Komatsu’s HD325-7 Dump Truck Increases Productivity

Tue September 23, 2014
Truck and Trailer Guide

Komatsu America Corp.’s HD325-7 is designed for sand and gravel and rock quarry sites. The truck increases productivity while lowering fuel consumption to provide a safer and more comfortable operator environment and offer improved durability and reliability, according to the manufacturer.

The HD325-7 features a powerful, clean SAA6D140E-5 turbocharged, after-cooled diesel engine that provides a maximum net output of 498 hp (371 kW). This high performance engine is enhanced with an advanced cooling system and improved fuel pre-filters. Komatsu’s rigid dump truck features environmentally friendly lead-free aluminum core radiators. To protect the environment, a tank is installed to recover brake cooling oil in the event of brake seal leakage. In addition, the truck also has reduced cab noise levels.

The HD325-7 is equipped with the latest KOMTRAX technology, which sends machine operating information to a secure Web site utilizing wireless technology. Hour meter, location, cautions and maintenance alerts — to name a few of its features — are relayed to the Web application for analysis. The KOMTRAX fleet monitoring system increases machine availability, reduces the risk of machine theft, allows for remote diagnosis by the distributor, and provides a wealth of other information to drive business efficiency and productivity.

Special features of the rigid dump truck include:

High Performance for Enhanced Productivity

The truck’s performance engine delivers faster acceleration and higher travel speeds with high horsepower per ton. High torque at low speed, increased acceleration and low fuel-consumption ensure maximum productivity. The Komatsu designed electronically controlled countershaft transmission with K-ATOMiCS automatically selects the optimum gear according to vehicle speed, engine speed and the shift position chosen, resulting in the best gear for any operating condition, according to the manufacturer.

The optional automatic retard speed control system (ARSC) with a large capacity retarder allows operators to set downhill travel speed at a constant level. Its cooling oil temperature is always monitored, so the speed is automatically lowered if the retarder oil temperature rises.

Improved Cab Design Enhances Operator Comfort and Safety

The HD325-7 is equipped with an ergonomically designed, cab that offers a quiet and comfortable operator environment. The wide spacious cab is mounted with Komatsu’s viscous mounts to keep noise at a minimum and provide a low-vibration, clean operating environment and the built-in ROPS/FOPS structure provides roll-over protection. Adoption of a low effort body dump control lever makes dumping loads much easier. The secondary foot-operated brakes actuate the front disk brakes and parking brakes. In addition, when hydraulic pressure drops below the rated level, the parking brake is automatically activated.

Durability and Reliability Provide Easy Maintenance

Flat face-to-face O-ring seals are used to securely seal all hydraulic hose connections and prevent oil leakage. The main harnesses and controller connectors are equipped with sealed DT connectors to provide high reliability, and water and dust resistance. The truck’s fully hydraulic controlled wet multiple-disc brakes ensure reliable and stable brake performance. The continuously cooled wet-multiple disc brakes also function as a highly responsive retarder, which gives the operator greater confidence at higher downhill travel speeds. Wet disc brakes are fully sealed to keep contaminants out, reducing wear and maintenance.

Because the brakes don’t require adjustments for wear, maintenance is extremely low. The braking system is designed with added reliability with three independent hydraulic circuits that provide hydraulic back-up should one of the circuits fail. This system eliminates air bleeding so water condensation — which can lead to contamination, corrosion and freezing — also is eliminated.

Both the service filters and greasing points have been centralized for easier servicing. To minimize operating costs, oil change intervals also have been extended to 500 hours for engine oil and 4000 hours for hydraulic oil. Flange-type tire rims make removal and installation of the trucks’ tires easy. Komatsu’s advanced onboard diagnostic system maximizes machine production time by identifying maintenance items, reducing diagnostic times, indicating oil and filter replacement hours and displaying abnormality codes.

For more information, visit

www.komatsuamerica.com.