Equipment Focus: Wheel Loaders

Your search for a new wheel loader begins with this list of questions and these profiles of nine major manufacturers.

By Kent Kiser

Kent Kiser is editor and associate publisher of Scrap.

When buying a wheel loader, the challenge isn’t finding a worthy model but deciding among the many great choices. No doubt, it’s a buyer’s paradise out there given that today’s wheel loaders are easier to operate, more productive, easier to maintain, and more comfortable than ever.
   So how do you decide? Begin by pondering the following questions:
• What tasks will the loader do? Those tasks will suggest what you need in terms of operating weight, lift capacity, special features—such as high-lift capability—and more. To Jay Robinovitz, general manager of Schnitzer Steel Industries Tacoma (Tacoma, Wash.), a wheel loader must be flexible enough to handle varied tasks—from unloading car hulks off of flatbeds to scooping shredded into containers to sweeping up the plant. “That flexibility has become critical to our operations,” he says.
• How large is your operation? If you have a small facility, for instance, you might need a wheel loader with a low profile and tight turning radius. Larger operations, in contrast, may value other features such as lift capacity or travel speed.
• What materials do you handle? The concept here is simple: Different materials dictate different types and sizes of wheel loaders.
• Do you have any design/equipment preferences? Sometimes, processors just prefer certain features over others in their wheel loaders. Scrap veteran Jay Klempner, for one, liked models with two cylinders on each lifting arm rather than single-cylinder units. Klempner—former owner of Klempner Bros. Inc. (Louisville, Ky.) who now represents equipment-maker MOROS/North America—was also a fan of Cummins engines and focused on a loader’s quick-coupler abilities to allow fast attachment changes.
• Does the vendor offer good customer service? For Klempner, this was the crucial element. “The main reason I stuck with the two models I used was that I had a good relationship with the dealer,” he says. “Service was important.” Robinovitz agrees, stating, “A lot of it depends on local support and availability of parts.”
• How much do you want to spend? This question comes at the end for a reason—price should be a “concern,” as Klempner puts it, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor in your loader decision.
   Beyond answering these basic questions, there’s one more step you can take to ease your wheel-loader search—review the following profiles of wheel-loader manufacturers and decide which offers the best match for your needs.
Case Construction Equipment: Case manufactures wheel loaders from 110 to 248 hp and lift capacity from about 24,000 to 43,000 pounds.
   The 521D and 621D—two models in the firm’s new D Series—are equipped with a productivity-enhancing reversible hydraulic fan that allows the operator to blast dust and debris from the cooling unit without leaving the cab. D Series wheel loaders feature a “revolutionary” new cube-shaped cooling system that provides premium performance in extreme conditions, Case says. These units come with buckets up to 3 cubic yards with a new design that better attacks the pile.
   Case also offers three larger wheel loaders—the 721C, 821C, and 921C—with engines from 152 to 248 hp and bucket capacities up to 5 cubic yards. In addition, three extra-tool carriers—the 521D XT, 621D XT, and 721C XT—are available, as are extended-reach configurations—the 721C XR, 821C XR, and 921C XR. The tool carriers can work with attachments such as pallet forks, jib booms, side-dump buckets, and 4-in-1 buckets.
   With productivity-enhancing features such as return-to-travel and return-to-dig, autoshift transmission, superior traction, and a comfortable operator’s environment, each machine provides top performance in a wide range of high-capacity applications. Also, wide-angle, flow-amplified steering provides smooth performance at all engine speeds, reducing operator fatigue.
   Call 262/636-6011, or visit www. casece.com.

Caterpillar Inc.: Caterpillar makes 17 models of wheel loaders ranging from 45 to 1,250 hp.
The most recent addition to the new line of Cat G-Series loaders is the 988G, a larger, more powerful, and more productive replacement for the 988F II. The 475-hp machine features improved lift capacity, a fabricated box boom for superior torsional strength, and better sight lines from the cab. Also, an impeller-clutch torque converter allows precise control and fast cycle times when loading trucks or hoppers.
   All of the mid-size and large G-Series loaders offer electrohydraulic control systems for reduced operator effort and precise control. The 988G features the STIC control system that integrates gear selection and steering into one joystick.
   The 980G, 972G, 966G, 962G, and 950G can be outfitted with command-control steering, which greatly reduces operator effort by allowing full turn steering in less than a quarter turn of the steering wheel. Further, transmission controls are integrated with the steering control for one-hand operation.
All G-Series loaders feature heavy-duty Cat diesel engines for reliable and fuel-
efficient operation. High torque rise makes the loaders responsive even when handling heavy loads.
   Positive-displacement hydraulic pumps perform with high efficiency and great reliability. Four-wheel, oil-immersed, and oil-cooled disc brakes are adjustment-free and fully enclosed to lock out contaminants.
    In addition, all Caterpillar loaders are designed for no-hassle maintenance. The 950G through the 980G have a tilting hood that allows complete access to the engine, cooling system, and other major components. Also, ground-level service doors ease daily maintenance.
Call your local Cat dealer or 309/675-1000, or visit www.cat.com.

Daewoo Heavy Industries America Corp.: Daewoo’s Mega-III Series encompasses five models of wheel loaders.
• The smallest model, the Mega 160, has an operating weight of 19,180 pounds and comes with a 2.1-cubic-yard bucket. With its 104-hp engine, this unit offers a static straight tipping load of 14,330 pounds and a full-turn tipping load of 11,680 pounds.
• The 23,192-pound, 126-hp Mega 200-III has a straight static tipping load of 18,260 pounds and full-turn tipping load of 15,620 pounds. This unit is available with a 2.3-cubic-yard bucket.
n The Mega 250-III has a 170-hp engine, straight tipping load of 26,460 pounds and a full-turn tipping load of 23,373 pounds with its 3.1-cubic-yard bucket.
• With its 37,258-pound operating weight and 205-hp engine, the Mega 300-III registers a straight static tipping load of 28,820 pounds and a full-turn load of 23,980 pounds. The Mega 300-III has a 3.8-cubic-yard bucket.
• The 48,289-pound Mega 400-III Plus has a straight tipping load of 36,450 pounds and a full-turn load of 34,706 pounds. This 257-hp unit comes with a 5.1-cubic-yard bucket.
All Mega-III loaders feature six-cylinder Daewoo diesel engines and fully hydraulic wet multidisc brakes (except the Mega 160, which has single-disc brakes). An oscillating rear axle enables the loaders to maintain contact with the ground in the roughest working conditions, the company says. The axles also have torque-proportioning differentials to minimize wheel slip.
   For the operator, Daewoo’s loaders have an insulated, sound-suppressed cabin on antivibration mounts, controls and switches within easy reach, precise air conditioning and heater/defroster, and excellent visibility thanks to pillarless front glass and outside convex and inside rearview mirrors.
   Regarding serviceability, the Mega-III Series offers wide engine side doors as well as easy access to filters and other frequent maintenance items. Also, a hydraulic test manifold allows for quick checks of the hydraulics for brakes, steering, and main pilot system.
   Call 770/831-2200, or visit www.dhiac.com.

John Deere Construction Equipment Co.: Among John Deere’s full line of four-wheel-drive loaders is the 65-hp 304H—the firm’s smallest unit—which weighs about 12,000 pounds and offers a full-turn tipping load of 8,640 pounds with its 1.4-cubic-yard bucket. The largest Deere loader is the 260-hp 744H MH, which weighs 51,590 pounds and can lift around 30,420 pounds at full turn in its 5.75-cubic-yard bucket.
   In terms of specific features, the 304H is a highly maneuverable loader that can be productive in tight spaces thanks to its stereo-steering feature—a unique combination of articulation and rear-wheel steering that offers the tightest turn radius in the class, Deere says. The unit comes with an “emissions-certified” engine (as do all Deere wheel loaders), a two-speed hydrostatic transmission with electronic shift control, and an open-center, high-pressure hydraulic system.
   The 744H MH has a load-sensing, closed-center hydraulic system for energy savings and a computer-controlled, power-shift transmission with automatic- and quick-shift buttons. This unit—as with all H-Series loaders—sports inboard-mounted hydraulic wet-disc brakes that self-adjust for wear.
   Deere’s loaders feature operator cabs designed for improved comfort and maneuverability, and they’ve been engineered for easier maintenance and service.
Several models are available with a high-lift option or as tool-carrier units. Deere has also developed Waste Handler versions of some models that could appeal to scrap processors.
   One of the new models is the 180-hp, 49,562-pound 644H Waste Handler, which comes with a 6-cubic-yard bucket and boasts a full-turn tipping load of about 22,000 pounds. The 644H has an engine and cooling system that’s uniquely protected from debris by an advanced screening system, including a low-profile, hood-mounted air-inlet screen, side shield inlet screens, air intake precleaner, and rubber baffle. An optional swing-out cooling fan provides easy cleanout. This fan is also reversible so it can be used to periodically blast debris off the screens.
   Call 800/503-3373 or 309/765-0190, or visit www.deere.com/ind.

Komatsu America International Co.: Komatsu produces 14 wheel loader models—from the 100-hp, 18,110-pound W120-3 to the 641-hp, 156,090-pound WA700-3. The company’s loaders—all of which are manufactured and marketed in the United States and Canada to meet the needs of North American customers—have been designed with operator comfort, productivity, easy maintenance, and environmental friendliness in mind.
   With the hydraulics, power train, frame, and all other major components engineered by Komatsu, users get a machine whose components are designed to work together for higher production, greater reliability, and more versatility.
Some of Komatsu’s designs include:
• an automatic four-speed transmission—a standard feature that electronically controls the transmission to reduce the operator fatigue that can result from constant shifting;
• a transmission kickdown switch on the boom lever. This switch facilitates loading operations by improving tractive effort during digging and loading; automatically downshifts from second to first when beginning the digging cycle; and automatically upshifts from first to second when the direction-control lever is placed in reverse, eliminating the need for manual shifting and ensuring fast, powerful loading;
• wet-disc service and parking brakes. The fully sealed brakes, isolated from contaminants, ensure reliable braking in the worst conditions. In addition, the hydraulic brake system eliminates problems common to dry-disc brake systems, which are prone to maintenance problems, according to Komatsu;
• a variety of differentials to choose from, including conventional, torque-proportioning, and limited-slip. These differential choices offer the right system for a variety of operating conditions; and
• large cabs that ensure operator comfort and increased productivity in an “at-home” atmosphere.
   Call 800/566-2878 or 847/970-4100, or visit www.avanceplus.com.

New Holland Construction: New Holland manufactures 11 models of wheel loaders from the mini 53-hp, 1-cubic-yard-capacity LW50.B to the 290-hp, 6-cubic-yard-capacity LW270.
   New Holland’s small loaders are powered by Perkins engines, while its mid-sized and large units feature New Holland-Iveco and Cummins diesel engines, respectively. All units come with an electric, cold-weather starting aid to prevent engine-related downtime.
   The firm’s standard wheel loaders feature a Z-linkage loader-arm design and rugged, large-diameter boom cylinders to ensure fast hydraulic cycle times as well as excellent breakout force, digging power, lift strength, and dump height. Each machine also has an electrical transmission-disengagement function that transfers power from the transmission to the hydraulic system, delivering increased breakout force and lifting capacity. For maximum versatility, a third-function hydraulic circuit is standard up through the LW130 model.
The oscillating rear axle provides up to 12o of tilt and, along with the articulated frame, enables the loaders to navigate uneven work sites. The axles come standard with torque-proportioning differentials that reduce wheel slip, increase tire life, and enhance pushing and digging performance, New Holland says. The units can come with an optional electronic load travel stabilizer (LTS) that smoothes out the ride, allowing operators to travel faster and keep more material in the bucket while working on rough terrain.
   New Holland wheel loaders have maintenance-free hydraulic oil-bath disc brakes on all four wheels. Easy serviceability is another standard maintenance feature, with all major engine components and service points accessible via a tilt-up rear hood in smaller models and convenient side panels in mid-sized and large units.
   Operator amenities include wide doors; a roomy cab that’s tightly sealed, heavily insulated, and isolation-mounted; air-conditioning; an air-ride seat with foldable armrests; a tiltable steering column; and 49 square feet of glass area for excellent all-around visibility, to name a few.
   Call 630/260-4000 or 630/260-4238, or visit www.newholland.com/construction. 

Schaeff of North America Inc.: Schaeff’s 50-hp SCL 515 compact loader offers advantages over skid-steers and other compact loaders in fuel efficiency, operator comfort, and impact on the operating area.
   For instance, the SCL 515’s 7,400-pound weight is less than most compact wheel loaders, making it closer to the operating weights of 70-to-80-hp skid loaders. Also, the 515 can be operated by either joystick controls or a steering wheel, making it comfortable for operators who prefer either method.
   Hydrostatic drive powers the loader through hydraulic oil flow rather than engine power, thus maintaining engine rpm and lowering fuel consumption since engine horsepower isn’t required to turn the machine. In addition, the unit’s articulated steering and hydraulic-drive features reduce tire wear on paved surfaces.
   The SCL 515 can navigate difficult terrain thanks to its oscillating rear axle, which keeps the loader frame even. The unit, which has rigid front axles, also features a planetary final drive with limited-slip differential that stops one wheel from spinning out by transferring its power to the other wheel.
   Schaeff also produces the SKL 823 LP, a larger unit whose 8-foot height enables it to fit easily into the entrance of tractor-trailers and containers. A 50-hp Perkins direct-fuel-injection engine and hydrostatic infinitely variable drive power the loader smoothly in both forward and reverse. The loader’s operating weight can range from 8,600 to 9,100 pounds depending on standard equipment, while its tipping load over full steering radius is 7,100 pounds.
   The 823 can come with buckets from 0.8 to 1.3 cubic yards, and its hydraulic quick-mount hitch enables it to switch quickly to a grapple or forks. The frame was designed with true parallel linkage to keep the bucket level at maximum heights, adding to its safety advantages, especially when using forks.
   The 823 has a ROPS/FOPS-certified canopy and offers three tire options—SETCO, Airboss, or foam-filled standard tread tires. For indoor applications, Schaeff provides modifications to keep exhaust and noise to a minimum.
Call 214/357-8300, or visit www.schaeffusa.com.
   
Volvo Construction Equipment North America Inc.: Volvo covers the wheel-loader spectrum with its eight models—the L50D, L70D, L90D, L120D, L150D, L180D, L220E, and L330D.
   At the small end of the Volvo spectrum is the 101.5-hp L50D, which weighs 18,000 to 21,000 pounds and offers a maximum straight tipping load of about 13,000 pounds. This unit can come with buckets ranging from 1.6 to 5.1 cubic yards in capacity.
   The largest Volvo wheel loader is the L330D, a 503-hp unit that weighs 107,000 to 115,00 pounds and can lift up to 80,000 pounds in buckets ranging from 8 to 17.7 cubic yards.
   Volvo loaders are driven by high-performance, low-emissions engines that can deliver up to 30 percent more torque and faster response at low engine speeds than conventional engines, the firm says. The ability of Volvo loaders to operate efficiently at low engine speeds translates to better fuel economy, lower noise, reduced wear, and longer life.
   Among their other features, Volvo’s wheel loaders come with the Contronic II monitoring system, which keeps track of machine operations and provides information on service intervals. The loaders also feature load-sensing hydraulics that deliver the exact amount of oil required for the job while giving the operator complete control of the hydraulics through the entire lifting range.
   For the operator, Volvo loaders come with the Care Cab II, a pressurized, noise-insulated operator compartment that offers many amenities, including a wide door opening, vibration-suppressing suspension, an air-filtration system, a heater/air-conditioner/defroster, all-around visibility, and ergonomically positioned controls and instruments. The cab is also designed so that all important information is centrally located in the operator’s field of vision.
   Volvo’s loaders, which are available with a variety of optional features and attachments, also offer easy serviceability thanks to the Contronic monitoring system as well as large service doors.
   Call 828/650-2090, or visit www. volvoce.com. 

Waldon: Waldon makes five models of four-wheel-drive wheel loaders that can handle scrap work thanks to their unique combination of reinforced-frame construction and compact size, which makes them especially suited for workspaces with low clearance or limited turning area.
The most compact Waldon loader is the Model 4500B, a 52-hp unit that boasts an intersecting aisle turn radius of 79 inches. This model as well as the larger Model 5100 feature a simple, low-pressure hydraulic/mechanical drivetrain that “lasts and lasts,” the company says. Among its other features, the 5100 delivers 5,000 pounds of breakout force and is available with four engine options.
   Waldon’s three larger wheel loaders—Model 6000C, Model 7000, and Model 8500C—have hydrostatic four-wheel
drive. The 6000C, which can lift up to 2,700 pounds, has a profile of 90 inches high by 63 inches wide by 171 inches long, which enables it to turn in a radius of only 126 inches. The 7000, which can lift up to 3,375 pounds, sports an extended wheel base, extra-heavy-duty frame, and three-speed automatic transmission with manual override. The 6000C and 7000 come with a 76-hp Cummins diesel engine. The 8500C has a 100-hp turbocharged Cummins four-cylinder engine and offers a lifting capacity of 4,040 pounds.
   Extensive optional equipment packages are available to configure the loaders for any application or operator requirement. Waldon also offers a variety of attachments for its loaders, which can come with the firm’s pin-on or Unicoupler system for quick attachment changes.
   Call 800/486-0023 or 580/227-3711, or visit www.waldonequipment.com. •