435 Excavator Works Fast and Worry-Free In Tight Spaces

Powerful 435 excavator provides top performance for Tim Johnson.

Contractor Tim Johnson searched a year to find a replacement for his conventional compact excavator.

“I compared various features on different makes and models of excavators, and every time the Bobcat® 435 kept coming up better,” says the owner of TJ’s Concrete Work, Portland, Ind. “Bobcat Company has put a lot time, energy and effort into designing this machine.”

Johnson discovered the 435 offers two features found on no other machine. One is Zero House Swing (ZHS). Not only does the rear of the 435 stay within the width of the excavator when slewing, so do the left and right front corners. That gives him a zero radius swing range of nearly 320 degrees.

“We often work close to buildings,” he says. “I can set the track right up next to a building and swing the house completely around without worrying about damaging the machine or the building.”

The ZHS feature also saves time compared to a conventional excavator when working next to a structure. “If I’m digging alongside a house, a pole or a tree, I don’t have to back all the way out to dump into a truck,” he says. “I can just spin around and dump behind me without having to move.”

Tim Johnson compared excavators and picked the best unit for his business—a Bobcat 435.

The second unique feature is the FastTrack™ drive system. Johnson’s 435, purchased from Affolder Implement Sales, Berne, Ind., turns smoothly and precisely while providing maximum torque control.

It’s also fast. A low-range speed of nearly 3 mph allows him to grade, doze and backfill faster than other machines. And the travel speed is almost twice as fast as the nearest competitor.

“That was another thing that sold me on the 435,” he says. “It really speeds up the work when I’m tracking along a creek or a long trench.”

Fast, easy access to engine components is another feature that Johnson appreciates. “I can swing the tailgate open and flip up the side hood and get to filters, the battery and everything else I need without any trouble,” he says.

With a 11-ft., 3-in. digging depth and 18-ft., 3-in. reach, plus a powerful, reliable 49 hp liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engine, the rubber-tracked 435 delivers the performance he needs to handle a variety of commercial and residential jobs.

“This past winter, I dug through two feet of frozen ground with no problem at all,” he reports.

Johnson uses his 435 with a 13-in. trenching bucket for digging water lines and narrow footings; a 24-in trenching bucket for larger footings and renching work; and a 52-in. grading bucket for cleaning up ditches, banks and ponds.

With its space-saving swing and time-saving power and versatility, his 435 has proven to be a smart choice. “It’s a well-built workhorse,” says Johnson.