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John Deere upgrades largest production-class excavator in G-Series lineup

The updated 870G LC excavator offers a new T4F diesel engine.
The updated 870G LC excavator offers a new T4F diesel engine.

A workhorse in mining and quarrying operations, the John Deere 870G LC production-class excavator follows in the footsteps of its G-Series counterparts with the addition of an EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV diesel engine and other customer-influenced updates.

The updated excavator offers a new, fuel-efficient T4F diesel engine that delivers 512 hp. Like its 670G LC counterpart, the 870G LC features cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). With an improved piston design, the excavator burns particulate matter in the cylinder, so operators can save on service time and lower operating costs without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

“The 870G LC meets rigid emission regulations, enabling operators to handle the demands of a jobsite without sacrificing power, reliability or ease of operation,” said Mark Wall, excavator product marketing manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Our largest excavator model also boasts more hydraulic flow than its highly productive predecessor and is ideal for loading haul trucks in a quarry, feeding a hopper and working in tough rocky conditions.”

The 87-ton production class excavator is easy to service with such features as a battery disconnect switch, spin-on fuel filters and two additional water separators to maintain long fuel filter life. For expedient, proactive maintenance checks to keep operators running longer, the excavator also includes engine and hydraulic oil sample ports. Also, an improved step position on the track frame and handrails on the upper structure provide multiple points of contact when accessing the engine compartment.

The 870G LC excavator also offers smart features, such as its Powerwise III engine/hydraulic-management system with multiple productivity modes, enabling operators to balance engine performance and hydraulic flow. High productivity delivers more power and faster hydraulic response to move more material. Power provides smooth and balanced metering for normal operation, and economy reduces top speed and helps save fuel.

In its cooling system, the excavator boasts an expansion tank that enhances air pursing, provides makeup fluid when needed and improves overall cooling efficiency, helping the engine operate at peak performance.

Operators will appreciate new features inside the cab, including a refined monitor that employs a turn-and-tap rotary control for quick access to a wide variety of performance and convenience functions. Space and quietness are also premiums that operators will enjoy, along with unsurpassed all-around visibility.

The the T4F engine on the 870G LC meets regulations through cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
The 870G LC excavator offers smart features, such as its Powerwise III engine/hydraulic-management system with multiple productivity modes.

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