Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/885126
October 2017 | EquipmentWorld.com 22 Engines remain status quo After the huge push to work through Tier 4 and even- tually arrive at Tier 4 Final, manufacturers are leaving engines unchanged for the most part. There may be in- cremental improvements but no major changes for now. "While Yanmar doesn't anticipate any significant engine changes until the next round of emissions standards ar- rives, we are undergoing continuous analysis and look to improve engine performance and fuel consumption," says Eric Berkhimer, product manager, construction equipment division, Yanmar. When will that next round of standards roll out? Stage V arrives in Europe in 2019. While there is no word yet on a parallel Tier 5 in the United States, it's assumed there will be a Tier 5 that mimics Stage V in emissions standards and implementation dates. While manufacturers may not have a Tier 5 program in place, they are anticipating what seems inevitable. "The requirements for the next stage are a little unclear," says Brent Coffey, product manager of loaders at Wacker Neuson, "but the general assumption is that it will likely follow something similar to Stage V in the European Union. For now, the consensus is that the market wants to avoid diesel particulate filters, and we have the goal to accommodate that request as much as possible." Gregg Zupancic says John Deere's current emissions control architecture may well be all that's required for Tier 5, depending on what Tier 5 entails. "At the very least, what we have now would provide a solid platform for further development." Engine selection is one way OEMs make gains in per- formance at a time when engine development is taking a break. ASV had Perkins engines on all models, but they've moved to Cummins for their two largest, the RT-75 and RT-120. While this allowed the company to use DOC with no DPF, there were also big gains in per- formance. The 74-horsepower RT-75 has more torque than its Perkins-powered predecessor and outperforms the old RT-100 Tier 3 machine, ASV says. Minimization of system losses preserves more of the new engines' power. The RT-120 delivers 92 measured horsepower at the head (a mulching head for this test), a 50 percent increase over similarly sized machines from some other manufacturers, according to the company. Engine development isn't at a standstill. Improve- ments to fueling architecture and electronic controls allowed New Holland to change their aftertreatment systems as of this year. Their two smaller CTLs, the C227 and C232, both rated at 74 horsepower, now use DOC-only aftertreatment. Their two larger models, the C234 and C238, both rated at 90 horsepower, dropped DOC and instead use cooled EGR and SCR. New Hol- land says this change is "system simplification" and retains serviceability and reliability with no filters to replace and no regeneration. machine matters | continued The JCB Teleskid features a telescopic boom that gives it superior reach and lift height and the ability to dig below its chassis, a feature unique among SSLs and CTLs, accord- ing to the company. JCB says the Teleskid serves the func- tion of four machines: telehandler, masted forklift, compact loader and skid steer. Its JCB Ecomax engine is rated at 74 horsepower. The C234 is the second-largest CTL in the New Holland line. Powered by an FPT turbocharged engine rated at 90 gross horsepower, the C234 shares a dozer-style undercar- riage design with all 200 Series New Holland CTLs. The company says the simple, rigid-frame track is easier to maintain and more durable than suspension-track systems. Wacker Neuson offers two CTLs, the radial-lift ST28 and the vertical-lift ST31 (shown). Both feature Kohler 2504 diesel engines rated at 74 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Bucket breakout force is 5,300 pounds; ROCs are 2,800 and 3,100 pounds for the ST28 and ST31, respectively.