Hitachi UH083LC Excavator

[AndyMA]

I just picked up a new for me, Hitachi UH083LC 44,000 lb excavator. It has 10,000 hours, the motor, turbo and hydraulics are fine. The undercarriage is in tough shape. I'm going to be using it on the farm to put in a road, pull large rocks and dig a few foundations so hopefully it will hang together until I'm done and can sell it. The work just takes too long with the TN75D and Woods 1050 hoe. Does anybody know where I can find any good used undercarriage parts cheap. Can th eundercarriage parts be rebuilt? The boy in the photo is my 17 year old son Jim who I'll be teaching to run it also. Maybe I'm crazy, but I always wanted a big excavator. I love the power, and cant' wait to see what I can dig up. I'll let you know.

Andy

 

[AndyMA]

Another picture of the new toy...

Hope it doesn't eat me out of house and home.

 

[AndyMA]

last one

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi Andy,

Don't hold me to it... but I believe Hitachi and Deere has a joint partnership on some of the HD construction units... especially the excavators made by Hitachi for Deere...

You may surprise yourself, as Deere has some very good prices on a number of remanufactured components... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You may want to check with this outfit Schaefer Enterprises

If they dont have what you need they may know someone else who does!

That is one nice trackhoe you have there, dont have too much fun with it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gary

 

[ScottAR]

Hitachi has built every JD excavator starting with the 690C. Used to be, the only difference was the JDs had JD engines, and the Hitachis had Izusus. The late model ones are all Hitachi painted yellow. Even part#s are the same now. So head on down to JD and see what the word is.

 

[Dozernut]

Nice looking hoe! You might check with some of your local welding shops. A competent welder can rebuild the rails (chains) for you. The sprockets, if they are sharp pointed, will have to be replaced. If it is a sectional sprocket, you can simply unbolt and replace sections one at a time. If not, you will have to pull the sprockets with a heavy, multi-ton puller. Unfortunately to repair the chains you will have to break the track at the master pin to do repairs. This is very heavy and dangerous work! Make sure you have the tools and think safety constantly. Those heavy components will bite you real quick. The chains alone on my little D-20 weigh 300 lbs. apiece. When you add the pads and bolts they get real heavy. I like working on the durn things, I just hate paying for the parts. Be prepared for sticker shock, parts for any heavy equipment is not cheap. Here is a sight that might help you chase down used parts or manuals: www.ytmag.com/crawlers/wwwboard1.html. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Dozernut]

My computer is going screwy on me. The sight I gave you will get you there. Just go to forums and scroll down to crawlers, dozers, loaders and backhoes. The sight comes up just fine on my computer and gives me that address, but the sight address here says that it is out of date. Oh well! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[jtn]

There is a large equipment salvage yard in East Hartford just off of I-84. I have never been there but it might be worth checking out. I can not remember the name but you would probably need to go in person. Once you pass the Showcase Cinemas on your left, when heading towards Hartford, take the next exit on your right. It can be seen from the highway.

WI Clark is the JD industrial dealer for your area, if you want to try and use JD parts. They are in the old Franklin Pakulis location on route 32. If you need welding try Windham Industries on route 203.

JT

 

[Anonymous Poster]

East Hartford equipment is still there. Although it is now pretty much used up iron. Only half the size it use to be.
On the wleding note, just around the corner form Andy's farm is a big welder shop right in Eastford proper, half mile south of Bowen's Ford on 198.

 

[ScottAR]

Hmmm, I'm not sure late model stuff has a master pin, just a bolt together track segment? All the late model Cat stuff does anyway.... Still hard, heavy work but at least one doesn't have to mess with the cursed master pin...

 

[AndyMA]

Thanks JT

You seem to know the area very well for someone from Illinois. Did you live there once? I grew up on a nursery in Windham.

Andy

 

[Dozernut]

Could be, I have not worked on the late model equipment. If they have done away with those master pins, they have taken a definite step forward! About the newest I have worked on would be an early 90s' model and has been confined to dozers. The track system on a hoe could be different than a dozer,but still not an easy job. The last one I worked on, the guy I was helping out, was driving out a master pin on a dozer. The sledge rebounded and broke his rib. Talk about a freak accident!

 

[AndyMA]

I think the machine I bought is a mid 80's unit. It's had an easy job recently as it was used for knocking down buildings. I paid a heavy equipment mechanic to check it out and was told that other than the undercarriage it looked very solid. He and another mechanic friend both thought that if I took it easy when moving, the undercarriage shoudl last me quite a while. Here's keeping my fingers crossed. I do have welding eauipment and access to machinging, presses and grinding equipment so I am considering doing some of the rebuild work myself if I can.

Thanks for all your inputs. Larry as soon as it thaws some, you'll get you chance to play. and show me some tricks!!!

Andy

 

[jtn]

I grew up in Storrs and still have family there. I try to make it back a couple of times a year and can still remember all the places I used to get tractor supplies. We got our John Deere 850 and 970 from Pakulis.

JT

 

[Steve_in_Ont]

Andy - What is wrong with the U/C? Remember - a HE does not really use the U/C all that much (and when it does, it's not really under too much load - unlike a dozer). So perhaps, even if it does not look great, it might last for a long time. The problem is that including parts & labor, U/C repairs can easily exceed the value of many older machines.

One quick thing - If the roller flanges are wearing on the link pin bosses, if you just cut down the flanges on the old rollers this will be "fixed". It worked on my old 977.

Other than that - look for used parts, off a machine that has been scrapped.

Good luck.

 

[dmccarty]

Andy,

Excuse me for being nozy, but can you give us a hint on how
much that excavator cost? I'm thinking about building a pond
and I would need a big digger.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks, Dan

 

[AndyMA]

Thanks Steve,

What you are saying echos my thoughts exactly. The under carriage is intact, just quite worn. Several of the teeth on the sprockets having missing points. I'm hoping that by taking it easy when I drive it, they will last quite a while. Having access to both a machine shop and welding equipment, I will try and fix it myself for as long as I can. Right now there is nothing that I need to fix to use it. I was asking th equestions so that when I do need parts, I would have some sources to look at.

Andy

 

[AndyMA]

No problem. The excavator cost me $19,500 delivered. It had been used by a demolition company to knock down buildings and appears to be in good working condition. I plan to do some work with it on my farm and then sell it. Some ot that $ was used to have a mechanic look at it and do some minor repairs.

Andy