New logging products - Cat C Series wheeled feller bunchers and new bunching saw

The new Cat 563C and 573C wheeled feller bunchers are joined by the new SH-56B felling head.

The new feller bunchers boast the new Cat C7.1 ACERT engine that is able to produce more power while consuming less fuel. Power is delivered where and when it is needed as a result of a new technology called PowerDirect Plus. This results in much faster lift-tilt and lift-steer functions, as well as faster disc saw recover times. The new engine meets Tier 4 interim emission standards.

Machine maintenance has been considered during the redesign. Servicing and refuelling can take place from ground level, thereby eliminating the need to climb on the machine during maintenance. Even hydraulic oil can be added at ground level by means of standard electric fill pump and a quick coupler hose stored on the machine. Oil is pumped through the filtration system before it enters the tank. The tilt cab and three large hinged doors allow ground level access into the engine compartment.

Other changes to increase machine durability include a dual pad pump drive, steering cylinder mounts, and chrome plated lift arm and tilt link pins. Keeping the machine cool and free of debris was high priority, with the different machine compartments being pressurised to prevent debris from entering. The pressurised air flow keeps electronics, sensors and other important components cool during extreme conditions. An oversized, hydraulically driven fan only turns as fast is needed to keep components cool, and automatically reverses every five minutes to keep the cooling system free of debris.

Operator comfort has not been ignored, including features such as an air suspension seat and excellent visibility which allows the operator a 360 degree view. Different operating modes can be selected according to terrain and the skills of the operator. These include terrain selection mode (steep or flat), creep mode (to improve operation in thinning) and road steer mode (for high-speed transport of the machine).

The SH-56B bunching saw excels at keeping bunches tightly compressed and straight, which improves machine productivity in thinning applications. As a result, the bundles are well placed which also optimises skidder productivity. More detail on the felling head will be included in the November issue of Logging-on. Selected feller buncher specifications are included in the table below.