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Four compact wheel loaders comprise the new line introduced by Takeuchi as it celebrated the opening of its new facility outside Atlanta last month. Even in the rainy conditions, however, the manufacturer impressed its dealers with the roll out, which is billed as a move to strengthen the company's position with U.S. distributors.
"We've always been interested in adding additional lines," says Mike Ross, national product & training manager, Takeuchi. "[This] is a rapid-growth market and complements our excavators and track loaders." The compact wheel loaders will allow the company to go after "another portion of the skid-steer market," he says.
The line is manufactured by Germany-based Atlas Weyhausen. Takeuchi has an exclusive agreement with Atlas Weyhausen to distribute these four loaders in North America. This current generation of machines has been available inEurope for three years, Ross says.
Ranging from the 51-hp TW 50 to the 73-hp TW80, the line features frame oscillation and articulation; forward, reverse and neutral functions that can be controlled on the fly with a thumb switch on the right-hand control; and bucket float and automatic bucket positioning. Operating weights range from 8,708 to 12,677 pounds.
Breakout force measures up well against key competitors, Takeuchi says, which are Caterpillar, Case, Deere, Komatsu, Kubota and Volvo Construction Equipment, depending on model. This is accomplished, says Ross, through a combination of design and machine balance, as well as by high-performance hydraulics and pumps.
"Engine placement and counterweighting equates to better lifting capacity in the front," Ross says. "It's well balanced." The engine is to the rear of the operator station. Rexroth pumps are used in the TW50 and TW60, with Daikin Sundstrand pumps in the larger two models. Pumps are variable-displacement, pressure-compensating, which puts the flow and pressure to the functions that are needed, Ross says.
Heavy-duty Dana Spicer axles handle the weight and enable Takeuchi to tout a feature Ross says is exclusive: 100-percent differential lock front and rear. The function is controlled with a push button on the right-hand control. "It's more expensive," he says, "but it gives positive traction on both axles. It's very noticeable when you push into a pile." Auxiliary hydraulics are plumbed into the bottom of the loader arms.
Hydrostatic drive with outboard planetary final drives provide low and high ranges of travel speeds up to 12.4 mph. The company also touts the loaders' 100-percent inching pedal.
Compact-Wheel-Loader Specifications |
| Model |
Engine |
HP |
Operating Weight (lb.) |
Bucket Breakout Force (lb.) |
Tip load, Suggested |
Straight (lb.) Retail Price* |
| *with bucket and tires and one-year unlimited-hour warranty |
| Source: Takeuchi |
| Compare wheel loader specifications |
| TW50 |
Perkins 404C-22 |
51 |
8,708 |
8,992 |
6,790 |
$52,900 |
| TW60 |
Perkins 404C-22T |
61 |
10,251 |
11,600 |
7,992 |
$57,900 |
| TW65 |
Deutz F4L 2011 |
59 |
10,362 |
11,600 |
8,073 |
$62,600 |
| TW80 |
Deutz BF4L 2011 |
73 |
12,677 |
15,287 |
9,420 |
$74,700 |
Hydraulic quick-attach gives the loaders tool-handling capabilities,enabling Takeuchi to market to a variety of vocations from excavating contractors to landscaping to rental yards.
