Case Construction 330B ADT dump truck

By: Dan Gilkes

Date: 09.09.2010

Case introduced four ADTs made for tough New Zealand conditions. Dan Gilkes tests the Case 330B ADT.

The Case 330B ADT is one of four models in the range intended to tackle tough local conditions.

Good visibility
Electronic control and monitoring system in the cab
Acceptable noise level
Tipping time rate of 13 seconds
Low down pulling power

For Case, the ADT business has been a particularly difficult sector to crack, with a few sales of the first generation truck, but no major breakthroughs thereafter.

With the four model B series range, the company is hoping to change all that, and to prove that its Italian-built trucks have what it takes to keep moving in the toughest of site conditions. With payload capacities of 24.6, 28.1, 31.5 and 36 tonnes, Case has all but the largest competitive models covered.

Engine and power

The 330B is powered by an Iveco motor, supplied by Case's sister company Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT).

The Tier III 10-litre engine is also used in the 327B, though with less power, while the 335B and 340B have a larger 13-litre lump. In the 330B the motor puts out a net rating of 334hp at 1900rpm, with maximum torque of 1650Nm available at 1100rpm.

Such low down pulling power helps to get the truck off the mark rapidly and should give it plenty of grunt when the going gets tough. To make the most of the available output Case has paired the engine with an electronically controlled ZF 6WG260 Powershift transmission, offering six forward gears and three reverse ratios.

The gearbox is said to offer finely modulated gear shifting, to give the operator a smoother ride and to prolong component life, as there are less shock loadings. The transmission offers lock-up in every gear, providing strong tractive effort when required and reduced fuel consumption on longer hauls.

Six-wheel drive is standard on all Case trucks with the transmission apportioning one third of drive to the front axle and two thirds to the rear axles in normal use. The transfer box comes with a front axle interlock and both the middle and rear axles have limited slip differentials.

Performance and handling

Case offers fully independent suspension with its ADTs. The trucks use nitrogen over oil struts with an A-frame to allow the front wheels to move vertically on their own. At the rear, the 330B has a tandem walking beam design with rubber bushes to soak up the worst of the bumps and allow the wheels to follow uneven terrain.

The suspension is tied to a wide chassis design that offers good stability and a low centre of gravity. The four-stage upside down body lift cylinders are mounted within the width of the frame, keeping them out of the worst of the mud and further bringing the weight in to a central area for stability.

At 13 seconds up or down, the operator won't have to wait long for the machine to tip either, with the two rams powering even the fullest body up and back. The 330B comes with a 13.6m³ struck wide body (17.6m³ heaped), offering a nominal payload of around 28.1 tonnes. Spill guards, tail gates and heavy duty rock bodies are available, and our test truck was equipped with optional body heating, where the exhaust is channelled through the body ribbing to stop material sticking to the steel during the winter months.

Inside the cab

The operator's offers easy access, thanks to wide steps and hand rails, leading to a spacious interior with a flat floor that is easy to keep clean.

A comfortable air suspension seat comes with arm rests, and the steering column is fully adjustable. As well as fore and aft sliding for the seat, you can also slide it across to the right of the machine slightly, to make more room for the standard trainer seat to be occupied. Air conditioning is standard on all four of the Case trucks.

As is the norm on ADTs, the dash and control console wraps around the driver's seat, with a simple dash in front of the steering wheel and the gearshift, tipping and handbrake controls to the right.

The 330B comes with an engine brake as standard, and you can specify a transmission retarder if desired. The retarder is standard on the larger models. We didn't get to try the machine fully loaded on any particularly steep hills, but the service brakes, dry discs on all wheels, were more than up to the task of bringing the machine to a halt fully laden.

When it comes to looking after all of these components, the 330B's main engine canopy tilts completely forward at the touch of an electric button. By releasing a couple of mounting bolts you can also tilt the entire cab over to the left of the chassis, offering clear access to the transmission too. In addition, the front mudguards can be pulled away from the chassis, allowing the engineer to get close to the running gear.

For the operator, the Case trucks have an electronic control and monitoring system in the cab, which displays all levels, temperatures and pressures. Centralised hydraulic pressure check points assist the service engineer and centralised greasing also features on the two smaller trucks. Automatic lubrication, standard on the 335B and 340B, is also available as an option on the two smaller models.

In use, the 330B is a quiet truck, though its engine revs freely and accelerates rapidly when required. Visibility is good, though as with all ADTs can be compromised when reversing as the rear chassis articulates.

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