Takeuchi has upgraded its smallest micro excavator, with the introduction earlier this year of the TB210R.
This Japanese company has continued to listen to its customers and there have been a number of detail changes even since its first launch. The big news is unchanged however, with the TB210R boasting a larger engine, more power, servo controls and an even more streamlined counterweight.
As the R in the name suggests, the TB210R is a reduced tailswing design. With a hydraulically-expanding track width, the micro offers the compact dimensions to travel through a standard doorway, combined with the stability to handle a maximum ground level reach of 3,220mm, up 10% on the TB108.
Despite the compact dimensions at the rear, Takeuchi has swapped the previous two-cylinder engine, for a three-cylinder Kubota motor, boasting 11.6hp (8.7kW) and a healthy 36Nm of torque. That’s a 21% increase in power over the previous model, resulting in a 10% boost to both arm and bucket breakout forces.
To handle this additional tear-out power, along with the digging depth of a comparable 1.5 tonne machine, the TB210R has unsurprisingly put on a bit of weight. The excavator tips the scales at 1,150kg, though that will still prove easy to move with a van or pick-up and trailer.
More importantly it retains its micro excavator dimensions, slimming down to just 750mm with the track frames pulled into their retracted position.
When you are ready to work and require the additional stability of wider support, the track frames can be hydraulically extended out to 1,020mm at the touch of a lever, providing an almost four square base that gives a real feeling of stability even at full reach across track. In heavy material there is no hint of instability when lifting and slewing, inspiring confidence in the operator.
That full-size machine feeling is compounded by the use of hydraulic servo levers, rather than traditional mechanical levers to operate the boom functions.
With comfortable, well-placed arm supports, the TB210R is a very relaxing machine to operate with a remarkable amount of space in the seat for such a compact model. It is also incredibly quiet, even without a cab, the machine relying on a simple folding ROPS frame at the rear for operator protection.
The near zero tailswing design should reduce the chance of damage to the rear and sides of the machine, whilst the servo lever mounts have been moved slightly inwards, to sit within the width of the upper bodywork.
Should a careless operator manage to make contact with the lower bodywork or counterweight on confined sites, there is little chance of expensive damage. The wraparound counterweight is cast steel and the lower bodywork sturdy steel panel that can be easily repaired.
Takeuchi’s designers have done an incredible job of fitting everything in to such a small engine bay, yet with a forward folding seat and canopy, plus a wide opening access door to the left of the machine, it is possible to gain easy access to the engine, filters and fill points.
With foldaway pedals for boom offset and retractable track width, there is also plenty of space on board for work boots and the firm has even found time to create a hook for the seatbelt when not in use.
The big machine specification provides two-speed travel and a 170 degree offset for the main boom. Single and two-way auxiliary hydraulics are also provided to the end of the dipper arm, to power a range of attachments. Pinned extensions for the dozer blade, to match the width of the extended tracks, make the dozer a real working attachment, rather than simply a stabiliser when digging.
Though barely above 1 tonne in weight, the TB210R offers a maximum digging depth of 1,755mm and a maximum dump height of 2,120mm, enough to load over most site dumpers. As mentioned, both bucket and dipper digging forces have been improved, to 11.2kN and 6.4kN respectively.
Admittedly, you would expect a machine weighing 1,150kg to be more capable than an 800kg micro, especially with an additional cylinder providing a power boost. The TB210R manages to offer operators much more excavator though, without a great increase in overall size. It remains a compact micro in terms of transportation and operation, yet boasts the digging performance of a machine in a class above.
www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk
