Compact contender from KATO

by Nick Drew | Tue 22 Jan 2019

Compact contender from KATO

During a recent visit to test drive the KATO IMER 8 tonne class midi excavator, I was also given the opportunity to get “hands on” with the 3.6 tonne class HD35V4 mini excavator.

The HD35V4 is the largest mini excavator in the KATO IMER range which is built in Italy at the manufacturers San Gimignano facility. It’s a unique machine being one of, if not the only machine in its size class to feature an expanding undercarriage from 1,550mm retracted to 1,800mm extended.

This unique selling point is sure to appeal to landscape contractors, groundworkers and general builders who need to access gardens or confined job sites to install heavy items like a septic tank for instance, a situation where most would normally be considering a 5-tonne excavator to be able to cope with the weight.

Naturally to get a 5-tonner in would mean more fence panels would need to be removed to gain access and then there is more expensive work to do at the end of the job to put it all back together again, so this machine is a great alternative, as when sitting with its track frame expanded its virtually as wide as a 5-tonne machine so offers excellent lifting capabilities, whilst remaining compact in dimensions.

The HD35V4 is powered by the familiar and extremely popular 3-cylinder Yanmar 3TNV88 engine which delivers 17.5kw @2,200rpm. As previously reviewed with other KATO IMER machines access to this engine is via a wide opening panel door at the rear, which reveals easy to reach filters and service points.

Same again the offside bonnet hood raises up to reveal the spool blocks, hydraulic tank and filter, expansion bottle, cooling pack and air filter.

On the cab door side, the diesel tank filler point has apparently been lowered compared to previous models to facilitate easier filling of the all plastic 42 litre fuel tank which is located under the floor of the cab. Height of the filler point neck from ground level is 1,100mm for those filling up from jerry cans.

Digging depth on the HD35V4 is 3,380mm with the long dipper arm fitted, with a reach at ground level of some 5,420 in the same configuration. Offset boom angles are once again 80⁰to the right and 50⁰to the left, from an operator’s perspective I would prefer these angles to be reversed.

However, it is that they measure such things, KATO IMER claim the machine has unrivalled lifting capacity and stability able to lift up to 2,000kg over the front and 1,000kg over the side.

In the cab it’s the usual that we have come to expect from KATO IMER since we have been seeing them on the market, it’s a comfortable place to spend the day, with plenty of all-round visibility. Most controls and switches on the 35V4 are located to the operators right under the armrest, including ignition, auto idle rocker switch, lights, Eco or Power mode selection and quick hitch. A red handled lever is also located on that side so the operator can select between blade or track expansion movements, which are then achieved by using the dedicated dozer blade lever, which also includes the two speed tracking selection button.

During the brief time I operated the 35V4 it felt like a well built and well-balanced machine which just purred away as it went about its business all at a very pleasing 79 dB(A) in the cab. The knowledge that there are top quality blue-chip Japanese components at the heart of this machine was reflected in the way the machine behaved in terms of response on the levers and finesse when performing delicate manoeuvres.

In summary a great little machine that will surprise many with its ability and overall quality, if you get a chance, try one out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

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