I see hydraulic excavators still in service from the 60's and early 70's that are designed with the boom on the left side of the operator, rather than on the right. It appears that at some point in time, excavator manufacturers changed the boom location, and I do not see any recently manufactured machines with the boom located on the left. Websites that offer snapshots of excavator history (that I have found) do not provide any insights into why (or when) the change occurred. I am curious to know why - are there any individuals on this forum that can help me with this question?
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Why do vintage excavators have the boom on the left?
- Thread starter 4bz
- Start date
mg2361
Senior Member
Here is an old forum thread on the subject.
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/left-vs-right-hand-cab.28533/
Check here too (about 7 posts into it).
https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=599471&DisplayType=flat&setCookie=1
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/left-vs-right-hand-cab.28533/
Check here too (about 7 posts into it).
https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=599471&DisplayType=flat&setCookie=1
Welder Dave
Senior Member
P&H had the cabs on the right into the late 70's yet Massey Ferguson excavators designed in the US had the cab on the left from the get go in about 1967. I don't think it matters too much but maybe because most countries the drivers seat in a car is on the left side so they made excavators similar.
cuttin edge
Senior Member
I think a right side cab would be strange. As an operator, I like to see the drivers side of the truck, and as a truck driver, I always look at the operator when backing in. Most of the time, they never blow the horn, just nod.
Welder Dave
Senior Member
Massey Ferguson were early with hydraulic excavators.
Photograph - Massey Ferguson, Railway Shunting Steam Engine, Sunshine Factory, Victoria, 1960s (museumsvictoria.com.au)
Mother Deuce
Senior Member
P&H Mining Shovels still have a right hand house. After running one, it would be weird if it was on the other side.
Truck Shop
Senior Member
Most of those were built in Britain and Australia, same guy that designed the AC Bristol.
Buckethead
Senior Member
I think it was just tradition from the old cable machines. I ran a few old machines with right side cab, I didn't have a problem with it. (I was just breaking in then, so I didn't have anything to compare it to)
.RC.
Senior Member
Dozer pipelayers have the boom on the left. I would have thought maybe it was like draglines and stripping shovels. Looking at photo's the cab is on the left. Which might have come from initial development in the UK maybe? Driver sits on the right (the correct) side in cars.
But then I found a photo of a Ruston Hornsby steam, shovel and the boom is on the right.
But then I found a photo of a Ruston Hornsby steam, shovel and the boom is on the right.
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Buckethead
Senior Member
You're absolutely right. But around here I saw a few bigger machines moved on a lowbed with the hoe operator in the cab to swing when going around corners. I guess it was too high folded in? So if you're on the right side, the lowboy driver should be able to see your side of the cab in the mirror? I don't know.
If I remember correctly Lima and Marion both had left side cabs. Bucyrus Erie was on the right.
Truck Shop
Senior Member
Photos of Lima and Bucyrus.
Truck Shop
Senior Member
Truck Shop
Senior Member
Tinkerer
Senior Member
I ran a HyHoe on a pipeline in the late 1960's. The cab was on the right. I believe they were made by Hymac or a company similar to that name.