Page 72 • August 4, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Backhoes & Attachments Section • Construction Equipment Guide
The Dynamic Dynahoe! Keith Haddock Traces the History of the Dynahoe, One of the Largest Loader-Backhoes Ever Built. The loader-backhoe is still one of the most popular and visible of all types of construction machines. It reigned as the mainstay of mechanized utility work over some twoand-a-half decades after first finding popularity in the 1950s. With the advent of miniexcavators, increased popularity of skid steer loaders, and an abundance of companies making compact-sized machines, the loaderbackhoe still survives. It possesses multitask capabilities not found in the competition, and often able to complete all tasks on small jobs with just the one machine. It’s able to do the excavating, loading, lifting, backfilling and cleanup, and when finished can take off by road to a nearby job without waiting for lowboy or trailer. The Hy-Dynamic Company of Lake Bluff, Ill., was one of many companies entering the loader-backhoe market in the 1950s. In 1959 it introduced its first machine, the famous Dynahoe loader-backhoe, a machine quite different from anything else on the market. Competitive loaderbackhoes had originated as agricultural wheel tractors and were generally much smaller in capacity and lightly built. But the unique Dynahoe was heavily built from the ground up as an excavating machine, and the largest of its type on the market. The average loader-backhoe in the early 1970s had a digging depth from 14 to 17 ft., an 80-hp engine, and weighed 10 tons. In contrast, the largest Dynahoe boasted a digging depth of 20 ft., carried a 155-hp engine, and weighed 16 tons. One of the first Dynahoe models was the Model A, which came equipped with a Continental F-244 gasoline engine developing 65 hp. The Model AD was also offered with 65-hp Continental HD-277 diesel engine. Maximum digging depth was 13 ft. and backhoe loading height 12 ft. Operating weight was just over 6 tons. Hy-Dynamic certainly set out to produce something superior to anything else available. Even this early design from 1959 sported a neat efficient backhoe linkage, integrated design and massive frame. Of course this concept and philosophy resulted in a relatively high purchase price, and consequently the Dynahoe never sold in huge quantities throughout its production life. But it served a niche market for the contractor who wanted extra capacity, production and mobility. In 1966 Hy-Dynamic upgraded its Dynahoe models and launched a new range of machines with a 3-digit nomenclature, the first two digits indicating digging depth in feet. Models A and AD were replaced by the model 140, and other models in the new lineup included the short-lived 120 and 130 (discontinued by 1968), and the larger 160.
In 1968 the 190 and 200-4 models were ¾ cu.yds. The following year Northwest Engineering added, the latter being a heavy 4-wheel drive The Dynahoe 200-4 became the 200-4B Co. became Terex Corporation. model with four large equal-sized wheels, under the Bucyrus-Erie banner. With an After purchasing the Dynahoe line in and a 20-ft. digging depth. operating weight of 32,300 lbs. including 1985, Northwest Engineering/BCP continIn 1971 Bucyrus-Erie Company acquired ROPS cab it was the largest Dynahoe model. ued to build the 190 and 190-4 until new the Hy-Dynamic Corporation. The loader It carried a GM Detroit 4-71 diesel engine of models were introduced in 1987 under backhoes were continued as Bucyrus-Erie 162-hp and could achieve a top road speed Terex. These were the 290 (109 hp and products and the well-respected Dynahoe of 18 mph. The standard loader bucket car- 20,700 lbs. weight) and the 490 (127 hp and name was retained. This acquisition came at ried 2 ¼ cu. yds. and the backhoe could pick 24,850 lbs weight). The new 290 and 490 a time when Bucyrus-Erie’s were basically upgraded verConstruction Equipment sions of the former 190 and Division was at the height of its 190-4 models, possessing simiactivity, and demonstrated the lar specifications, Detroit company’s desire to capture all engine, torque converter, and segments of that market. The digging depth to 19 ft. acquisition provided BucyrusIn the late 1980s Terex Erie with a solid line of loaderCorporation shuffled its various backhoe models 140, 160, 190 divisions and BCP became an and 200-4. It also provided a affiliate of Koehring Cranes & line of rough-terrain, wheelExcavators, another Terex divimounted hydraulic cranes up to sion. In 1990, as a final grasp 18 tons capacity, introduced by for market share, BCP upgradHy-Dynamic in 1966. ed its two Dynahoe models to Soon after Bucyrus-Erie the 290K and 490K. These acquired the Dynahoe were almost identical to the machines it upgraded the range previous models except that to the B-series. Now all John Deere engines of 110 and machines were equipped with Keith Haddock photo 121 hp provided power. GM Detroit diesel engines and The Dynahoe Model A was one of Hy-Dynamic Company’s first Unfortunately sales continued featured advanced hydraulics loader-backhoes. The Model AD was a similar machine, but to dwindle and the last and increased operating powered by a diesel engine. Dynahoe was shipped from the weights. The 140B was powfactory in 1993. ered by a 90-hp, 3-cylinder Detroit 3-53 up a load of 11,600 lbs. diesel engine with torque converter. The In 1973 Bucyrus-Erie closed the Lake About the HCEA backhoe reached to 22 ft. at ground level and Bluff, Ill., plant and transferred Dynahoe The Historical Construction Equipment the loader bucket held 1 ¼ cu. yds. Machine manufacture to existing B-E plants at Association (HCEA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit weight was 14,800 lbs. This intermediate- Evansville, Erie and South Milwaukee. organization dedicated to preserving the hissized 160B carried the same 90-hp GM Although not selling in huge quantities like tory of the construction, dredging and surengine as the 140B but with digging depth the smaller competitive machines, the face mining equipment industries. With increased to 16 ft. by interchanging the Dynahoe continued to serve a niche market approximately 3,800 members in 25 counboom foot pivot and boom hoist cylinder and garnered sufficient customers to keep tries, its activities include publication of a pivot positions. The lower boom position the machines in Bucyrus-Erie’s product line quarterly educational magazine, Equipment achieved greater digging depth but reduced until the company decided to dismantle and Echoes, from which this article is reprinted loading height by some 3 ft. Machine weight sell its entire Construction Equipment with permission; operation of National increased to 15,800 lbs. The larger 190B Division in 1985. Construction Equipment Museum and came with the same Detroit 3-53 diesel as in From 1974 the popular 4-wheel-drive archives in Bowling Green, Ohio; and hostthe 160-B, but rated higher at 95 hp. It was Dynahoe 190-4 loader-backhoe was sold in ing an annual working exhibition of restored basically the same machine as the 160B but the United Kingdom by Ruston-Bucyrus construction equipment. Its 2018 show will with deeper backhoe digging depth to 19 ft. Ltd. of Lincoln. Sold as an R-B machine, its be Aug. 24 to 26 at the Le Sueur Pioneer and increased loading height to 12 ft. 9 in. specification was identical to the American Power Show, Le Sueur, Minnesota. Front loader capacity for both machines was model except for a Ford 2715E diesel engine Individual memberships within the USA and 1 ½ cu. yds. developing 108 hp replacing the Detroit Canada are $35 for one year, $65.95 for two About the same time as the Bucyrus-Erie engine. However, sales were discontinued in years and $99.95 for three years, and $45.00 acquisition, the model 190-4, a 4-wheel- 1979, likely as a result of stiff competition U.S. elsewhere. HCEA seeks to develop drive version of the 190, was introduced. from lower-priced, home-built machines and relationships in the equipment manufacturBoasting four equal-sized wheels, it was the onslaught of competition from smaller ing industry, and offers a college scholarship powered by a 4-cylinder Detroit 4-53 diesel hydraulic excavators. for engineering and construction manageof 126 hp. As with the larger 4-wheel drive In 1985 manufacturing rights and designs ment students. Information is available at 200-4, steering on the 190-4 was provided to of the Dynahoe were sold to Northwest www.hcea.net, or by calling 419-352-5616 the rear wheels only and the front axle was Engineering Co. of Green Bay, Wis., and a or e-mailing info@hcea.net. free to oscillate. In operation the 190-4 group of former company employees estab(This story also can be found on weighed 22,750 lbs. including ROPS cab lished a new company, Bucyrus Construction Equipment Guide’s website at and supported a standard loader bucket of 1 Construction Products (BCP) in Erie, Pa. www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
