Designed to move more tons at a lower cost, Volvo's new 76,000-pound L260 wheel loader gets automatic traction control, auto bucket fill capability and easier maintenance access.
For more details on the next-gen loader, check out our walkaround video above shot at this year's World of Asphalt.
One of the cooler upgrades, says Eric Yeomans, Volvo’s North American product manager for wheel loaders, is the auto bucket fill tech, a response to contractors’ continued difficulties finding skilled operators.
“As you're going into the pile, you hold the kick-down button for two seconds, and we take over control of the throttle, the lifting and the bucket-fill function,” he says. “One thing we've noticed, that we're always getting consistent weight in the bucket.
“We always sort of know an operator, over time, his productivity is really good, and then in the afternoon or later in the day, fatigue sets in, and the productivity drops off. We see that this maintains the same productivity throughout the day.”
Now standard on the front axle is Automatic Traction Control. When activated manually through a button on the cab floor, it automatically increases speed through the front differential.
On the righthand side of the L260 is a new service platform, allowing operators to maintain three points of contact with the loader when performing maintenance. Volvo also updated the rear hatch to light up the compartment when the door is up, making it easier for operators to refuel.
Operators now have keyless entry to the L260 in the form of a remote door opener.
Volvo has also added a fuel priming pump toward the rear of the loader, allowing contractors to bleed the fuel system within 3-5 minutes and reduce service times.
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