The Cat 426F2 Backhoe Loader has received a Mantrac customer’s approval on price, reliability and durability
When it comes to providing the best in class backhoe machines, you could say the Cat 426F2 is the cream of the crop. For more than 35 years, from the A series to the new F2 series, Caterpillar have been listening to their customers’ feedback and designing and perfecting their machines with the operator’s needs in mind. Hence, the Cat 426F2 machine truly delivers on reliability, durability and productivity.
Paul Waweru, project manager Cheriez Properties limited, Kenya, has high praise for his new Cat 426F2 backhoe loader, having switched from a competitor backhoe product to the Cat version. Working under pressure, in a challenging Kenyan housing development project, Paul said the three key things they considered when purchasing a backhoe were price, 100% reliability and durability.
Waweru said, “We are pleased to report that across all three of these, the Cat 426F2 backhoe came out trumps. We purchased the machine over a year ago, and so far the 426F2 backhoe loader with Side Shift delivers all the power, performance and productivity we need, together with features to beat the heat and the dust and keep the operator comfortable. After all, the key to increased productivity, is increased operator satisfaction!”
Caterpillar agrees that improved productivity starts with the operator. Hence, the new 426F2 cab design is more spacious, allowing the operator to move freely when turning from one mode to another and providing comfort and ease of operation. The cab has been purpose-built for the African and Middle Eastern markets. Greater visibility is ensured with flat tinted glass and a curved front windscreen. Other cab features include easy-to-reach controls and a high pump flow superior hydraulic system that delivers excellent performance at the operator’s fingertips.
Maximising machine performance is also simple. Product Link provides quick access to vital information such as machine location, hours worked, machine error codes and fuel burn.
Waweru reported that they found the backhoe could do even more jobs on-site than they had at first anticipated. In addition to the usual tasks such as shifting materials, digging trenches etc, Paul says the backhoe even managed to quickly and efficiently excavate over 1,500 cubic metres of bowel digester peat.
The Cat F2 series comes with an excavator style boom, which provides greater reach and digging depth. The 205° high-rotation bucket linkage ensures superior material retention and exceptional material removal when excavating. The machine’s narrow 2.2m-wide frame with Side Shift offers superb manoeuvrability and performance in confined spaces. In addition, dual brake pedals also allow for split braking in tight corners for increased manoeuvrability. Available in either two or four-wheel drive, the 426F2 features a 100% differential lock in the rear axle. This provides maximum traction in poor ground conditions, but it can equally achieve road speeds of up to 40 km/h, aided by its four speed Power-Shuttle transmission.
When it comes to service and maintenance, a flip-open hood provides easy access to all daily check points, and removable engine side panels offer access to the engine at ground level.
An externally mounted engine pre-cleaner offers quick filter servicing for customers working in dusty operating conditions, such as those in the Gulf and Middle East. The enclosed rear axle and wet multi-plate braking system also guards against the ingress of dust in the system and ensures the machine can operate reliably in the harshest conditions. And the laborious job of greasing has been eradicated with sealed for life axles.
But power alone is nothing without efficiency. Waweru said, “Not only is it versatile and easy to service and maintain, its fuel efficiency is very high. We are already seeing big returns on our investment. In one year, it saved us more than US$2,500 in fuel alone. And our experience with Mantrac’s aftersales team has been second-to-none.”
For more information about the Cat® 426F2 backhoe loader click here.
