OK guys and gals- another newbie question here. I have a CAT 242, which is a ROC of 2,000# and has about 55 hp or so. It is a vertical lift machine and has the large black bar across the back which supposedly allows the bucket path to be basically vertical as it rises. The 246 machine has the same ROC and what looks like a simpler left mecanism as the arms are straight into the machine. Why does the 246 have so much more hp, as I believe its in the 75 range? Can someone please give me some insights as to the logic for two different types? As new- is there a cost advantage? For what its worth, my 242 was my first machine. I can appreciate a radial lift for loading trucks as getting close enough to kiss it isn't so much fun. But the vertical lift is handy with forks and a hammer. Any thoughts out there?
There are two primary advantages to vertical lift -- one is that (in general), it keeps the load closer to the machine for much of the lift cycle; the second is that because it's mostly vertical, the load is farther from the machine at maximum lift height that it would be if the machine were radial lift. If you don't bend your arm and raise it (while you're standing) from hanging straight down to a 45 degree angle above your head, you'll notice your fingertips trace out an arc. Relative to your hip, say, your fingers move away from it as you list your arm, are farthest from it when your arms are parallel to the floor, and then come back as you get above parallel. That's radial lift. The black bar on the rear of Cat vertical lift machines is essentially there to allow the lift arms to move backwards a bit as the load raises and then out beyond a certain height, which again, keeps the load in close to the machine for stability and out for truckloading reach. In this sense, vertical lift is better for truckloading because it allows you to stay away from the machine (unless you're loading pickup trucks, which would be better suited for radial lift because pickup truck bed heights are where radial lift machines make their most reach). Because vertical lift machines keep the load closer, in general (not always true) a vertical lift machine will weigh less than a comparable-ROC radial lift machine because less counterbalance is necessary to keep the machine stable. This is why the 246 weighs more than the 242. As a result of weighing more, it'll also require more power to still feel sprightly, which in turn means a bigger engine. The primary distinction between the 242 and the 246 is more that one is a "medium frame" loader (the 242), whereas the 246 is a large-frame loader. The widths of the two machines are different, you'll notice, and in general, the 246 has stronger components and is built for more aggressive tasks than is the 242. That being said, for tight jobsites, you'll likely appreciate the compactness of the 242. For Cats specifically, the "vertical lift' isn't as much "vertical" as much as it is out then straight up -- the load moves radially a ways and then moves mostly straight up; you can find a diagram of this in Cat's SSL brochures. Does that address everything -- if not, continue posting away!
Thanks. I have studied the specs, but had not picked up the dimensional differences in the two machines. And have not noticed the same type of line up differences in other mfg. We have a lot of Gehl around here and haven't noticed the vertical type of lift mechanism on units in the field. Our local Cat dealer seems to sell a lot more "6" series, but other places I see a number of the "2" units.
The footprint of the 242 and 246 aren't hugely different, but it can be different enough for you to consider one over the other. If you have the money and are in wide-open areas, the 246 is a pretty competent machine. Gehl actually only has two vertical lift models -- the new V2700 and the 7810. The 7810 is the largest SSL currently manufactured (and hence doesn't sell as much as, say, their smaller models), and the V2700 is new enough that you probably won't see until at least a few more months down the road. As for other manufacturers -- NH and Deere only offer vertical lift. (Deere just introduced two smaller machines that are radial, and NH has a mini-SSL that's also radial, but the 1,500+ lb ROC machines are all vertical.) NH used to make the Deere SSL, and it's always been their philosophy to build a vertical lift lineup. Case, Bobcat, now Gehl/Mustang, and Komatsu all offer both radial and vertical lift machines. The 435 and 440 are similar to the 242 and 246 story; one is vertical and the other radial, but they're about the same ROC. There's a general perception that radial lift machines are more durable because they have fewer moving parts (fewer wear opportunities, naturally, but it also is generally true that fewer moving parts means fewer opportunities for failure), but I'm not so convinced this is true anymore. Brandenburg uses vertical-lift Bobcat S300s when perhaps they could have bought radial lift S220s or Case 450s; manufacturers have software that should allow vertical lift machines to be as durable as radial lift ones. There are certainly exceptions, but on the whole, I don't see one being any significantly different than the other (at least, not today's machines).
Running the machines on the ground the 246 is noticeably bigger, more stable and more powerful than the 242. Now and then I have to load high sided trucks and never felt the need for vertical lift...you just get good at it or head butt the sideboards. We have an S185 with vertical lift in our yard and I don't really see an advantage....its something else to grease. I think the 242 is sort of an "in-between" machine. I went from a 248B to a 226BII and really appreciate the nimbleness and smaller size on a lot of the difficult jobs that are coming our way. The 242 would do neither that the other two did. The 248 had the cahoonies for lifting and moving more dirt and the 226 has the size to get in (and not get bogged) where the bigger machines can't.
A lot of good info here, thanks guys. Squizzy- It wasn't the truck boards that got me, but loading a dump trailer that was low mount in between the fenders. Could just barely get into the bed on full dump without crunching the pretty fenders.
Don't mind me, I am trying to get my posting numbers up so I can create a post. Sorry for the interruption.