I know it's off topic, but I couldn't help but save this old girl from going to scrap. If nothing else, I can relive some of my childhood school holidays, one of these was the first excavator that I learnt the basics of how to operate on. 

 

Nice save. I have some good memories of "other brands" also.
Craig

Hi, D8Dude.
I learned on Hitachis, UH04s and UH07s, twp sticks and two pedals, but then spent some time on Katos, including a 1220 Mk2 and an 1880 Mk2 - loved 'em.

Just my 0.02.

Getting this one on the back of a truck wasn't without it's hurdles. The tracks were a bit stiff after sitting unused for about ten years I was told. I popped the dipper cylinder hose assisting it up the ramps. We managed to get it on with the help of a small excavator and loader. Once home, I replaced the hose, topped up the hydraulic oil and drove it off the truck.

This one is the combination of single function levers and pedals as was the one that I learnt on. I haven't been around the early Hitachi excavators, I didn't realise that they had the stick and pedal setup too. I will have to dig up some photos of our original HD750G in all its glory working alongside one of the D8's.

Apologies for the picture quality. I found some pictures but couldn't get the scanner to behave itself.

 

What size class were the 1220 and 1880? I'm only familiar with the HD750G and the small HD350G.

Hi, D8Dude.
HD1220 Mk 2 was around 27 long tons and the HD1880 Mk 2 was around 43 long tons. At the same time, Kato had an HD2500 that was about 63 long tons.

The 1220 and the 1880 were both twin joystick machines and I still think the 1220 was the smoothest excavator that I have ever operated - with not a computer anywhere on it.

Just my 0.02.

Thanks Deas,
I've never really researched the Kato model lineup, I never knew that Kato made something as big as the HD2500 at the time.

I don't think I've ever heard a bad word about a Kato, it seems that the main reason they disappeared in my part of the world was due to supply or availability issues. I'm not sure if there were dealer problems or perhaps import issues, everyone I've ever spoken with that's either owned or operated one speak highly of them.

Hi, D8Dude.
Banbury Equipment were the distributors for them here in DowNunda and they did a fair job early on but faded considerably as time went on. On top of that, Kato's prices seemed to go up to the point where they pretty much priced themselves out of the market.

Their chain drive travel machines were good but their hydrostatic travel machines were even better. I operated the HD1880 Mk2 Kato alongside a 'Kummagutsa' PC 400 and the only thing the Kato wopuld not quicker and pore powerfully than the 'Kummagutsa' was travel. In the same ground, I was taking 5 buckets to his 4 most of the time - except when I was taking 4 buckets to his 3. I could sock the Kato bucket half its depth in the ground, roll it up and have a full bucket. The 'kummagutsa' could only scrape about 8 inches deep and had to keep working the bucket to fill it, all the while skating all over the place where the Kato just sat there and DUG.

I never got the chance to try it but the HD1220 Mk2 was so smooth that I reckon I could have welded a nail file to the bucket and cleaned someone's fingernails with it. Well, almost.

Just my 0.02.

Very insightful, thanks for sharing Deas.