Heavy equipment machinery

Ground-engaging tools are the most common wear items on backhoe loaders. Spec hardened buckets in severe soils to extend their useful life.
In many ways, you could say the whole versatility revolution in construction equipment started with the backhoe loader. Before the backhoe first appeared in the late 1950s, construction equipment was, for the most part, designed, built and used for single-purpose applications. The backhoe loader, however, was different: One half dedicated loader, and one half digging machine, it did both jobs equally well, with rubber-tire mobility to boot. And it was easy to trailer longer distances. Small contracting firms – including single-man operations – took to backhoes in droves because of the huge amount of diversity they offered.

Today, backhoes remain popular among North American contractors. In addition to the features that first attracted contractors 50 years ago, modern backhoes offer a host of performance-enhancing features, modern comforts and powerful front-and-rear attachment versatility that have allowed them to stave off a host of newer and smaller machines seeking to steal the jobsite spotlight.

Side-shift and extenda-dig options increase backhoe flexibility
Backhoe loaders in the 14- to <15-foot-dig-depth class are used in a wide variety of construction applications including truck loading, grading, backfilling, material handling, site preparation and cleanup, trenching, craning, demolition, etc.

Most manufacturers today say the rear portion of the backhoe is used slightly more than the front loader. Chris Giorgianni, midrange product sales manager for JCB, thinks this usage split is roughly 60 percent backhoe and 40 percent front loader. “That’s why we’re targeting both the front and rear cab areas for ergonomic upgrades and productivity-enhancing features,” he says. “Some of these enhancements include improved operator comfort, better sightlines to the boom and bucket and our new Precision Control System.”

Pilot hydraulic control systems and open- or closed-center piston pumps are also standard backhoe offerings. Pilot controls offer contractors greater flexibility as they can be easily switched from backhoe- to excavator-control patterns, usually with a simple flip of a lever. This reduces the amount of training and adjustment time needed when an operator schooled on one type of pattern climbs into the seat and starts to dig.

Both open- and closed-center hydraulic systems offer productive digging and lifting characteristics. Open-system hydraulics use gear-driven hydraulic pumps to propel oil through the hydraulic system. Closed-center systems use piston-driven hydraulic pumps. “Closed-center piston pumps provide full digging and breakout force at any engine speed,” explains Paul Grohsmeyer, marketing manager, Caterpillar. “They also give backhoe operators more stick ‘feel,’ thanks to the feathered hydraulic profile. They allow more precision for tasks like setting pipe when the machine is idling, letting the operator communicate with the ground crew. “Piston pumps also generate less heat and wear due to their design. This helps increase pump efficiency and life, as well as extend hydraulic oil life.”

But other OEMs say there are equally important advantages to open-center hydraulic systems, namely lower cost and better hydraulic “feel.” “Open-center hydraulic systems use fixed-displacement hydraulic gear pumps,” explains Rusty Schaefer, product manager, Case. “These pumps provide maximum feel while maintaining full hydraulic flows at high pressure. This characteristic gives you increased productivity because the pumps provide an optimal balance of power and precision for delicate operations like working around buried utility lines. Gear pumps are also less sensitive to contamination so they’re more durable in the field and they’re easier and less costly to rebuild, both of which contribute to their lower overall operating costs for backhoes equipped with them.”

“Closed-center piston pump hydraulic systems give more precise control, and they also allow an operator to input multiple functions at the same time, without compromising other hydraulic circuits,” notes Paul Kindelspire, district sales manager, Midwest region, Komatsu. “These closed-center systems are even more precise and efficient when they are tied in and managed by an onboard electronics system. These systems offer various work modes to exactly match the hydraulics system to the task being performed. On a Komatsu backhoe, for example, selecting the ‘power’ mode cuts boom movement flow in half, while optimizing lift circuits. This ensures adequate power for the lift and precise placing of materials.”

Older rear machine options remain popular. None more so than the extenda-dig option, which allows operators to hydraulically extend a backhoe boom via a foot pedal in the cab. “Very simply, extenda-dig gives you more dig depth and more reach almost instantly,” Giorgianni says. “Our model gives up to 4 feet of additional reach, which can make a world of difference if unforeseen obstacles arise. It also decreases the number of times the backhoe has to be repositioned in standard trenching applications.”

Although extenda-dig backhoes offer enhanced productivity, maintenance on them is vital to ensure long life. Be sure and keep it well lubricated and check it periodically to ensure that tolerances are tight. If you don’t over time it will get loose and start to deliver sloppy performance.
   
Ride control is among the best options available for backhoe loaders engaged in high-volume, load-and-carry operations.
Ride control and autoshift excellent in load-and-carry work
Load-and-carry work is the most common application for the front end of a backhoe. For that reason, most machines in this class are fitted with loader buckets ranging in the 1.1- to 1.32-cubic-yard range. “Ride control is probably the best option available for a backhoe engaged in heavy load-and-carry work,” says Schaeffer. “It works by allowing a small of amount of hydraulic oil to meter into the front loader arm cylinders and act as a shock absorber when the machine is on the move. Because this system isolates heavy bucket loads from the rest of the machine, it presents the operator with a smoother ride and protects the backhoe’s frame, drivetrain and components from potentially damaging impact shocks. At the same time, ride control helps keep a load in the bucket during transport.”

There are two main transmission types found on backhoe loaders. Each is designed for specific needs, from economical acquisition and operating costs, to making operating the loader as easy as driving the family car. The top-of-the-line transmissions are autoshift units, which Grohsmeyer says really bring out the full potential offered by ride-control systems. “Essentially, autoshift transmissions semi-automate loader operation, and let the operator concentrate on loader functions,” he explains. “These are full-featured transmissions with five speeds forward and reverse and full automatic shifting up to, and down from, the highest gear selected by the operator. If desired, the operator can also deactivate the autoshift function and manually shift through the gears.”

When used in conjunction with ride control, Grohsmeyer says an autoshift transmission can be programmed to automatically engage ride control as the machine’s speed increases, and automatic downshifting and ride control disengagement as its speed reduces or as you approach the load or unload point. “This gives you both faster travel speeds to and from the loading area and decreased cycle times since the transmission takes a lot of the guesswork out of gear selections when loading and unloading the front bucket.”

Autoshift transmissions also deliver more road speed, says Giorgianni, around 25 mph. “A lot of contractors will fit their backhoes with radial tires for better wear and a smooth ride on the road,” he adds. “But again, application should be the primary focus when you’re selecting a transmission. If you’re buying a backhoe and you know you’re going to be on your stabilizers 90 percent of the time and you’re going to trailer the machine everywhere you go, maybe the extra cost of powershift won’t benefit you.”

Manual transmissions can be as productive as autoshift units in certain applications and are a boon for contractors interested in low equipment and operating costs, says Joel Powell, product marketing manager, backhoe loaders, Volvo. “With four standard forward and reverse gears, they’re a good choice for rental houses, entry-level contractors and companies with large equipment fleets,” he adds. “In addition, they’re more fuel efficient than autoshift transmissions, easy to maintain and extremely durable in harsh construction applications.”

Pilot-operated hydraulic controls can switch from backhoe- to excavator-style control patterns with the flip of a switch.
Limit four-wheel drive use to extend drivetrain life
Equal-size tires are a noticeable departure from standard backhoes (with smaller-diameter front wheels) and offer higher flotation for traversing sloppy or uneven terrain. Again, these machines cost more than conventional backhoes, and may not be a good application match if you’re working in urban areas or rarely have to contend with sloppy ground conditions.

Four-wheel-drive systems have long been common on backhoes, and their advantages are obvious, namely easier movement through mud or deep snow. But continuous four-wheel-drive can be hard on a drivetrain, which is why Grohsmeyer suggests limiting its use to appropriate situations only.

If you plan to use four-wheel drive on your backhoe often, Kent Stickler, product consultant, backhoes, John Deere, says tire selection is crucial for good productivity. “Your front tires need to match the machine’s drivetrain ratio to ensure they work together with the rear tires,” he says. “If speed is not an option, spec bias tires instead of radials. They cost less and have a more durable sidewall, which can be an advantage in severe off-road conditions. Radial tires have a softer sidewall, which is what gives them a gentler ride on the road.”

Electronically controlled steering modes can also be a boost, particularly if you are working in confined areas. Generally speaking, three separate modes are available:

• Conventional steer, where only the backhoe’s front wheels can be turned.

• All-wheel steer allows the front and rear machine wheels to cut in opposite directions and greatly reduces a machine’s turning radius and increases maneuverability.

• Crab steer cants the front and rear wheels in the same direction, allowing a backhoe to move sideways at an angle. It is primarily useful for positioning the machine to work in areas with difficult or limited access routes.

Narrow buckets best for harsh ground
One application that demands total operator concentration is lifting, whether with the front or rear of the machine. “Never lift any load when the backhoe is not level,” Grohsmeyer cautions. “And never swing heavy loads side-to-side excessively. In addition to the obvious safety issues, this action can put excessive lateral twisting forces on the boom and pin structures and cause them to fail prematurely.”

“Ground engaging tools are the biggest wear items on backhoes,” Stickler says. To extend their life, he recommends properly adjusting return-to-dig settings for optimal surface penetration and hard surfacing the loader bucket to extend its life and its cutting edge effectiveness. “Make sure you’re using the right bucket when digging with the backhoe,” he adds. “Move up to a heavy-duty bucket in harsh ground conditions, and spec the correct bucket teeth to lower your operating costs. And remember that narrower buckets tend to work better in tough digging conditions since they cut through the earth more efficiently.”

Stickler says operators should always be attentive when applications call for continuous hard cycles when compacting with the bottom of the bucket. These hard blows can cause stress to the pins and bushings on the backhoe. “Hammers can be another application that is hard on components,” he notes. “Always be alert for abnormal boom or arm movement when you’re operating the machine. Inspect the boom and arm frequently for signs of stress.”

http://www.equipmentworld.com/ 

Backhoe-loaders have been a time-honored tradition on construction sites for many years. But with the introduction of specialized equipment for digging and a greater diversity of attachments for loading, is the "king of digging" in danger of being dethroned?

Backhoe-loaders can be found doing many jobs at a work site, from leveling aggregate for a parking lot to unloading palletized materials from trucks to digging footings for a building.

If you compare the loader function of a backhoe-loader versus a comparably sized skid steer, the backhoe-loader will have more breakout force and lifting capacity. Plus, on the backhoe end, a backhoe-loader is more efficient at trenching than a skid steer, with better visibility into the trench and a safer operating environment.

Not according to experts at several construction equipment manufacturers. They indicate that sales of backhoe-loaders held relatively stable through the economic downturn, and actually increased in 2003 and 2004, despite the popularity boom of compact excavators and the availability of a broader range of attachments for skid-steer loaders.

"Backhoe-loaders remain one of the most versatile and productive pieces of equipment a contractor can put to work on a jobsite," says Rusty Schaefer, marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment. "We see Case loader-backhoes at work in virtually every application where construction equipment is used, including residential and commercial construction, roadbuilding, landscaping, demolition and scrap and materials handling."

In fact, Schaefer indicates that the overall market for backhoe-loaders is up by about one-third over last year. "Some other types of equipment, such as compact excavators, have seen even faster growth," he admits, "but this does not detract from the popularity of backhoe-loaders."

Bob Tyler, product marketing manager, backhoes at John Deere, agrees, noting, "There has been some substitution of backhoe-loaders with other machines such as skid steers and compact excavators, the latter of which have increased sales dramatically."

"However, over the past two years, there appears to be only a light influence from this relative to lost backhoe sales. It might be that these other machines are creating a new market - perhaps replacing the shovel, rather than eating away at the existing backhoe market."

The key to their continued popularity can likely be attributed to the backhoe-loader’s versatility. "It can dig, load and transport itself in virtually any jobsite application," says Jay Barth, JCB Inc. "Certainly there are machines, such as compact excavators, that may offer specialized digging capabilities. But none offer the digging, loading and transport flexibility of a backhoe-loader."

Versatility is key

That versatility is what keeps backhoe-loaders working eight to 10 hours a day at VH Grading and Excavating in Prescott Valley, AZ. Owner Brian Van Hook says the backhoe-loaders continue to work when other more specialized pieces of equipment sit idle.

"The skid steers can’t dig," he says. "The tracked compact excavators can’t load. But the backhoe-loaders can do just about anything. They’re the most versatile machines out there. We use them on practically every job we do."

VH Grading and Excavating focuses on residential construction, mainly forming house pads along with any associated underground work. Van Hook finds that backhoe-loaders are indispensable for working through the variety of soil conditions he encounters.

"Here in the Prescott Valley area, the terrain changes dramatically. In about 15 miles there are many different applications for the backhoe," he says. "We have everything from hillsides to rock to flat prairie ground. It’s really very unique."

It’s in severe conditions that backhoe-loaders prove their worth.

"Backhoe-loaders shine in extreme situations, such as steep side slope work or in uneven, rocky conditions," Tyler says. "On a side slope, the operator can lower the downhill stabilizer and rotate the backhoe boom uphill for extra stability when grading or removing material with the loader. An excavator may also be more limited when traversing more severe undulations if digging with rocks underfoot."

Consider the specs

Operating performance is one of the greatest differentiators between backhoe-loaders and comparable equipment such as compact excavators and skid steers.

If you compare the loader function of a backhoe-loader versus a comparably sized skid steer, the backhoe-loader will have more breakout force and lifting capacity. For example, the loader boom breakout force of the John Deere 332 skid steer (the company’s largest model) is 6,650 pounds compared to 8,100 pounds with the John Deere 310G backhoe-loader or 10,210 pounds with the 310SG. Similar differences can be found in lifting capacity - 3,525 pounds for the 332 skid steer versus 5,800 pounds for the 310G.

Compact four-wheel-drive loaders fare better than a skid steer when compared to a backhoe-loader’s performance. For example, a 65-hp John Deere 304H has a loader breakout force of 10,199 pounds-more than the 310G, but comparable to the 310SG.

At the other end, a backhoe-loader also beats a skid steer with a mounted backhoe.

"A backhoe-loader is considerably more efficient in trenching than a skid-steer loader," says Jim Zak, Caterpillar. "It also has far better visibility into the trench, and has a safer operating environment under the ROPS of the backhoe-loader structure as opposed to a perch-mounted skid-steer loader backhoe."

And when compared to a compact excavator, a backhoe-loader will typically have larger bucket capacities and greater digging depths. For example, Case loader-backhoes have maximum dig depths that range from 14 to 16 feet. That’s considerably deeper than its compact excavators that range from seven to 12 feet. And New Holland backhoe-loaders have maximum dig depths from 14 to just under 19 feet, compared to its compact excavators, which can dig from just over 10 to about 12 feet.

"Of course, if the primary task at hand is trenching or digging, especially doing close work along foundations, an excavator is a tremendous tool," says Schaefer.

Eric Winkler, marketing manager at New Holland Construction, adds, "When a project calls for digging or trenching in very tight quarters and close to foundations, an excavator is an ideal choice. A backhoe attachment can also be an affordable and convenient option for a contractor who uses a skid-steer loader to dig the occasional trench. But it can’t touch the overall performance versatility of a backhoe-loader."

There are certain situations, such as foundation work, where other pieces of equipment might be the preferable choice. That’s because a compact excavator can rotate its boom 360 degrees in tight locations versus 180 degrees for a backhoe. And a skid steer has the advantage over a backhoe because it can turn tighter in confined spaces.

So which is right for your customers?

What it really boils down to is evaluating your customers’ jobsites.

"If your customers have limited space, a skid-steer loader or compact excavator combination may be appropriate. If space is not much of a concern, then the higher specs of the backhoe may be the way to go," says Tyler. "Or if your customers are going to be using a loader all day, then they might be better off with a compact loader. If they’re going to be digging trench all day, then a compact excavator may be the better choice."

But if they’re going to do some of each, then this is where the backhoe shines - it’s more of a ‘jack of all trades’."

Schaefer adds, "The size, number and variety of tasks to be done and the distance between those tasks are key indicators in the decision to use a backhoe-loader versus an alternative."

Barth agrees, adding, "You would be hard pressed to locate another machine that could do as many jobs, at as low a cost, as a backhoe-loader. On a building site, it can level aggregate for a parking lot, unload palletized materials from trucks, dig footings for a building, dig trenches for sewer water lines and electrical services, then drive down the road when the job is completed."

http://www.forconstructionpros.com/online/Running-Your-Business/King-Of-Digging/10FCP312

Deere’s recent product launches include a super new backhoe that has hydraulic-excavator-like features

The Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division of John Deere has been busy. On its impressive list of recent product launches are the new "7-yard" 844J wheel loader, two compact rubber-track loaders, D-Series motor graders, J-Series dozers and a pair each of wheeled excavators and zero-tail-swing compact excavators. In addition, the Division’s Davenport, Iowa, factory will begin manufacturing four models of the company’s branded articulated-hauler range. Added to all of this is yet another new product that especially caught our eye — the 410H backhoe-loader.

The new 410H comes equipped with Total Machine Control (TMC) — a system designed to integrate control of every system in the machine, says Deere, from engine and transmission, to hydraulics and brakes. (The TMC system also is available on Deere’s new 310SH). The aim of TMC technology, says Bob Tyler, product-marketing manager, is to allow all systems to respond automatically to the speed and "feel" preferences set by the operator. The goal, he says, is to get maximum productivity and uptime from the machine, while minimizing operating costs.

For instance, operators have a choice of three backhoe-hydraulic speeds. When the machine first starts, the TMC system selects a general digging mode, which is equivalent in speed to that of a current Deere 410G model and a good choice for routine trenching. But, if the operator selects the fast mode, cycle times are faster by up to 30 percent, allowing the operator, says Tyler, "to bail dirt." If the work requires a light touch, however, such as lifting pipe on a congested site or training a new operator, then select the slow mode, and backhoe speed decreases 20 percent from the general setting.

The 410H also gets joystick controllers, set into the armrests. Face forward, and the joysticks control the loader, including both an automatic return-to-carry feature (push the lever to a forward detent and the boom returns for another cycle) and an automatic boom-height kick-out. Swivel the seat rearward, and the joysticks control the backhoe. But there’s more. At the touch of a button, the right joystick becomes the loader controller — from the backhoe position.

For enhanced fuel-efficiency (and less noise), the 410H is equipped with an auto-idle system that trims engine speed to idle if the backhoe controls are inactive for more than four seconds. For safety, the machine will keep its boom in place if a hydraulic hose should fail.

And for serviceability, the TMC’s numerous sensors and electronic memory capture "a wealth of diagnostic data," says Tyler, allowing technicians an in-depth look at machine performance — a capability, he says, that may "prevent potential service issues." And anyone who bends wrenches for a living will appreciate that the backhoe valves are positioned on the backhoe boom, not buried under the cab floor.

As an option, the 410H can be fitted with a tool-carrier front end, which provides both parallel-lift and a hydraulic coupler. The design of the tool-carrier linkage has been greatly simplified compared to conventional parallel-lift systems, says Tyler, a feature that makes the machine easier to service and potentially reduces maintenance costs.

The only downside to all of this is that the 410H won’t be available until the fall of this year, then only for a limited production run. Full production will start in 2006. The machine, with standard equipment, is expected to list for around $118,500.

http://www.buyerzone.com/industrial/backhoe/rbic-backhoe-excavators.html

Even if you’re satisfied with the productivity of your backhoe-loaders and articulated dump trucks, the question will inevitably arise: "Are we getting as much life out of components as we should?" If you’re not just as happy with the competitiveness of your equipment rates and machine reliability, you may want to compare your experience to some industry averages.

That’s why Construction Equipment regularly polls contractors and materials producers to find out how long they expect major components to last. Hopefully the results provide a benchmark for equipment managers to determine how long is "long enough."

But be careful how you use the numbers. An average may seem like middle-of-the-road performance to some, but it can be the upper limit of life expectation for many machines. It depends on how much risk of failure you can afford.

Construction Equipment Lifecycle Research defines a typical range of responses for each component’s life expectation. The lower limit of the typical range cuts off the shortest 20 percent of all answers, and the upper limit is set to exclude the largest 20 percent of all responses to the question.

Construction Equipment’s 2005 Lifecycle Study found, for example, that 20 percent of engines in 14- to 15-foot backhoe-loaders required major repair or replacement before 6,000 hours. The lower end of the typical range for engine life in 30- to 40-ton articulated dump trucks was 9,000 hours.

In the interest of preventing costly failures, John Deere’s discussion of lifecycles in a document titled Component Life Projections suggests the 20-percent hour level is the time for action for machines that are absolutely essential to an operation. If the duty cycle is severe and maintenance practices are not what they should be, it could be the time to overhaul a component, or exchange it with a remanufactured unit. Or downtime may be kept at acceptable levels by simply having an exchange component ready in the event of a failure.

But Deere says that if machine uptime is not so critical and the machines are maintained properly, the median hour level — where 50 percent of components have reached the end of their life — should be the time to prepare for repair. The CE Lifecycle Study indicates that’s 8,500 hours for backhoe-loader engines, and 10,000 hours for engines in big ADTs.

Randy Jaminet, manager of customer support in Deere’s construction and forestry division, says the median hour level is a good point at which to consider rebuilding or repairing a component before failure. The risk of component failure escalates tremendously once a component passes the age at which half or more of components like it in other applications have failed. As components near the end of their design life, the symptoms of impending failure progress very quickly. They’re much more likely to be overlooked.

Variation in operating conditions affects component life enough that Jaminet discourages relying too heavily on industry statistics to schedule maintenance and repair.

"Using oil-analysis trending offers a more accurate indicator of when to remove a component from service because it is based on specific job duty and operating conditions," says Jaminet. "Our component life estimates are a good starting point, but they’re not equivalent to oil-analysis trending."

The 2005 Lifecycle Study added an element to help measure the impact of operation severity on component life. The graphs shown with this story include all of the responses for machines in moderate applications. For backhoe-loaders, moderate was defined as "General work with regular cycles in medium to heavy soils. Occasionally using constant-flow attachments. Dig depths to 10 feet." For articulated trucks, moderate is defined as "Infrequent overloading, but some impact loading. Haul roads maintained, but some high rolling resistance and poor traction. Some adverse grades. Typical mass-excavating use."

The survey also allowed users to fill in life experience for machines that work in severe applications. For backhoe-loaders, severe was defined as "Production work or digging in rock. Regular use of constant-flow attachments. Dig depths greater than 10 feet." For ADTs, severe is defined as "Regular overloading. Continuous use on poorly maintained haul roads with high rolling resistance and poor traction. Frequent impact loads and adverse grades."

Backhoe-loaders showed remarkably little difference in engine and transmission life between the two levels of operating severity. Severe applications only shortened average engine and transmission life a few percent.

The difference in work conditions was more obvious in backhoe-loader axle life. Severe applications cut average axle life by nearly 19 percent (1,900 hours) compared to moderate work.

Tire life also shows the strain. Tires wear out in tough working conditions about 19 percent (630 hours) before tires in moderate applications. When asked specifically about the life to puncture, the difference is marked. Tires in severe operations don’t make it to 1,000 hours, on average. That’s less than 40 percent of the hours to puncture for tires in moderate applications.

The wear and tear of severe applications is more noticeable in articulated dump trucks. Engines and transmissions suffer less than 10 percent reduction in life compared to ADTs in moderate applications. But tires, when punctures are taken out of the numbers, wear out about 20 percent faster.

Like backhoe-loaders, ADTs suffer the rough stuff most at the axles and suspensions. Axle life is cut by nearly 3,600 hours — 20 percent less than in moderate work. Major suspension repairs are necessary in severe applications nearly 3,000 hours sooner — a 31 percent reduction in life. Axles on trucks in severe applications scarcely outlast engines.

The big difference between moderate and severe applications, in terms of overall cost, is a result of the change in the machines’ overall endurance. Backhoe-loaders in moderate applications remain in primary production an average of 9,180 hours, while those in severe applications only last about 6,800 hours (26 percent less). ADTs in moderate applications average about 12,960 hours in primary production, while they last just 8,600 hours in severe applications — a drop of 34 percent.

A simple comparison of hourly costs (including ownership costs, fuel, maintenance, and repair parts and labor) for ADTs indicates that machines in severe applications cost 40 percent more per hour to run than those working in moderate conditions. Of course, contractors who work in severe applications understand and adjust for the increased cost of that work.

There’s an alternate analysis that could direct a fleet operation to run equipment more cost effectively. A comparison of hourly cost for a common machine that experiences major component failures to that of a machine maintained to prevent breakdowns measures the return on maintenance investments.

Consider the example of two 40-ton articulated trucks working in moderate conditions. Careful maintenance delivers average component lives, and the first truck’s components are repaired at average costs. Its residual value is very good, and a simplified accounting of ownership and operating cost over eight years yields just over $65 per hour.

Suppose less-meticulous maintenance allows a catastrophic failure of the transmission and drop box on the second truck. Component life and hours of operation are the same as the first truck, but repair costs for the transmission and drop box skyrocket. Its residual value drops about 10 percent. Hourly cost jumps to $69.10. The second truck costs about $52,300 more than the first over their 13,200-hour lives.

"The key to optimizing the maintenance program is to apply condition-based maintenance," says Jaminet. "That means utilizing oil analysis on a periodic basis consisting of wear metal, oil degradation monitoring, internal and external contaminant ingestion (including water/humidity) and measurement of solid contaminant with particle-count analysis.

"Condition-based maintenance determines the service intervals based on the remaining useful life of the oil. Addressing the root cause for contaminant ingestion before significant component wear occurs will minimize the impact on component life.

"Fuel consumption is a reasonable proxy for the fluid condition," Jaminet adds. "It is relatively easy to record fuel consumption, compared to managing a disciplined oil-analysis program. But maintenance intervals and component replacement guidelines derived from fuel consumption are based on large population averages and, by definition, are not as accurate an indicator of fluid condition and component life as an oil-analysis program can be." 

http://www.buyerzone.com/ 

Understanding backhoe-loaders’ weight distribution and setup options can make them the most productive machines in their weight range.

Mastering the backhoe-loader is a big job because it is really two machines in one. A good operator can improve productivity by employing many of the same principles that make excavators and wheel loaders more efficient. But the best backhoe-loader operators know how to set up for many tasks to take full advantage of the rubber-tired machine’s unique size and weight.

"Approximately one-third of the total weight of a TLB is in the two-ton backhoe assembly," says Gary Ober, professional operator and author of the book, Operating Techniques For the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe. "Because of its location high above the ground and far behind the wheelbase, the backhoe’s weight transfers the entire machine’s center of gravity upward and to the rear. The positioning of this weight when maneuvering around a jobsite is a concern for all operators. . ."

With a backhoe boom tip rising 12 feet into the air, slopes shift the machine’s center of gravity downhill. The backhoe-loader’s tendency to tip in these conditions is greater than that of machines with lower centers of gravity. Swinging two tons of backhoe downhill moves the center of gravity farther down the slope. If the bucket is full of dirt and the outriggers aren’t deployed, the center of gravity may well extend beyond the tires. The machine will roll onto its side.

A loader full of dirt can also compromise stability on slopes. For example, driving downhill with a full bucket shifts weight from the rear tires. On a two-wheel-drive machine, it’s important to keep as much weight and traction as possible on the rear because they’re the only wheels with brakes.

Conversely, a machine may be stable driving uphill with a full bucket of dirt, but when the load is dumped into a truck, the loss of ballast can cause the machine to tip backward. Again, the concern is not that the machine might roll over, but that it will lose its ability to steer.

The machine is most stable for backhoe work when it is set up in what can be called the tripod position. Stabilizers are spread for the widest platform possible — not necessarily fully extended, but down far enough to raise the rear tires. The machine should be leveled for normal digging, but stabilizers can also tilt the machine to dig around obstacles in the excavation, or to slope the walls.

Each stabilizer is one leg of the tripod, and the loader bucket is the third. The loader should be in solid contact with the ground. If the front tires are carrying even part of the machine’s weight, it will bounce slightly as the backhoe works. That bouncing will be transmitted into the operator and amplified through the controls.

Maximum digging force is achieved by combining the hydraulic power of the boom, dipper and bucket. The best operators use all three functions at once while maintaining the best bucket angle.

"When trenching, the goal is to shave layers of soil off, rather than gouge out chunks," says the narrator in a training videotape called Tips From the Pros: Backhoe-Loader from VISTA Start Smart Training. "Let the bucket teeth and cutting edge work for you. The teeth do the initial cutting by breaking the soil into pieces. The crumbling spoil begins to fill the bucket and the curling action holds the spoil in the bucket."

In normal digging conditions, start with the bucket floor at about a 45-degree angle to the ground. On harder surfaces, a flatter angle of attack will generate more cutting force.

Concentrate on making the first cut exactly where the trench should be. It will guide all of the following passes, so make sure it’s accurate. Digging a footing requires special precision because the walls of the excavation will be the form for the concrete pour.

"If it is dug too large, more concrete will be required; if it is dug too small, the reinforcing steel will not fit," says Ober. "Layout and digging techniques are extremely important because you only have one chance to get it right."

Pier-type footings require straight, plumb sides that are in exactly the right location. The excavation must first be precisely and clearly marked. Then the operator must align the backhoe so that long, straight strokes of the stick will align the excavation walls where the engineers want them.

Check the alignment by reaching out and touching the ground with the backhoe bucket’s corner tooth next to the layout line. Boom up, stick in and touch the ground close to the machine. Do not swing the boom. The bucket should land as close to the layout line the second time as it did with the backhoe outstretched. If it doesn’t, pivot the machine and check the alignment again until the boom is parallel to the layout.

Pivoting is a setup maneuver where the operator holds the stick vertically, digs the bucket teeth into the ground, and uses boom-down pressure to lift the rear end of the machine off the tires. Using the boom-swing cylinders, the operator can pivot the backhoe left or right on its loader bucket. Use the stabilizers as necessary to level the backhoe to dig plumb walls and a flat bottom.

After the guiding first cut is made, it’s time to bale dirt. Each pass should be long and fairly flat, but the object is to move dirt as quickly and safely as possible until you’re within six inches or a foot of the desired grade.

Cast the spoil as far from the trench as possible without wasted motion, placing spoil from the shallowest cuts furthest from the trench. OSHA requires a minimum of two feet between spoil pile and the edge of a trench. Unstable soils — whether it’s because of sand or water or vibrations from nearby traffic — require more distance.

Clean up the area around the trench before final grading. "By sliding the bucket flat on the surface, the spoil will either be pushed toward the spoil pile or fall into the trench," says VISTA’s Tips video narrator. "Also, now is the best time to remove any exposed rocks from the trench walls that may be a fall hazard."

A backhoe with extendible stick will dig more trench with fewer setups, but the benefits of additional reach come with limits.

"The machine isn’t designed to work all the time in the extended position," says Dave Littlepage, product demonstrator/instructor at Caterpillar. "And don’t forget to place the lockout pin in the stick when using hydraulic tools — the EStick is not designed to be fully extended while using things like hammers and plate tamps."

The Caterpillar Equipment Training Program for backhoe-loaders adds to the list of don’ts for extendible booms. "When the stick is extended, don’t strike the ground with the bucket, fully extend the swing cylinder, backfill with the side of the bucket, use a large bucket, swing the load downhill, or reposition the machine (using the backhoe)."

Ober recommends digging most of the excavation — all except the finish grading — in two stages. Extend the stick and dig everything from the surface cut down to just above the finished grade. Then retract the stick and repeat the process closer to the machine. Fine grade the excavation in two stages as well.

For more details on excavator and wheel-loader productivity, which can be applied to backhoe and loader work, see the stories "Production Heroes Take the Textbook to the Trench" and "Take-Charge Loader Operators Fill Trucks Faster" at www.ConstructionEquipment.com. Keep in mind, though, that there are many features unique to backhoe-loaders.

For example, when digging or loading from a stockpile, drive the bucket into the material and raise the loader arms to put down pressure on the front axle and get more traction from a four-wheel-drive unit. But in a two-wheel-drive machine, down pressure on the front axle unloads the rear drive wheels, reducing traction.

When working with the loader on the side of a hill, swing the backhoe uphill to stabilize the machine.

A four-way, or clamshell, bucket can unload sticky material better. Just open the jaw of the bucket and most materials will fall out without requiring a full dump cycle. This maneuver can also help backhoe-loaders reach trucks that are a little too tall for a full dump cycle.

http://www.buyerzone.com/industrial/backhoe/rbic-backhoe-loader-tools.html

Lift truck handling of pallet and palletless loads requires different attachments. Here are the details of the various types and how they can reduce costs and improve handling efficiencies.The hydraulic-thumb mounting structure on every Caterpillar E-Series backhoe-loader is just one item on a long list of significant design changes.

When Curt Maas clamped an immense log — about 18 feet long and 20 inches in diameter — between the backhoe bucket and the hydraulic thumb of a new Cat 420E IT, we had just the fleeting thought that maybe he was kidding. The log seemed to us an impossible load for the machine. But the new Caterpillar made the lift, swung side-to-side with the log in an iron grip, and all the while, as far as we could tell, remained completely stable.

Maas, a test operator at Caterpillar’s Peoria (Ill.) Proving Ground (PPG), spent a couple of days with Construction Equipment this past November, along with fellow operator Norm Miller, demonstrating the capabilities and features of the new 420E IT as representative of the company’s new E-Series backhoe-loader range. The lineup includes the 416E, 420E and 430E — with the latter two models also available with an integrated-tool-carrier (IT) front end. Standard digging depths are, respectively, 14.3, 14.3 and 15.4 feet.

The E-Series models, which replace the D-Series machines launched in late 2000, have quite a long list of design changes, compared with their predecessors and, according to Caterpillar, are also more productive at basic earthmoving tasks. The company put numbers to these stated productivity increases by sharing with CE the results of a recent PPG comparison between the 420E IT and its 420D IT predecessor.

During our visit to PPG, operators Maas and Miller, along with the PPG backhoe-loader evaluation staff — Brad Holsapple, Gerry Stewart, Nick Krueger and Elizabeth Baldwin — demonstrated the methodology Caterpillar employs in its comparative testing. They arranged for us to observe the machines running side-by-side in trenching and truck-loading operations, while Krueger and Baldwin electronically recorded machine performance.

The electronic test-data-collection system the company uses is a computer-based process that allows every cycle of a test machine to be divided into its primary segments for later analysis. During the trenching comparison, for example, times are recorded for digging, swinging/dumping and returning, as well as for time spent repositioning.

To complement this look at the comparative performance of the new model and its predecessor, senior project engineer Jim Joy, from Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division in Clayton, N.C., met us at the Peoria Proving Ground to explain the details of the new E-Series design.

Structures, sticks and thumbs

Structurally, the design enhancements of the E-Series, compared with the D-Series, go right to the very backbone of the new machines — the mainframe, which has been modified significantly in four key areas: loader tower, front and rear axle mounts and swing post. According to Caterpillar, these mainframe changes further complement the already-high-strength design of D-Series models. Structural changes at the loader end of the machine include boom arms with a beefier box-section and a heavier torque tube that provides added rigidity to the assembly.

At the backhoe end, the boom has been modified, says Caterpillar, to reduce stress points in heavy-duty applications. Specific changes include one-piece side plates, versus fabricated side plates, larger mounting pins, and the addition of a replaceable wear pad to protect the boom underside from contact with work tools. Another significant change involves the boom nose, which has been reconfigured and strengthened to accommodate a new extendible stick. The boom lock has been redesigned, too, not only to keep the backhoe tighter during transport, but also to more effectively handle the stress of lifting with the stick when the boom is in its locked position.

The new extendible stick is a significant development for the E-Series, says Joy, and has been designed with an "outside slider" configuration. This means, he says, that the outer structure of the stick extends by sliding over a stationary inner structure. By comparison, the D-Series extendible stick pushed out an inner structure from within a stationary outer structure. And to maintain proper fit between the two sections, the new extendible stick incorporates a redesigned system of greaseless wear pads that can be adjusted in about 30 minutes, according to Caterpillar, compared with two hours on D-Series models.

Two rows of serrated gripping teeth on the bottom surface of the new extendible stick’s sliding section allow the operator to clamp material securely between the bucket and the stick without risking damage to the stick. But as handy as the gripping teeth might be, they can’t match the heavy-duty clamping power and dexterity of an E-Series extendible stick equipped with a hydraulic thumb.

Although the thumb is optional, all E-Series backhoe sticks, whether extendible or standard, are fitted with thumb and thumb-cylinder mounts to allow bolting on the attachment. (The D-Series could use a thumb only with a standard stick.) A thumb-plumbing kit allows quick installation of the attachment, a process facilitated if the machine is equipped with a six-function main valve from the factory.

Stronger hydraulics

In concept, the design of the closed-center, load-sensing, 43-gpm hydraulic system used in the E-Series is essentially the same as that for the D-Series. But, that said, the E-Series incorporates a number of refinements, among them an increase in main-relief pressure to 3,600 psi, up from 3,300 psi in the D-Series.

While the pressure increase results in more available hydraulic horsepower at both the backhoe and loader ends, the new hydraulic system also incorporates features that contribute to easier operation. New thumb wheels near the top of the backhoe joysticks, for example, allow easy control of auxiliary functions — such as the extendible stick and thumb. These controllers replace floor-mounted pedals in D-Series machines and are designed to provide low-effort, precise, proportional control of auxiliary functions — while also providing more foot room for the operator.

Also contributing to ease of operation are the new flow-sharing valves, which automatically proportion hydraulic flow between the boom and stick or between the boom and swing functions to more exactly match the operator’s intentions. In essence, says Joy, the flow-sharing valves make multiple-function operation easier to control, which helps less-experienced operators maintain acceptable production rates, and offers experienced operators more precise control and the prospect of higher production.

Caterpillar backhoe-loaders have long used the company’s "torque-limiter control," which is basically a system that manages the distribution of engine power between the hydraulic system and the drive train. According to Joy, refinements in this system result not only in enhanced loader performance through a more precise split of engine power between the hydraulic system and drive wheels, but also in a more aggressive backhoe by assuring that maximum engine power is used to develop hydraulic flow.

The operator’s station for E-Series models has been completely redesigned, featuring a new four-post ROPS configuration that provides more interior space than the ROPS configuration for the D-Series. Overall, improvements to fit and finish in the new cab further contribute an automotive-type environment, which was already apparent on D-Series models.

For E-Series models, the front console has been made narrower to provide enhanced visibility to the loader bucket, and a hood that is lower by 3.5 inches at the cowl further improves visibility. The right-side console has been made more compact, further enlarging interior space, and a foot pedal controller for the tilt steering wheel makes the spin from loader to backhoe positions that much easier.

A significant change for E-Series models is the in-cab switch for easily changing the digging pattern between hydraulic-excavator and backhoe-loader configurations. A two-position electrical switch on the left console allows the selection. By contrast, D-series models had a pattern-changer control on the left side of the machine’s frame, behind the rear tire — obviously not as handy as the E-Series design.

Another cab enhancement of note is the increased performance of the optional air-conditioning system. A larger compressor, 20-percent increase in airflow, and repositioned vents go a long way toward increased operator comfort, says Caterpillar. In addition, the air-conditioning system incorporates easier-accessed filter locations, one in the right inner fender and one in the right console. Both can be cleaned with compressed air.

Combine the amenities of the new E-Series cab with Caterpillar’s fresh design for basic structures, hydraulics, power train and utility-enhancing features (like the new extendible stick and hydraulic thumb), and the result is a solid new E-Series platform that should serve the company long and well.

http://www.buyerzone.com/industrial/backhoe/rbic-backhoe-caterpillar-Eseries.html

As Richard Brookins will tell you, a backhoe-loader is one of the most versatile tools in a fleet manager’s tool-box. Brookins is the manager of fleet and facilities for the city of Ogden, Utah, which owns four Case backhoe-loaders that are split evenly between the parks and water departments.

“They’ve done a great job for us,” said Brookins. “They’re used in many different facets of parks maintenance, grounds maintenance, water line maintenance—the works.”

Photo: Caterpillar Caterpillar’s new E-Series, introduced at the 2006 World of Concrete, features a new cab with curved glass and contoured fenders.

Most of the backhoe-loader manufacturers, including Case, have been busy lately improving their new product offerings. One of the most significant developments in the marketplace is the introduction at this year’s World of Concrete show of Caterpillar’s E-Series, a three-machine lineup of backhoes.

The E-Series features factory-installed hydraulic thumbs on the backhoe and—in a high-tech move—the option of a Caterpillar AccuGrade system. AccuGrade is an integrated grade monitor that tells the operator the exact bucket location through a computer screen. An onboard processor allows the operator to set elevation and slope targets, and the bucket position is shown onscreen relative to the target line. Major system components include in-cylinder position sensors for all backhoe cylinders, a swing position sensor, machine position inclinometer, and the computer screen.

“Customer feedback indicates that they foresee savings through improved trench depth accuracy, reduced cost in surveying and checking grade, and cost avoidance through better control of expenses for materials such as bedding stone and concrete,” said Kevin Hershberger of Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division, Peoria, Ill.

Caterpillar featured pilot controls on its older D-Series backhoes and offers them on the E-Series as well. Pilot controls, like those in most excavators, offer low effort and short lever travel for improved ergonomics and reduced operator fatigue. On Cat’s new E-Series, the 420E IT model and the 430E IT have pilot-operated backhoe and loader controls, while the 420E and 430E with standard single-tilt loaders have pilot-operated backhoe controls with mechanical loader controls. The new 416E, a budget-conscious model, has mechanical controls all around.

Case recently introduced its M Series 2 backhoe-loaders, available with pilot controls for five models on the backhoe only. in Racine, Wis. “One of the key features of our pilot controls is that they can be infinitely positioned fore and aft, as well as side to side, to readily adapt to the comfort of individual operators,” said Jim Hughes, Case’s marketing manager in Racine, Wis.

According to Case, an exclusive thumb-proportional control for the Extendahoe provides easy and relaxed fingertip operation of the stick extension. Also, an operator can change between backhoe and excavator controls using the in-cab pattern change switch.

The entire M Series 2 line now features new Case Family 3 engines. The series includes the 580M, 580M Turbo, 580 Super M, 590 Super M, and 580 Super M+ models. They range in horsepower from 76 to 98 hp. Case said the Tier 2-certified engines are quieter than their predecessors and have larger displacement for greater lugging capacity and increased torque rise, which means faster cycle times on the loader and backhoe.

Last year, Terex introduced its TX970B backhoe-loader to the North American market. The unit features all-wheel steering and pilot controls. “Piloted controls make this machine operate like an excavator,” said Lowell Stout, product manager for Redmond, Wash.-based Terex. “Its closed-center, fluid-sharing control valve gives operators a smooth, multi-function performance while ensuring fine control for accurate trenching and grading operations.” Controls are set to either side of the seat to give the operator an unobstructed view of the work area.

Other backhoe-loader manufacturers include John Deere, JCB, Komatsu, Kubota Tractor, New Holland Construction, and Volvo Construction Equipment, which introduced its Poland-made models just a few years ago.

Manufacturers press backhoe-loader productivity and value frontiers using pilot controls and open- or closed-center hydraulics.

Two very different kinds of backhoe-loader buyers dominate sales of full-sized machines (dig depths of 14 feet and larger), and their very different expectations may have polarized the hydraulic-system designs in this most popular of true earthmovers. The relatively small group of volume buyers from government agencies and large rental fleets are looking for a bombproof machine and tend to be price sensitive. Owner/operators and small-business buyers, while certainly motivated by value, are willing to pay a little extra for proven production-improving features.

In order to take market share in this relatively high-dollar, high-volume machine category, manufacturers must appeal to both groups. They’ve done so admirably with technologies that can be added to machines as standard equipment. For example, the most recent new backhoe designs (from Caterpillar, New Holland and JCB) have replaced foot controls for extending sticks and auxiliary hydraulics with switches mounted on control levers. They employ finger and thumb dexterity to improve control and clear the floor for more comfortable footing.

Pilot hydraulic controls represent another kind of challenge to backhoe OEMs. These circuits are plumbed in between control levers and the valves on the backhoe’s main operating circuits. When you move a joystick in the cab, it activates a pilot hydraulic circuit, which in turn moves a spool on the main-pressure valve. Pilot hydraulics require less lever effort to manipulate the backhoe.

Main pressures in backhoes have climbed to a point where lever effort can influence productivity. Eight of the 35 backhoe models 14-foot and larger have hydraulic-system pressures of 3,500 psi or higher. All eight are available with pilot hydraulic controls, mostly as an option.

Why not make pilot hydraulics standard equipment? One reason is operator preference. Backhoe-loaders have been controlled by levers linked to main valves since their invention, and lots of operators claim they can feel pressure spikes in the hydraulic system when a bucket hits a hard object, like a natural-gas line. Some say pilot hydraulics insulate the control levers to that feedback from the bucket.

Another reason for keeping pilot hydraulics optional is their cost. Nevertheless, most manufacturers (Cat, Deere, JCB, Komatsu, Terex and Volvo) sell at least some of their machines with standard pilot-operated hydraulic controls.

"The inclusion of pilot controls has had the biggest impact on the industry in the last 24 months," says Bob Tyler, with John Deere. "Operator comfort becomes increasingly more important as businesses try to keep their best operators. With pilot controls, operators are less fatigued at the end of the day, and more productive as a result."

Deere makes pilot hydraulics standard on the 17-foot 710G, a machine that, by virtue of its size, is clearly targeted at buyers who are willing to pay for backhoe productivity. But pilot hydraulics are optional on the 15-foot 410G and 14-foot 310SG. They’re not offered on the base-model 310G.

Only JCB and Komatsu make pilot hydraulics standard across their full-sized backhoe offering. The other manufacturers retain some models without the feature. Caterpillar, for instance, doesn’t offer pilot controls on the 416E, but makes them standard on the 420E and 430E.

Splitting the product line has become common in recent months. Since the first of this year, Volvo made pilot hydraulics standard equipment on the BL70 but doesn’t offer the option on the lower-spec’d BL60. Terex announced that it would begin installing pilot controls as standard equipment on the TX970 and TX870, leaving the feature as an option on the smaller TX860 and TX760.

If this is indeed an indication of OEMs fielding a price leader for one set of buyers and a full-featured machine for another, it’s also possible that the buyer dichotomy may shape some backhoes’ basic DNA.

There is notable inconsistency in hydraulic-system designs used on today’s full-sized backhoes. Long-time backhoe-loader OEMs such as JCB, Case and New Holland use open-centered hydraulic circuits with fixed-displacement gear pumps. Those who began manufacturing backhoes more recently, such as Caterpillar, Komatsu and Terex, use closed-center hydraulics.

John Deere started a shakeup several years ago by adding machines with closed-center hydraulics to a lineup that had always used open-center designs.

For Deere — one of the venerable names in backhoe-loader manufacture — to design larger backhoe-loaders with closed-center systems and retain 14-foot machines (the 310G and SG) with open-center hydraulics, there must have been convincing market research measuring a significant customer base for both.

The newest entrant to the backhoe market, Volvo, is making similar moves. Volvo first brought the BL70 with a closed-center system, but followed with open-center hydraulics in the BL60. The two machines are nearly identical structurally — same dig depth and basic dimensions — but the BL60 has a little less engine and hydraulic horsepower.

It’s extremely unlikely that an OEM would redesign a system with a higher-cost pump that has even the slightest perception, right or wrong, of shorter life if there was also a strong operator preference for another type of system.

It’s much more likely that a closed-center circuit — technology that drives all full-sized excavators — is a very good choice for production earthmoving. Thanks to Caterpillar bringing it to backhoe-loaders in the 1980s, the challenge to other OEMs competing in the product category has been to either make their open-center systems perform more like closed-center systems, or to build a closed-center system that’s cost effective for these smaller machines.

All of the JCB backhoes, New Holland’s B115, and Volvo’s BL60 use open-center circuits with load-sensing valves that can vary pump flow with oil demand. When flow requirements fall, the valve signals one of these machines’ twin hydraulic pumps to shut down, reducing the amount of energy the machine wastes pushing hydraulic oil over relief. The feature is similar to the interaction between a variable-displacement pump and the main valve in a closed-center system.

There should be lots of new machines to evaluate between now and the end of 2007, when under-100-hp engines will have to comply with EPA’s Tier 3 emissions limits. Real-world issues such as dealer support and operator acceptance should influence those purchase decisions more than pilot hydraulics or closed-center circuits, but it is encouraging to see that sophisticated technologies are shaping the kind of backhoes available. In the end, the industry gets a choice of more-productive backhoes.

Yanmar, a company that soon will celebrate 100 years in business, is betting that the compact dimensions, versatility and performance of its new CBL40 will appeal to buyers who find full-size backhoe-loaders frequently too big for the job, or who are looking for a bit more application flexibility than even big skid-steers or compact wheel loaders can provide. The CBL40 is, at heart, a sturdy backhoe-loader. But with a universal coupler up front, and with a backhoe that can be removed to allow using attachments with the machine’s optional three-point hitch or PTO shaft, the CBL40’s potential is significantly expanded.

Construction Equipment had the opportunity for a close look at the design and performance of the new Yanmar in mid-May, when the company loaned us a CBL40 that was on a demonstration tour in northern Illinois. We, in turn, placed the machine in the capable hands of Frank Bogden, an instructor/operator at Local 150’s (International Union of Operating Engineers) Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement facility in Plainfield, Ill.

Bogden used the machine to trench in some tough rocky fill, backfilled the cut, loaded trucks with crushed limestone, took the CBL40 on a couple of load-and-carry runs, then switched the bucket for a set of forks to handle lengths of 8-inch ductile iron pipe. He and Local 150 instructor/technician Dale Brown then separated the machine from its backhoe (in the field) to check the difficulty of doing so and, in the process, gave us a look at the optional category-1, three-point hitch installation and the optional PTO.

Overall, Bogden spoke highly of the CBL40’s design and performance, but did have a number of suggestions for making the machine more accommodating and useful from the operator’s point of view. Judging from the way several visitors from Yanmar listened and took notes during the evaluation, however, we’d guess that most of Bogden’s suggestions soon will be incorporated.

On site from Yanmar to give us a walk-around introduction to the machine and to answer questions were Takayuki Fujiwara, marketing manager; Bill Gearhart, assistant marketing and product manager; and Lee Haack, regional sales manager.

Even though Yanmar has deep roots in the agricultural business, the company strongly makes the point that the CBL40 is not a converted farm tractor. It is, says Yanmar, a machine designed exclusively for the construction industry, and one that builds on the structural durability of the company’s wheel loaders and on the hydraulic sophistication of its compact excavators.

The backbone of the new machine is an integral, one-piece frame designed to handle digging and loading forces at either end. A three-cylinder, turbocharged Yanmar diesel engine, generating 35.4 net horsepower, drives a closed-loop, load-sensing, two-speed "hydro-mechanical" propel system that, in turn, powers a mechanical gearbox that delivers its output to the conventional front and rear axles via drive shafts. An in-cab control disconnects the front axle for sustained high-speed travel.

The machine’s implement hydraulic system, which draws oil from a reservoir separate from the drive system, employs two, variable-displacement, axial-piston pumps. A lever in the cab’s right console switches the configuration of the hydraulic system between loader and backhoe operation, and in the backhoe position, ensures constant speed for the digging arm when another function is also engaged.

At the loader end, the CBL40 is fitted with a 70-inch-wide general-purpose bucket, but a universal-style quick coupler allows the use of size-appropriate skid-steer-loader attachments. Piping for auxiliary hydraulics to the front (as well as to the backhoe) is optional, but the auxiliary valve sections are already in place. The loader mechanism uses slab-steel lift arms and a geometry that allows parallel lift and automatic self-leveling.

The CBL40 has a swing-around seat (not a flip-over type) for switching from the loader to the backhoe position. Backhoe controls are two mechanical (not pilot operated) joysticks that can be configured in either a backhoe or excavator pattern by switching pin positions in the linkage at the main valve. The linkage is easily accessible through a panel at the rear of the operator’s compartment and, says Yanmar, changing patterns is accomplished in just a few minutes.

When we asked Bogden which pattern he preferred, he said that either would be fine, and he went to work trenching in the wet, cobble-laced clay at the site.

After this exercise, he had a few suggestions for Yanmar. First, give the seat vertical-adjustment capability. The seat is comfortable enough, Bogden said, but some operators prefer to sit higher. Also, make provisions for pinning the outrigger pads in place, because they sometimes flipped from the dirt side to the smooth-pavement side during repositioning, requiring him to exit the cab to remedy the problem. And another helpful change, he suggested, would be a backhoe lock that’s easier to manipulate from the seat, because the lock’s present configuration requires the operator to lean well forward from the backhoe position to reach the handle.

Aside from these observations, Bogden was quite complimentary about the CBL40’s backhoe performance, especially its hydraulics.

"Plenty of power and very responsive. The system does a good job of allowing you to simultaneously arm in and boom up. The controls have a good, smooth feel. I was concerned at first that since the machine has a hydrostatic-type drive, it would be difficult to reposition, but it rolled easily when I pushed back."

Bogden particularly liked the good visibility into the trench — the result, he said, of Yanmar’s keeping the backhoe’s boom narrow.

Although Bogden said he didn’t have that much experience with hydrostatic-drive machines, he liked the way the CBL40 pushed strongly into the spoil when backfilling the trench. But what the machine could really use, he said, is a simple "bucket-level" indicator somewhere on the loader linkage.

After making a number of short-cycle passes between the crushed-limestone stockpile and a small truck, he commented favorably on the machine’s speed and its hydraulic capability when handling heavy material. Also noted were the CBL40’s good dump height and reach — "enough reach to easily place loads in the center of the truck." Also, he said, he liked the machine’s controllability when approaching the truck.

With the bucket full of crushed rock, Bogden took the CBL40 on several circuitous routes to test its load-and-carry capability.

"The machine handles well — it feels very stable, and the turning radius is tight, which makes it very maneuverable. Although I didn’t take the machine into any really rough areas, the ride quality seemed fine, and the steering and brakes were responsive — no objections there."

As a final exercise, Bogden swapped the bucket for a set of pallet forks, took the machine through some moderately sloppy ground to reach the pipe stockpile, then loaded and maneuvered with long sections of pipe.

"I was impressed with the good visibility to the load," he said. "Granted, the loads we were handling probably weren’t much of challenge, but the machine seems to have plenty of lifting power, and the hydraulics, again, are quite smooth. And the parallel-lift feature is always a plus."

We also had in mind to use the CBL40 to do craning with the backhoe, but Bogden noted that the machine had no lifting eye on the bucket. He suggested that the addition of that item would be a handy feature — which would encourage operators to rig loads in a safe manner.

So, Frank, any final thoughts about this compact Yanmar?

"I think, overall, it would be a very handy piece of equipment for a contractor. It has a lot of versatility built in, especially with the three-point hitch. It’s a good ‘multi-tasker’ — a well-thought-out machine."

http://www.buyerzone.com/industrial/backhoe/rbic-Yanmar-backhoe.html

THE new Caterpillar E-series backhoe loader range, models 422E, 428E, 432E, 442E, 434E and 444E have a number of enhanced features. Adam Baillie, backhoe loader sales support consultant, comments, “The E-series range has been significantly widened to provide increased choice for Cat customers. The 422E is a classic backhoe loader, built to perform traditional work tasks, around the clock, in the toughest conditions. At the other end of the spectrum, we have the all new 434E and 444E, which bring new levels of power and performance to the Cat backhoe loader range.” The new load-sensing, flow sharing hydraulics and an improved backhoe design and geometry, offer greater control and a ten percent increase in loader breakout performance. A new slider frame design has the option of a powered side shift and the new outer sliding E-stick delivers extended reach and digging performance, while reducing maintenance and repair costs. Every model has an on road speed of 40 kph.

The 422E and 428E with mechanical controls are built to deliver low owning and operating costs and reliable performance in tough environments. The E-series has been designed from the ground up to make accessing and maintaining the backhoe loaders as fast and efficient as possible, from the externally serviceable clamp cylinders on the slider frame, to slotted stabilizer legs for easy cleaning. All the daily fluid and filter checks are colour coded and accessible from the left hand side of the machine. The stabilizer street pads and slider frame wear pads have been designed to be reversible.

With its 73 kW (98 hp) engine and enhanced hydraulic performance, the 442E delivers high levels of productivity. The high rotation linkage and E-stick give better material retention; deeper E-stick reach and the excavator-style boom design provide clearance making the 442E suitable for digging over walls or loading trucks. An optional differential lock on the 442E allows the machine to work productively even on rainy, muddy days. The 434E and 444E, with equal size tyres, combine loader productivity with levels of power to meet demanding applications.

Armed with the largest torque converter in the E-series range, the 444E delivers serious traction to the ground through its 28” tyres. The increased 187-litre fuel tank means less downtime.

http://www.infolink.com.au/articles/EB/0C045CEB.aspx