CHAPTER 9FRONT-END LOADERS, EXCAVATORS, ANDDITCHERSFront-end loaders, excavators, and ditchers are usedto support construction operations anytime there is aneed to lift, load, unload, clear, grub, excavate, or trench.A variety of makes and models of this equipment areused in the Navy and the Naval Construction Force(NCF). Each operator is responsible for reading theoperator’s manual to obtain detailed information abouteach make and model. his chapter covers the generalcharacteristics and basic principles of operations offront-end loaders, excavators, and ditchers.FRONT-END LOADERSThe front-end loader is a self-contained unitmounted on rubber tires or tracks and is one of the mostversatile and capable pieces of equipment used in theNCF. The front-end loader can be equipped to operateas a loader, a dozer, a scraper, a clamshell, a forklift, abackhoe, a crane, an auger, or a sweeper.RUBBER-TIRED FRONT-END LOADERMounted on large rubber tires, the front-end loaderhas a relatively low ground bearing pressure(approximately 45 pounds) that enables it to perform alarge variety of jobs. The rubber-tired front-end loader(fig. 9-1) has three manually selected forward gearranges that permits good mobility when traveling fromone jobsite to another. The full power soft shifttransmission allows the gear range and direction oftravel changed at anytime without stopping the machinefrom maintaining a high rate of production. The largerubber tires provide good traction on unstable surfacesand allow the front-end loader to perform on side slopesof 15 percent and on front slopes up to 30 percent. Thehydraulic system gives the operator positive control ofthe front-end loader attachments and steering system.CRAWLER-MOUNTED FRONT-ENDLOADERMounted on crawler tracks, the crawler-mountedfront-end loader has a low ground bearing pressure thatFigure 9-1.—Rubber-tired front-end loader.9-1
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business