8 hours ago
Komatsu's EX135W is a popular wheeled excavator, well-regarded for its versatility and ability to handle various tasks, from excavation to demolition. One of the challenges for operators of wheeled excavators is the machine's road speed—often slower than that of tracked excavators or trucks. For those needing to move the excavator over long distances, improving the road speed can be crucial for efficiency. This article discusses how to increase the road speed of the Komatsu EX135W and some considerations to keep in mind when attempting such modifications.
Understanding the Importance of Road Speed
Road speed on wheeled excavators, including the Komatsu EX135W, plays a significant role in reducing downtime during transportation between job sites. While track machines can often be towed or transported by truck, wheeled excavators are designed to travel on roads and highways at higher speeds, making them more suitable for tasks that require mobility and long-distance movement.
Increasing the road speed can provide several benefits:
The road speed of an excavator like the Komatsu EX135W is often limited by its engine output, gearing, and hydraulic system. Several factors can restrict the maximum road speed:
If you’re looking to increase the road speed on a Komatsu EX135W, there are several approaches you can take, but each comes with its own set of challenges and costs. Below are some strategies for achieving higher road speeds:
1. Adjusting the Transmission or Gearbox
One of the most straightforward ways to increase road speed is by altering the gearing in the transmission. The standard gear ratio in the Komatsu EX135W may be designed for efficient hydraulic and lifting performance rather than for speed on the road.
The type of tires you use can significantly affect your road speed. Larger, heavy-duty tires might offer better durability on rough terrain but will limit speed due to their size and weight.
Engine modifications can help increase the power output, which in turn can improve road speed. However, any changes to the engine should be done carefully, as altering engine performance could impact the machine's warranty or its capability in other areas (like hydraulic power).
Reducing the weight of the machine can help improve road speed, as the less mass the engine has to move, the faster it can go.
Another factor that may influence the speed of the Komatsu EX135W is the hydraulic system. The hydraulic setup is designed for power and efficiency in tasks like digging and lifting but may not be optimized for high-speed road travel.
Modifying a heavy piece of machinery like the Komatsu EX135W requires a deep understanding of the machine’s components and their interactions. It’s highly recommended that such modifications be performed by professionals or authorized Komatsu service technicians.
Case Study: Improving Road Speed on a Komatsu Loader
A similar situation occurred with a Komatsu wheel loader, where the operator needed to increase road speed for faster transportation across a large construction site. After consulting with the dealer, the company replaced the existing gearbox with one designed for higher speeds, upgraded the tires to a lighter, road-friendly model, and made minor adjustments to the engine’s tuning.
As a result, the loader’s road speed increased by 15%, which greatly reduced the time spent transporting the machine between work sites. However, the change in gear ratios did lead to a slight decrease in torque for lifting heavy loads, which required the operator to adjust their workflow slightly.
Conclusion
Increasing the road speed on the Komatsu EX135W is possible, but it requires careful consideration of several factors, including the transmission, tires, engine, and hydraulic system. While modifying the machine can lead to improved efficiency and reduced transport time, it’s essential to ensure that any changes don’t negatively impact the machine's other capabilities, such as lifting and digging performance.
Consulting with a professional and considering the long-term effects of these modifications will help ensure that you achieve the best results while maintaining the machine’s overall functionality.
Understanding the Importance of Road Speed
Road speed on wheeled excavators, including the Komatsu EX135W, plays a significant role in reducing downtime during transportation between job sites. While track machines can often be towed or transported by truck, wheeled excavators are designed to travel on roads and highways at higher speeds, making them more suitable for tasks that require mobility and long-distance movement.
Increasing the road speed can provide several benefits:
- Reduced Transport Time: With higher road speed, the excavator can move more quickly between job sites, saving time and reducing fuel costs.
- Improved Efficiency: Operators can cover more ground in less time, which can be a significant advantage in construction, demolition, and other industries where time is a factor.
- Cost Savings: By improving road speed, an excavator can reduce the need for trailers and transportation, as it can move faster under its own power.
The road speed of an excavator like the Komatsu EX135W is often limited by its engine output, gearing, and hydraulic system. Several factors can restrict the maximum road speed:
- Engine Power and Torque: The engine may not be optimized for high-speed travel, as it’s designed primarily for heavy lifting and digging tasks, not for fast road movement.
- Transmission and Gearing: The transmission system in the Komatsu EX135W is designed to optimize torque and power for digging rather than speed. Adjusting or replacing the transmission gears could help, but it might require extensive modifications.
- Tire and Wheel Configuration: The type of tires used can significantly affect the top speed. Large, all-terrain tires are designed for stability, not speed, and changing to a different tire type could improve speed but may also affect handling and safety.
- Hydraulic System: The excavator’s hydraulic system, designed to handle high pressures for lifting and digging, could limit its performance when it comes to road speed. Optimizing the hydraulic setup might help to reduce drag, but this would require significant engineering adjustments.
If you’re looking to increase the road speed on a Komatsu EX135W, there are several approaches you can take, but each comes with its own set of challenges and costs. Below are some strategies for achieving higher road speeds:
1. Adjusting the Transmission or Gearbox
One of the most straightforward ways to increase road speed is by altering the gearing in the transmission. The standard gear ratio in the Komatsu EX135W may be designed for efficient hydraulic and lifting performance rather than for speed on the road.
- Upgrading the Gearbox: Consult with a Komatsu dealer or a specialist in heavy equipment modifications to explore the possibility of upgrading or replacing the gearbox with one that has higher road-speed capabilities.
- Changing Gear Ratios: By changing the gear ratio, you can allow the engine to spin faster, which will result in increased road speed. However, this may reduce the amount of torque available for digging and lifting, so it's important to strike the right balance.
The type of tires you use can significantly affect your road speed. Larger, heavy-duty tires might offer better durability on rough terrain but will limit speed due to their size and weight.
- Select Lighter, More Aerodynamic Tires: Switching to a lighter, smoother tire can reduce drag and improve speed. However, you may need to choose a tire that still provides enough traction and stability for the terrain you are working on.
- Tire Pressure: Ensuring that the tires are inflated to the correct pressure can help with road speed. Over-inflating or under-inflating tires can both reduce the efficiency of the machine on the road.
Engine modifications can help increase the power output, which in turn can improve road speed. However, any changes to the engine should be done carefully, as altering engine performance could impact the machine's warranty or its capability in other areas (like hydraulic power).
- Engine Tuning: By reprogramming the engine’s control unit (ECU) or making adjustments to the fuel injectors, you can increase the power output for road use.
- Exhaust System Modifications: An aftermarket exhaust system designed to increase engine efficiency could also help increase top speed. However, modifications to the exhaust may affect emissions compliance, so this should be done with care.
Reducing the weight of the machine can help improve road speed, as the less mass the engine has to move, the faster it can go.
- Remove Unnecessary Attachments: If the excavator is carrying any extra attachments that are not needed during road transport, consider removing them to reduce weight.
- Lightweight Materials: In some cases, using lighter materials for non-essential parts or upgrading to lighter components could help improve performance.
Another factor that may influence the speed of the Komatsu EX135W is the hydraulic system. The hydraulic setup is designed for power and efficiency in tasks like digging and lifting but may not be optimized for high-speed road travel.
- Hydraulic Flow Adjustments: Adjusting the flow of hydraulic oil and optimizing the hydraulic system could help reduce drag and improve speed, but this would require engineering expertise.
- Switching to a High-Flow System: Some excavators benefit from a high-flow hydraulic system that can improve overall efficiency, potentially impacting road speed as well.
Modifying a heavy piece of machinery like the Komatsu EX135W requires a deep understanding of the machine’s components and their interactions. It’s highly recommended that such modifications be performed by professionals or authorized Komatsu service technicians.
Case Study: Improving Road Speed on a Komatsu Loader
A similar situation occurred with a Komatsu wheel loader, where the operator needed to increase road speed for faster transportation across a large construction site. After consulting with the dealer, the company replaced the existing gearbox with one designed for higher speeds, upgraded the tires to a lighter, road-friendly model, and made minor adjustments to the engine’s tuning.
As a result, the loader’s road speed increased by 15%, which greatly reduced the time spent transporting the machine between work sites. However, the change in gear ratios did lead to a slight decrease in torque for lifting heavy loads, which required the operator to adjust their workflow slightly.
Conclusion
Increasing the road speed on the Komatsu EX135W is possible, but it requires careful consideration of several factors, including the transmission, tires, engine, and hydraulic system. While modifying the machine can lead to improved efficiency and reduced transport time, it’s essential to ensure that any changes don’t negatively impact the machine's other capabilities, such as lifting and digging performance.
Consulting with a professional and considering the long-term effects of these modifications will help ensure that you achieve the best results while maintaining the machine’s overall functionality.
