Bobcat Product Launch Day Three: The Ultimate Mini Digger
There was plenty of space to operate the tiny 324 mini excavator at the busy Bobcat Atlanta dealership last week, where Bobcat was holding its 2010 press product launch. Digging big red chunks of Georgia-red dirt, the new 1.5-ton Bobcat compact excavator showcased its 13.9-hp diesel engine and its bucket digging force of 3,620 lbs in the open field behind the dealer lot, where editors, product managers and brand new machines mingled.
But what impressed this writer the most about the 324 was its power inside a uniquely small package. While Bobcat does make a smaller mini ex (the model 323), the 324 has a hydraulically retractable undercarriage, going from a width of just 38.6 in. (for travel through gates and doorways) to a width of 53.7 in. (for more stable performance). And even though the 342 was just one of many cool new compact products Bobcat was releasing at its media days last week, it was maybe the toughest for its size.
The new excavator utilizes a redesigned work group, which allows the new Bobcat 324 compact excavator to reach farther, dig deeper and dump higher. The 324 is a cataloged as a conventional tail swing unit in the 1.5-ton operating class, but because its boom cylinder is attached to the top of the boom instead of the bottom, it has 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 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.
Another super cool feature that foils the retractable undercarriage is the standard dozer blade, which features two self-storing extensions that provide a working width of 54 in. So when the tracks expand and retract, so does the dozer blade. Auxiliary hydraulics with boom-mounted, flush-face quick couplers also make changing attachments easy.
The 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. This really is a great dig tool for contractors who operation in super tight jobsites.
What else? Well, a TOPS/ROPS canopy with comfort seat, retractable seatbelt, cup holder and armrests is standard. An enclosed cab with heat is optional. Available attachments include grading and trenching buckets, an augur, a hydraulic breaker and a hydraulic clamp. To find the name of the nearest Bobcat dealer, visit http://bobcat.know-where.com/bobcat/, and for more information on Bobcat compact excavators, visit www.bobcat.com/excavators/.
