CAT 311 – 20 years young and still going strong

October 2015

Our CAT 311 excavator turned 20 years old on the 12^th of June 2015.

The excavator was bought to be used on the Kelmscott Stage 4L and Armadale 4C Infill Sewerage contract awarded in mid-1995.  Since then the hour clock has already made one revolution and is more than half way through the next at 15,900 hours.

The build on the CAT 311 is over engineered, very similar to a 20 tonne class machine. Because of this, and with most of the working components including the engine and hydraulic motors still being in good order, it was decided after its 20th birthday to rejuvenate the excavator, rather than sell and buy new.

Included in the overhaul completed by our workshop team was:

• 2 new track chains & drive sprockets
• New hydraulic pumps
• New engine front timing cover and engine oil pump, including all gaskets and seals replaced
• New pins and bushes
• New radio
• New security covers on all windows and door
• Engine retuned
• All the hydraulic cylinders were overhauled
• Quick hitch serviced
• Track adjusters resealed
• Lights repaired
• Full paintwork outside and also inside the operator’s cabin
• Detailing of the operator’s cab
• New DMC logo decals fitted.

Since the 311’s initial purchase, we have added rubber pads to the steel tracks, CAT centre-lock automatic pin grabber (2010), vandal guards, external emergency shut down button, hydraulic piping for rock breaker, vibrating plate compactor and clam-shell bucket to provide greater versatility and more efficient use of the excavator.

With the above work and improvements we are likely to see many more years of good use from the Cat 311 in our fleet