My first attempt at operating a 1972 Hymac 580C

I grew up at the end of an era in the heavy equipment industry in the UK . The old dominant excavator manufacturers who had barely innovated since the 60's were brushed aside in the 1980's by Japanese machinery that was light years ahead in quality and reliability.

Construction sites that had been the territory of Priestman's , JCB'S and Hymac's as well other manufacturers such as Ford, massey Ferguson and some machines from the continent, were now being slowly pushed out by Hitachi's, Mitsubishi's and Komatsu's.

I've never had the opportunity to experience what I missed. The first excavator I operated was a Hitachi EX120-1 in 1990. It was pretty much the same as todays models minus the complicated electronics and eco technology. To think that the dinosaur that was the Hymac 580C was still rolling out of the factory only 5 years before the Hitachi EX120 came on the scene is insane. Going from a 580C to a Hitachi EX120 is like going from a Nokia 5110 to an iphone!

[citroenfil]

Great machines. Throttle lever at the back left of the seat. Slew lock down by the left heel. A couple of gauges and a blow heater under the seat blowing at the back of your lower legs. Horn button by left elbow. Brilliant machines in their time. Had many happy hours on one.

[horsetom]

I drove one for many years, great speed travelling in the morning when the oil was cold but by evening it would slow down and would find it hard to climb up any gradient. A lovely machine though when you got used to it. The travelling levers were interesting depending on which way you were intending to go. You had no idea which way you would travel so you had to just move the levers forward a little bit and see which direction it would go. Kept you on your toes 😂😂😂

[BeytekinConstructionMachinery]

Simple technique is just the best technique! And everybody can see that old Western World equipment is just the best for a looong time use!

[dangaylor]

First excavator I ever operated. My dad brought one for the farm. 30 years ago. Welded rio bars on foot controls

[whizzbang]

to grew up watching these amazing machines. My parents lived in a country lane with fields opposite. In 1982, when I was 5, the fields were developed into the estate it is today (Bear Wood in Bournemouth). I remember sitting and watching for hours on end as they re-shaped the land. There were two main machines that I had my attention fixed was a Poclain 60 or definitely one or the other, and of course.
second machine was a Hymac 580c. I have had a fascination with plant machinery ever since. I still dream of owning either a Poclain or Hymac some day. I've sat in a few Hymac's that I've found in scrap yards over the years but I've never been as fortunate as yourself to actually operate one. I've been going to the Great Dorset Steam Fair for the past 20 years and in recent years there has been a Hymac there on working display. Again, I'll sit there filming it for as long as my missis will let me. The example in your YouTube video looks to be in very good condition. I'm assuming it's been restored at some point recently. Have you ever operated the haven't I'm hopeful! Thanks for the was just what the dr ordered!

[benaubrey]

I own a very original early 1970 580c. Once you’ve driven them a few times it’s like a duck to water and I still drive normal controlled machines for a living aswell as Jcb 3cx’s. Your mind just has to know which cab you’re in and away you go👍

[nickhill]

The 580C was a 70's machine, in the 80's Hymac had replaced it with the 580D, a much more modern machine.
Part of the reason the Japanese took over, is they were selling their machines into the UK at a massive loss, possibly to try and put the UK manufacturers out of business. They almost succeeded, RB, Hymac and Priestman all went bust, JCB said if they were just making diggers, they may have gone too!

[samuellogan]

those old hymac just don't die I have been driving them for years

[egarbforestservices]

In the late 80s I operated an Hitachi and then I had a go on one of these Hymac 580 on a demolition site in the early 90s it was so confusing to get used to with the controls and being on the right hand side great experience though

[jayd]

Jeez I remember seeing them machines on sites as a kid in da 80’s👍

[Rubensgardens.Skogsmuseum]

A common beginners mistake is to run the engine too slow so that the pump won’t deliver enough oil, making the controls act strange when doing three cylinders at one time. Very good looking machine. I own a Priestman Beaver. It is rebuilt with foot pedal for the stick. It is quite ok to operate.

[steksson]

My hymac 580C has low hydraulic pressure on the lift cylinders, tried to adjust the pressure on the valve block but it didnt make a difference, i have changed the triple pump to another used ione. please help.

[JasonShipley]

Not bad your first time, pretty good actually 👌

[johnmelhuish]

Ive been operating excavators for the past twenty years, I'd love to get my hands on a hymac 580 . The lever pattern would mess me up for a while as im more familiar with modern hitachi foreign machines.

[OUKRH]

Great Video How is the Operating pattern of this machine, when the Dipper is controlled by a pedal, what do the rest of the lever doing? Is one funcition "empty"?

[cgav]

That machine is like brand new..! It must of been restored at some point..!

[EquipmentHistory]

You need to try Brøyt X2 and X20 Norwigian made second first hydraulic excavator made in the world

[mickbaker]

That was the time Hitachi started coming on the market and I'm not 100% sure if they didn't track over the company.

[Isaac-ivsj]

Hello earthmovers, I'm interested in the dimensions of this machine please, I have one 580C with a long arm that I'd like to transport on a low loader. Please help. Thank you.

[newhollandtm]

Dad had these for years, and speaks of the terrible times served with them. Shaking sticky mud out of a narrow bucket and his legs nearly numb. Awful cab design (sliding doors), woeful perkins engine and a useless track system. Bought a Hitachi UHO63. What an upgrade. Then a EX120-5 and now a ZX130-1. Hates even looking at them now since they were worse than useless. Maggie Thatcher put a 40% tariff on imported machines, in a final bid to save the instant death of a stale company. Didn't stop lads buying Hitachis and never going back!