Hitachi

[newjcb123uk]

One Manufacturer I noticed who turned the town orange instead of the familiar yellow we were all used to in the 1990s was Hitachi. Starting out as Hoovers Hitachi in the early 1970s (an agreement with Hoovers NV) the company has made enormous inroads towards becoming market leader in Hydraulic excavators. Getting involved with the Fiat Group to produce the Italian made FH machines with Iveco engines allowed instant market penetration into Europe. However the Japaneese EX range still comanded a higher price with their Isuzu engines and better build quality.

The Fiat agreement ended years ago with Fiat trying to fill the gap using Kobelco before the both companies were swallowed up by the Mighty New Holland. Hitachi on the other hand had now carved out enough strength to stand alone under it's own name and has upset many other manufacturers by consistantly producing high quality, fast, well built and reliable excavators.

The UH range especially the late 1980s UH0 63 twelve ton excavator established itself as an all time classic modern excavator which even today would give new machines a run for their money in terms of speed and power thanks to Hitachi investing in quality pumps which gave long life compared to many other manufacturers machines of that period.

Resale value of an Hitachi is basicly insane in terms of its lowest value no matter it's age - If it's orange and the word Hitachi is written on the boom it should command the highest price of any other comparable machine in the sales yard. Reassuring to know when buying new. I recall selling a Priestman for around £3500 and just because the picture in the sales paper showed an orange excavator at a cheap price I had dozens of callers thinking it was a bargin Hitachi - much to their disapointment

My first couple of pics show a couple of machines I refurbished a couple of years ago - feel free everyone to upload your favourite Hitachi pictures (even if it's disguised as a deere)

[Martyn Henley]

Well Chris, yes you are right, the EX range of Hitachi's was a machine that set the bench mark in the late eighties, but they lost the plot a bit when they teamed up with Fiat.
This picture, taken in 1992 was the first Hitachi i operated, i had this EX120 from new in 1987, but i left John Reeve 2 years later to go on to pastures new, as you do, seeing the grass was not as green on the other side, i came back and was reunited with my old machine in 1992 for this job .. its bit tatty but still worked as hard as the day i left her..

jreeve.jpg

This Fiat Hitachi was one the first FH130 that H.E.Services bought back in 1995.
The machine was used for the first dig ceremony on a new road project here in Kent .. i took this pic and a few others, while i was waiting for the ceremony to start.

hemod1.jpg

heservices1.jpg

This picture is of a scratch built model i made of a FH130 in 1/25th scale

[Tegian]

It is worth noticing that they do even enjoy high sales numbers in the USA, in part because some of them are painted green have an american engine installed and are named John Deere.

[newjcb123uk]

Heres an EX30 I missed - complete with rock hammer, vibrating plate and 4 buckets - The recession showing its victim all for £ 5 grand The other pics show the cab of a fantastic UH0 63 I refurbished a couple of years ago

[newjcb123uk]

The same machine without new paint.

[Col 140]

[Martyn Henley]

Hi Col, i can remember back in early 1993 Raymond L. Brown had a brand new FH200/3 delivered to a job i was working on ..they were doing a little job for Gleeson's .. anyways this 200 lasted for 4 working days before it bust a head gaskett .. it was a weakness of the Fiat engine apparently

Martyn

[newjcb123uk]

Nice photos Col and Martyn Tell us! did you find much difference from operating the EX to the FH series in terms of speed, comfort, reliability etc

[Nick Drew]

A Yes those Fiat engines were rubbish!!

I recall when H.T. Hughes bought Fiat Hitachis they insisted on having Isuzu engines fitted as a replacement for the unreliable Fiat ones.

I had fuel problems with the FH130-3 I owned....They did not like any dirt at all!!

[Martyn Henley]

Nice photos Col and Martyn Tell us! did you find much difference from operating the EX to the FH series in terms of speed, comfort, reliability etc

Thank you Chris ... what can i say ..after the EX the FH was some what sluggish, seem to recall the pumps screamed a bit ... comfort was the same .. and not a patch on the reliability thing, and as Nick just pointed out slightest bit of damp or dirt in the fuel system and that was it ... i think the importers made a fortune in importing the Tandy Hitachi's ..

Martyn