Bobcat Co.

Products
Bobcat Co. entered the compact excavator business in the mid-1980s, beginning with three models, and has grown that lineup to include 11 different units today. Of the 11 models of Bobcat mini excavators, seven are conventional machines (316, 323, 325, 329, 331, 335 and 337), two are zero house swing machines (430 and 435) and two are zero tail swing machines (425 and 442).

Bobcat offers two models that provide a retractable undercarriage — the 316 and 323. The 316 is 35.6 in. wide when expanded and retracts to 27.6 in. The 323’s expanded stance is 53.5 in. and can be retracted to 38.6 in. The Bobcat G-Series models 331 and larger now offer a blade float feature. When activated, the backfill blade follows the contour of finished surfaces without digging into undisturbed surfaces, which is helpful when backfilling, grading and leveling.

All but the smallest model, the 316, is equipped with a two-speed travel system. The 316 is also equipped with a dual gear pump. The 323, 325, 329, 331, 335, 425 and 430 feature a dual outlet piston pump combined with a gear pump system. The 335, 337 and 435 are equipped with load sensing piston pumps. The 442 has a multi-gear and piston pump arrangement. The 430 and 435 have dedicated tandem piston pump assemblies, dedicated solely to the travel system.

Bobcat offers optional cab enclosures on all models except the 316. With the exception of the 442, Bobcat compact excavators use Kubota diesel engines, ranging from 9.9 hp in the 316 to 49 hp in the 435. Bobcat offers three models, the 435 and 337, with a turbocharged engine. The 442, is powered by a turbocharged oil cooled diesel. All applicable engines are Tier II compliant.

What’s Unique and Interesting?
The Bobcat 430 and 435 machines feature a distinctive hydraulic system that completely isolates the working functions from the drive system. Dedicated piston pumps proved oil flow for the left and right travel, eliminating any interference between the excavator’s work group and travel system.

Bobcat’s FastTrack equipped models, the 430 and 435, are capable of high-range travel speeds in excess of 5 mph, nearly twice the speed of standard compact excavators. In 2006, Bobcat introduced a new Hydraulic X-Change attachment mounting system with hydraulically activated attachment retention pins that retract to remove the attachment and extend to secure the attachment, thus saving the operator time and labor.

Insights and Advice
“One of the best ways to compare excavators is to operate them. Ask the dealer for the ability to demo the machine,” says Tom Connor, Bobcat excavator product specialist. “Examine the machine’s operator comfort and visibility, ease of routine maintenance, accessibility to components if service is needed and of course performance — breakout forces, cycle times, etc. Evaluate the anticipated tasks and select a machine that has the capabilities to perform these tasks, with room for growth.”

Contact Info
The Bobcat Co.
250 East Beaton Dr.
West Fargo, ND 58078
Ph: (701) 241-8700
Fax: (701) 241-8704
www.Bobcat.com

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