Hitachi CHANGE LEVER - 338159
Original Hitachi Change Lever — part no. 338159. This genuine Hitachi selector lever is the factory change lever used on SDS‑MAX rotary hammers DH45ME, DH45MEY, DH52ME and DH52MEY.
It fits on top of the crank case and operates the mode selector (rotation + hammering ⇄ hammering only), indexing into the factory detents — the manual advises switching the selector only when the motor is stopped to avoid unexpected rotation.
Made to original Hitachi specification for the SDS‑MAX (52 mm class) rotary hammers, this change lever replaces worn, cracked or broken selectors with no modification required; it’s the same part shown in the exploded parts diagrams for the DH45 / DH52 .
A small, durable replacement that’s listed among common Hitachi spare parts for these models, it’s a straightforward fix to restore safe, indexed mode changes when your selector has failed — a practical power tool parts swap to get the hammer back in service.
Compatible models this part will fit: