Bobcat Introduces Its New 1.5-Ton Compact Excavator
Man and machine make a great combination on the jobsite, working in unison to get a project done. Thanks to a redesigned work group, the new Bobcat 324 compact excavator is a contractor’s perfect mate — reaching farther, digging deeper and dumping higher.
The 324 excavator is a conventional tail swing unit in the 1.5-ton operating class. Its boom cylinder is attached to the top of the boom instead of the bottom, giving it more protection from damage while digging. It also features a lighter-weight, yet durable boom fabrication with cast pivot joints.
As a result, the 324 offers a maximum dig depth of 8 ft, 6 in., reach at ground level of 14 ft and dump height clearance of 8 ft, 8 in. — all of which are best in class.
The undercarriage on the 324 excavator hydraulically retracts to a width of just 38.6 in. for travel through gates and doorways or alongside homes. It can then expand to 53.7 in. for greater performance. Overall height is just 85.5 in.
A 13.9-hp, Tier 4 water-cooled diesel engine powers the 324, and two travel speed ranges are standard. Equipped with a hydraulic system similar to the larger Bobcat excavators, the 324 has impressive cycle times and breakout forces to complete jobs faster. The system’s torque-limiting piston pump is able to sense and react to hydraulic loads, for better utilization of the engine’s torque curve.
The standard dozer blade features two self-storing extensions that provide a working width of 54 in. Auxiliary hydraulics with boom-mounted, flush-face quick couplers make changing attachments easy.
Boom swing on the 324 excavator is 80 degrees to the left and 60 degrees to the right. Bobcat’s exclusive in-track swing frame keeps the swing castings and cylinders within the width of the tracks when digging in an offset position, helping the operator dig flush against an obstacle.
A TOPS/ROPS canopy with comfort seat, retractable seat belt, cup holder and armrests is standard. An enclosed cab with heat is optional. Available attachments include grading and trenching buckets, an auger, a hydraulic breaker and a hydraulic clamp.
For more information on Bobcat compact excavators, visit www.bobcat.com/excavators/.
