Komatsu PC900LC-11: Specs. Durability and Problems

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 is a new large excavator offering from Komatsu. The Komatsu PC900LC-11 is an excavator Komatsu developed for use in construction, deep sewer, mining, water, demolition, etc. It is an improvement on the older PC800LC-8. It is one of the largest excavators in Komatsu's current lineup of "large excavators," with only the PC1250 series being more capable.

Komatsu boldly claims the newer excavator increases productivity by as much as 40%. They also describe the PC900LC-11 as having 25 percent more torque. This article discusses the specifications, durability, and problems of the Komatsu PC900LC-11.

Komatsu PC900LC-11 Specifications

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has excellent specifications that set it up for heavy-duty applications. This section discusses these specifications. Areas highlighted are the engine, environment, drives and brakes, hydraulic system, swing system, dimensions and weight, bucket & arm force, and working range.

1) Engine

The engine in the PC900LC-11 is the homemade Komatsu SAA6D140E-7. The Komatsu engine makes use of a common rail direct injection system for fuel delivery. Also, the SAA6D140E-7 uses a turbocharger and after-cooler for forced induction. This is a water-cooled engine.

The engine in the PC900LC-11 can output up to 543 horsepower (hp) at 1800 revolutions per minute (rpm) according to the ISO 14396 standards. For ISO 9249 (net engine power), the Komatsu PC900LC-11 can output 538 hp. For comparison, the Hitachi ZX 870 LC-6 and Caterpillar 395 can output up to 512 hp and 542 hp of net engine power, respectively. In terms of engine power, the Komatsu PC900LC-11 falls right between the two competing excavators. With the Komatsu PC900LC-11, you will have the requisite power to carry out demanding tasks.

Further, the Komatsu PC900LC-11 has six cylinders and a displacement of 15.24 liters.

2) Drives and Brakes

The PC900LC-11 has a tractive force or maximum drawbar pull of 124,994-pound force (lb.-ft). The drawbar pull refers to the maximum force the excavator can exert in a straight line. For heavy towing or pulling tasks, you will need an excavator with a high max drawbar pull. The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has solid specifications in this regard. Also, you get decent travel speeds of 2.7/4.0 kilometers per hour speeds for movement on the work site.

3) Hydraulic System

The hydraulics on the Komatsu PC900LC-11 include an additional circuit for attachment lines. With the attachment line, you will be able to vary the kind of tasks you do with the PC900LC-11. This is a valuable option to have to enable the machine's versatility.

4) Swing System

When looking at the swing system of an excavator, there are two important specs to consider: the swing speed and swing torque. The swing speed refers to the rate at which the upper structure of the excavator rotates. Swing torque lets us know how much force the excavator can deploy when rotating. These specs may not be too important for all tasks, for example, digging. However, for unloading and loading other vehicles, they are crucial for an excavator.

The swing system of the Komatsu PC900LC-11 is quite good. It allows for quick, efficient movement of the excavator. The PC900LC-11 has a swing speed of 6.9 rpm. The swing torque for the excavator is 237, 243 lb.-ft.

5) Dimensions and Weight

Komatsu designed the PC900LC-11 for maneuverability and easy operation. The PC900LC-11 has a tail swing radius of 14 feet and 5 inches. It has a track length on the ground of 16 feet and 6 inches. The track gauge is 11 feet and 7 inches.

With these dimensions, operators should be able to work effectively in some confined spaces with reasonable stability. However, if maneuverability in small spaces is a major need for your applications, there are smaller excavators than the Komatsu PC900LC-11 you should consider.

The operating weight of the PC900LC-11 is 204,148 pounds (lb.). The weight of the PC900LC-11 could help improve its stability and traction compared to other excavators in its class. The Hitachi ZX 870 LC-6 has a weight of 188,715.7 lb., and the John Deere 870P weighs up to 188,716 lb.

6) Bucket and Arm Force

Bucket and arm force are crucial for a lot of excavation-related work. Bucket force is the amount of force the bucket can apply when digging. Arm force refers to the force the excavator's arm exerts when lifting materials. The standard used in describing the Komatsu PC900LC-11s bucket and arm force is ISO.

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has a minimum arm length of 12 feet and 1 inch. Its maximum arm length is 14 feet and 5 inches. In addition, the boom of the PC900LC-11 is 27 feet and 6 inches. Further, it has an impressive arm breakout force of 76 660 lb.-ft. For the bucket breakout force, you get 90 598 lb.-ft. With these specs, the PC900LC-11 can excavate heavy materials efficiently.

The specifications here are good enough for the PC900LC-11 to dig through most hard materials like concrete and rocks and lift some heavy loads like pipes and boulders.

7) Working Range

The working range is the distance the excavator can get to with its bucket. The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has a maximum digging length of 28 feet and 6 inches. The maximum digging reach of this excavator is 46 feet and 7 inches. Also, it has a maximum digging height of 44 feet and 2 inches.

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has a wide enough working range to allow operators to perform a range of excavation and construction activities, including deep digging and high reaching.

8) Environment

The PC900LC-11 meets very stringent environmental and emission standards. Komatsu PC900LC-11 is compliant with the USA Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) tier 4 emission standards. Also, the Komatsu PC900LC-11 is fully compliant with the European Union's Stage V exhaust emission regulations.

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 allows for high-level work in a way that is responsible and safe for the environment. While operator and company choices also matter in environmental protection, you have a relatively safe machine for the environment out of the gate.

9) Optional Features

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 has some optional features that may be of interest to you. These features make use of modern technology to improve productivity when working with the excavator.

The first feature is Smart Construction Retrofit. It is a guidance kit for operators and managers. With this kit, operators and managers can access 2- and 3-dimensional guidance and payload monitoring information to improve loads and decrease overloading and underloading. Also, with Smart Reconstruction Retrofit and the additional data it provides, you can improve accuracy and limit rework.

The other technology touted by Komatsu is KomVision. Komvision is a camera system that adds an additional layer of visibility for operators. With KomVision in place, Komatsu PC900LC-11 operators can see blind spots and maneuver better. The added visibility of the excavator because of this technology should help improve worksite safety.

Durability and Common Problems

The design of Komatsu PC900LC-11 is one with heavy-duty construction, excavation, and mining in mind. PC900LC-11 has a rugged build and is made from strong materials.

There is nothing we can report about the longevity of this machine at the time of writing this piece in 2023 because Komatsu released the Komatsu PC900LC-11 in the same year. However, based on Komatsu's established track of making solid and durable machines, we expect the Komatsu PC900LC-11 to last for a while with proper use and maintenance. The Komatsu PC900LC-11's predecessor, PC800LC-8, has been a success in terms of its long-term durability.

Komatsu offers a standard warranty for the PC900LC-11. The standard warranty lasts for either 12 months or 2000 hours of operation, depending on which occurs first. There is also an optional additional coverage option that offers more protection than the standard warranty. Furthermore, due to Komatsu's renown and reach, finding technical support and dealers for the PC900LC-11 should not be difficult.

As described above, the Komatsu PC900LC-11 is a fairly new excavator as of now. So, the type of complaints or issues that may become associated with a device after a considerable number of people have used it has not popped up. Additionally, in the short availability period of PC900LC-11, there have not been any notable complaints regarding its performance or components.

Conclusion

The Komatsu PC900LC-11 is a new large excavator from Komatsu. Komatsu only has 3 larger ones in its current lineup. Its specifications impress, and it has some interesting new features that promise major improvements on its predecessor. The first thing this article does is look at the specifications of the Komatsu PC900LC-11. It has a powerful engine and bucket and arm force. The swing system is solid for the class. Also, PC900LC-11 meets important emission standards like EPA tier 4.

Based on Komatsu's track record, this machine should be durable and reliable. However, the long-term durability of the Komatsu PC900LC-11 itself cannot be assessed because the excavator has not been around for a significant time. Also, because of its recent release, there has not been a buildup of known problems with this machine. Komatsu offers a standard warranty with an optional additional cover for the Komatsu PC900LC-11. Further, they have a solid reach, so support should be accessible.