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We test two models that prove to be versatile, powerful and include a range of useful features. By Sally Drury
TESTED THIS WEEK
Hanix H15B Plus-2 63
JCB 8030 ZTS 65
THE REVIEW PANEL
Mike Guppy, head groundsman, formerly with Sparsholt College
Daniel Davis, groundsman, Sparsholt College, Winchester
Mini excavators can save a lot of time and effort when used on landscaping projects. They can also be extremely useful for estate maintenance - be it around a country house or on the campus of a college. In this test, we look at two machines and undertake a variety of jobs from reshaping golf greens to grading beds and digging planting pits.
The Hanix H15B Plus-2 is a 1.5-tonne machine. While there have been minor modifications to improve som features, this mini excavator is much the same form as when it was introduced seven years ago. We take a look at what makes it a popular machine, especially for hire companies.
We also test the JCB 8030. At 3.2 tonnes, this is a bigger machine and is one of the latest additions to this company's product line-up.
The machines were tested over several days, all of which were dry and sunny.
Hanix H15B Plus-2
Guppy and Davis have never used Hanix machinery before - but it's a name they are not going to forget. The H 15B Plus-2 is a breed of Japanese technology that, under our test conditions, proves to be an easy to use and robust little workhorse. It's also practical: its extendable tracks means it can access narrow entrances, yet is stable in use. and the 17hp Mitsubishi engine provides enough grunt to tackle a wide range of jobs. What's more, it shows itself to have an extraordinary working range.
Our testers are impressed when the machine turns up with a technically minded demonstrator, a choice of buckets and lots of manuals: an operation and service manual, an engine and parts manual and a machine parts manual.
"It's good that everything has come with the digger." says Guppy, studying the booklets. "These are really clear and easy to understand, and they've got cartoons to explain things."
The first 18 pages of the operation manual deal with health and safety, then the various...