Tracks and Treads - Finning Canada

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Yesterday/Today Story by keith haddock Affordable and versatile, the backhoe loader has evolved over the years and remains a vital tool on construction sites Still Digging For the past four decades, backhoe loaders have been the mainstay of mechanized utility work. Even with the advent of miniexcavators, the increasive popularity of skid steer loaders and number of companies making compact-sized machines, the backhoe loader has held its ground. It has become more versatile and has adapted to modern construction practices. It wins out over most other small digging machines because of its superior mobility: it can travel at highway speeds over short to medium distances. Towards the end of the 1970s, Caterpillar recognized the importance of the loader backhoe and the potential for even wider markets for this type of machine. Noting the success of pioneer builders, especially those in the United Kingdom, Caterpillar decided to add backhoe loaders to its product line. It started up an intensive development program to design and build its own machines. With production of loader backhoes assigned to Caterpillar’s plant at Leicester, England, the wraps were taken off the first model, the 416, in 1985. In the 14-foot digging depth class, the 416 carried a 62-flywheel horsepower engine. Special features included a back-ofcentre carry position for the backhoe, which provided superior stability when travelling, as well as single cylinder bucket roll-back. By 1989, Caterpillar had expanded its backhoe loader line to six models ranging in size up to the 95-flywheel horsepower 446, which offered a standard digging depth of 17 feet and up to 21 feet with its extended arm. Included in the line were two side-shift models, the 428 and 438. On side-shift models, the backhoe boom assembly is carried on a sliding frame so the boom pivot can be positioned at any point from the left to the DIG IN: Caterpillar’s first loader backhoe, the 416, proved that power was in the eye of the beholder right of the machine. This simple feature, more popular in Europe than in North America, allows the operator to dig flush to walls and footings and offers more flexibility when excavating around obstructions. The 428 and 438 could dig to 15 feet 9 inches and came with power units of 70 and 84-flywheel horsepower, respectively. Caterpillar refined its loader backhoe models with the introduction of the Series II models in 1990, then followed in 1992 with the announcement of the upgraded B-series. The B models sported a curved excavator-style backhoe boom, which first appeared on the original 446 in 1989. This design provided more clearance when digging over obstacles and a greater overall digging depth. The B models were also endowed with increased power to 74 flywheel horsepower for the 416B to 84 flywheel horsepower for the 436B. Keeping pace with the latest technology, in 1993 Caterpillar introduced its first loader backhoe with optional four-wheel drive and four-wheel steer on its side-shift 438B model and, in 1996 made this feature available on certain models in its newly designed-series. Never allowing its designs to stagnate, in 2001 Caterpillar introduced the first of its D-series backhoe loaders: the 420D and 430D. The entire D-series line, completed in 2004, with the introduction of the 446D at 102 horsepower, boasted pilotoperated joystick controls for ease of operation and increased backhoe bucket rotation to 205 degrees. Today, Caterpillar serves the loader backhoe market with its latest E-series, which comprises 10 sizes of machines available in different options, including tool carrier and side-shift models. They range from the 78-horsepower 416E to the 137-horsepower 450E. Affordable for even the smallest contractor and capable of performing a wide variety of jobs, the backhoe loader will continue to perform a vital role on construction sites for the foreseeable future. photograph courtesy keith haddock 12 tracks & treads • Fall 2008 www.finning.ca
yellowiron New Products and Ser vices from Finning PM service - Scheduled. Professional. Peace of mind Keep your machines in top form with Finning’s Preventive Maintenance service. All PM services are scheduled at your convenience and delivered by qualified heavy equipment technicians who quickly identify potential problems and ensure serious issues are noted for effective follow up. PM service is delivered using state-of-the-art PM trucks designed to ensure optimum, environmentallyfriendly service. We’ve doubled the size of our capacity and we’re now in Kamloops. Call today. Order Cat parts online With Finning’s PartStore, you can order parts quickly and efficiently – online. Once your PartStore account is set up, you’ll be able to check parts availability and prices and see Caterpillar’s Service Information System, which provides access to more than 17,000 publications on all 1977- present Caterpillar machine and engine product lines. To register for this free service, visit www.finning.ca or contact Finning (Canada) eBusiness at 1-888-FINNING (346-6464). Numbers you can count on: 1-888-FINNING & 24/7 Working in the wee hours Need to order parts at 3 a.m. No problem. At the Finning Customer Support Centre, we’re here for you with the advice you need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-888-FINNING from anywhere, day or night, to reach skilled, knowlegeable Finning equipment professionals. Caterpillar machines are built to be rebuilt The extensive Caterpillar Certified Rebuild program incorporates the very latest Cat technology and critical engineering updates into your machine at a fraction of the cost of buying new. After a thorough evaluation, including more than 350 tests and inspections and the automatic replacement of approximately 7,000 parts, you get a likenew machine and warranty. www.finning.ca Fall 2008 • tracks & treads 13
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Page 41 and 42: www.finning.ca Fall 2008 • tracks
Page 43 and 44: 1-888-finning | finning.ca 75 years

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