Caterpillar® F-series off-highway trucks deliver greater productivity, reliability, operator comfort and lower owning and operating costs

• 
• 6th November 2006
• Materials Handling
 

The Caterpillar 773F, 775F and 777F off-highway trucks incorporate many new features that enhance reliability, durability, productivity and operator comfort while lowering owning and operating costs. Each model has a new engine, modular radiator, enhanced transmission, all-hydraulic brakes and a new operator station. The new trucks offer well-designed access for operators and service personnel. A new information system, Cat® Messenger, aids both maintenance and machine information for technicians and operators.

The 773F and 775F are designed for quarry and construction applications in the 54.4-tonne and 63.5-tonne payload classes. They replace the 773E and 775E. The 777F is in the 91-tonne payload class and it replaces the 777D. The versatile 777F has applications in quarrying, construction and mining.

Increased reliability and durability
To increase reliability and durability in the new F-series trucks, the frames have been redesigned with the latest computerized structural analysis tools: a mild steel box-section frame with two forgings and 19 castings evenly distribute stresses.

Instead of air over hydraulic brakes, the F-series brakes are all hydraulic. This results in superior reliability, response, control, modulation and serviceability. Operating costs are reduced due to decreased maintenance expenditure. The parking brake is integrated into the gear selector for easy operation.

The F-series models use the industry-exclusive Caterpillar 10/10/20 payload policy, which means that no more than 10 percent of loads may exceed 10 percent over target payload and no loads may exceed 20 percent over target payload. By following this policy, operators reduce cost per tonne, move more material, reduce spillage and haul road maintenance and increase machine life.

Higher productivity
A variety of body configurations for the 773F and 775F enable a customer to configure a truck for the specific application—to achieve optimum capacity and durability and to lower the costs per tons. Caterpillar now offers dual slope and flat floor body systems with three different steel liner packages and two rubber liner packages on the 773F and 775F. The 777F uses a dual slope body and now has a rubber liner available in addition to the steel liner offered previously.

The F-series trucks feature Cat engines with ACERT™ Technology for fuel-efficient operation, emissions compliance and responsive, reliable performance that ensures maximum uptime and fast cycle times. The 773F and 775F both use the Cat C27 engine—producing net power of 524 kW (703 hp) in the 773F and 552 kW (740 hp) in the 775F. The 777F has a Cat C32 engine with ACERT Technology. Net power is 700 kW (938 hp).

The engines feature the Caterpillar MEUI™ fuel system, which combines the technical advancement of electronic control with the simplicity of direct, mechanically controlled fuel injection.

Valuable machine information is available to the operator or technician through Cat Messenger, which provides real-time and stored machine performance and diagnostic data. An optional Vital Information Management System (VIMS™) monitoring system offers more extensive machine function and payload data. For payload recording, the enhanced Truck Payload Management System (TPMS) attachment now has second gear weighing capability and 2,400-cycle storage for data analysis.

Lower owning and operating costs
The efficient combustion technology of the ACERT engine lowers the operating costs by enabling a 500-hour engine service interval for each of the trucks – twice that of the previous truck models. QuickEvac, the Caterpillar on-board engine oil evacuation and pre-lube system, is standard on F-series trucks and reduces oil change labour time by as much as 50 percent.

A new next generation modular radiator (NGMR) design provides wider fin spacing, making it easier and cheaper to service and repair. The single-pass flow cores cools more efficiently, too, when compared to the dual-pass system used previously. Serviceability has been improved also by grouping the service points in easy-to-access location.

Improved operator and ride comfort
The new trucks use the same all-new, world-class operator station, designed to provide superior operator comfort and control. The cab has 100 percent more glass area for improved visibility, 18 percent more interior space and more than 175 mm increased width than the previous models.

A new ergonomic design and layout of controls promotes operator efficiency and reduces operator fatigue. The seat is now in the centre of the cab, which provides additional room and walk-in comfort. The trainer seat is to the left of the operator seat. The Cat Comfort Seat delivers comfort, support and durability with a three-point  operator restraint system. The new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system produces greater airflow and even temperature throughout the cab. Integrated stairway access system allows the operator to more easily and safely get on and off the truck.

An optional HID lighting package provides superior nighttime visibility. Also available is an optional camera system, which provides a view to the rear of the truck through a 17.78 cm LCD colour monitor in the cab.

Automatic retarder control (ARC) is standard on F-series trucks. ARC automatically controls braking on grade and maintains engine speed at approximately 1,900 rpm. It provides up to 15 percent speed increase when retarding on grade. ARC protects the engine from overspeeding, improves fuel efficiency, provides better control of the truck, increases productivity and eases the burden on the operator. In addition to the standard automatic retarder, an optional engine compression brake offers 35 percent increase in retarding speed capabilities.

The F-series seven-speed transmission provides superior ride with smoother speed and directional shifts through the use of the new Electronic Clutch Pressure Control (ECPC) system. The system individually modulates each clutch in the transmission and extends life of drive train components.

Reader inquiries
Caterpillar Information Centre
6, The Western Centre, Bracknell, RG12 1RW
Tel: +44 7000 222 846, Fax: +44 1344 488045