LOOKS BIG, ACTS SMALL
ON THE FACE OF IT, THE CAT 980M IS A big machine. But it takes the merest hint of a finger-tip movement to set it in motion.
Such is the new technology that takes all of the effort from operating a 30-tonne wheel loader that can grab 17 tonnes of logs in its beak.
When I first took over the controls I actually found it too touchy. You move it a millimetre and it will start turning. With this machine you are driving it with your thumb and your finger. Not like the old machines where you need a full hand stroke to make it do something – now all that’s required is very subtle finger-tip movement.
All these new systems are becoming much more sensitive and once you get used to them it’s a good thing because the less effort needed, the less tired you’ll feel at the end of a shift.
But it did take me a while to get the hang of this one. It is supposed to adapt to the way the operator works – I guess I was just being a little too cautious. And in the meantime, it was wobbling about on the tyres as I tried to come to terms with the touchiness.
Steve did tell me to use more power but it’s a mind-over-matter thing and your head is not listening to that because you don’t want to break anything.
I did feel more confident at the end as I adjusted to how it works and the system adjusted to my inputs, and was able to increase the power and stop that jerkiness. It’s often the way with these Iron Tests – just as I’m getting used to the feel of a machine it’s time to come off.
The controls are well placed, the layout is good and it feels nice once you are comfortable. You’re not reaching, because everything falls nicely to hand.
The steering is on the left arm joystick along with the forward and reverse gears button. And you’ve also got a kickdown on either side that drops it down a gear, although I never got to use them. I just left it in automatic to do its thing. Real simple. I don’t think it ever got up beyond third gear as I was driving around the yard.
The controls on the right for the boom weren’t as touchy as the steering, but still very responsive. I did have a little trouble with the beak to start with because that was on a separate dial, though still on the joystick.
Looking out from that beautifully comfy seat, you get a great view of the forks when you approach a truck.
I tend to look at the tips of the forks as I ease up to the logs, whereas Steve says he looks at a crossbar to line it up. The Z-linkage works well and it’s easy to fine tune your movements and crowd back when you have all the logs inside the beak. Although there was one load Steve told me about over the radio, saying give it a bit more gas, crowd it back and come forward. That was on the borderline of dropping, he said, but it didn’t feel any different to me at the controls. It was lifting alright.
None of the loads ever felt too heavy, unless I was being too touchy on the steering. It’s got plenty of hydraulics for lifting and power, and everything matches up very well.
I didn’t really get to look at the monitors much. Too busy keeping an eye on the logs and where I was going. But I did notice that the reverse camera wasn’t showing much, so I relied on the mirrors instead when reversing and that was just as effective.
The 980M is a very operator friendly machine, nice and quiet – I couldn’t really hear the engine much, even though the radio was on low. No wonder Steve is happy to spend 12 hours at a time in here.
NZL