The Classic Machinery Network

Having spent 15 years with the Australian Komatsu dealer (in a previous life) I have a huge collection of photos I took when i was a field serviceman & then as a tech rep. Here are some pics of the Komatsu HM400 when it was first released.
We put it up against the Cat 740 and the Hitachi AD40 at a landfill site to see how it performed. The operators loved them, they were quick, quiet and the fuel consumption was ok. The tilting cab gives reasonable access to various bits and pieces. Not a bad truck.

Good Pictures, I have seen some of these beasts working a few times and I must say that I enjoyed watching them roar past. They look a good machine.

Luke

The Komatsus seem to be gaining some ground in this country, but I think they still have a long way to go to beat the market leaders from Volvo.
Paul

I had one of demonstration a few years ago in Yeomans Torr works.I had a A40C at the time.The Komatsu was`nt too bad.My only gripe was the front end tended to push wide when turning,as if the front diff lock was on.It was a better truck than the new Cat i tried a few months before.But not as good over all compared to the A40C,but thats just my preferance.I dont think you can beat a Volvo ADT .Mr Sparkes never brought any Komatsu`s,instead he got some Cats because of quick delivery & cheaper price over the Volvos.We still have some Cats but all recent ADT`s are Volvos.
Wainwrights quarry where i`am now have a HM400,working on stockpile duties.They are very happy with it,apart from what they see as excessive tyre wear,mainly due to the permanant 6x6.It runs mainly on tarmac roads so 6x4(like you can with the Volvo`s)would be better suited for the job.

Heres Wainwright`s HM400.I think its a 2006 model.They are very happy with it,apart from tyre wear.But its used to move stock to the stock piles mainly on tarmac roads,& being 6x6 it tends to scrub the rear tyres out.As you cant turn the rear drive off like you can on the Volvo`s.

Here is a pic of one i drove for a couple of days when i worked at WBB's(Sibelco) Shaugh Lake China Clay quarry in Devon. This one belonged to Chepstow Plant International who i worked for at the time, when i drove a Cat D8T Dozer there. I found the same problem with the turning circle on the truck ,electric window is a nice touch and visibility was pretty good but i thought it wasn't that quiet.