November 2003
BID LIST
Wheel Loaders --
Cleaner, Stronger, Better
by Kirk Landers, V.P./Editorial Director

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Manufacturers listed in this feature responded to a special mailing by Better Roads and do not necessarily represent the entire market for this product. 

As new loaders get Tier 2 engines, their power goes up and their fuel consumption goes down 

Liebherr

Liebherr’s wheel loader offering in North America ranges from the 134-horsepower, 27,300-pound L 538, to the 261-horsepower, 54,555-pound L 580. The L 544 (shown) has a 165-horsepower engine, weighs 33,100 pounds, and comes with a 4-cubicyard bucket.

Company representatives say that fuel economy is what sets Liebherr wheel loaders apart from competitive units in each size category. The machines are powered by turbo charged diesels that have low-rated speeds. Liebherr’s “2plus2” hydrostatic drive uses two hydraulic motors, each with a separate clutch, to guarantee a constant power flow when the machine is accelerating or braking.

Caterpillar
Seven models get Series II upgrades

Caterpillar used the first quarter of 2003 to roll out Series II upgrades of seven G-series wheel loaders. In each case, the new machine has a Tier-2 emissions-compliant engine, with a revamped cooling system and a variety of other improvements.

The 121-horsepower, 2.2-cubic yard 924G and 2.5-cubic-yard 924Gz got a 7% horsepower boost and a redesigned operator’s station. The 131-horsepower 928G and IT28G also got a new operator compartment as well as an electronically controlled engine that boosts fuel efficiency. The 938G got a new engine, transmission, and cooling system, yielding better fuel efficiency, faster diagnostics, and the ability to operate at high altitudes (up to 10,000 feet) without deration.

Cat’s 4- to 6-cubic yard loaders (950G, 962G, 966G, and 972G) got new engines equipped with the company’s proprietary fuel system, improving fuel efficiency, diagnostics speed, and power train efficiency. They also have advanced cooling systems and the ability to operate at high altitudes without modification.

Case
New loader has power on demand

Case’s new D-series version of the 721 wheel loader features a Tier-2, 170-net-horsepower engine and the company’s Auto Power feature which automatically matches the horsepower to the demand of the application; Auto Power can increase the engine net horsepower to 184 horsepower on demand. Standard bucket sizes for the 32,960-pound machine range from 3.0 to 3.5 cubic yards.

John Deere
Stability adds to speed

John Deere introduced its new J-Series loaders last January, touting faster cycle times and lower operating costs. New features include Tier-2 engines, a new boom design, and performance-enhancing stability. Contributing to the latter: a counterweighting scheme that lowers the center of gravity and optimizes fore and aft stability, and a wider stance.

Other features include an adjustable spin-control system that improves operation in poor traction situations, reducing tire wear and fuel consumption, and Deere’s smart shift technology which continuously senses speed and loads and adjusts clutch pressures accordingly. The first J-series models introduced included the 205-horsepower, 4.75-cubic yard 724J, the 265-horsepower, 5.25-cubic yard 744J, and the 275-horsepower, 6.2-cubic yard 824J.

JCB
Loader line reaches 12 models

JCB now offers an even dozen wheel-loader and tool-carrier models, ranging from the compact 407B ZX at 9,900 pounds, to the 456ZX at 41,000 pounds. In addition to five wheel-loader models with Z-bar linkage for high breakout forces, the line includes seven tool-carrier models with high-torque, parallel-lift loader arm designs.

The 456ZX was added to the JCB line in 2002. It features a 197-horsepower diesel engine, a 4.3-cubic yard standard bucket, a full-turn tipping load of 26,162 pounds, and a maximum breakout force of 37,092 pounds.

Next to join the line is the 446ZX, which is being introduced in late 2003. The 176-horsepower, 39,290-pound loader will typically be fitted with a 3.3- to 3.6-cubic yard bucket.

Link Belt
Loader-arm geometry does it all

Link Belt introduced a line of wheel loaders into the North American market in 2002 to complement its excavators and articulated haulers. The three-model line includes the 105-horsepower, 20,500-pound L120, the 128-horsepower, 25,000-pound L125, and the 164-horsepower, 30,300-pound L130.

All three models have Link Belt’s Power-Link loader arm geometry, which the company claims delivers higher breakout forces than traditional Z-bar designs both at ground level and across the entire lift range. The linkage is also said to provide better operator visibility than Z-bar designs, while its fork level-lift function lets the operator raise a load without having to adjust the forks or bucket. Company literature says the loaders’ Ergopower transmission design reduces transmission noise emissions by more than half.

Coyote
Full-line of compact wheel loaders

Coyote markets a 12-model line of wheel loaders, ranging from the 5,500-pound C5 to the 17,000-pound C28.

Included in this lineup are five four-wheel-steer swing loaders with bucket sizes ranging from 1 to 3.5 cubic yards. With lift arms that can swing 90-degrees left or right, they are designed for working along walls, roadside fences, and in other tight areas. They come with quick-change couplers and either hydrostatic or powershift transmissions.

Kubota
Sophisticated compacts work smoothly

Kubota’s compact R20 Series wheel loaders feature a proprietary load sensing transmission that enhances load-handling efficiency by automatically changing from high speed/low torque to low speed/high torque when load conditions warrant it. A clutchless electronic shifter allows smooth shifting between forward and reverse without the need to brake. A travel-speed limiter switch lets the operator govern speed when working in confined areas or rough terrain.

The R420 is powered by a 43-horsepower diesel; the R520 by a 49-horsepower diesel.

Hyundai
Two new top-of-the-line models

Hyundai has expanded its wheel loader lineup in North America with the addition of the 65,000-pound, 320-horsepower HL780-3A and HL780XTD-3A. Both are rated for bucket sizes up to 7.2 cubic yards, and are the largest models in the company’s line.

Standard features include an Ergopower automatic transmission control system that enhances smooth gear shifting and traction, even under load, according to Hyundai. Other features include a Tier-2 compliant engine and a completely redesigned cab and control center.

Volvo

Volvo introduced E-series versions of it 2.6-cubic yard L70 and 3.0-cubic yard L90 wheel loaders, and added two completely new models to its line early this year. The all-new L60E is a 140-horsepower, 23,590-pound machine with a standard 2.2-cubic yard bucket; the L110E carries 210 horsepower, weighs 39,905 pounds in base trim, and has a 3.5-cubic yard standard bucket.

All four models are powered by Tier-2 Volvo engines that are said to be more fuel efficient and produce higher torque at low rpm than previous models. The new models also have Volvo’s patented Torque Parallel Linkage, a boom design that combines very high breakout torque for high-production loading with parallel action throughout the lifting range for safe, efficient lifting and carrying with forks and other attachments. The mid-range loaders also feature Volvo’s proprietary hydraulic attachment bracket which enhances versatility by speeding attachment changeovers.

Volvo markets a full line of wheel loaders, from compacts to the 500-horsepower, 8-cubic yard L330E.

Komatsu
New loader and tool carrier debut

Komatsu has introduced a Series-5 version of its WA250 wheel loader and tool carrier. The new WA250-5 and WA250-5PT are now powered by a Tier-2 compliant engine which Komatsu says enhances productivity while working at a lower engine speed (2,000 rpm) than the previous models. This results in lower emissions, and a 15% drop in fuel consumption, according to the company. Cabs have been expanded and enhanced with lower noise levels and better climate control.

Dressta
New 195-horsepower loader

Dressta is introducing its 503E wheel loader to North America. The unit features a 195-horsepower Komatsu engine, a rear-frame-mounted cab and an electronically controlled powershift transmission. Company spokesmen say the machine delivers excellent comfort and performance features without sacrificing the affordability that is the Dressta hallmark.

Reprinted from Better Roads November 2003