Furukawa Drifter comparison HD609 · HD612 · HD709 · HD712
For drill owners and technicians — by S.Suvit Trading Ltd., Parts, Furukawa specialists since 1968
Full comparison of all four
Item | HD609 | HD612 | HD709 | HD712 |
Fitted to | HCR9 | HCR12 | HCR900 | HCR1200 |
Series | 600 (older) | 600 (older) | 700 (newer) | 700 (newer) |
Impact power | 12 kW (16 hp) | 14 kW (18.5 hp) | 14.2 kW (19 hp) | 18.2 kW (24 hp) |
Max impact pressure | 150 bar | 175 bar | 175 bar | 175 bar |
Impact frequency | 42 Hz (2,520/min) | 41 Hz (2,460/min) | 41 Hz (2,460/min) | 41 Hz (2,460/min) |
Hole range | 45–102 mm | 89–127 mm | 64–89 mm | 76–102 mm |
Shank | T38, T45 | T38, T45, T51 | T38, R38 | T38, T45, T51 |
Dual Damper System | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Part number | HD609-90003 / -90013 | HD612-90003 | HD709-90005 | HD712-90004-6 |
Ranked by hole size — the angle you can actually buy on
Rank all four by the largest hole they can drill, and the order is not what most people expect:
Rank | Drifter | Hole range | Machine |
1 | HD612 | 89–127 mm | HCR12 (older) |
2 | HD609 | 45–102 mm | HCR9 (older) |
2 | HD712 | 76–102 mm | HCR1200 (newer) |
4 | HD709 | 64–89 mm | HCR900 (newer) |
What this table tells you:
The HD612 drills the largest holes of the four — despite being one of the oldest drifters here
The HD609 has the widest range (45–102 mm) — broader coverage than any of the others, which suits work where hole sizes vary
The HD709 drills the smallest holes (64–89 mm) — even though it sits in the HCR900, a newer and larger machine than the HCR12
The HD712 has the most power (18.2 kW) but only reaches 102 mm — less than the HD612, which has considerably less power
If it isn't hole size, what does the 700 series actually give you?
The answer is the Dual Damper System (DDS) — a technology Furukawa developed as an industry first (U.S. Patent No. 5,896,937), fitted only from the 700 series upward.
What DDS does: it keeps the bit pressed firmly against the rock throughout the blow, so the energy goes into the rock instead of reflecting back up the drill string.
Three benefits:
Better penetration rate, particularly as the rock gets harder
Straighter holes — fewer reflected shock waves, less deviation, and blast patterns that behave the way they were designed to
Longer rod and bit life — reflected shock waves are what destroy rods, bits and shanks, and those are a cost you pay every single month
Points worth noting
1. The HD609 is the only one at 150 bar
The other three all run at 175 bar; only the HD609 sits at 150 bar.
Lower impact pressure means less energy per blow — which suits smaller holes that don't need heavy breaking force, but it is also why the HD609 works harder in hard rock at the top of its range (90–102 mm).
2. The HD609 hits more often than the others, and that makes sense
HD609 = 42 Hz, while the other three are all 41 Hz.
This does not mean the HD609 is better — it reflects a different design philosophy:
Higher frequency + less force per blow → suits smaller holes, where drilling speed matters more than breaking force per blow
Marginally lower frequency + more force per blow → suits larger holes and harder rock
A 1 Hz difference has almost no practical effect — what actually matters is power and pressure.
3. T51 shank — only on the HD612 and HD712
The HD612 and HD712 accept T51; the HD609 and HD709 do not.
This is a structural limitation that cannot be tuned around, because:
A larger rod transmits more energy without the rod itself failing
Holes of 115–127 mm require T51 in practice
The HD609 and HD709 cannot handle large-hole work — not because they lack power, but because the rod system cannot take it
4. The HD709 uses a T38/R38 shank — different from the others
The HD709 is the only one specified with T38 and R38 rather than the T38/T45 of the others.
⚠️ This matters when ordering rods and shanks — don't order out of habit from another machine. Always confirm against the specification of the actual unit.
Which one to choose — decide on hole size first, then on generation
In practice you don't choose the drifter directly — you choose the machine, and the drifter comes with it. But this understanding is what should drive the decision when buying.
Mainly drilling 45–90 mm → HCR9 (HD609)
The widest range, and the most flexible for small-to-medium hole work
A smaller machine — easier to transport, and fits into tighter sites
The lowest budget of the four
Drilling 100–127 mm → HCR12 (HD612)
The only one of the four that exceeds 102 mm
Accepts T51 for large-hole work
Suits quarries that need large holes but can't stretch to a newer machine
Drilling 64–89 mm and want drilling quality → HCR900 (HD709)
Has Dual Damper — straighter holes, longer consumable life
Suits work where hole quality and long-run rod/bit cost matter most
Do not choose it if the job requires holes over 89 mm
Drilling 76–102 mm and want both power and technology → HCR1200 (HD712)
The most power of the four (18.2 kW) + Dual Damper + T51 capability
Suits continuous heavy work in hard rock
The largest and most expensive machine of the four
The simplest deciding point: start from the hole size you actually drill and see which one covers it. Above 102 mm the only option is the HD612, and above 127 mm you need to move up to a larger family altogether.
Which drifter is in which machine
The drifter number always matches the machine number:
Machine | Drifter | Series |
HCR9 Series | HD609 | 600 |
HCR12 Series | HD612 | 600 Series |
HCR900 Series | HD709 | 700 Series |
HCR1200 Series | HD712 | 700 Series |
⚠️ Accumulator nitrogen charge pressure — the HD709 figures (6.0 MPa / 0.3 MPa, twin accumulator) cannot be used on an HD609 or HD612. Read the value from the plate on the actual drifter, and nowhere else.
What to know about parts
Drifters in the same family share some parts with cross-referenced numbers — for example, the HD609-99101 seal kit carries HD612-90001 as a reference number.
⚠️ But a cross-reference in a catalogue does not mean every item interchanges. The HD612 is larger and works at higher pressure than the HD609, so the major components differ. Confirm with your parts supplier every time before ordering.
Confirmed part numbers:
Drifter | Item | Part No. |
HD609 | Drifter assembly | HD609-90003 / HD609-90013 |
HD609 | Drifter seal kit | HD609-99101 (cross-ref HD612-90001) |
HD609 | Rotation motor seal kit | HD609-99155 |
HD609 | Shank T38 × L620 | HD609-02501 |
HD612 | Drifter assembly | HD612-90003 |
HD709 | Drifter assembly | HD709-90004 / HD709-90005 |
HD709 | Drifter seal kit | HD709-99104 / -99105 |
HD709 | Front cylinder seal kit | HD709-99182 |
HD709 | Front cap seal kit | HD709-99183 |
HD709 | Accumulator seal kit | HD709-99185 |
HD709 | Piston seal kit | HD709-99186 |
HD712 | Drifter assembly | HD712-90004-6 |
HD712 | Accumulator assembly | HD712-97001 / -97004 |
Maintenance
Whether 600 or 700 series, the principles are identical — and two things determine drifter life more than anything else:
1. Grease at the shank — use molybdenum grease NLGI No.1 through the auto-greaser, and apply it to the spline groove every time you assemble.
2. Flushing air — insufficient air packs cuttings tightly around the bit; heat and reflected shock waves travel back into the drifter, wearing the piston and drive components abnormally fast. Never percuss without flushing air.
Maintenance intervals to remember:
Every 600 hours — replace the accumulator diaphragm (this interval falls outside the familiar 50/250/500/1000 sequence, which is exactly why it gets skipped most often)
Every ~1,000 hours — assess the drifter for overhaul
Signs it's time for an overhaul: penetration rate down more than ~15% from normal · external oil leakage · abnormal knocking or gas-leak noise · loss of percussion pressure · accumulator will not hold its charge
Summary
Four things worth remembering:
Newer does not mean bigger holes — the HD612 (older machine) reaches 127 mm, while the HD709 (newer machine) reaches only 89 mm
The 700 series sells technology, not hole size — Dual Damper delivers straighter holes and longer consumable life
T51 is available only on the HD612 and HD712 — a structural limitation that cannot be tuned around
The drifter number always matches the machine number — and never apply 700-series specifications to a 600-series drifter
Start from the hole size you actually drill, then decide how much technology you need.
About this article
The comparative specifications in this article come from a parts manufacturer's catalogue (Delkom), which publishes specifications for the whole drifter family from a single source, making a direct comparison possible. Some HD709 data (185 kg weight · 2,250–2,500 blows per minute · Dual Damper System) is confirmed from the Furukawa factory manual for the HCR900-DSII — the guidance on selection and maintenance comes from our own experience.
S.Suvit Trading Ltd., Parts has imported, overhauled, and serviced Furukawa hydraulic crawler rock drills since 1968. We provide drifter overhaul, genuine parts, and seal kits for every model of drifter.
If you would like advice on matching a machine to the hole sizes you actually drill, or an assessment of a drifter's condition before you buy, we're glad to help.
S.Suvit Trading Ltd., Parts 704 Charoen Rat Road, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600 svtrade.com
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