Hy-Mac anybody?

Silvera · 27-04-2011 07:07PM #1

Does anybody here own a Hy-Mac or have an interest in them?

My father operated Hy-Mac's (580C's and earlier models) for a lot of his working life doing land drainage work - mostly in the West Wicklow area. (Prior to that he operated Ruston Bucyrus 10RB and 22RB draglines...and also a Fuchs 301, MkII JCB etc)

I spotted this restored Hy-Mac (580C ?) near Arklow recently...

Dupont · 27-04-2011 08:04PM

still see a couple up around this way,think their farmers machines

101sean · 27-04-2011 10:35PM

Still see a few around on farms. My father talks about the change over from 10 and 22RBs to JCBs and Hymacs, had to come up with a different way of setting out trenches. I have vague memories of seeing rope operated machines in the 60s, they still hold a fascination for me now.

You can still get Hymac parts from www.hymac-parts.co.uk

The other early machine my father was familiar with was the Whitlock Dinkum Digger, 60's rival to the JCB.

I subscribe to Classic Plant and Machinery, good read for anyone interested in this sort of thing.

_Conrad_ · 28-04-2011 07:07PM

I don't own any but have fond memories of seeing them working a lot more when i was younger. Seems to be few of them left now but i occasionalyl see them, last one i saw was in co. clare a few days ago actaully, looked operational and going by where it was parked it looked to be stopped for the day mid way through digging out a drain

CJhaughey · 29-04-2011 05:24PM

There is one just up the road from me, a Power-slide model.
I though it was ready to be scrapped after it didn't move for 5+ years then last week I saw it working in a field across the road!
My bad, thats a JCB not a Hymac

red menace · 29-04-2011 07:11PM

The cousin has a 580C and I know another man about 3 miles away from him also has a 580c
Bot6h good diggers with a nice bit of digging power.
I like the look of them actually nice purr from the motors also (Perkins??)

Hunter21 · 29-04-2011 09:45PM

Out of interest what ever happened the hy-mac company? were they taking over by another company or did they go bust?

Reason I ask is becasue my father is a qualified hy-mac fitter. But hasnt worked on them in about 30years. He's actually in the financial sector now, how much some career paths change

red menace · 29-04-2011 11:28PM

http://tractors.wikia.com/wiki/Hymac bit of info there

Slidey · 30-04-2011 12:10AM

red menace wrote: »

The cousin has a 580C and I know another man about 3 miles away from him also has a 580c
Bot6h good diggers with a nice bit of digging power.
I like the look of them actually nice purr from the motors also (Perkins??)

No, as far as I know it is the same 6cyl diesel engine that you find in the olf Ford Cargos.

Funnily enough I spotted one today while out for a run, I must go back and take a pic. It too looked like it had been working that day.

Gaynors near Frenchpark have a restored one out the front

Silvera · 30-04-2011 01:47AM

Slidey wrote: »

No, as far as I know it is the same 6cyl diesel engine that you find in the olf Ford Cargos.

Funnily enough I spotted one today while out for a run, I must go back and take a pic. It too looked like it had been working that day.

Gaynors near Frenchpark have a restored one out the front

Apparently they were available with either a Ford or Perkins engine.

I Would love to see pics of those Hy-Macs ...especially the restored Hy-Mac @ Gaynors??

The Nutty M · 01-05-2011 05:27PM

We have one still in working order,perkins 6354 engine in her is sweet.It takes a lot of getting used to and I dont really go near it much other than to move it on the low loader.
About 5 years ago it was lifting a big stone onto a 14ton dump trailer while digging for a slatted tank with the uncle and the stone slipped and came into the cab doing a bit of damage.Other than freeze plugs,radiator pipes and drive shafts replaced she has been grand.
Our neighbour here used to own BT's,C's and even a D before they were replaced by the UHO and the rest of the Hitachi family.I remember when the D first arrived he and most other people hated it because the cab was on the opposite side.
In recent times I've seen a few artics with sometimes 2 hymacs on board heading for a sad end at the scrapper.There are a few around but most people see them for their commercial value rather than historic value,who else would give you 3k for a 40year old machine.

newmug · 02-05-2011 12:03PM

Slidey wrote: »

Gaynors near Frenchpark have a restored one out the front

Speaking of Gaynors, I was thinking of buying a machine, anyone here have any dealings with Gaynors?

Ford4000 · 07-05-2011 12:02PM

The 580b at gaynors is really sweet, have dealt with them through the lads i work for and they find them spot on!

Silvera · 06-06-2011 09:27PM

Ford4000 wrote: »

The 580b at gaynors is really sweet, have dealt with them through the lads i work for and they find them spot on!

Any pics of the Hy-Mac at Gaynors guys?

Slidey · 12-06-2011 07:46PM

Here ya go Silvera, was passing today. Was pissing down so wasn't getting out of the car!

Slidey · 28-06-2011 10:44PM

This one is out working for a living

Silvera · 10-08-2011 10:02PM

Slidey wrote: »

Here ya go Silvera, was passing today. Was pissing down so wasn't getting out of the car!

Thanks a mil Slidey!

That looks like one tidy 580C!.....never saw 'HY-MAC' painted on the bucket before though...ever in brochure pics! ...nic touch all the same!:)

hymac580bt · 19-07-2014 08:41PM

Hi,

Does anyone know where I would get a driven sprocket drive shaft for a Hymac 580BT? This is the shaft that drives the track sprocket wheel. The earlier 580C with the two top rollers fitted is the same undercarriage. I am presently restoring a 580BT and need this shaft to complete the undercarriage overhaul.

Regards,
Ian.

Kevhog1988 · 22-07-2014 02:57PM

Cousins of the father use a hymac 580c around the farm…..
Guy in the road from me has a old poclain but its gone to rack and ruin.

Uncles spent their 20s working in manchester….. often hear stories of them on 22rbs etc. apparently they were a terror to get on a low loader

101sean · 22-07-2014 07:02PM

Go to Easons and find a copy of Classic Plant and Machinery. There's usually a couple of UK parts suppliers and there's a company that refurbs Hymacs.

Welcome by the way, re-opening old threads is usually frowned on but as your query is very specific I'll let it go (and it's an interesting one anyway!)

Hy-Mac anybody?

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