Power for all five models comes from the three-cylinder Cat C1.1 diesel engine, which offers a net power rating of 19.2hp at 2,400rpm, while meeting the current EU Stage V Emission standards.
Once seated, you start to notice the innovative new features that Caterpillar has included in this range. For the cab variants, air conditioning comes factory fitted, which is pretty much unheard of on this size machine. When you look to the right, you see a new advanced LCD monitor. This offers feedback to the operator on the machine’s status, whilst providing control settings for the air conditioning and radio.
Having been shown all the new functions, it was time to operate the machine myself. Using the new auto idle function, all I needed to do was take a sharp pull on the levers and I was off. This demonstra- tion unit was fitted with a small toothed digging bucket, so I put it to work excavating a trench on the Malaga proving ground. The controls were light and sensitive and it’s quite lively in operation, with a slew speed of 9.8 rpm and plenty of power in the dig. In general, I found it to be a very comfortable little machine to use.
Once I had finished excavating, I decided to test the new “Stick Steer” feature. My immediate reaction was, wow, this is so easy, why has nobody thought about this before. It was just so natural and required far less effort. For the operator it’s also far more comfortable, as you are sat back in the seat, instead of being hunched over the conventional tracking levers.
The top speed of the machine is 2.7 mph, with a lower speed of 1.8 mph, which I used while tidying up with the blade float function. It was then time to try the new cruise control function. For operators who do a lot of travelling across sites, this is a great function that will certainly reduce fatigue.
When it comes to improving maintenance, Caterpillar has designed a new cab tilt function for all of the mini range. This means the entire cab can be tilted up, making it much easier to perform tasks like changing pipes or accessing the slew motor.
When it comes to innovation, in the new range, Caterpillar has introduced a factory fitted “Stick Steer” joystick function. With the press of a button this allows the operator to travel the machine using the left-hand stick to move and change direction, just like you would in a skid steer loader. They have also added a “Cruise Control” function. By simply pressing a button on the front of the joystick, this allows the machine to travel long distances without the need to touch the controls at all.
Continues over... The new additions to the range include the 1.5 tonne Cat 301.5 and Cat 301.6, the 1.7 tonne 301.7 CR, the 1.8 tonne Cat 301.8 and the 2 tonne Cat 302 CR. 7
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