204KStanding a full foot lower than the rest of John Deere’s lineup of compact wheel loaders, the company’s new 204K and 304K were designed specifically for lower-clearance applications.
The 8-foot-tall machines feature rigid front and rear axles that lower the machine’s center of gravity while increasing stability and tipping load limit. The height of these two new models make working in areas restricted access such as door and trailer openings easier, Deere says.
“To be successful on the jobsite, our customers wanted a shorter machine with simplified hydraulics, loader linkage and electrical systems along with a skid steer style coupler and a standard open canopy,” says Doug Laufenberg, product marketing manager for compact wheel loaders, John Deere Construction & Forestry.
304KBoth machines are powered by a Tier 4 diesel engine paired with a two-speed transmission. The 204K boasts 59 horsepower while the 304K has 64 hp. Both machines have a top speed of 12 mph complemented by limited slip differential for better traction.
The 204K and 304K come standard with an open operator station that allows the operator to easily get in and out of the machine. However, for those operators who require it, Deere will also offer the option of a heated and cooled sealed cab.
The machines’ boom, bucket, and forward-neutral-reverse switch are on one lever for one-handed control.
Both machines feature a traverse-mounted engine that allows for quick daily servicing. And for the operators who change attachments a lot, Deere has included a push-button skid-steer style coupler standard. The coupler works with Deere’s Worksite Pro attachments quickly, without tools and without needing to leave the cab.
