Akerman H14B Overview

[MikePhua]

Machine Background
The Akerman H14B is a wheeled hydraulic excavator designed in the mid-20th century by Akerman, a Swedish manufacturer founded in the early 1900s, later integrated into Volvo Construction Equipment. As a compact-to-mid-size wheeled excavator, the H14B typically weighs around 14–16 metric tonnes and offers a digging reach of approximately 8–9 meters with bucket capacities near 0.5–0.8 m³. It served contractors and urban operators who valued the mobility of rubber tires combined with hydraulic dexterity; annual production numbers are modest compared to mass-market models like the Volvo EC140 or Komatsu PW130, but enthusiasts and restoration specialists keep the H14B alive in niche markets.
Performance Aspects
The H14B’s hydraulic system uses a variable-displacement main pump coupled to spool-valve control, allowing smooth flow and precise movement. Rated engine power in similar-era units ran between 60–70 kW (80–95 hp), sufficient for digging and loader duties in municipal, road, and light-to-medium excavation jobs. Fuel capacity of around 250 L gives a full-day operation range of roughly 8–10 hours under moderate load.
Typical Questions About the H14B
Many owners ask practical, performance-related questions such as:

• Elbow grease versus feature gap—Is the hydraulic swing becoming sluggish? Often caused by worn bushings or aged swing motor seals. A rebuild kit costs a few hundred dollars and can restore smooth arc motion.
  
• Injection pump or idle buffer—Can idle hunting be stabilized? The H14B idle control can be finicky. Installing an updated governor or adjusting the diesel injection pump’s fuel metering screw can reduce RPM bounce from ±50 rpm to a steady ±10 rpm.
  
• Rubber versus steel—Are tire conversions practical? For those restoring older H14Bs, replacing hard-to-find specific tires with common 17.5-25 industrial variants works—but requires adjusting hub spacing by about 5 cm or using offset adapters.
  
• Additional ballast? Some operators augment the factory counterweight with welded-on steel plates to improve bucket force and reduce bounce during back-dragging. This can increase operating weight by 5–10%, enhancing digging torque at the cost of some transport ease.
  

Common Issues and Solutions

• Hydraulic Leak at Boom Swing
  Worn pivot seals or O-rings can lead to hydraulic fluid seepage. Replaceable seal kits are available, and routine lubrication of swing bearings avoids premature wear.
  
• Cooling Concerns
  The oil-cooled hydraulic oil cooler tends to clog in dusty job sites. Periodic flushing and cleaning can maintain oil temperature, preventing overheating. A retrofit fan upgrade can improve airflow by approximately 15%.
  
• Control Circuit Age
  Electrical wiring in H14Bs, especially in models over 40 years old, can suffer brittle insulation, leading to starter issues or intermittent boom lock errors. Re-wiring harness sections or replacing aged contactors restores reliability.
  

Maintenance Recommendations

• Use fine-micron filtration (10 µm) in hydraulic systems to maintain pump longevity; replacements are inexpensive relative to downtime costs.
  
• Inspect swing motor seals every 1,000 operational hours; replace during major service to avoid abrupt failures.
  
• Run diagnostic tests on the swing function after seal replacement to ensure the arc holds under load without drift.
  
• For tire replacements, measure hub offset and tread width; ensure new tires maintain ground clearance for street and site travel.
  

A Short Story from the Field
On a city sidewalk renovation job, an aging H14B operator struggled with slow swing response that made placing paving stones tedious. A technician swapped in a bushing and seal kit, then used a 10-µm filter element—within an hour, the machine responded to joystick commands crisply and without lag. The operator remarked that the machine felt “as agile as a cat again,” highlighting that well-timed preventive fixes can rejuvenate historic machines.
Glossary

• Variable-displacement pump — A hydraulic pump that adjusts fluid delivery based on demand, improving efficiency.
  
• Governor — A device that regulates engine speed to maintain constant RPM under varying loads.
  
• Drift — Unintended slow movement of an actuator (boom, swing) when it should be stationary.
  
• Counterweight — Additional mass at the rear of the excavator to balance the load.
  
• Micron filter — A hydraulic fluid filter rated to trap particles of a specific micron size; smaller micron ratings offer finer filtration.
  

Summary
The Akerman H14B is a practical mid-size wheeled excavator with modest production but enduring value in restoration and municipal use. Its key strengths rest in its variable-flow hydraulics and mobility. Common concerns include sluggish swing due to wear, idle instability, hydraulic leakage, cooling limitations, and wiring degradation. Most issues are addressable with seal replacement, filtration upgrades, cleaning, and harness maintenance. Operators can extend the useful life of this classic machine significantly through regular preventative service and thoughtful upgrades.