Takeuchi’s mini digger on steroids

by Nick Drew | Sun 23 Nov 2014

Takeuchi’s mini digger on steroids

Back in 2005 during a visit to the SED show I caught sight of the new 14 tonne offering from the Takeuchi the TB1140. I’ve been a big fan ever since and last week I called into my local dealers CBL Plant Sales to take a look at the Series 2 version.

The 13-14 tonne excavator market is massive in the UK, but in most instances firms still tend to opt for the conventional style of machine in this class. In my opinion the big Takeuchi can offer so much more especially in the housing groundwork’s sector, with its ability to offset its arm like a mini excavator and with its dozer blade for backfilling. Of course this all comes at a premium price when compared to a conventional machine.

The TB1140 was actually first launched as far back as 2003 at the Intermat show in Paris, so the machine has been around for some time now. The concept has proven to be more popular in Central Europe than in the UK, but there are a number of owner operators and small fleet users who are running the machines. Essentially the design has remained the same since its introduction over 10 years ago and in some way’s I think it’s fair to say that the machine is in need of a makeover cosmetically, but operation wise it is still a cracking piece of kit.

The upgraded Series 2 version was launched in 2013 with the major improvement being the fitment of an emissions compliant Isuzu 4 cylinder engine with a power rating of 103.3hp (77kw). This machine had just returned to CBL Plant Sales, Saltash, Cornwall depot following a successful demonstration period with Plymouth based W Daniels Plant Hire, with the operator commenting that he was very impressed with the machine.

I had one of these machines on demonstration many years ago and loved it, but I was keen to have a play on the latest model just to remind myself how good they are. The first thing that strikes you is how far back you seem to be in the cab, which I have to say is very spacious with plenty of glass for visibility and windows to open to allow fresh air flow.

The Series 2 has a new dash monitor and a choice of Eco or Power working modes, as an “old school” operator its power all the way for me and I was quickly into action with the machine, enjoying the super smooth hydraulics that Takeuchi have become so famous for. Sadly there was no option for me to actually put the machine to work as such on this occasion, but it was still an enjoyable experience to be back in the big Takeuchi.

With a 4.1 metre mono boom and a 2.6 dipper arm the machine has an impressive dig depth of 5240mm, which can be further improved on by using the blade at the rear to tilt the machine to achieve even more depth.

The big kingpost and hydraulic rams can interrupt vision at some angles but that is a small compromise to pay for the increased versatility the machine can offer. Using the offset boom the operator can slew it right around 77 degrees in front of the cab to the left and 55 degrees to the right. With the boom to the left the operator has a fantastic view of the work or down into a trench.

It would be great to have one of these again for a few days in the future to really access and enjoy the benefits of the machine.

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