Walt Moore, Editor
With a tail swing of just 3.75 inches over its standard 31.5-inch shoes, the new Doosan DX235LCR hydraulic excavator is designed to work on congested jobsites.
The payoff, says manufacturer Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment America, is reduced potential for damage when working close to buildings or walls, plus the ability to keep traffic moving in an adjacent lane on roadway jobs—or on an adjacent track during railway projects. The machine’s overall balanced design, says Doosan, allows these benefits without sacrificing performance and stability—whether digging or lifting.
Powered by a 173-horsepower, six-cylinder Doosan turbocharged diesel engine, the DX235LCR has an operating weight of 53,572 pounds when fitted with its standard boom and digging arm and using a 1.2-cubic-yard bucket. Breakout forces are 33,510 pounds for the bucket and 23,810 pounds for the digging arm. A power-boost function increases both forces by about 5 percent, rivaling, says Doosan, the highest breakout forces available in this excavator size class.
The excavator is equipped with an electronic engine/hydraulic interface system designed to ensure that the implement-hydraulic system’s efficient load-sensing piston pump uses engine power most effectively. The implement-control system uses a closed-center main control valve, enabling, says Doosan, fine metering of hydraulic flow for smooth, precise machine control and reduced hydraulic noise. In addition, boom and digging-arm cylinders are cushioned to provide smooth, end-of-stroke operation.
Depending on the application, the operator can choose between three working modes—Power, Standard or Economy. Power mode uses 100 percent of available engine and hydraulic horsepower for heavy work and fast cycle times. Standard mode utilizes 85 percent of engine and hydraulic horsepower for general work and normal speed. Economy mode minimizes fuel consumption without loss of performance.
Considering its compact footprint, the DX235LCR has generous working dimensions, with a maximum digging reach of 31 feet 7 inches, maximum digging depth of 21 feet 11 inches, and a dump height of 26 feet 1 inch. Maximum travel speed is 3.6 mph in high range. Complementing the overall speed of the new excavator (both hydraulic and travel) is its 11.3-rpm swing rotation, the result of a high-torque motor that allows the new excavator to work efficiently on slopes.
Its operator’s station is roomy and comfortable with ergonomically designed controls and instrumentation. To further reduce operator fatigue, says Doosan, the new machine’s overall design keeps noise levels as low as possible, resulting in a sound level at the operator’s ear of 71 dB(A), and a bystander rating of 103 dB(A). A standard, operator-enabled auto-idle feature helps reduce fuel consumption and noise.
Engine service intervals are 500 hours, and the DX235LCR shares the extended lubrication intervals of the Doosan excavator range. The fuel-system’s water trap and the engine oil filter are both located in the hydraulic-pump bay for easy access from ground level. The new excavator is protected by a 48-hour parts guarantee, which assures the owner that if a “machine-debilitating” part is needed, Doosan will have the part in the customer’s hands within two business days or will pay for a replacement-machine rental.
