TEST DRIVE
share of creature comforts, but when needed
in the dark recesses of the salt mines, that’s
when it delivers the knock-out blow – the
Tyson of TLBs.
Size versus intelligence
Tyson had the ability to deliver the ultimate
punch, mainly because of his killer instinct,
but also because of his superior physique
and broad shoulders. Maybe, size and
strength does trump intelligence; and maybe,
just maybe, we should pay more attention to
that old, boring refrain ‘size matters’, used to
death in headlines by equipment magazines.
If you have both, the road to becoming a
world champion might not be that long. And
the Hidromek HMK 102B, distributed by
Johannesburg based Maximum, unlike Tyson,
does seem to have both.
One of the characteristics that makes
the Alpha series different is the superior
performance of the front loader. Thanks
to the bucket and arm breakout force,
the machine drives the load without
being stressed. Boom construction
intended for heavy conditions has been
designed for durability.
The Alpha is the heaviest TLB around, and
one can almost feel it when it starts working
up a sweat in first and second gear, which,
by the way, can be engaged manually. On
the long road, you can switch it to automatic
without any trouble. The machine weighs
in at almost 9.1 tons, so in terms of pure
muscle and brute strength, it is a real threat
for units in its own weight division.
Big bucket packs a punch
One of the characteristics that makes the Alpha series different is the superior
performance of the front loader.
The machine’s intelligence is situated within the interior of the cab, with all available
data stored on the monitor screen.
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
The loading bucket has a dump height of
almost 6m and a lifting capacity of close
to 5 000kg, and although it looks sluggish,
it is as agile as any other TLB bucket I’ve
seen in action, and as easy to control. At
1.2 cubic metres, the Alpha boasts a much
bigger bucket than most competitors in its
range which normally loads with a one cubic
metre bucket. The front tyres of the Alpha
are significantly larger that its competitors’
tyres, which gives the heavyweight a
distinct rugged feel. It’s not Tyson’s biceps in
Vegas yet, but it’s getting there.
The settling blade is fixed with a bolted
system and can be used double-sided. A
hinged joint in the cylinders of the claw
prevents damage when lateral loads are
exposed. The proportional control button
on the front control lever adjusts the claw
speed and angle.
The Back-Hoe has hydraulic lines that
can run a whole range of attachment-
like breakers and augers, for example.
The hydraulics in front also allows for
NOVEMBER 2019
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