Compact wheel loaders are put to work in a wide variety of industries and to many purposes, such as handling gardening and landscaping materials, sand and dirt work, load and carry work, or engineering and construction jobs. Therefore, if you are in the market for a compact wheel loader, you should look for a machine that is adaptable, efficient and productive, and that you can keep in service for long periods of time with as little maintenance as possible.
If your work requires a compact loader, you will still be looking for a machine that offers an effective combination of power and efficiency. Therefore, you should consider a loader that has a highly reliable engine combined with a transmission/torque converter drive train that enables the full engine power to be transferred to the ground with both low emissions and low fuel consumption. You should also look for a compact loader equipped with a counter-shaft, two-speed powershift transmission, with a good top speed in both forward and reverse gears (up to about 24km/h).
High productivity is the key to getting value for money from a hard-working loader, and so the machine that you choose should have a Z-bar linkage mechanism that provides a good rollback angle, allowing you to carry a big load while maximising the breakout force and precisely controlling the dump speed. Productivity is also enhanced by a loader with a high maximum dump clearance, good static tipping loads (both straight and turned), and short cycle times. A versatile machine should also come equipped with a hydraulic quick coupler and a large general-purpose bucket (ideally with a reversible cutting edge and pallet forks) as standard, and should also be suited for use with a wide range of additional attachments.
To ensure reliability and ease of maintenance, you should opt for a machine designed and built by a manufacturer who employs proven technology and whose machines have a good track record of durability. Opting for a loader with a water-cooled engine, protected by a pre-cleaner, dual-stage air filter system will also give you extended engine life, increase the time your loader is up an running, provide ease of maintenance, and reduce your fuel consumption.
Your compact wheel loader will be required to put in some long days, and so operator comfort and safety needs to be a priority. You should look for a wheel loader with an enclosed cab that has dual doors for access from either side, and is equipped with FOPS and ROPS. The cab should be spacious, have effective air conditioning and heating, and an adjustable suspension seat. A further important factor is that the cab offers panoramic visibility and provides the operator with a low-noise environment.
Ease of operation should also be an important consideration, and so gauges should be highly visible, there should be panoramic rear-view mirrors, and all of the loader controls should be located on a single lever pilot joystick. Your compact loader should also be designed to be manoeuvred and operated easily and with control in tight or confined spaces.
A final factor to consider is the network you can call upon when things aren't quite going to plan and your machine is not working as effectively as it might. In this situation, you need efficient back-up support and a rapid supply of parts. Downtime is time when your loader is not working for you, and so you should ensure that you purchase your machine from a supplier who is known to provide outstanding levels of service, support and maintenance, and who can get parts to you straight away, no matter where you are working. Dealers who work in close partnership with the manufacturer are generally the ones who will be able to provide the most effective back-up support and after-sales service, and are usually the most reliable and most efficient suppliers of spare parts.
A compact wheel loader is a vital piece of equipment in a wide range of industries, and so you need to be able to rely upon its durability and productivity. Therefore, it makes sense to look at manufacturers with a proven track record in designing and building wheel loaders that are being used in all manner of conditions, and all around the world. Consider a machine that is known to be efficient and to require little maintenance, and that comes with effective and extensive back-up support.
Lewis Construction Equipment, based in Adelaide, are Australia's leading suppliers of construction machinery and equipment from international manufacturer, Liugong. Their range includes the versatile Liugong CLG816G compact wheel loader, now available in Australia. For further details about Liugong construction equipment and machinery, contact Dylan Caldwell at Lewis Construction Equipment on (08) 8268 3428 or atsales@lewco-equip.com.au. Visit the Lewis Construction Equipment website at http://www.lewco-equip.com.au.
