September 13, 2021
Mike Simon, an excavating company owner and construction YouTube vlogger in Indiana, has years of experience owning and operating several different brands of construction equipment. Hyundai recently sent him one of our very first HX85A compact excavators for his honest opinion of its operation and design for utility construction. To illustrate machine performance, Mike created a series of real job site videos using the HX85A for his YouTube channel, Dirt Perfect. To see if the HX85A is right for your business application, watch the videos below.
“The HX85A is extremely well-balanced – built to be a “utility” machine- with extra reach & loading height. The way the boom & bucket work when loading a truck is very comfortable. The machine is well thought out and put together – quick and simple to service,” quotes Mike.
Juston Thompson, HCEA Sr. Product Manager, and Ed Harseim, HCEA North Central District Manager visit Mike in Derby, Indiana for a little friendly competition in the HX85A and a walk-around of the machine’s features.
Mike uses the HX85A to work on a family farm repairing a ditch, placing rip rap and cleaning up.
The HX85A is used to excavate dirt in front of Mike’s shop before pouring a new concrete pad.
Mike uses the quick coupler to turn the HX85A bucket around, then uses the bucket to assist in pouring a new concrete pad.
With the help of Captain Kleeman and the HX85A, Mike installs almost 2,000 feet of utilities for a new home.
Mike digs a ditch with the HX85A to drain a pond on his friend, Chris Farmer’s, property, (a.k.a., Farmer Chris, on YouTube.)
The HX85A’s 24″ general bucket digs like butter! The controls are responsive and smooth,” comments Mike, while operating the machine.
Mike loads up the Hyundai HX85A to do some work on a wet spot in a hayfield. An unmarked water line gets in the way placing field tile.
Farmer Chris recruits a new film crew for Mike as the Hyundai HX85A builds two dry dams and lays field tile.
Through the install process to the finished product, the Hyundai HX85A excavator gets a new look with a Werk-Brau thumb.
Mike is impressed with the power of the HX85A while lifting concrete blocks to build a boat dock foundation.
Tight squeeze! Mike needed a compact machine for this project and the HX85A proved its size made the job easy.
After completing several jobs working with the Hyundai Hx85A, Mike gives an in-depth review and his overall opinion on the machine.
Mike uses the HX85A one last time for Farmer Chris and is impressed with its reach.
After operating the HX85A on a few different jobs, here are a few of Mike comments on what he really likes about the machine:
1) Reach: “The reach is absolutely incredible.”
2) Cab Visibility: “The cab visibility is ‘unreal’…there is glass everywhere, and the low profile of the hood is awesome.”
3) Structure: “The boom is sturdy, gusset and plating are structurally sound. I love the quick coupler, its safety, and the way it is configured on the machine.”
4) Control: “The controls are responsive and smooth. The machine overall has an excellent operator feel to it, from the joysticks to the pilot controls. It’s a good machine to put an operator in to learn.”
Each of Mike’s HX85A videos is chronicled here on the Hyundai Construction Equipment website. There is more to come, so check back frequently!
