Deere enhances K series dozers

Deere has continued to improve its K series of dozers by adding several enhancements to the range off the back of customer demand and feedback. They include tech upgrades, new undercarriage track frames and options as well as an improved Semi-U blade.

Slope Control

John Deere has made Slope Control available as an integrated factory option on the smaller 450K, 550K and 650K models in the range.

Slope Control is John Deere’s entry-level integrated grade control solution that assists operators in grading smooth planar surfaces and is ideal for applications such as small site development, road building, forestry and agriculture, Deere said.

Using the integrated Slope Control system, operators can view real -time cross-slope and main fall-slope percentages through the in-cab monitor. Armed with this data, the operator can grade to desired slopes by adjusting the blade manually or through the system’s automated control.

The system is fully integrated with the machine, meaning components and sensors are properly protected from damage and theft.

“The demand for grading technology in the construction industry is rapidly increasing, and entry-level solutions are key for that adoption,” said John Deere solutions marketing manager, Matt Goedert.

“By offering Slope Control on the K-Series machines, customers can precisely maintain and grade desired slopes easier than ever using proven technology.”

Slope Control can be set up in one of two modes, Target or Joystick. In Target Mode, the operator enters the specified target slope into the monitor, whereas with Joystick Mode, the slope is maintained based on the last joystick input.

Both modes can automatically control the blade’s tilt, raise and lower commands to maintain a target slope, giving the operator precise control. This makes it possible for operators of any experience level to maintain the slightest slopes while still maintaining proper drainage.

Other features include Flip Slope and integrated Increment and Decrement buttons. Flip Slope enables the operator to quickly adjust the target main fall or cross-slope to the opposite value, which is ideal for seamless turnarounds before starting the next pass. The Increment and Decrement feature allows the operator to adjust the cross-slope or main fall-slope target value on the fly using buttons on the blade control joystick.

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John Deere has added a suspended double-bogie track frame on the range-topping 1050K dozer aimed at improving ride quality.

The new undercarriage features a second layer of bogies, new isolators and refined geometry to provide a smoother ride for operators and reduce fatigue.

John Deere has also made the Extended Life undercarriage option available for both the 950K and 1050K models. The option has been available and popular on the smaller dozer models, Deere said.

The Extended Life undercarriage features the John Deere-exclusive SC-2™-coated track chain bushings. Produced using a proprietary coating that forms a hard shell, the SC-2-coated bushings deliver up to twice the wear life of standard bushings for increased machine uptime, Deere claimed.

Deere has upgraded the Semi-U blade on the 1050K for increased productivity.

The new blade profile helps increase capacity thanks to improved roll performance and standard cast end bits, hence helping to reduce material plugging and is able to carry more dirt where it needs to go with every pass, Deere said.

Other updates include a 950K stockpiling configuration addition and exterior hose upgrades.

Intended for coal handling and wood chip applications, the new factory stockpiling configuration for the 950K provides specialised sheet metal guarding to increase protection from material spilling over the blade and falling through the horizontal hood perforations and grille.

This configuration also includes a special high-debris cooling package.

Finally, the exterior hoses on both machines have been upgraded, increasing durability especially in cold-weather environments.