25/05/2010 Victorian shire operators impressed with new wheeled loader controls Photo caption: Moyne Shire Council Backhoe/Loader Operator Frank Meade, Mortlake Workshop Mechanic Simon Gee, Grader/Loader Operator Brian Haddow and Construction and Maintenance Manager John Lyons with the shire’s new JCB 416 high torque (HT) wheeled loader. AN investment in a new wheeled loader by the Moyne Shire Council in Victoria earlier this year has pleased its operators. Construction and Maintenance Manager John Lyons said the Council was seeking a versatile machine that was not too heavy, allowing it to be floated around the Shire, and the JCB 416 high torque (HT) wheeled loader “fitted the bill’’. It is the first JCB machine in the Shire’s equipment fleet, which includes a wide range of other brands. “The JCB machine came in very competitive and its performance is pretty good too,’’ John said. Together with a 4-in-1 bucket attachment, the 416 HT loader is floated throughout the Shire with a multi-wheel roller. It mainly assists with the sealing of roads in western Victoria, which is carried out over about nine months of the year, and it is also used for tree work and other local jobs. “It is put to full-time use and has three different operators who are all more than happy with the machine,’’ John said. “They are especially impressed with the ride control and the pilot controls.’’ Close-at-hand, single-lever servo controls allow ease of use and reduced fatigue, while the joystick-mounted forward/reverse control simplifies loading cycles. The cab offers a large glazed area for extra visibility and the JCB VIS system reduces in-cab vibration and noise levels. Powered by JCB’s 4 cylinder engine, the 416 HT features 4-ram geometry at the loader end and parallel lift, which delivers considerable power and extra visibility over loads. JCB’s fully automatic powershift transmission accurately matches the engine speed to the application, and the Moyne Shire Council also opted for the JCB smooth ride system for improved machine productivity and operator comfort. John said the location of the JCB dealer, JCB Ballarat, and support from Tom Sheridan there was also a key factor that helped give it the big tick. “The proximity to the dealer at Ballarat was influential in our decision.’’ “We did a seal at one stage and JCB Ballarat came up and we had a new seal within a day. We don’t have this for our other machines. “In the near future we will be looking at another loader with a fork attachment for unloading pipes and pallets,’’ he said. For further information on the JCB wheeled loader range, contact JCB Ballarat on (03) 5336 4145, your nearest JCB Construction Equipment Australia branch, or phone 1300 JCB CEA.