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pile and roll back 45 degrees. The machines dump at 57
degrees for greater fill capacity and better discharge, and
the TLB840’s digging depth of 5.51m, is enhanced by a
more powerful dipper stick digging force. The ‘Deep Dig’
dipper stick enables material and objects to be clamped
between the bucket and dipper.
Other new and improved features to the TLB840 are the
curved boom, which allows closer loading into trucks for
faster cycle times and greater obstacle clearance, and
the high torque slew system for easier backfilling and
slewing uphill.
Maximising uptime
Once they are out of the warranty period, Chivers
Construction and D&E Earthworx maintain the machines
themselves. “Services and maintenance checks are carried
out on site, and are facilitated by the fact that the backhoe
loaders are designed for easy accessibility,” says Peter.
All the frequent maintenance and service points are located
together alongside the left hand side of the machine and
can easily be accessed from a standing position. A single
bucket cylinder on the front end of the machines reduces
wear, as well as the number of pins and bushings that
require maintenance. On the back end, a rear tilting hood
gives operators easy, ground-level access to the engine
and transmission, while the dipper stick has externally
adjustable wear pads for easy servicing and replacement
and requires no lubrication.
“Spare parts are readily available from ELB Equipment,”
he says, “as the company maintains a comprehensive
stockholding in South Africa, and, when required, flies
out spares from Terex in the UK with an exceptionally
fast turn-around time.
“We have never experienced downtime owing to
unavailability of spares parts, which is a critical factor in this
industry, where unnecessary downtime can mean hundreds
of thousands of rands lost in production.”
Operator comfort
With operator fatigue being a major cause of machine and
transport accidents on site, Terex® backhoe loader cabs are
ergonomically designed to maximise operator comfort,
with features that have been enhanced using feedback
from operators over many years. A new, larger cylinder
in the TLB840 reduces steering effort, while a new-design
rear axle has resulted in improved braking performance.
The optional Terex® Ride control system not only ensures
load retention, but a smooth ride as well, even in the most
challenging environment. Other features include: a tilt
adjustable steering wheel; lumbar-supporting suspension
seat with adjustable armrests and well-positioned controls
and instrumentation. These are conveniently grouped on
either side of the seat to improve access.
A low-line curved hood, narrow boom and large front,
back and side windows, give excellent visibility, with the
rear quarter windows opening for improved ventilation
and right-angle trenching visibility. The up and over rear
window also provides excellent ventilation, while low
cab noise levels and a high performance heater further
contribute to a comfortable ride. The low emission engine
allows for an environmentally friendly operation. Air
conditioners come as a standard feature on the TLB840,
improving operator comfort and productivity.
The Terex TLB890 –
a new standard in backhoe loaders
Terex® backhoe loaders are based on more than 50 years’
of experience in backhoe loader design, with ongoing
innovation resulting in a machine that combines the power
of a wheel loader and the versatility of an excavator,
to increase productivity and cut operation costs. ELB
Equipment is currently evaluating the technical abilities and
performance of the latest model in the range – the TLB890
– with the objective of making it available to the southern
African market later in the year, says Desmond van Heerden,
Divisional Director of ELB Equipment.
The TLB890will be introduced at bauma, inMunich, Germany,
in April 2013, where it is expected to receive an enthusiastic
reception from representatives of the global construction
industry attending this international trade fair. Key to the
TLB890’s excellent productivity levels is its new high-pressure
hydraulic system, with an efficient piston pump option and
high breakout force on the boom, dipper and bucket services.
These design improvements result in an impressive slew torque,
which provides powerful and quick backfilling particularly
when working on cross slopes. The 74.5 kW Perkins Stage IIIA
engine boasts a new charge air system to improve low speed
performance and reduce both fuel use and noise levels.
As part of the development process, Terex engineers
challenged the TLB890 through extensive field evaluations in
a variety of tough climatic conditions to test its components
to the point of failure.