Komatsu PC 50: Problems, Durability, and Specs

Komatsu PC 50 is a multipurpose excavator with a compact design. It carries the Komatsu brand high as expected because it offers the operator immense capabilities and the owner good value for money. The Komatsu PC 50 is loved for its maneuverability, especially in tight spaces.

Today, we explore the Komatsu PC 50 excavator. We will dive into its manual and understand the specs that make it special. To help us understand the best value this compact mini excavator offers, we have to investigate the common problems its owners and operators encounter. In the same breath, we look at its durability to help a potential buyer and existing owner best understand the kind of machine Komatsu PC 50.

Understanding the Komatsu PC 50

Komatsu PC is a versatile mini excavator that is very popular for use in confined spaces. It is the ideal machine when operating in tight spaces with limited access. Because of its design, the PC 50 is used in a wide range of activities, including digging, moving rubble, and loading chores. You will therefore find the PC50 in construction sites, including inside buildings.

It entered the market in 2004 and lasted until 2010. It is therefore almost impossible to find a brand new PC 50 even though you can easily find a second hand. The parts are easy to find as Komatsu still makes OEM parts. When it was available new, the price tag was $60,000 for the lowest.

The crawler excavator is used as a bulldozer and as an excavator. This is because it comes with the excavator arm and dozer blade. This, in effect, makes the PC 50 a capable piece of machinery to help you clear the bushes and move dirt. It is possible to find a PC 50 with MR initials. The initials stand for the minimum radius that the excavator can operate within.

The Komatsu PC 50 boasts the iconic Komatsu yellow color and styling. The cabin is big, offering the operator premium comfort that mini excavators in the class will have to work hard to offer. The PC 50 has a big cabin and large glass windows, allowing the operator clear and comfortable visibility. Features such as air conditioning and heating come standard in the PC 50.

The PC 50 Specs

• Komatsu PC 50 is equipped with a 4-cylinder diesel 4D88E-5 engine which is water-cooled.
• The engine boasts 41 HP gross and 39 HP net. The maximum torque power of the engine is 103 ft-lb or 139 Nm. It reaches maximum torque speed at 1440 RPM.
• Being an engine manufactured in the 2000s, it is tier 2 and safe for the environment but does not meet the new strict EPA emissions regulations.
• An orbital hydraulic motor powers the slewing system, and the maximum swing speed reached is 9 .0 RPM.
• The PC 50 is armed with 2-speed hydrostatic transmission. The maximum travel speed on high is 2.9 mph (4.6 km), and the low speed is 1.7 mph.
• As for the weights, the maximum bucket breakout force is 8,774 pounds. The lifting capacity of the 65 inch-arm is 5,125 pounds or 2,325 kg.
• The electro-welded, single-unit structure bucket makes it effective in handling the 3.98 metric tons of load.
• The overall breakout force of the PC 50 is 6,500 pounds, while the maximum dig depth is 12.5 feet, and the dig height is 19.5 feet.
• The digging force is quite remarkable as the arm crowd force of the 65-inch arm is 5,555 pounds.
• At a height of 8'10", and a 6'5" blade, the Komatsu PC 50 enables you to work in tight spaces just fine.
• As for fluids capacity, the PC 50 has a 65-liter fuel tank, a 2-gallon oil capacity, and a 2-gallon coolant reservoir.

The durability of the Komatsu PC 50

The standard Komatsu warranty is 12 months. The manufacturer, however, offers an extended warranty of 6 years. Given that the last of these excavators left the production line more than ten years ago, you will not likely find one covered under a standard warranty.

The vibrant used heavy machinery market is the best place to know whether the PC 50 is reliable. You will find numerous PC 50 excavators in very good condition that have clocked 5,000 hours. Users in online forums have used this machine for 2,000, and some have even clocked 7,000 hours without encountering any serious mechanical issues.

It is safe to say that the Komatsu PC 50 mini excavator is reliable and durable. It is a machine that will help you easily and efficiently handle all the farm or construction site chores. It will easily outlast its warranty and hold true to Komatsu's motto; quality comes first.

Komatsu PC 50 problems

Like every other machinery, the Komatsu PC 50 has its fair share of problems. These problems hamper the performance of the excavator. They also shorten the life of the machinery and, in many instances, lead to increased downtime. Generally, the problems facing the PC 50 serve as a guide of what one should expect when they invest in one. Here are the common problems to expect from the Komatsu PC 50;

1) The walking fatigue

It is almost expected that a Komatsu excavator is likely to develop a walking fatigue problem. This problem affects the speed of the excavator, or you may find the hydraulic cylinder is annoyingly slow. Owners and operators of this mini excavator report finding the low oil circuit pressure abnormal.

A leak of high-pressure oil onto the low-pressure circuit directly or indirectly usually causes this problem. Control valves may be the ones at fault. The canceling solenoid valve may be in trouble hence causing the low-pressure circuit to misbehave. The other possible cause for this problem is if the two-level overflow solenoid valve malfunctions.

Solution

The solution lies with the cause of the problem. Where the solenoid valve is the cause of the problem, repair it. An overhaul of the 2-level overflow solenoid valve is necessary if it is the one at fault. A Komatsu excavator specialist is best placed to help you solve this problem.

It is worth noting, however, that this excavator and many in its class are designed to be slow. This allows it to be effective. PC 50 hydraulic motors run on a planetary drive which, over time, wears out. In addition to debris in the planetary oil, this can cause the excavator to develop low tracking power. Drain the planetary oil if the cause is debris in the system, and check the oil pressure in the main pump, which should be 2,5000 psi or more.

The solution to this problem might also be found in the booster pump. Check whether the booster pump slip shaft is stuck. The oil return filter may also be blocked. Debris in-wheel motor can also cause the excavator to be extremely slow. To solve the wheel problem, you will need to disassemble the wheel motor to remove the sand and other impurities that might be inside.

2) Water droplets in hydraulic oil

There are some reports of water droplets in the hydraulic oil tank. This can be bad because the water in the hydraulic system will reduce the lubricating ability of the oil, which then causes heat generation because of increased friction. Continued use of the excavator in this condition can cause damage to the hydraulic cylinder. A simple way to check water or moisture in the oil is to observe the surface for any amount of reducible moisture.

Solution

The answer to this problem is simple. Change the oil as soon as you find out there is water contamination. Keep water away from the oil tank. After passing or working in a water-clogged site, check whether any water entered and mixed with the hydraulic oil. After storing the excavator for an extended period of time, change the hydraulic oil and other fluid. The least you can do if not changing the oil is to check whether water found its way into the oil.

2) Slow slewing speed

The swing speed of the PC 50 can be slower than normal. Some owners of this excavator affected by this problem say the speed can drop to half the normal speed. The normal pressure should be 22Mpa, but when this problem happens, you might find the swing pressure is as low as 15 or 12Mpa. In other cases, it has been reported that the swing pressure can be one figure while the one for the blade is different.

Solution

The first thing to do when you are faced with this problem is to check whether the hydraulic pump is working all right. The other place to check is the valve plate, hydraulic lines, and valves for any leakages. Where the pressure varies between the swing and the blade, one PC 50 owner found the source of the problem to be the gear pump.

Conclusion

The Komatsu PC 50 is one of the best mini excavators in the market. It confidently carries the renowned Komatsu name in the mini excavator market segment. After learning of this excavator's many cool specs and features, you will have an easier time understanding the problems highlighted and even dealing with them.