John Deere has implemented several upgrades to its 550K, 650K and 700K dozers, including power, control, fuel, blade and lighting updates.
Deere says the machines now boast many of the same features as the larger 850K and 1050K.
The first of these updates is a move to Tier 4 Final PowerTech engines for the machines. The 550K and 650K are now powered by 4.5-liter power plant pushing 92 horsepower and 104 hp, respectively. The 700K is powered by a 6.8-liter engine 130 hpa 5 hp boost over its predecessor.
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As part of the engine upgrade, the machines now benefit from Deeres Eco Mode which adjusts engine speed and transmission settings based on the load the machine is under. Deere says the mode can save up to 20 percent in fuel consumption without loss in productivity in many applications.
Deere also replaced the rotary dial found in the dozers predecessors with a new push button throttle for controlling engine RPM.
As for the machines hydrostatic transmissions, Deere made updates to the electronic control system for improved response and upgraded the motors from a two-speed design to a variable displacement design to optimize pushing power and drawbar pull.
Operators will notice updates to the dozers hydraulics, including a larger pump for both the standard mechanical controls and a new option, electro-hydraulic (EH) controls. Deere says the EH control is more responsive to the operator, adding that the feature provides a significant improvement to grading while using a grade control system versus mechanical control.
Speaking of, if you order one of the machines with the EH control, it comes ready to accept the installation of the grade control system of your choice. However, Topcon users can have the system installed at the factory and are able to finance the system with the machine.
Deere has also added the blade shake feature to the machines which shakes loose material from the blade with the push of a button. Two new blade sizes have also been added that werent previously available for these machines: A 126-inch blade is now available on the XLT frame and a 144-inch blade is now available on the LGP frame. A 120-inch blade comes standard on the XLT frame while a 132-inch blade comes standard on the LGP.
The dozers also feature Deeres V-Cool package and a new ground-level courtesy lighting switch located near the battery disconnect switch.
