CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 4, 2013 • Page 31
ConExpo 1975 — Chicago, Ill. This was a good concept according to International engineers, but there were some drawbacks: 1) Bodies were high and difficult to load because of the clearance needed for the large rear tires. 2) All the power went through a single drive axle, requiring large, expensive components that were difficult to service. 3) Tire overloading became a serious problem as truck capacities and haul speeds increased. Changes were necessary. With the goal in mind of obtaining capacities of up to 50 tons in a truck that had the same physical characteristics as a conventional 35-ton unit, the engineers came up with a revolutionary solution: a truck with allwheel drive and 50-50 weight distribution. Using this approach, the company offered, after intensive engineering and field testing, the 180 PAY hauler 1963. The first completely new, off-highway truck in 30 years, the 180’s design parameters answered all the problems inherent in off-highway trucks at that time. Here was a truck that applied one-quarter of its
Crawler loaders and dozers made their imprint on ConExpo. Fiat-Allis Fiat-Allis introduced five new crawler tractors and loaders to their line. The largest of the new ones is the FL-14-B loader with up to 143 hp and a 2.5 cu. yd. bucket. Next in size was the FL-10, which has a 110 flywheel hp and 1-7/8 yd. bucket, its dozer counterpart, the 10B also was introduced and is going to be available with two blades and a ripper. A medium capacity loader the FL-9, features a break out force of 18,750 lbs., and a 1-5/8 yd. bucket. The final addition to the line was the “8” an 87 hp machine with an angle dozer.
power to each wheel. And with equal weight distribution, one-fourth of the load was applied to each wheel. With equal power and equal load at each set of wheels, the truck obtained maximum traction and gradeability, according to IH. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG Coming next issue: ConExpo ’81: Everything’s Bigger in Houston, Texas.
John Deere John Deere made a giant move into the big earthmoving equipment field with the introduction of nine new machines. These included two dozers and two loaders. The John Deere 750 dozer features a 110 hp engine and the new dual-path hydrostatic drive. Next step up in size is the 850 dozer with 140 hp and a 123-in. blade with hydrostatic tilt. The two new crawler loaders include the John Deere 755 with 110 hp and the John Deere 855 with 175 hp. All feature the “dual-path” hydrostatic drive system that automatically selects the optimum speed and the power ratio to fit the job. see CONEXPO page 82
Letter to the Editor I received my first copy of the Midwest edition and was surprised to see the article on the 1975 ConExpo in Chicago. Next year I will have been in this industry for 45 years and this was my first ConExpo — have not missed one since. That year, Clark Equipment changed the brand on all their produ cts to Clark. Products from Lima, Austin Western, Hancock, Michigan were all branded Clark. In your article, you mention one of the attractions tired loader, too big to fit inside. That was the Clark as being a rubber675. Funny thing is that IH had a loader inside that was identified as the largest payloader in the world. People kept asking me if that was large response was, “You see the payloader was displ r than the 675. My ayed inside and the 675 outside because it would not fit inside.” In 1975, Clark people working the show had brigh blue pants. I still had the jacket up until about five t yellow blazers and years ago. The celebrities you mentioned in your article were display. George Blanda, Kenny Stabler, and Roge also from the Clark r Staubach were all brought to the show by Clark Equipment. It was cold — five below zero and I could not get my 1972 Ford Maverick started. I showed the article around the office. Most comm ents were like this — “I was not born yet,” “I was five years old” and even Tim Frank, our chairman, was a teenager in ’75. It was a great article and as Bob Hope said, “Thanks for the Memories.” Regards, Rich Jilek Director SANY Parts Operations Peachtree City, Ga.
(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)