Gehl 283Z

The newest addition to the Gehl range of zero-tail-swing mini-excavators is the model 283Z. The new mini weighs in at 5,681 pounds with a canopy (5,886 pounds with a cab) and is fitted with a 20.4-horsepower Yanmar diesel engine that is positioned on the side of the machine — a position, says Gehl, that helps expand the size of the operator’s station. Hydraulic and fuel tanks are positioned near the rear of the machine, and a large hood is designed to give ready access to hydraulic-system test ports, hydraulic pumps and routine service points for the engine. Equipped with 11.8-inch-wide tracks, the new model has a ground pressure of 3.8 psi, and an optional 250-pound counterweight can be added, says Gehl, “to further increase stability with no tail projection.”