Hitachi ZX50U-5 and ZX60USB-5: controls, service access and 5N changes

Dash-5 controls and the later North American specification

The ZX50U-5 and ZX60USB-5 share a compact-excavator brochure with the smaller ZX35U-5, but their exhaust equipment differs. Hitachi identifies exhaust-gas recirculation, a diesel particulate filter and an oxidation catalyst on the 50 and 60. The 35 uses a different emissions arrangement.

A service estimate for the smaller machine therefore does not describe all the equipment on these two excavators.

Inspect the cooler compartment. The Dash-5 brochure shows a separate door opening onto the side-by-side radiator and oil cooler, plus a tilting operator station for access to the swing motor, control valve, starter and alternator. Cab access and cooling-core access are different features.

Photograph both when judging whether a used machine has been kept clean.

The control-pattern selector sits beneath the seat. Hitachi also describes automatic travel downshifting when the motors meet a heavier load, with a console switch to lock low speed. An optional hydraulic blade angles left or right; a straight backfill blade does not gain that movement merely because the excavator has independent boom swing.

The later ZX50U-5N/ZX60USB-5N brochure needs its own configuration check. Its smaller excavator has separate canopy and cab weight columns, and short-arm and long-arm columns. The long arm also changes the listed rear swing envelope.

Choosing a reach figure from one column and a transport weight from another would describe a combination the drawing does not show.

The later 60 uses a different standard arm from the earlier reference below. Its optional angle-blade entry gives the complete blade weight separately from the increase over the straight blade. Those are masses, not edge profiles.

Keep the blade assembly and the extra transport allowance separate when comparing machines.

Blade float has another boundary: the later equipment list excludes it from the angle blade. The auxiliary system also separates total pump delivery from attachment flow. A hammer or grapple must match the attachment circuit, its pressure and return arrangement; the larger total-pump number alone does not establish compatibility.

Have the fitted couplers, selector and flow adjustment identified before ordering an attachment.