With the festive season over he’s itching to get back to work. Some say he thinks that lunch is for wimps, others that he enjoys nothing more than a sandwich in the cab. All we know is that we call him The Dig. This month he gets his claws into a Bobcat CWL.
Compact wheeled loaders (CWL) may be relatively small in stature, but they are definitely big business from a manufacturer’s and end user’s perspective. For those of you interested in such things, the demand, according to industry research, in the compact wheeled loader market is anticipated to top US$ 6.64bn, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% up to 2029.
Europe has long been the most lucrative market for these extremely versatile machines/tool carriers, accounting for nearly 43.7% of the global demand up to 2022 andthis growth is expected to continue in the coming years.
Bobcat is one manufacturer who is keen to expand its market share in this sector. To date it has launched the L85 model in ‘advanced’ configuration, tipping the scales at 5.1-tonnes and fitted with a 68hp diesel engine; it was the company’s first designed and built CWL. Then it added the L75 ‘value’ model weighing in at a modest 4.6-tonnes and powered by 55hp diesel engine, with both models sporting a standard bucket capacity of 0.8 m3.
So, when I had the chance to get up close and personal with Bobcat’s largest CWL to date, the L95 ‘premium’ model, I naturally jumped at the chance. The machine shares the same dynamic styling as its siblings, has an operating weight of 5.4 tonnes, and is powered by a Stage V emissions-compliant Bobcat diesel engine producing 75hp @2600rpm. Before I got behind the wheel for this test drive opportunity, I took a little walk-around the machine. Starting at the rear, popping the large and stylish shaped one-piece bonnet reveals superb access to all the engine components for daily checks and routine servicing. This model also benefits from a larger and heavier counterweight which helps to increase the shovel’s lifting capacity with a specified bucket tipping load of 3339kg. It is shod with the much-lauded Michelin XMCL 400/70 R20 IMD tyres, but different options are available to suit customer’s requirements.
The loader is the classic design of cab and engine to the rear and loader arms on the front ahead of the articulation point, which when operating feels a lot more logical than on some small compact loaders where the cab is mounted on the front section of the chassis, which is fine, but can take some getting used to. The loader arms themselves feature twin lifting rams nicely installed on the inside frame, the single ram for the bucket tipping function forms part of a classic Z-bar linkage, which is well proven in wheeled loader design. Our demo machine was sporting a larger than standard 1m3 bucket, mounted on the Bobcat’s Power Quick-Tach attachment pick up system, which has been redesigned to simplify and protect the hydraulic connections from any potential damage.
Using this system end users can share Bob- Tach attachments on the job site with skid. steer loaders and compact track loaders, further enhancing versatility. Standard flow hydraulics are fitted as the name suggests, as standard, to power such work tools as a combination bucket, angle broom, and sweeper, but this example was fitted with high flow auxiliary hydraulics, with quick connect couplers mounted on the inside of the nearside loader arms. Keeping in line with other Bobcat loaders the high flow system provides 100 l/m to feed those really oil hungry attachments such as planers, flail mowers, cutting wheels and snow blowers; to improve the high flow attachment performance the pressure has been increased from 200 to 225 bar.
