Our new EC290CL`s

[Hammer man]

Our 4 2005 Hitachi ZX 250`s have now gone,being replaced by 2 new Volvo EC290CL`s.Both are now in the workshop having red & white chevrons put on the counter weights & the company details applied.I took these pics last weekend at our yard.The Hitachi is my previous ZX350/3.The Volvo weighs 32400 kgs & the ZX350 34500 kgs.The Hitachi`s upper structure is larger,the tracks are about 4"`s longer & higher & slightly wider.The booms look around the same size,but the Volvo has a longer stick.The Hitachi has a 2.6m stick,the same as my new ZX350.

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[bigkit]

I've no doubt the Volvo is good but I'd rather have a new orange one.

What's your preference Neil you've probably driven both ?

[argie]

They look very nice Neil. I wonder if Alan will go for bigger Volvos to replace the larger Hitachis, when the time comes
Paul

[Hammer man]

I've no doubt the Volvo is good but I'd rather have a new orange one.

What's your preference Neil you've probably driven both ?

Well,so far i`ve had a 97 FH330 LC3(bulletproof),my beloved 04 ZX350(which i still miss),the 07 ZX350/3 & now the new ZX350/3,& i must say Hitachi are my preference.
But saying that,i`ve also driven our EC140BL,EC210BL,EC460BL,our other older EC290CL & EC460CL.I think the Volvo`s have the best cab for operator comfort & space,especally the new C series.Although the new Hitachi`s have a nice cab with everything you need,they seem basic compared to the Volvo`s.
If it was my money,i would take the Hitachi anyday.BUT,i would have to have a long hard look at the Volvo`s Could i have a ZX350/3 with a Volvo cab??

[Hammer man]

They look very nice Neil. I wonder if Alan will go for bigger Volvos to replace the larger Hitachis, when the time comes
Paul

Well,with the 4 ZX250`s now gone,Hitachi`s are getting thin on the ground now.We have 2 ZX350`s,a ZX470/3,the long reach EX490,a ZX650,& the ZX870/3.With the new Volvo`s,by my reckoning we now have around 11 Volvo`s.I think they had a EC700BL on demonstration in late 2006 when the Hitachi ZX850 was replaced,but they went for the ZX870/3.

[bigkit]

Thanks for the insight Neil. Happy digging with the 350!

[Joes1989]

You got any more pictures of the new 290's all signwritten and chevrond up Neil?

[Hammer man]

I will do joe,as from tommorrow i will be in south wales for a few weeks on one of them,so will get some pics

[Joes1989]

Nice.....I saw a Kelstons Van up on the M1 the other morning heading towards Leeds I think it was a Merc sprinter......you got work up here do you know?

[Hammer man]

Not sure about the work up north Joe,but yes,we do have Sprinters,along with some Iveco Dailys.
Well,heres some pics of the new EC290C i have at the moment.Now with 190 odd hours.I`m working in south wales feeding a screen with tip waste,with a crusher coming next week to crush the rock & concrete thats coming off the screen.
I must say it is a very nice machine.I`m not really working it hard at the moment,but it seems good.
One or 2 little niggles though.
Storage space is next to nothing.Theres nearly no room behind the cab as that compartment is taken up by various pipes & valves or what ever,& the front step compartment has the batterys & auto greaser,so theres not really any room there,so i dont know where to store my kit
I cant seem to get settled in the cab.The seat needs to move back at bit more than the levers/console for my long arms.Theres 11 air vents,but one in line with my face(like the Hitachi`s) would be nice.
It has 600mm tracks with are ideal for quarrys.The bucket is a MST rock bucket from our old ZX250`s,but filled up with the wet heavy s**t i`m digging can easily lift the tracks side on.
The boom is 6.2m,the stick is 3m i think.The rear counter weight is 5800 kgs,the whole machine being 32400 kgs.The Hitachi ZX350/3 i had had a 6.45m boom,2.6m stick,a 7200 rear weight,800mm tracks & weighed 34500 kgs.
But i think overall,if i had the choice,i would have the ZX350/3,or any ZX/3 over the Volvo.I know that when i got the ZX/3 i said on here i would rather have my old ZX350,but i got used to the new one.Ok,the cab maybe not as nice as the Volvo`s,but its the little things that matter,so for me,Hitachi still rules[color=#000000] [/color]

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