Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/426956
December 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com 56 product report | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com L iebherr has expanded its Generation 6 dozer line to include two new mod- els in the 30- to 40-ton class, the PR 746 and PR 756 Litronic. If you were at Bauma 2013, the big construction trade fair in Germany, you saw some of Generation 6 improvements with the introduction of the PR 736. If not, here is a recap: The most significant change to the new models is a redesigned opera- tor station, and most impressive in that regard is the view to the blade. Liebherr put both the exhaust stack and the blade cylinders in line with the A pillars supporting the cab, so these elements don't crowd out your sight lines to the blade. With the cab glass dropping all the way to the floorboards you have an unobstructed view of the top and bottom edges of the blade on both sides. The sheet metal slopes ag- gressively downward so your view to the sides and the rear is excellent as well. In the cab, the Generation 6 dozers put adjustable horizon- tal arm rests where your fore- arms sit naturally in the opera- tor seats so your grasp of the joysticks is relaxed and natural. A display monitor allows you to set many of the machine's parameters on a touch screen. Another nice touch: the stor- age compartment in the cab is cooled. Your lunch doesn't go bad before you have a chance to eat it. Hystat benefits These dozers enjoy all the ben- efits of hydrostatic drive trans- missions: infinite speed control, stepless gear changes, hill hold- ing ability, dynamic braking and counter-rotation. An inch-brake pedal is standard and gives you creep control for tasks that require slow-speed finesse. And there is a power boost function for those times you really need to push (or pull) hard. Less engine wear Hystats also electronically manage the power to the ground so your engine stays at a constant rpm, sav- ing on fuel and improving engine life. You can also choose between a high-performance setting for maxi- mum power and torque, or an ECO mode to save fuel in less demanding applications. Daily service points are located on one side of the machine. The engine bay has a light in it, so you can don't need a flashlight to do service work after the sun goes down. The cab tilts up hydraulically and the cool- ing fans swing out adding additional convenience and efficiency to the service cycle. For the undercarriage, a larger drive sprocket with more teeth provides more wear surface and thus lasts longer. You can also order the PR 756 with an optional bogie system, what the company calls a "pendulum chassis." In this design the bottom rollers of the undercar- riage are paired up two-by two and Dozer cab redesigned for operator comfort, views to the blade Liebherr expands Gen-6 dozers lineup, previews new telehandler line Liebherr's Generation 6 dozers feature new cabs and undercarriages.