As if the 1,250-hp 994D wheel loader wasn't already brute enough, Caterpillar's new 994F has 14 percent more net power (1,429 horsepower), 10 percent more hydraulic flow, an 8-percent gain in hydraulic pressure, and 10 percent more rimpull. And on top of that, the company has further refined the 994F with an enhanced operator's environment and new safety features.
According to Caterpillar, the significant gains in both engine and hydraulic horsepower result in more digging power and faster truck-loading cycles. And complementing this increased power and speed are three lift arrangements: standard, high and super high.
The standard lift configuration, with a 24.5-cubic-yard rock bucket and a payload of 38 tons, is sized to match Cat 785 and 789 haul trucks. The high-lift version uses a 22.5-cubic-yard rock bucket, has a payload of 34 tons, and is designed to load Cat 789 and 793 trucks. For coal-loading operations, the super-high-lift arrangement uses a 47-cubic-yard bucket and, with added counterweights, allows a 34-ton payload. This coal-handling configuration is aimed at efficiently loading the Cat 793 truck or similar-size haul units fitted with coal bodies.
In place of the conventional Cat 3516 engine in the 994D, the new model uses the 3516 HD EUI engine. In addition to internal changes that boost torque rise and durability, the 994F engine features new turbochargers, high-capacity air cleaners, and dual 80-amp alternators. Also available for the 994F is Caterpillar's Oil Renewal System, which uses an on-board engine-oil-management system designed to meter and inject used engine oil from the crankcase into the engine's fuel-return line.
Drive-train enhancements include a refined torque converter and a transmission with a redesigned control manifold for promoting faster shifts and longer clutch life. Overall, the drive train features larger gears, bearings of higher capacity, a 26-percent increase in oil flow, and two additional oil-to-air coolers.
For the operator's comfort and convenience, the cab is larger, quieter and uses the new Cat Comfort Seat. The new cab also accommodates a trainer seat and can be fitted with a rear-vision camera and high-intensity-discharge lighting. The new 994F incorporates a ladder on each side of the cab (with reduced step heights), handrails around all work areas, and transmission and starter lockout switches located at ground level.
