Lexington, Ky.-based Link-Belt aims to reset the standard in the 70- to 75-ton class with the introduction of the 75-ton HTC-8675 Series II telescopic truck crane. Originally introduced in 1996, the HTC-8675 established new performance standards for North American truck cranes. Now, the all-new HTC-8675 Series II strengthens this legacy with more standard features, longer reach, better lift capacities, and improved over-the-road mobility.
The new 8675's 127-foot formed boom adds 12 feet over its predecessor and uses Link-Belt's patented latching boom known for its ability to telescope loads. For more flexibility, there are four boom modes, EM1•EM4, instead of two. Teflon pucks are imbedded into the wear pads to self-lubricate the boom sections, which means no more boom grease. The top and bottom wear pads are universal for all sections so there's no need to stock multiple pad sizes. The optional two-piece, 38 to 64-foot bi-fold lattice fly and two optional 16-foot lattice extensions give a maximum tip height of 230 feet. The fly offsets to 2, 15, 30, and 45 degrees.
The new 8675 also has a strong chart: With the main boom at maximum height and a 100 foot radius, the improvement is almost 20 percent. Smooth, linear controls, six-way adjustable seat, and optional air conditioning increase comfort in the 8675. All engine and crane monitoring systems within the cab are positioned to maximize jobsite visibility while still in full view of the operator. The console-mounted Rated Capacity Limiter (RCL) has a high-contrast color display for easy viewing even in direct sunlight. Its audible-visual alarms warn against reaching the crane's limits. It also has presettable, defined area alarms.
The Caterpillar C-13, 445-hp engine with 1,550 foot-pounds of torque has more torque than its predecessor, and meets EPA's 2007 on-highway regulations. The ZF AS-Tronic automated manual transmission is smooth and easy to drive. It has 12 forward gears and two reverse for precise gear selection for the open road or pick-and-carry operations. It even has cruise control and engine compression braking. The air-ride suspension provides a smooth highway ride, excellent on-tire lifting capacities, and easy jobsite travel.
For more job-site maneuverability, the 8675 also comes in an HTT model. Steerable rear axles in conjunction with single tires make the HTT-8675 Series II agile in tight places. Four steering modes - independent front, independent rear, combination, and crab - allow the HTT to move in and out of any jobsite constraint. The HTT's turning radius is less than 29 feet at the edge of the tire. And with the transverse differential locks, traction in difficult terrain is easy. Transport configuration is a key element of Link-Belt truck cranes and is unmatched in the market. The new 8675 has better transport configurations than its predecessor without sacrificing any features.
For more information and complete crane specifications, visit www.linkbelt.com.
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