Around "here", rates for an excavator being run by the excavator owners man costs $110 an hour. (I think thats what he quoted me last week.  He was here Monday so I don't have a bill yet)  Running a piece of equipment that you are not familiar with makes you slower, clumsier and much less efficient.  He will take a lot longer to do the work of an experienced guy and won't work it much at all  likely.  Even at $40 an hour machine rent, he is going to run up a bill of $1200.  He put two hoses on and figure at least a couple hours for that, the fact that YOU didn't have to do it or call a service truck out and he sounds like a GREAT neighbor to have borrow a machine...  He's put fuel in it  AND hauling it too... Doesn't sound like your out anything...  He's a great neighbor, don't burn that bridge!!  JMHO...

Do you guys ever trade work or labor back and forth with other things/equipment?