HELAC ALTERNATIVE
L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H Rotary Actuator
Alternatives & cross-reference · 360° · 509 Nm at 207 bar
Looking for an alternative to the Helac L20-4.5 rotary actuator? This page covers the 360° foot-mount catalog configuration, with a rated output torque of approximately 509 Nm at 207 bar. HM can help review your unit tag, mounting drawings and operating requirements before proposing a suitable solution.
Independently supplied alternative — not an original Helac part. Configuration and fit are confirmed against your unit tag and drawing before ordering.
Cross-reference
Alternatives for Helac L20-4.5
Compare this unit with other brands at a similar performance level — then send us your tag and mounting drawing and we confirm which option actually fits.
| Brand | Model / series | Key specification |
|---|---|---|
| Helac | L20-4.5L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H | 509 Nm · 360° |
| HKS | M-DA-H-F7 70 | Similar torque class |
Alternative models are compared by published performance specifications. Mounting dimensions and compatibility must be confirmed before ordering.
What HM checks before recommending a fit
Mounting dimensions
Foot / flange pattern, bolt circle and overall envelope.
Shaft interface
Shaft type, spline / key, diameter and flange arrangement (S1/S2).
Rotation & stops
Rotation angle, end stops and cushioning for your mechanism.
Hydraulic connections
Port size/standard (SAE/UNF), position and counterbalance valve.
HM Model Reference
HMR2-050 — HM's closest model in the 508 Nm class
This reference sits in the 508 Nm class. The closest HM model is HMR2-050 — Helical, L20-style foot mount — matched on torque class only. The left column repeats what this reference's own record states, reproduced as published; the right column is HM's own rating. The table shows what carries over and what still has to be checked on your unit.
Original
L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H
HM Model Reference
HMR2-050
Rated torque
Rated pressure
Rotation
Mounting
Output shaft
Valve options
| Original L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H | HM HMR2-050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rated driving torque | 509 Nm | 508 Nm |
| Rated pressure | 3,000 psi (207 bar) | 210 bar |
| Rotation | 360° | 180°; stop at 90° available |
| Mounting | Not verified — confirm on unit | FT — Foot |
| Output shaft | Not verified — confirm on unit | 1F — Single flange shaft / 2F — Double flange shaft |
| Valve options | Not verified — confirm on unit | NV / CB / CS |
| Ordering pattern | Not applicable | HMR2-{spec}-180-FT-{output}-{valve} |
Left column: this reference's own published figures, reproduced as recorded. Any field the record does not establish is marked “Not verified” and is never filled from HM data. Right column: HM's own rating at HM's stated pressure. Confirm both against the unit nameplate and mounting drawing before ordering.
What carries over
- HM torque class (508 Nm) at HM's 210 bar rating.
- Helical, L20-style foot mount architecture.
- Rotation: 180° available on the HMR2 series. A 180/90 code is a 180° unit with the stop set at 90°, not a separate build.
What has to be verified
- Shaft / output flange interface and spline.
- Mounting bolt pattern and pilot register.
- Port size and position, plus valve arrangement (NV / CB / CS).
- Overall envelope and tie-rod clearance.
Comparable performance based on rated torque class for engineering comparison. The mounting interface must be confirmed by our engineering team before quotation.
Same base, other builds
Other configurations of this size
One base size is built in several mountings, angles and valve arrangements. If your unit carries a different code from the one on this page, start from the closest build below.
Code anatomy
What each part of this code means
Every segment below is read from the manufacturer’s published ordering key. Where a segment is not published, we say so instead of guessing — those are the ones to confirm from the tag or the drawing before ordering.
L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H
L20 series
| Segment | Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| L20 | Series | L20 series — frame size and mounting family |
| 4.5 | Model size | Size 4.5 — rated drive torque is set by this number (thousand in-lb class in the L/T key) |
| E | Measurement system | English system — SAE/UNF threads, SAE ports |
| FT | Housing / mounting | Foot mount |
| 360 | Rotation | Standard 360° rotation |
| S1 | Shaft / flanges | Cantilever — shaft flange only (single) |
| C | Valve | Counterbalance valve fitted |
| H | Seals and bearings | Standard seals and bearings |
Full ordering key and how to read a tag: identifying a rotary actuator.
What the 360° sweep changes on this build
A full-turn build: the output sweeps a complete revolution. The hose loop and its clamping have to survive the whole sweep, which is why a full-turn unit is checked as a hose-routing question as well as a torque question.
- Check the hose loop clears the housing through the full revolution, not just at the rest position.
- Confirm the duty actually needs a complete turn — a half-turn build of the same size is the usual choice where it does not.
- Rotation stops, if the machine has them, sit outside the actuator and still have to be checked.
When this sweep is the right build
- Duties that genuinely index through a full revolution — rod handling, turret positioning, continuous swing.
- Linkages where the return path is part of the cycle rather than a reversal of the same half turn.
- Machines already built around a full-turn hose loop, where a half-turn unit would leave the routing over-travelled.
Confirming the sweep on the machine
- Turn the linkage through a full revolution by hand and watch the hose loop — a unit that binds at three quarters of a turn is a routing problem, not a torque problem.
- Check whether the machine has an external rotation stop; if it does, the sweep on the tag is not the limit the linkage actually uses.
How the sweep sits in the order code
The sweep is the fifth segment of the code. Going to the half-turn build of the same size changes that segment and the internal stop tube; flange, shaft and valve stay as they are. Where a machine only needs two positions, the half-turn build is the shorter hose route and the smaller envelope.
Where these two builds get mixed up
- A full-turn unit is sometimes quoted where the linkage only swings half a turn, which over-travels the hose loop for no benefit.
- If a full-turn unit will not pass a quarter or half turn under load, the cause is usually hose routing or an external stop, not the actuator.
Same torque class
Other references our customers compare with this one
These builds sit in the same torque class as the unit on this page. Same class does not mean interchangeable — the mounting interface, shaft and port arrangement are confirmed against your tag or drawing before quoting.
At a glance
Quick reference
- Catalog configuration
- L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H
- Original brand
- Helac
- Type
- Rotary actuator
- Rotation
- 360°
- Output torque @207 bar
- 509 Nm
- Mounting styles
- FT foot mount · FF front flange · RF rear flange · CL clevis
Reference only · original manufacturer data
What the original catalogue lists for L20-4.5 (450 in-lb class)
The figures below are the original manufacturer's published catalogue values, kept here so you can compare them with the HM model reference above. They are not HM performance data and they are not a statement of interchangeability.
+Show original catalogue figures (Helac L20 catalog, p. 10)
| Product type | Hydraulic helical rotary actuator |
|---|---|
| Series / size | L20 series · L20-4.5 (450 in-lb class) |
| Catalog configuration | L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H |
| Rotation angle | 360° |
| Rated operating pressure | 207 bar |
| Output (drive) torque @ rated pressure | 509 Nm |
| Holding torque | 1,333 Nm |
| Moment capacity — cantilever (S1) | 1,356 Nm |
| Axial load capacity | 499 kg |
| Radial load capacity | 1,383 kg |
| Available mounting styles | FT foot mount · FF front flange · RF rear flange · CL clevis |
| This build | E = English/SAE threads & ports · FT foot mount · 360° rotation · S1 single (cantilever) flange · C counterbalance valve · H standard seals & bearings |
Send us your nameplate and mounting drawing. HM reviews the configuration and cross-brand options, confirms the fit, then quotes the matching unit and price.
Other models in the Helac L20 range
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What does the L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H replace?+
L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H is a 360° Helac L-series helical rotary actuator configuration derived from the Parker/Helac HY34-1001 ordering key and Helac L20 catalog, p. 10. It is assembled per the catalog ordering rules rather than read from a specific nameplate, so the exact configuration and compatibility are confirmed against the original unit tag and mounting drawings; our alternative is matched only after that review. Send your tag code or a drawing and we confirm the exact build before quoting.
Is L20-4.5-E-FT-360-S1-C-H a confirmed factory order code?+
This configuration is derived from the Parker/Helac HY34-1001 ordering key (L20-4.5 frame, L20 series, E English/SAE, FT mount, 360° rotation, S1 single/cantilever flange, C counterbalance valve, H standard seals & bearings) and the published L20 performance data. It is a configuration assembled per the catalog rules, not an independently verified factory order code read from a nameplate. The exact configuration and compatibility are confirmed against the original unit tag and mounting drawings before we quote.
Can I use the HKS M-DA-H-F7 70 as a direct replacement?+
The listed alternatives are at a similar published torque level, but each is built to its own frame and mounting dimensions, so a similar rating does not guarantee a fit. Send us your unit tag and mounting drawing — we overlay the flange, shaft, ports and rotation and confirm whether one is a suitable option for your machine.
Which mounting styles are available for the L20-4.5?+
This page covers the E-FT-360-S1-C-H build. Send your tag code or a mounting drawing and we confirm the matching housing, flange and port arrangement against the available L20 mounting options.
Why is the exact HM model and price not shown?+
We confirm the HM model per inquiry after verifying the interface and operating parameters with you. This avoids shipping a part that looks right by model name but differs in mounting or rotation. Price is provided with that confirmed quote.
Request a replacement review
Need a replacement for L20-4.5?
Send your existing unit's nameplate and a mounting drawing. HM reviews the configuration and possible alternatives, confirms mounting and compatibility, and recommends the best available sourcing option for your machine.
- Original model / part number
- Machine brand & model
- Quantity & annual demand
- Mounting photo or drawing (if available)
Or email directly: hm@hmhydraulics.com