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Non-mechanic’s guide to appraising a loader
WHEEL loaders come in 2WD, 4WD,
rigid frame, articulated frame,
powershift transmission and hydro-
static transmission, etc, etc.
The largest-selling configuration is
the 4WD articulated loader, and for the
purpose of this exercise we will as-
sume the loader in question is of that
type.
“Loaders load”. How’s that for an
over-simplification? What we mean is
that they can load from a stockpile,
load and carry, or actually dig material.
It’s important to try and find out
exactly what use the loader has been
put to. For example, load and carry
introduces a different set of wear
characteristics in comparison to stock-
pile loading, and loading corrosive
material such as fertiliser causes more
wear and tear than loading sand and
gravel.
In appraising wheeled loaders, you
should not accept the number of hours
shown on the meter as 100% accurate.
Investigate, check service history, etc,
as many loaders work double shifts —
do your best to verify the hours worked.
Remember our criteria from previ-
ous non-mechanic’s guides to inspect-
ing machines:
1 Time is important. We have to be
quick and, bearing in mind that we
don’t have X-ray vision, as efficient
as possible within the time avail-
able. Allow an hour (or if you are
paying a fitter to do the inspection,
he is going to want about four hours
plus travelling time).
2 What still works, what doesn’t and
how much will it cost to make it
work?
3 50% life remaining (give or take
10%) is fair enough in the world of
used equipment.
Ground level inspection
Walk around the machine at least twice,
taking in the appearance, from which
much can be learned, and taking note
of oil leaks, damaged tin work, doors,
glass, tyres, radiator, bucket and loader
frame, etc.
I call this “absorbing the image”.
Now take your photos, and plenty of
them. This is insurance against “memory
fade”, which becomes more intense as
we get older.
We should start our inspection at the
unit serial number and, if possible, use
a prepared check sheet. Get one from
Don Shewring, of used equipment specialist
Consolidated Crane & Tractor, continues his “non-
mechanic’s” guide to appraising used equipment:
this time around, we’re looking at wheel loaders.
your closest major dealer.
Once you have the serial number,
you can verify the year of manufacture,
using excellent publications put out by
International Equipment Exchange Ltd,
or enquire at the local distributor.
Moving around the loader, check
the fluids in the radiator, transmission,
engine, batteries; also lights, wiring,
etc.
Tyres
Check the size, approximate life re-
maining, whether they have been
relugged, recapped, or have cuts.
Pay special attention to the inside of
the tyres, as this is where the cuts and
damage usually get hidden.
If possible, the machine should be
on a level surface, with all tyres inflated
to the same pressure.
Uneven tyre wear is not desirable,
as it gives each wheel a different cir-
cumference, causing adverse wear in
the driveline components.
Ideally, tyres should be same size,
same pattern and around the same
wear (life remaining).
Wheels
Check rims for damage, inside and out,
and examine wheel nuts and studs for
evidence that loose nuts have allowed
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the stud holes to elongate, which causes
the wheel to keep coming loose.
Brakes
If outboard discs are fitted, carry out a
visual inspection of callipers, pads,
discs and hydraulic lines at this time.
Remember, if discs are scored they
can be skimmed back to flat at least
once. Replacement discs are expen-
sive.
If they are inboard discs, testing can
be done when operating the machine,
as per the procedure for testing out-
board discs.
Axle mountings and hubs
Check for loose bolts, or welded cracks
where axle joins frame.
Check the rear axle oscillation pin
and bush at this time by putting a jack
under the axle and jacking the axle up,
which will show wear or, if this is not
possible, get under and have a look.
This visual inspection will discover
excessive wear in the pin and bush.
Check planetaries for leaks.
Diffs and drivelines
If you jack the back of the machine up
to check for wear in the oscillation
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Non-mechanic’s
H
E guide to appraising
E When the editor called for a guide to
L a loader
L cupboard was bare of a suitable unit.
O trunnion, you can at this time turn the
A rear driveshaft by hand to check the
D universal joint for wear and the differ-
E ential for backlash. Often you can hear
excess play in the planetaries at this
R time.
S we note that the steps are in very good
The front can be checked by jacking
up on the bucket and following the
same procedure.
Frame
It is the structural and less obvious
areas that should be scrutinised most
carefully, as such faults as misalign-
ment and fractures in one area can
result in major failures in another.
Check the points at which super-
structure members are welded (includ-
ing engine and transmission mounts)
for cracks. If a repair has been made,
is it a professional job?
Has the inside of the frame been
repaired, or plated, as well as the
outside to minimise recurrence of the
failure?
Loader frame
This is the front attachment which
enables the bucket to dig, crowd, lift,
discharge and return to dig.
Check the sidearms (boom) for
cracks in welded areas and where
bosses are fitted. Check ram mounting
points for cracks.
Visually inspect all pins and bushes
for obvious signs of excessive wear.
Check that grease actually goes into
the pin. It’s a good idea to borrow a
grease gun and spot check that the
pins and bushes will take grease, par-
ticularly the bottom bucket pins.
Obviously, on any loader worth its
salt there will be wear; if this is within
reason, it need not deter us, but exces-
sive loader frame wear costs a lot to
rectify, so check closely.
If repairs have been made, apply
checks as for the main chassis.
We look at the loader frame again
during the actual testing of the loader,
which comes next.
In-yard test
Jump up into the cab. Is it ROPS (very
important), are there any certification
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998
Step-by-step appraisal
loader appraisals, wouldn’t you know
it, the Consolidated Crane & Tractor
Fortunately, the courtesy of Ray
Murphy, of Brisbane used equipment
dealer Topline Machinery, gave us ac-
cess to one of his stock units.
We appraised a 1994 model Cater- Walking down the left side of the loader,
pillar 970F with a 5 m3 light material
bucket, air-conditioned ROPS cabin, condition, the tyres (almost a separate
with 7800 hours on the clock. study item, just like different machines)
Owner: Used equipment dealer have an average 40-45% life remaining
Asking price: $200,000 plus sales tax and are 26.5x25 tubeless steel-belted
if applicable (22%) radials in good overall condition.
Initial impression: very clean and
tidy. The unit shows evidence of good
repair and maintenance practices. If I
was asked to hazard a guess at its
previous use, I would think woodchips
or sand because of the very clean
appearance, no nicks and cuts on the
tyres, and very little abrasion on the
bucket and loader arms.
Take note of all the numbers and
symbols on the side of the tyre. Your
local distributor for that brand can tell
you what they are most suitable for.
Don’t forget to thoroughly check the
inside of each tyre and rim for faults.
Did you know that each tyre has its own
unique serial number? Keep a note of it;
it could help identify a stolen loader.
As always, have the machine on good
level ground. The cleaner the
hardstand the better, because to do the
job properly, you are going to have to
“get down and dirty”. Go around the
machine at ground level first, making
observations and taking notes. Check all rims (particularly on older
machines) for cracks, damage, broken
studs, elongated holes, etc. Brakes are
inboard oil-immersed discs and will
be checked during the operational test.
Head straight for the serial number
plate. The serial number 7PL00173
indicates it was made in Japan in Open up the left-hand engine covers.
1994. The diamond-shaped plate is the These are beauties. Just look at the
“certificate of new machine for export” accessibility. You can see the turbo,
from the Construction Equipment muffler, alternator, air-conditioning
Manufacturers Association of Japan. It compressor, fuel filters, etc. Visually
indicates that the unit is an export check belts and for leaks or anything
model. else untoward.

Coming around the back, open the
radiator grill. Radiators are becoming
quite sophisticated and often contain
heat exchangers, transmission coolers,
etc. Inspect carefully. The reverse gear
alarm can be seen at the bottom left of
the enclosure.
Open up the battery boxes on the left
and right rear of the loader. Check that
they are of sufficient CCA (cold
cranking amps), the right physical
and, importantly, that they are
properly retained.
Hop under the rear of the loader and
inspect the underside. Check brake
lines, grease lines, etc. Note the rear of
the back diff and the trunnion bearing
which allows the rear axle to oscillate.
All is in good operating order and
seems commensurate with the 8000-
odd operating hours.
Get those right-hand engine covers
open and carefully check the inner and
outer air filters, the housing and
connections to engine intake. Dusting
an engine is an expensive piece of
mostly avoidable “bad luck”.
Check all mounts, engine,
transmission, etc. Make sure none are
broken or damaged. If they are, they
can cause extensive damage to those
components and possibly to the
driveline. As you can see, these are
perfect.
Dip the engine stick, taking note of the
level and condition of the oil. Don’t be
afraid to feel and smell the oil. Look
for signs of water or anything that
shouldn’t be there.
Look closely at the back of the radiator
for “sandblasting” wear. In this case,
we also check the air-conditioning
radiator, inspect all coolant hoses and
clamps. Be alert for engine oil leaks.
Moving forward down the right side of
our loader, we check the inside of the
tyre and rim, as well as the steering
ram anchor point, the hydraulic tank
and mounts. All is as it should be.
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Slipping under the tractor again, we O
look up at the front of the rear diff, the A
oscillation bearing trunnion mount D
and back driveshaft and universal E
bearing. Put a bar into the universal R
and check for wear. In this case, we S
didn’t jack up the rear axle; if we did
we could check for backlash in the diff.
This photo shows the hydraulic tank,
transmission dipstick and filler (check
transmission fluid level with motor
running) and steering ram. Check all
hoses and wiring in articulation joint,
check transmission mounts and
visually inspect the driveline.
This shot, taken from the right (we
always talk left and right as if sitting
in the operator’s seat) shows top and
bottom artic pins, front driveshaft and
front rear universals, steering ram
anchoring point and all the spaghetti
running through the articulation
joint. It all looks good.
Back under the machine, we are
looking forward at the front driveshaft
and differential. Inspect the axle
mounting bolts, hydraulic hoses and
fittings, and look for anything
“bodgie”, oil leaks, etc. This is clean
and tidy and very original.
pics continued next page
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Step-by-step appraisal
E
L
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O
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R Here we are at the pointy end. Very
S carefully go over the bucket for cracks,
distortion and excessive wear on
bottom and sides. In the operating
test, we can check the bottom of the
bucket and for wear in the mounting
points, especially the bottom pins.
This is standing in front looking back
into the bucket. See the 600 mm crack
in the back of the bucket. There were
several other small cracks in the
bucket — not anything to be too
concerned about; probably a day’s
work for a boilermaker.
Jump up onto the loader. Always open
every hatch and have a look. In this
case, it is the filler hole for the fuel
tank right in front of you as you climb
up the left side. Everything is clean,
with no adverse signs.
Some people say an air-cooled engine is
one that ran out of fluid. Don’t run air-
cooled, always check the fluid level and
look for unwanted contaminants in the
coolant. Leave this open until you run
the engine so you can check for bubbles.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998
Stepping over the engine cowling on
the way to checking the radiator fluid,
we find a cover for a small toolbox
and the windscreen washer bottle.
Have a good look inside and inspect
everything within. Clean, isn’t it?
Now enter “the office”. Make sure that
it’s the best it can be. It’s most
important to you or your operator that
if you are going to spend your working
day here, it is comfortable and
functional.
Checking the interior of the cabin,
make sure that the light works, that
the mirrors are fitted. Also note the
excellent radio, cassette player and,
an added bonus, a load indicator
mounted between the internal
mirrors. This device weighs each load
and keeps a running total of the
amount of material handled.
Are the seat, controls, pedals, etc in
the condition we would expect for
8000 hours’ use? Is the seat
mechanism tight, does it work
properly? It’s more than your life is
worth today to supply a machine to an
operator with anything faulty which
may cause an accident. In this case, all
is well.
Check all switches and gauges. See the
hour meter? Note the holder for a
drink left of shot, and holder for
thermos flask right of photo.
Now start the machine. Be sure that
once you have checked the radiator for
bubbles you replace the cap. Note the
external mirrors. Make sure the lights,
wipers, washers, etc work. Operate the
loader for at least 15 minutes to heat
all the fluids to operating
temperature. Check the underside of
the bucket. Test the transmission,
brakes. Does it load correctly, etc?

Make sure that the control levers work
and, when you are operating the
loader, make certain that the boom,
kick-out and automatic return to dig
on the bucket both work.
When the machine is hot, hop down
and check the engine crankcase filler
for excessive blow-by or heavy
breathing or “slobbering”, as it is
known. Excessive blow-by usually
means at least new pistons and rings.
Put the bucket on the ground and use
downward force and crowd the bucket to
discover wear in the loader frame,
hydraulic cylinder mounts and bucket
mounting points. There are a lot of
bearing points in a modern loader
frame and they can cost a lot of money if
worn. Jack the front axle up off the
ground to check for front driveline wear.
With the bucket on the ground, jiggle
the steering wheel from side to side to
discover any lateral movement in the
loader frame and wear in the steering
ram mounts. In this instance, the pins
and bushes at both ends of the steering
rams are starting to show wear.
Replace in 1000 hours.
Bucket mounting pins and bushes are
good, eg 60% or better life remaining
— more than enough to satisfy our
used equipment criteria.
So there you have it. We walked
around it (at least twice), we climbed
under it, we climbed on it, we climbed
into it, we operated it, we took notes,
we took photographs — all in a
planned, methodical fashion. In this
instance, we found virtually no faults,
but if faults are there, this method
will find them.
So what’s this
machine worth?
Quite obviously, this loader would
not appeal to the buyer who has to
pay sales tax.
These loaders retail new for
around $350,000, give or take. There-
fore, an asking price in the range of
$200,000 to $240,000 would, in my
opinion, be a “fair cop”.
Given that the machine we in-
spected was a 1994-manufactured
unit (it could well have been put into
service later) and it had only 7800
hours on the clock, I would suggest
that the asking price is at the bottom
end of the scale and represents ex-
cellent value for money.
If it were me trying to purchase
the loader, my negotiations would
centre on a good GP loader bucket
in the price in lieu of a discount,
unless the light material bucket ex-
actly suited my purpose.
Then I would be going for a tad
extra — freight to site might be the
right sweetener.
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Non-mechanic’s H
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guide to appraising E
a loader L
continued from page 40
L
plates, is it air-conditioned, and does it O
work? A
Wether you are the operator or you D
are going to supply this loader to an
E
operator, “the office” should be in the
R
best possible condition, with lights,
wipers, gauges, switches, doors, seat,
S
glass all in top buckle.
Now gentlemen, start your engines.
Engine
We should accept that engine repairs
are costly, but their condition is easily
checked and the methods of doing so
are universally known. Suffice it to say,
if it starts easily and runs sweetly, it’s
okay.
In our quick assessment, we are
looking for signs of problems which
we can call the professionals in to
investigate. Look for the following:
• bubbles or oil in radiator
• coolant in engine oil
• blue exhaust smoke, indicating ex-
cessive oil usage
• white exhaust smoke, indicating
moisture in oil
• excessive black smoke, indicating
excessive fuel (fuel injection prob-
lems)
• slobbering (excessive breathing)
from crankcase breather, indicating
excessive piston and ring wear.
As you warm the engine up, check
that the gauges work and that they are
“in the green” during operation.
Transmission
Work the loader in “a heap” for at least
15 minutes to test the transmission.
If the loader won’t push at the heap,
it’s odds on to be that the torque
converter needs resealing or that the
clutch pack in that range has given up
the ghost.
Like the engine, if there are no
obvious faults (leaks, noises, etc) and
the transmission does what it is sup-
posed to and the gauges work and are
in the green during operation, then the
transmission is serviceable and will do
us.
If in doubt, call the dealer to do a
pressure test in all ranges and/or buy
the loader with an allowance for a
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor

Non-mechanic’s
guide to appraising
a loader
transmission rebuild.
If the loader has a hydrostatic trans-
mission, which usually consists of an
engine driving into a hydraulic pump
driving a hydraulic motor into a simple
high-low reduction gearbox, then if
there is a problem you really have to
call the dealer and have the hydraulic
components tested. Eight out of 10
times, it’s the pump.
Brakes
Test the brakes; if they work well,
that’s very good. If not, try and see why
— for example, outboard discs might
show worn pads.
If the brakes are inboard discs and
won’t work, it’s generally a large and
expensive job to remove the axles com-
pletely or the diffs, planetaries and brakes.
The saving grace with these types of
brakes is that they last a long time and
are virtually maintenance free.
Final drives
Let your ears be the judge. We are
listening for excessive noise or obvi-
ous malfunction from the diffs or
planetaries.
Overheating of planetary cases is a
sure sign something is wrong. Check
the oil level. If the planetary cases are
hot, you can also insert a magnet and
fish for metal pieces, a sure sign some-
thing is amiss.
Loader frame
Put the bucket on the ground and use
bucket crowd and lower to indicate the
level of pin and bush wear in the
loader frame.
In some worn loader frames, the
movement is quite dramatic, as the
frame bangs and crashes about due to
excessive clearances.
Now turn steering from right to left
several times with the bucket firmly on
the ground. This will indicate lateral
movement of the loader frame.
Lift the bucket to full height, paying
special attention that the bucket re-
mains parallel to the ground and that
the lift arms and torque tube are not
bent or twisted.
Check that automatic kick-out and
return to dig devices are fitted and
working.
w
Bucket
H
While you lift the E
bucket to full height, E
check wear on the L
underside and for
damage to the back. L
Check the cutting O
edge, teeth and A
adaptors, if fitted. D
Check for a “bowed”
E
bottom on the
bucket and for ex-
R
cessive wear at
S
bucket mounting
points, particularly
bottom pins and bushes.
going through the procedures we have
The bucket is the real “pointy end” to
just outlined.
this ship and cops a lot of punishment.
Check for cracks in all areas of the Good loader appraising.
bucket.
Bucket repairs are not too tricky —
generally a simple boilermaking exer-
Special offer
cise — but they cost money and can Would you like:
get into really big bucks when replace- • a reprint of this article and the
ment cutting edges, adaptors and teeth pictorial appraisal?
come into the equation. • a copy of the appraisal form used
If a 4-in-1 bucket is fitted, you will by Don Shewring?
also have to check that the clam pivot • a copy of an ownership declara-
pins and rams are okay, that the back tion form?
of the bucket is not bent and that the • a copy of an authority to release
payout information?
back cutting edges are good, as well as
the above-mentioned things. Don Shewring will be pleased to
send you the information free of
Articulation joint charge. To obtain copies, fax or write
Excessive wear here requires new top to Don Shewring at Consolidated
and bottom pins and bushes. If the Crane & Tractor Pty Ltd, PO Box 632,
wear is let go too far, a built-up with Albion, Queensland 4010. Fax (07)
weld and line bore procedure is neces- 3256 3300. State your name, com-
sary, and that’s expensive. pany name, phone and fax number.
To test, lift the front off the ground Free valuation
and have someone check the move- If you would like a free valuation of
ment in the artic pins and bushes. your loader, contact Don Shewring
Jiggling the wheel from side to side on ph 018 788 856, fax (07) 3256 3300.
also gives an indication of articulation This service is not available over
wear, as well as steering ram pin and the phone. An information sheet re-
bush wear. questing details about your machine
Sometimes it pays to find out ex- will be faxed or posted to you. Re-
actly what type of articulation bearing turn the completed information sheet
the loader you are inspecting has, with photos (if possible), and a “cur-
straight pins and bushes or spherical rent market valuation” will be faxed
bearings, etc. Can it be adjusted or not? or posted to you at no charge.
General
If you are being offered a “little-used”
DON SHEWRING is managing director of
loader, just have a quick look and your
Brisbane-based used
instincts will guide you.
equipment specialist Con-
If the cab has sloppy controls, well-
solidated Crane & Tractor.
worn foot pedals, worn seat cover,
He has been involved in
worn and rattly seat, it’s a sure indica-
buying, selling and evalu-
tion that it has had a very active life and
ating used equipment for
has done a good 8000-10,000 hours.
more than 20 years.
You can glean this just from an
You can contact him on phone 018 788 856.
investigation of the cabin, let alone
July 1998 The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
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Komatsu loader scores a perfect year
E A KOMATSU WA500-3 wheel loader
L has done a year’s work with maximum
reliability.
L The 235 kW Komatsu WA500-3 is
O the sales loader at CSR Readymix’s
A Castlereagh site, in Sydney’s west.
D It was commissioned in August
E 1997 and has logged more than 2500
hours.
R CSR Readymix’s process improve-
S ment manager for Sydney quarries,
Jason Ferguson, said the Komatsu
WA500-3 loads 80,000-100,000 t of prod-
uct a month.
“It’s the first machine I can remem-
ber where we have never had one
issue with it,” he said.
“It loads a lot of tonnes and the
operator, Merv Bratby, is just rapt.”
“He likes the comfort and conven-
ience of the cabin and controls, and he
prefers the Komatsu’s linear-assist
power-steering characteristics.”
CSR Readymix subjected the
Komatsu WA500-3 to field trials by its
operators against a competitor’s ma-
chine, before commissioning the ma- The Komatsu WA500-3 in action at CSR Readymix’s Castlereagh quarry.
chine.
CSR Readymix’s Richard Savage said
then that the machine had to meet the It is also suitable for forestry appli- and fast hydraulic cycle times when
company’s specific site requirements cations, and medium to large civil loading.
and measure up against the competi- contractor requirements. With an operating weight of nearly
tion in field trials. A major feature is the automatic shift 29 t, it is powered by a Komatsu
“The operators found the Komatsu transmission facility for the powershift S6D140E diesel rated at 235 kW.
machine more to their liking, particu- transmission, enabling the operator to Bucket capacities range from 4.3 to
larly its stability and control system,” switch from automatic to manual at the 6 m3, bucket breakout is 27,000 kgf
he said. flick of a switch. and static tipping load at full turn is
Komatsu’s WA500-3, launched in The automatic transmission, com- 18,600 kg.
1997, is used in Australian quarries bined with Komatsu’s unique Dual Further information: NS Komatsu
as both a production and sales Speed Hydraulics, provides maximum Pty Ltd, ph (02) 9795 8222, fax (02)
loader. rim pull when pushing into a stockpile, 9795 8244.

The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998

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Two new loaders from JCB H
E
JCB used the recent Bauma ’98 show to launch two new E
wheel loaders — one coming in at the top end of its range, L
plus a special purpose bulk handling model.
The high-end JCB 446B is available in HT (four ram L
geometry) and ZX (Z bar) variants and has an operating O
weight of 15 t. A
Both models have the same high torque Cummins C D
series engine, which is rated at 127 kW and will be used with
E
a 2.6 m3 shovel as standard.
The ZX has a breakout of 16,500 kgf and dump height of
R
2985 mm, while the HT has a dump height of 2968 mm and S
breakout of 14,300 kgf.
Both machines feature a four-speed powershift transmis-
sion with top road speed of 38 km/h.
Rear-mounted cabs are designed to offer comfort, ease of
operation and good safety standards, with large glass areas
optimising visibility.
The 446B HT also has a quick hitch option available, JCB’s 446B wheel loader is now the largest in its range.
allowing use of attachments such as forks, log grabs, dozer
blades and crane jibs. changeover.
JCB’s new bulk handling unit is the 411B ZX, a hydrostatic Powered by a 67 kW Perkins 1000 series engine, the 411B
drive unit fitted with a 1.2 m3 shovel. ZX brings to five the number of compact wheeled loading
It features Z-bar loader geometry, giving high bucket shovels in the JCB range.
breakout forces and good roll back and dump angles, The 411B ZX weighs in at 7.3 t, has a loadover height of
together with a parallel lift capacity for safe handling of 3.27 mm, minimum ground clearance of 428 mm and
palletised loads when optional pallet forks are fitted. breakout force of 7500 kgf.
An extensive range of attachments is available for the new Further information: JCB Sales Ltd, ph 0800 581761, fax
machine, with its quick hitch system allowing swift (03) 9841 0600.

July 1998 The Earthmover & Civil Contractor

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Extended reach
Case 621B XT High-power
E
E
loader working
at Leppington
compact
L Pastoral Kubota loaders
Company’s
L Bringelly KUBOTA’S new R520 wheel loader
complements the increased horse-
O operation.
power of the recently introduced R420,
A so that Kubota now offers two of the
D most powerful machines in their class.
E The R520 has an operating weight
R of 3.64 t, is powered by a 36 kW
S Kubota V2203-RP diesel and has a
bucket capacity of 0.57 m3, while the
R420 is a 3.05 t unit powered by a 32
kW Kubota D1503 -T-RP1 turbo diesel
and has a bucket capacity of 0.4 m3.
Extended reach units load faster The new designs retain some fea-
tures of previous models and incorpo-
AFTER experiencing good perform- Already having an extensive range rate many innovations designed to
ance with its Case 721B XT wheel of Case agricultural and construction make them easier to manoeuvre, bet-
loader, the Leppington Pastoral Com- equipment, LPC could see many ben- ter in handling and providing an unob-
pany recently decided to add two more efits in adding more Case models to structed field of vision for the operator.
Case XT wheel loaders to its extensive their fleet, including common parts Powered by Kubota’s low emission
equipment fleet. and continuing to deal with the back- E-TVCS diesel engines, both models
The company has just bought two up support of Sydney dealer Case are balanced and power matched for
621B Extended Reach tool carrier ver- Equipment Sales. performance, suiting them to a range
sions. The model 621B XT is powered by of applications in construction, waste
Leppington Pastoral (LPC), owned a 92.5 kW turbocharged Case 6T-590 management, materials handling, hor-
and operated by Tony and Ron Perich, CDC engine. With external compo- ticulture and agriculture.
bought a Case 721B XT in July last year nents incorporated into the integral A newly adopted parallel circuit
to work at their dairy and fertiliser design of the block, there is less wear valve allows simultaneous operation
manufacturing operation in Bringelly, and fewer moving parts, for increased with the service port, during lifting or
south-west of Sydney. reliability, lower operating cost and bucket operation. A standard Kubota
The loader arms were modified reduced maintenance. backhoe attachment is also available
slightly to provide the extra reach An autoshift function was specially for both models.
capability required to clear the 180 cm fitted to LPC’s new units, providing the The R-20 series wheel loaders fea-
high sides of transporters when load- ability to automatically shift from sec- ture Kubota’s load sensing transmis-
ing the raw materials at their opera- ond gear to the highest speed selected sion (LST), which automatically changes
tions. on the shifter. from high speed/low torque to low
Speed was critical in this operation, The Case Auto Shift system allows speed/high torque, as load conditions
where the unit is often working around operators to tailor the transmission vary.
the clock. shifting mode to suit their preference A column-mounted electric shuttle
According to LPC, after the intro- and the requirements of the site. shift is claimed to make directional
duction of the Case 721B XT, loading Further information: Case Corpora- changes smoother and easier, simply
times were substantially reduced and tion, ph (02) 9833 6000, fax (02) 9833 shifting the control lever forward or
operations became more efficient. 1128. Website www.casecorp.com. reverse to accelerate.

The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998


Limited slip differential ensures trac-
tion on slippery road surfaces and
difficult worksites, so that operators
can exploit the loaders’ 4WD capabili-
ties.
The “low hold” travel speed-limit-
ing switch has been relocated to the
top of the loader control lever, so that
changes up or down can be made with
a one-touch, right-handed operation,
while maintaining steering control with
the left hand.
Both models feature Kubota’s cen-
tre shaft oscillation and articulation
joint, designed for smooth operation
and stability.
Other standard features include elec-
tric park brake, enclosed hydrostatic
wet brake, wide industrial tyres, dual
inching brake pedals, extra large muf-
fler, automatic bucket levelling system,
ROPS/FOPS canopy, retractable
seatbelt, safety starting system, and
control lever locks.
Further information: Kubota Tractor
Australia Pty Ltd, ph (03) 9279 2000, fax
(03) 9279 2010.
Tilly’s takes on Chinese loader range
TILLY’S Crawler Parts,
based in Toowoomba,
Queensland, has been
appointed Australian
distributor for the Chi-
nese-built Changling,
Liugong and Weili
loader ranges.
According to com-
pany director Hugh
Tilly, Changling works
closely with Komatsu.
Also available
through Tilly’s is the
Liugong range of load-
ers. These loaders use
some Caterpillar design, Changling wheel loaders coming off the production
with some models fit- line at the factory in China.
ted with Cummins en-
gines and ZF transmissions and axials.
The third loader range available
from Tilly’s, Weili, is very popular in
China, according to Tilly.
A major selling feature is what Hugh
Tilly described as “a surprisingly low
price tag”.
Complementing the loader range,
Tilly’s distributes a range of Chinese-
built dozers, graders and rollers.
When it comes time to sell or trade
one of the Chinese machines, the com-
pany offers a minimum buyback or
trade-in price, based on the unit’s years machines.
of operation and hours used.
Contractors have told Tilly they have nology had been purchased from es-
been able to get the same hire rate for
these low-priced machines as they do
for one costing twice the price, and
have only half the interest to pay on
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their investment.
Tilly said his company has also
made it a priority to ensure a quick and
reliable parts back-up service is pro-
vided for these machines.
Having recently returned from a
visit to China, he said the message was
that loaders from that country were
now meeting international standards.
He visited a number of loader facto-
ries which he said had quality assur-
ance systems in place and were serious
about producing well-built, reliable
In many cases, the design and tech-
tablished names in this field, said Tilly.
Further information: Tilly’s Crawler
Parts Pty Ltd, ph 1800 076 280, fax (07)
4633 1702.

July 1998 The Earthmover & Civil Contractor

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New mid-sized Cat G-series loaders
CATERPILLAR has updated its wheel
C loader range, with the 17 t 950G replac-
O ing the 950F Series II, and the 18 t 962G
V as an advance on the 960F loader.
E Improvements and innovations in-
R corporated into the new loaders were
designed to boost productivity in truck
or hopper loading, hard bank digging
or general utility work.
Both new loaders are powered by a
Cat 3126 engine producing 134 kW in
the 950G and 149 kW in the 962G.
Compared to previous designs, the
G-Series front linkage has greater lift
and breakout force, as well as greater
reach and dump height.
According to the manufacturer, the
units have a more powerful and re-
sponsive engine, and increased hy-
draulic flow for faster implement
speeds.
The planetary powershift transmis-
sion has four forward and four reverse
gears and, in addition to powershift
and autoshift, it has electronic clutch
pressure control for smooth shifts. The
microprocessor-based control also
serves as a diagnostic point.
Fully hydraulic brake controls elimi-
nate the need for a compressed air
system, and a new brake wear indica-
tor simplifies monitoring and improves
serviceability. The oscillating rear axle
helps ensure four-wheel ground con-
tact.
The hydraulic system uses separate
circuits for steering and bucket con-
trols. Increased hydraulic flow in the
implement circuit improves lift arm
and bucket speeds.
The 962G replaces the 960F loader.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998
The new Cat 950G wheel loader.
Implement hydraulic power is
matched to torque converter power
demands to help balance cycles and
improve loader productivity.
In the 950G, an externally mounted
spin-on hydraulic oil filter is used to
improve filtration and make service
more convenient.
Cat’s Ride Control System is an
optional attachment, with a nitrogen
oil accumulator in the hydraulic lift
circuit acting as a shock absorber for
the bucket.
General purpose, rock or material
handling buckets can be handled by
the loaders, in sizes ranging from 2.5 to
3.3 m3 for the 950G and from 2.9 to 3.8
m3 for the 962G.
The radius of the material handling
buckets has been opened for easier
loading and better material flow, and
the bucket floor is longer and flat for
good penetration into the pile.
Both loaders can be equipped with
one of two operator control configura-
tions. Conventional steering produces
pilot hydraulic flow when the operator
rotates the steering wheel, and also has
pilot hydraulic bucket controls.
Command Control steering incor-
porates hydraulic and a mechanical
feedback system which directly links
steering wheel position to the articula-
tion angle. Nearly quarter-turn steering
(72° each direction) is provided with
this option.
Transmission controls are integrated
into the Command Control steering
wheel for one-hand operation in all
steering positions. This arrangement
also includes electro-hydraulic bucket
controls.
The control pod is mounted on the
end of the adjustable right armrest,
with in-cab adjustable lift, lower and
bucket kick-outs providing program-
mable stops for faster cycle times, and
electronically controlled, cushioned
stops.
Status of key controls and functions
is displayed on the monitoring sys-
tem’s three instrument clusters, and a
three-level warning system alerts the
operator to any impending or immedi-
ate problems.
The G-Series cab offers 20% more
space than its predecessor and in-
creased viewing through 50% more
glass area.
New designs open up access for
maintenance and make maintenance
and inspections easier.
Further information: Caterpillar of
Australia Ltd, ph (03) 9339 9333, fax
(03) 9335 3366.

How to get more from your mid-size wheel loader
THE mid-size wheel loader’s speed
and manoeuvrability makes it an ideal
choice for a wide range of loading and
material handling applications, such as
building and maintaining stockpiles,
loading trucks and rail wagons, trim-
ming ship’s holds and feeding hoppers
and crushers.
Good machine selection is essential
if the machine is to achieve its full
performance potential.
Having first established the produc-
tion rates the machine has to achieve,
the most important thing to consider
when selecting a mid-size wheel loader
is the application.
This can have a major impact on the
way a machine is configured. Key
variables include the material density
and loading characteristics, ground
conditions, the type and size of the
loading target, and the distance be-
tween the loading and discharge areas.
Once you have collected and ana-
lysed this information, the next task is
to establish which loader best suits
your production and operational needs.
This is done by comparing the ma-
chines’ key specifications and design
features.
Engine and driveline
Most mid-size wheel loader users like
a high torque rise engine that provides
a quicker response and increased
rimpull for faster acceleration and more
aggressive loading.
You should also look for an auto-
matic powershift transmission that al-
lows on-the-go speed and direction
changes; and features a kick-down
facility to speed up downward shifting
for faster cycle times and increased
bucket fill factors.
Other features to look for include
• an adjustment-free wet disc braking
system
• some form of traction control which
automatically activates and does not
affect manoeuvrability
• a system to improve machine stabil-
ity during high-speed travel.
The durability and robustness of
key components such as the engine,
transmission and axles should always
be considered, particularly when the
machine is to be used in production
applications.
Hydraulic system
A powerful and efficient hydraulic sys-
What are the key points to look for when buying a
mid-size wheel loader (defined as having an
engine power of between 90 kW and 225 kW)? Ben
Lister, Caterpillar of Australia’s wheel loader
product manager, gives a few tips.
tem is essential on a mid-size wheel
loader. It should produce high breakout
and lift forces, and be able to raise a
fully loaded bucket to its full dump
height in around six seconds.
Peak power makes more horse-
power available to the powertrain and
loader hydraulics when the engine
lugs down for faster acceleration and
increased penetration into the pile.
Load-sensing steering only takes
power from the engine when it is
needed.
Frame
The frame should provide a rugged
platform for the engine and powertrain;
and the stability to operate the loader
with the largest possible buckets.
This should be achieved without
the machine having an unnecessarily
large turning circle or excessive
amounts of counterweight.
Loading equipment
The type of loader linkage you choose
will usually depend on the application.
Choose a Z-bar layout for production
loading applications, and a parallel lift
arrangement when you need to oper-
ate the loader with a variety of buckets
July 1998
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and job-matched attachments.
The type of bucket you need will
also depend on the application. You
may, however, find that a bucket such
as a materials handling bucket will
meet the majority of your require-
ments, particularly when most of the
work involves rehandling loose, free-
flowing materials.
Other points to consider here in-
clude selecting the right types of cut-
ting edge and teeth, and the importance
of a good dump clearance and reach
when you are loading into high-sided
trucks.
While the above points are all fun-
damental to good machine selection, it
always pays to think of your operator
when you select a mid-size wheel
loader.
You should, therefore, ensure the
machine provides a comfortable and
efficient working environment with
low in-cab noise levels, good all-round
visibility and easy to use controls.
Good serviceability should also not
be forgotten, so look out for features
such as ground-level daily maintenance,
grouped greasing points, computer-
ised monitoring/diagnostic systems,
and a tiltable engine enclosure.
The Earthmover & Civil Contractor
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The bum-biting loader
E rangement did not stay with us. I
L By Don Shewring
Boys, you can win money at the pub
L with this one.
O Start out with something like, “Does
A anyone remember Yale loaders which
D were manufactured by Eaton, Yale &
E Towne, who also made Trojan loaders?
R They then became Eaton, who made
S Timberjack log skidders.”
The loader we are looking at is the
Trojan 8000 dual pivot articulated
loader or, as we might sometimes be
wont to say, the articulated, articu-
lated loader.
The Trojan 8000 was powered by a
361 kW Cummins and weighed 46 t,
which puts it into the Cat 988F-Series 2
class.
When you consider that this loader
was produced in the middle to late
1960s, the concept becomes all the
more remarkable.
Needless to say, the dual pivot ar-
daresay the reality of two worn artic
pins and bearings together with eight
worn steering ram locating pins and
bushes might have been enough to
make the loader snap around and bite
its own bum.
So you say to the guys in the pub,
“Bet you have never seen a double
articulated loader,” and you proceed to
suck ’em in from there.
Beware the old bugger over 60. He
would have been in his prime in 1965
and might remember, thus bringing the
whole scheme undone.
While we’re on this subject, does
anyone else have old specifications or
photographs of disastrous events?
Please send them in, with a short note
describing what makes them signifi-
cant.
Send them to Don Shewring c/- this
magazine. We’ll make sure you get
them back.

Here’s what the manufacturer had to say about the Trojan 8000 Dual-Pivot wheel
loader:
The Trojan Dual-Pivot model 8000 tractor shovel provides the speed and manoeu-
vrability of a conventional articulated machine, yet possesses all the stability of
rigid-frame construction. This stability does not depend on excessive width; it is
accomplished by Trojan’s exclusive dual-pivot articulation, an entirely new
design concept.
The Trojan 8000 is built in three sections and articulates in two places. The centre
section weighs over six tons; it acts as a laterally sliding counterbalance, shifting
its weight to the outside on every turn. This counterbalanced, dual-pivot action
results in unprecedented stability, greater reliability, and longer machine life.
Other features include servocontrols, variable-rate steering, demand hydraulics,
and fail-safe brakes — every one Trojan engineered for maximum operator
efficiency and safety.
The Trojan Dual-Pivot Model 8000 tractor shovel is the giant workhorse with small-
machine finesse, your unbeatable production combination.

The Earthmover & Civil Contractor July 1998