New Caterpillar 304 & 305 CR Mini Excavators Provide More Power & Lower Operating Costs

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The new Caterpillar 304 (shown above) and 305 CR mini excavators provide up to 20% more power than their Cat E2-series predecessors while costing as much as 10% less to own and operate. (Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.)

Caterpillar has added the new 4.9-ton (4.4-metric-ton) Cat 304 with reduced tailswing radius and the 6.34-t (5.8-metric-ton) Cat 305 CR with compact tail swing radius to its next-generation mini hydraulic excavator lineup. The family now consists of more than 20 next-generation machines with features and controls designed to simplify training and operation. Cat says the two newest minis boast a power increase of as much as 20% vs. their E2-series predecessors, while costing up to 10% less to own and operate.

More Power & Flexibility

The Cat 304 and Cat 305 CR include a sealed, pressurized cab with an integrated skylight and available heating and/or air conditioning. (A canopy option is also available in some regions.) Inside the cab, a color LCD screen provides access to fuel and coolant level information and other maintenance- and performance-related machine data. Both machines come with the Cat Stick Steer System that replaces conventional lever and foot pedal steering controls with low-effort joystick operation. Both also provide an option for an angled dozer blade that moves 45 degrees left or right of center for greater flexibility in backfilling and finish-grading jobs.

The new models’ turbocharged Cat 1.7 Turbo engine is compliant with Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V emissions standards and generates 45 horsepower (33.6 kilowatts). The excavators offer automatic two-speed travel functionality, and their standard auto-idle and auto-shutdown features, along with efficient load-sensing hydraulics with variable displacement pump implementations, make them more affordable to operate.

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The new Cat 305 CR features a compact tailswing radius that reduces overhang when working to the side. (Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.)

The Cat 304

The Cat 304 has a 66.9-inch (1,700-millimeter) track width, which is 10 in. (254 mm) narrower than the 304 ER’s, making it better-equipped to work in confined spaces and giving it improved 360-degree and load-traveling stability. Furthermore, as with the Cat 305 CR, owners can enhance stability even more with a 496-pound (225-kilogram) optional counterweight. The Cat 304 has a 138.2-in. (351-centimeter) dig depth, and the standard stick has a 204.7-in. (520-cm) maximum ground-level reach.

The Cat 305 CR

In addition to providing nearly 9% more power, the Cat 305 CR features an improved hydraulic system, with higher, 11,061-pound force (49.2-kilonewton) bucket, 6,362-lbf (28.3-kN) standard stick, and 5,665-lbf (25.2-kN) breakout forces, all of which Cat says give it improved digging efficiency in hard-rock applications. Operators can also expect 5.6 in. (140 mm) more dig depth than the 305 ER’s 144.5 in. (367 cm).

Source: Caterpillar