The updated John Deere 75G and 85G excavators’ new customer-inspired features include hand-controlled proportional auxiliary hydraulics and the ability to be equipped with a hydraulic coupler that allows the machines to use backhoe buckets.

“The standard hand-controlled proportional auxiliary hydraulics allow the operator to run attachments on the 75G and 85G at a desired speed. The operator can work very slowly for delicate work, like picking a piece of landscape stone or faster via full flow to open the thumb and drop debris,” said Mark Wall, product marketing manager, excavators, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Couple that with the standard pattern changer, the rubber pads, the standard blade, and these machines come from the factory ready to work in a variety of applications.”

The 75G and 85G boast a 57-hp Final Tier 4 diesel engine outfitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that cleans automatically without impacting the machines’ productivity.

For operators, the excavators feature spacious cabs, easy to use LCD monitors, and a simple turn-and-tap rotary dial to select work mode, access operating info, check maintenance intervals, source diagnostic codes, adjust cab temperature, and tune the radio. The cab includes an adjustable suspension seat and all-around visibility.

Optional rubber track pads or heavy-duty rubber belts let the updated models work on paved surfaces and cross curbs without causing damage. Numerous track widths, bucket, and other options allow users to customize the excavator. The 85G brings additional maneuverability to the job site with an independent swing boom that allows operators to work closer to curbs, around structures, or in the midst of traffic.

Ultimate Uptime, featuring John Deere WorkSight, includes predelivery and follow-up inspections plus five years of JDLink telematics, machine health prognostics, remote diagnostics and programming capability, and the ability to add dealer-provided uptime solutions.