

1. Startup: the smart screen shows fuel level and system status, the air conditioner is on, and the safety lock goes down before work starts.

2. Digging the stump: work slowly around the stump in circles, loosen the soil, expose the main and lateral roots, then pry up the whole stump. Patience works better than pushing directly and is easier on the machine.

3. Hydraulic thumb: the R57 comes with a hydraulic thumb clamp as standard, so you can grab roots, stones or the stump itself without ropes or hand lifting.

4. Backfilling: push soil back layer by layer, compact the edges and bottom so the ground does not settle later, and use the fine bucket angle control for small finishing work.

The video notes the hydraulics are very responsive, which is helpful for this kind of slow, precise work.

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.