SELECTING THE BEST WHEEL LOADER BUCKETS

BENEFITS OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT BUCKETS

• Easier loading. With design changes over earlier buckets to improve loadability and performance, Cat^® buckets help you get the most out of your wheel loader. An opened throat allows material to enter the bucket unrestricted.
  
  
• More fuel efficiency. The longer floor of your Cat buckets makes it easier than ever to dig into the pile. And improved visibility of the load means it’s easier for the operator to see when the bucket is full. Less time in the pile means you’re consuming less fuel.
  
  
• Larger capacity. The bucket shape, strike plane and angle are designed for consistently large load sizes that hold more material.
  
  
• More machine uptime. Bucket spill guards divert overflow away from sensitive areas of your wheel loader, protecting components and keeping your machine operational with fewer dollars spent on replacement parts.
  
  
• Durability. Bucket parts and components are designed and built to high quality specifications, leading to the durability you expect from Caterpillar.
  

PERFORMANCE SERIES BUCKETS

Performance Series buckets are designed for use in truck loading, stockpiling and load-and-carry applications. They are designed to load easily and carry more material — up to 115% high fill factors when compared with other buckets of the same rated capacity. The Performance Series gives several additional options to make sure operators pick the right wheel loader attachment for their application.

• General Purpose buckets are for all-around applications like stockpiling, re-handling, excavating and bank loading. They are designed for standard breakout forces and abrasion conditions.
  
  
• Material Handling buckets have a flat floor for efficient loading of stockpiled materials, which require moderate to light breakout forces. They are the best performers for production loading.
  
  
• Rock buckets offer the same efficiency as the General Purpose buckets while adding wear protection for handling more abrasive material. A spade edge penetrates dense material for fast loading.

MULTI-PURPOSE BUCKETS

True to their name, Multi-Purpose buckets can perform many tasks, from loading and bulldozing to clamping pipe or large chunks of concrete. Dual hydraulic cylinders power the front half of the bucket to work as a grapple. When closed, the bucket works conventionally, with a straight cutting edge for loading. When partially open, the bucket can meter out fill material, or use its inner, angled cutting edge for dozing and scraping.

OTHER SPECIALTY BUCKETS

• Side Dump buckets can dump materials both to the front and the side of the machine using a cross-mounted cylinder. This provides an advantage for working in tight quarters such as street work and tunnel construction.
  
  
• High Dump buckets can reach up and over the sides of loading bins and truck sides — higher than ordinary bucket types — using dedicated dumping cylinders and a bottom hinge. These buckets are sized for less dense material.
  
  
• Grapple buckets clamp loose material with dual ladder-style grapple tines to hold and move loose, lightweight loads.
  
  
• Waste Handling buckets can move large volumes of low-density waste, with a screen that’s fine enough to trap loose trash but still permits operator visibility.
  
  
• Waste Load & Carry buckets are designed to load and carry lightweight material, minimizing contact with the floor for less bucket and floor wear while still allowing for dozing material, stockpiling and load compaction. Visibility is improved with the use of bars instead of screens.
  
  
• Waste Dozing buckets are designed to push waste loads along the floor to a hole or hopper for below grade truck loading. The design maximizes volume when pushing waste, with a shallow throat and tall profile.
  
  
• Woodchip buckets are specifically designed to move large volumes of woodchips, with a tall and wide design and internal gusseting to keep the bucket rigid and straight.
  
  
• Slag buckets are designed for loading hot slag, with heat-resistant characteristics suitable for removing material directly from melting furnaces.

How can you determine the best bucket for your job? Talk to your Cat dealer or download wheel loader bucket technical specifications guide.