Takeuchi Delivers

I was recently contacted by Instagram user Brandon Johnson who runs his own business Elite Earthworks LLC in Missouri, USA. Brandon was asking for my opinion on the Takeuchi TB2150R which I duly relayed to him in a return message. But it got me thinking about running a version of the report I wrote on the machine when it first came out in the UK for Earthmovers Magazine back in 2017, which I hope will be of interest to Brandon and the wider Digger Man Blog audience.

There had been much anticipation over the years that Takeuchi might one day launch its own fixed conventional mounted boom 13-15 tonne class excavator and back in 2017 that wait was finally over with the arrival of the TB2150R.

According to Takeuchi this machine had been on the cards for over 10 years thanks in part to pressure from European dealers who had long asked for a conventional style excavator to allow them to compete in the extremely competitive mass volume 13-15 tonne market sector.

This all-new model was developed in Europe and at the time Takeuchi confirmed that in an unusual move, the American dealers would not be taking it and would be sticking to the off-set version only, there reasoning behind this was that they felt the market for fixed boom machines in the US was already established and they felt they might not have any impact in that market. I’m now delighted to report that according to Brandon, the TB2150R is going to be launched into the US market after all, and its something that Brandon is very interested in as a long-term Takeuchi customer!

Back in November 2017 the factory in Nagano, Japan was already working a seven-day week to keep up with demand for its excavators and the previous year had opened a new state of the art factory dedicated to producing 500 tracked skid steer loaders per month for the US market alone, a move which had freed up more space for excavator production in the other areas of the facility. Talking about the TB2150R production capacity Takeuchi UK’s Managing Director Tomonori Tamaru said, “The 13-15 tonne size machine is extremely popular around the world, as such manufacturers are facing a shortage of key components like hydraulic pumps, slew and track motors as those manufacturers struggle to keep up with global demand from a wide range of OEM’s”.

With the new model being developed for the European market the initial choice of length for the dipper arm was 2.3m, this choice caused a few ripples among UK dealers who were sceptical and wanted to see the UK preferred 3.0m stick. Looking at things logically however, in most parts of Europe now end users on this size machine prefer a shorter stick as they are fitting tiltrotator’s which adds to the length and is then ideal size wise.

However following consultation with Japan, the company are going to re-design the machine with the UK market in mind to include a slightly more familiar 2.85m stick with a bigger top ram to offer the same breakout force as the current machine. With the current TB2150R already receiving excellent customer feedback and as a self-confessed fan of the “red & grey”, I was keen to take a closer look at the new kid on the block.

The original TB1140 was, I think it’s fair to say, a bit of a slow burner in terms of sales partly, as I understand it, down to pricing, although having said that, there were decent numbers sold into the UK market, especially to owner operators and groundwork contractors, but its replacement the TB2150 has proven to be a very popular machine in a wide range of applications.

The only criticism’s I have ever heard about these models was their slight lack of lifting ability and visibility both of which has to be put down to the design geometry of such machines, for instance not having so much upward travel on the boom and having to use the dipper arm to raise the said load.

As such with the TB2150R and the root of the boom being mounted a lot further back in a more conventional manner we have seen much better performance on the lifting front and vastly improved forward visibility.

Tipping the scales at 15.6 tonnes the TB2150R like its off-set counterpart the TB2150 retains the German built 4-cylinder Deutz TCD3.6L4 engine which is a Stage 4 emissions compliant unit complete with AdBlue system and DOC unit to achieve the required emissions levels. This engine has a rated power output of 85kw (115hp) @2000rpm. (Stage 5 models are now being produced)

Access to the engine for the daily oil check can be achieved from ground level, with the inclusion of a clever panel door built into the stylish wrap around cast counterweight which once unlocked comes out and across to the left-hand side of the machine allowing you to reach in for the dipstick and also when changing the engine oil filter.

The machine features larger opening side panel doors than the offset model. On the nearside space behind the cab, we discover the cooling packs, air filter housing, batteries, electric re-fuelling pump and a 20 litre AdBlue tank. Behind the offside rear panel, it’s the usual fare of hydraulic pumps, fuel and pilot line filters and expansion bottle and in addition there are fluid level sight tubes for both fuel and hydraulic oil.

Walking along to the offside forward panel and the whole thing opens outwards to reveal the hydraulic valve block assembly and pipework, all nicely located for ease of maintenance. To the right of the panel door a series of narrow steps and left-hand side guard rail guide to operator up on top of the machine to the other access point to the engine and to the remote greasing points situated on the back of the main boom.

Sitting on the standard 700mm UK spec steel triple grouser track pads the undercarriage is slightly longer than on the off-set version at 3750mm, but has the same width footprint as the TB2150 at 2690mm, but once again features seven triple-flanged bottom rollers and, I’m delighted to report, two top rollers which makes for a much more comfortable ride.

Forward and centrally mounted track guides help to keep everything in place even in the toughest of terrains, and twin speed track motors with auto step down function provide torque on demand when pushing, climbing slopes or when turning in high speed mode. Optional rubber tracks can be supplied if required as can a quick fit dozer blade option with all machines coming off the production line being dozer blade ready.

The mono boom features check valves which are located behind the boom lift rams for protection from accidental damage and a check valve is also fitted on the dipper ram. There are 3 x auxiliary hydraulic circuits fitted as standard and at the business end on this example a Tefra automatic quick coupler from Hill Engineering was fitted. A two-piece (TAB) boom option is available and would be an awesome addition to this already highly capable machine, even more so if specified with a tiltrotator!

The cab is essentially exactly the same as that fitted to the off-set version, it has a spacious feel to it with plenty of glass for that all essential visibility. Talking of visibility, a slightly higher profile of the bodywork obstructs some vision to that side, Takeuchi’s answer to that is to fit two additional mirrors (5 mirrors in total) which offer the operator a view down that side of the machine, there is no offside view camera, although there is a rear view one visible through the in cab multi-function 7-inch full colour monitor.

Talking about the monitor a new feature in this machine is the load status display on the left-hand side of the screen, this allows the operator to know the safe lift limit of his machine infinitely from L = Light to H = Heavy. Other standard features include, coolant and hydraulic oil temperatures, fuel level, and re-gen status in addition to a whole host of other settings accessible through the menu’s which can also be independently set up for up to 4 individual operator’s preferences.

Most of the other switches and buttons around the cab are effectively as they were in the original TB2150. There is also a convenient multi-USB charging port to the operators right and the radio features Bluetooth functionality so you can operate and answer the phone hands free as you would in a car. 24v and 12v plug sockets are also located around the cab to supply power to other items such as portable kettles and phone charging.

The heated high-back air suspension seat, is fully adjustable in so many ways for little fellas like me and with plenty of legroom available in the cab it should accommodate even the largest of operators.

On the floor in the big Takeuchi, it’s the standard fare that we have come to expect from the Japanese manufacturer, two decent sized track pedals, with in this model a foot rest to the left and right-hand side of the aforementioned pedals. The two-speed tracking selection switch is now incorporated onto the front of the right-hand joystick lever, which is much more convenient when tracking using your feet, enabling you to keep your hands on the joysticks for multi-tasking operations.

To the rear of the cab, we find the same sized parcel shelf for storing your lunch bag, but still no cargo netting to retain items in place, something I feel as an operator would be a necessary addition if I was running the machine. It could easily be sorted by buying some netting and fixing it in place with a few screws.

As in the off-set model the front windscreen is a two-piece affair with the upper section opening up via two quick release grab handles, this section can then be raised into the roof and locked in place in the regular way, the lower section can if needed, be lifted out and stored at the rear of the cab. A curved front roof screen is fitted for keeping an eye on overhead obstructions, although some of the cab metalwork does get in the way of visibility.

Of course, everyone these days want’s Scandinavian style LED work lights and these new machines are coming direct for the factory with them fitted with two forward facing cab lights and one to the rear, one forward facing on the offside, and one either side of the boom ensuring night turns into day during early or late shifts.

The TB2150R that we visited is owned and operated by Greater Manchester Construction Training (GMCT) who have struck up a partnership with Takeuchi UK locally and it was at their training facility in Rochdale that I got hands on with the new model.

Having fired her up and cranked up the throttle dial which is located within the right-hand side joysticks arm rest, I tracked into position to excavate a hole. My initial thoughts were once again how quiet the machine is when operating, the only thing that makes it noisy is the motion alarm beeper which is now a standard fitment on these machines with more and more customers clients asking them to be installed!

After taking my first bite in the ground I just felt I need that extra bit of boost in power and so I flicked the power setting button to heavy mode. As with all these machines in my opinion, they just react much better in the HP mode and this one was no different as it came alive in my hands.

Even operating at the higher power setting the machine just purred away effortlessly, I was taking no prisoners either, excavating a hole using a 72” (1500mm) grading bucket just to see how it coped, in all honesty there was no need for concern, as with the shorter dipper it just tore through the ground like a hot knife through butter, gouging out another heaped bucket I put the dipper arm fully out over the side for the tip test, I can assure you this thing was not going anywhere!

Try as I might it would not disturb the machines balance in any way and it just stayed rooted to the spot. In the dig I could feel the machine pulling itself towards the hole such is the digging force on this compact excavator which has a rated arm digging force of 64.9kN and a bucket digging force of 98.7kN. Maximum digging depth for the TB2150R is 5530mm with maximum reach at ground level being 8195mm.

It’s that supreme balance that appears to be the major talking point about these machines, along with the superb and legendary silky-smooth hydraulics that we have come to associate with the Takeuchi brand over the years. This excavator just remains well balanced whatever you try to do to it and its compact nature makes it an ideal choice for the likes of groundworks firms working in close proximity to houses, I also see this machine’s compact yet powerful nature being extremely useful on road projects during single lane closure works and the like. In tight spots the rear overhang is just 350mm when sat on 700mm track pads offering piece of mind to the operator that he can work very safely in congested areas.

Of course, I had to put the machine to the test on the grading front too and as you would expect it didn’t disappoint, even in the most delicate of situations the hydraulics are first class and make trimming stone a piece of cake, it’s not hard to see why so many operators love a Takeuchi.

Checkout this video of another TB2150R we visited in 2019 owned and operated by Powell Developments in Wales. 

I would like to thank Brandon of Elite Earthworks LLC for the interest that inspired this post, checkout their account over on Instagram @eliteearthworks