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Hi Cat fans, I'm looking at used cat 304 and 305's (particularly a 304e CR), but can't figure out what the .5, C or E or E2 or CR or combination of them mean. Could you enlighten me please?
Not evolution different options on basically the same platform in minis .5 on cat is the base number with a different weight and possibly stick length but same foot print
I've got a 304CRE at work and the auxiliary circuit is a thumbwheel on the right joystick. I would imagine it's the same on the 305.
If your planning to use the auxiliary circuit a lot you might consider different brands. I'm a Cat guy but I'm disappointed in the performance of our 304. Apparently there's a single pump on the machine and when you're running an attachment there's no pressure anywhere else. I have to release the auxiliary circuit in order to make any adjustments to the stick. I'm running a brush head a lot and it gets annoying.
That’s interesting. Cat is top of the class in aux pressures - sounds like it comes at a cost.
Do you mean you have a 304E CR? I’m asking about a pre C,D,or E model. Just a 305 CR. I believe these were produced up until 2007 or so, and have the black band color scheme.
Yes, it's a 304e, a little over a year old. Can't comment on the older stuff. And to be honest, I haven't been impressed with the lifting capacity either. I've tried using it to move some big items in the yard and it gives up just a couple feet in the air. Not quite what I was expecting.
That being said, it digs great! I don't have any complaints there. I've dug out some pretty big stumps without any trouble and trenching is its forte.
Ok, I'm clear on the C, D, E, and .5, and CR designations. But what about E2, as in 304e2 CR? Is that just an evolution of the 'E' meaning some new digital console or something along those lines?
I was looking at the 304C CR specs. They look identical to the 305e CR specs. Same weight, hp, bucket/arm breakout. The series gets smaller and more efficient over time, but do those two share a lot of commonality? They look the same to me. I can't even see how they are different aside from newer digital functions.