Product Report: Case CX B series

Case Construction Equipment has introduced three big excavators to its lineup, the CX350B, CX470B and CX700B. Powered by Tier 3 Isuzu engines, the new machines get up to 7 percent better fuel efficiency with features such as electronically controlled common rail fuel injection and a redesigned hydraulic system, says Dave Wolf, brand marketing manager for the company.

The excavators also feature ground level service points and a fuel sight gauge that can be easily read when standing in front of the machine. Ganged grease zerks and flip-up service panels speed regular maintenance. Graphite impregnated bushings on all the boom and stick hinge points reduce friction and only need to be greased every 1,000 hours. The engine oil filter is remotely located in the pump house so it can be changed without having to go under the machine.

Noise levels were reduced with isolation mounted cabs, tubular structural framework and curved glass panels which break up external sound waves rather than transmit them back inside the cab. The seat adjusts independent of the joystick controls and can “remember” the settings so different operators can quickly find their preferred position.

Operators can store up to 10 different auxiliary hydraulic flow patterns for use in multiple attachments.

In the face of rapidly rising diesel costs, Case has made fuel efficiency a priority, says Tom Banner, product sales training manager. But the proper metric for fuel efficiency is not gallons per hour, but gallons per unit of work done, or productivity per hour, he says. Productivity per gallon is affected by the engine performance, naturally, but also the efficiency of the hydraulic system, the comfort and skill level of the operator, and even small things like good maintenance and lubrication.

To coax the most work per gallon out of the CX B series of excavators, Case put regenerative hydraulics and large diameter cylinders on the boom, arm, and bucket curl. This gives the machines faster cycle times resulting in more material moved per hour.