Furukawa FL80 Loader ( & other models)

[JimInOz]

Just saw a picture of a Furukawa FL 80 Loader.I had previously seen FL70 & 90 units,but never saw an 80 model.
Has anyone ever operated Furukawa Loaders & what's your thoughts on them?
Anyone know of spare parts suppliers?

Thanks,
Jim

[RocksnRoses]

Jim, we had a Furukawa FL200-I for a number of years and I would have to say it was one of the most reliable loaders we have ever owned. It had a 2 metre (2.6 cubic yard) bucket and was powered by a 140 Hp turbo Mitsubishi engine. I think the early Furukawas had a few problems, but the later models were very reliable and there were quite a few in this state. The most poular ones here were the 120, 150, I think there was a 180, 200, 230 and I think there was a 320. Our's was used for everything, loading rocks, feeding cushers, stockpile work, digging dams, demolishing houses, pushing out trees and anything else that needed shifting. We bought it new and sold it at a bit over 11,000 hours and apart from tyres and batteries, we spent very little on it. It was a simple basic loader that anyone could operate and everyone that did, quite liked it. The main reason for selling, was that it was getting on a bit and parts were becoming hard to get. Hitachi took Furukawa over and they didn't seem to be really interested in supplying parts for them.
Here is a pic of ours the day it left and we were quite sorry to see it go.

Rn'R.

[Squizzy246B]

One of the owners of Australian Civils told me they had a Furukawa Loader and they just couldn't kill it. Wished they had bought five of them.

[JimInOz]

HI RnR,
Thanks for the reply.Sounds like your FL 200 loader was a gem.
I saw the FL80 on eBay,but it sold.
I have a bit of an interest in Furukawa,as I have a 5 ton Furukawa CT5 Drott in the shed,which I'm restoring to operating condition.Hitachi wanted $1000 per lower roller (I got em in Korea for 1/10th of that).
I like the way this machine is built,& I think they had an arrangement with Mitsubishi in the 80s.They also use Isuzu engines in some models.
I see a few FL loaders around,& wonder how the owners go in getting spares to keep them going.
I wonder if the Furukawa Loaders & Crawlers made it into the USA?

I'm always looking for spares suppliers & other owners.

Jim

[JimInOz]

HI Squizzy,
Sounds like the Furukawa were a good thing.It's a shame when support drops away.I think they only do Rock Drills now.
When I lived in Marvel Loch (WA) in the 90s,I vaguely remember a company called Civils.Wonder if it's the same Co? Might have had white coloured gear.

Jim

[Squizzy246B]

Jim, I don't know how long Aust Civils has been around but they are big in drainage/pipe laying. Smallest excavator they own is a 17 tonner...and I think their gear used to be white.

I once put the owner on my 3 tonne mini in his backyard which was full of rock. After about 3 hours he got off and said to his wife "I want one"...then he got back on and was still out there when the sun went down Lol!. he reckoned he hadn't had so much fun since he started the company.