Volvo ECR50D mini excavator – Operator Review

Cowan Building owner, Fraser Cowan, invited me along to one of the company's renovation projects to see how its new Volvo ECR50D was performing. After all, he added, watching it take down the wall of a house might make for an interesting photo.

The company recently purchased the five-tonne excavator from Volvo CE's (Construction Equipment) Australian distributor, CJD Equipment, in a move to expand its operation, take more control of its operating costs and make greater use of its own resources.

"I did some serious comparisons between the eight-tonner and this one," Cowan explained.

"What really swayed me to the five-tonne machine was its compact dimensions. Its small size allows it easier access around building sites than larger machines, yet with enough power to pull footings, move rocks and carry out other odd jobs."

"More importantly, it is very quiet," Cowan added.

"Our work is nearly always in residential areas and we've got to be mindful of the noise we make on site.

"An old Victa lawnmower makes more noise than this new Volvo ECR50D, which means we are not intrusive to the neighbours where we work."

Volvo D-series flagship excavator

According to Volvo CE, the recently released ECR50D is the brand's first true five-tonne excavator and flagship of the D-series Volvo compact excavator range.

Volvo CE, like most manufacturers, is chasing fuel economy and claims its D2.6A four-cylinder engine is very fuel efficient while providing the power needed, offering an output of 41.8hp.

It boasts 'Eco-plus' pre-set engine rpm modes and an auto-idle function that allow the operator to make the most of the machine's power and fuel economy. A new hydraulic valve block adds improved feel and precision to the operation.

Because it is a reduced tail swing machine, the ECR50D is ideal for work in confined spaces, while its powerful blade is a useful asset for tidying up on site.

The ECR50D offers big machine capabilities in a compact package, which include load sensing, variable displacement hydraulics, flow-sharing and proportional controls.

It also features auxiliary lines with 75 litre per minute oil flow, to provide operators more than just the ability to dig holes.

"The new advanced hydraulic system provides a 36.12kN breakout force and 25.93kN maximum tear-out force," said CJD Equipment's Dylan Harper.

"Its compact size and powerful functions make it ideal for site preparation, construction landscaping, and utility operations like Fraser is using with his application.

"Furthermore, the unique load-sensing hydraulic system only supplies power when required, greatly improving fuel efficiency and ensuring smooth operation and precise control of the equipment."

"The ECO mode reduces fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent without any loss of performance in most operating conditions," Harper claimed.

Loaded with features

The Volvo ECR50D offers operators ultimate control at their fingertips, Harper said.

"The machine's keypad has four pre-programmed, adjustable settings which can be customised to match attachment and individual needs," he explained.

"The operator can also adjust the direction and amount of hydraulic flow using a fingertip roller control. The ECR50D comes standard with a hydraulic quick coupler switch inside the cab that makes swapping attachments a quick and safe operation."

In addition, operators can switch the controls as they see fit to suit their own requirements, Harper said.

"In its standard setup, the left lever is used to slew the boom, while the right lever operates the bucket as you'd expect to find in most excavators," he said.

"An advantage of the ECR50D is the flexibility for the operator to change the control pattern of the levers to replicate those of a back hoe, with just the turn of a lever behind the operator's seat.

"We find a lot of users of this size equipment also have backhoes, so it makes the operation safer and easier."

Other standard features on the ECR50D include quick hitch, X1 and X3 plumbing. The machine also boasts two additional hydraulic lines as standard.

"This provided Fraser with considerable savings when it came to fitting the Shaw-X tilting quick hitch and grab," Harper said.

"It meant we didn't have to add an additional hydraulic circuit, and were simply able to plug into the additional lines."

Compact and manoeuvrable

Where the ECR50D truly shines is in the tight building sites of suburban Launceston, where its narrow body design means it can manoeuvre around the sites with ease.

Also, the position of the pivot cylinder enables the ECR50D to bring the boom right next to structures so the boom can run parallel to the wall – something machines from other stables in this range can't do.

It also means the ECR50D can get extremely close to objects without risk of collision.

"The short front and rear radius allows the unit to work conveniently within a single highway lane," Harper added.

Serviceability and safety

On the serviceability front, Cowan cited several features that really appealed to him.

"For us, safety is a big issue and being able to access all the components and service check points from the ground level is a big plus," he said.

"There are two wide-opening doors with gas struts so they won't slam shut on a windy day. All the greasing points and filters are grouped on the same side of the machine for efficient serviceability.

"More importantly, the fuel filler is located behind the locked rear door which prevents theft."

The ECR50D also features Volvo's patented, multifunctional hydraulic oil filter. The transparent bowl enables easy oil level checks and permits early detection of contamination and filtration which occurs when the tank is filled before the oil returns via the drain lines.

This system allows preventative maintenance to be carried out before damage occurs.

"The hardened steel pins and bushes plus cast steel reinforcements are designed to withstand the toughest jobs," Harper added.

"They only need to be greased every 50 hours, which is a huge advantage.

"Volvo CE provides a complete bumper-to-boom three-year or 3000-hour full Premier Warranty, which instils our confidence in the machine," Cowan said.

For additional safety, the ECR50D is fitted with a slew brake which prevents the machine from creeping around, especially when being transported.

The Volvo ECR50D excavator's cab structure is ROPS1, TOPS and FOPS-rated. It also has two headlights built into the roof and revolving flashing lights installed at the rear.

Operator verdict

Operator Brady McInerny said the climb into the operator's workstation is fairly easy, with well-placed handles and a generously sized doorway.

"The vision from the driver's seat all-round is excellent," McInerny said.

"The large front screen allows excellent vision of the work area with good vision of the blade, while strategically placed mirrors provide almost unobstructed vision around the whole machine with minimal pillar blockage.

"I believe the suspension seat has all the adjustments required to allow most operators to find the most comfortable position for themselves," he added.

"The control levers are really comfortable to hold, and each have proportional thumb-operated switches."

Around the confined backyard area, McInerny made light work of removing the walls of the old bathroom along with its fittings. In under half an hour, he has the bulk of the room loaded on to the back of the tipper.

"I'm very pleased with our choice in the new ECR50D as it will be an essential part of our expanding house-building activities," Cowan said.

"We are taking a long-term view, and our current development projects will certainly keep us busy for the next two years.

"We do see Volvo as a premium brand and its values fit with our company philosophy, which includes using the best to deliver the best."