10.03.2010 Improved Caterpillar Wheel Feller Bunchers

Upgrades to the hydraulic system and other enhancements have improved the productivity and reliability of the Cat 553, Cat 563 and the Cat 573 wheel feller bunchers. Multi-functioning, an advantage of Cat wheel feller bunchers has been enhanced with improvements to the front control valve.

Simultaneous lift-tilt and lift-steer functions are over 60% faster than major competitive machines. The saw pump flow capacity in the feller bunchers has been increased, resulting in a 15% improvement in saw recovery time on the Cat 563 and a 6% improvement in the Cat 573. Additional adjustments provide better acceleration and faster ground speed. Operators will notice more power on hills, wet ground and rough terrain.

Hydraulic hoses have been improved to protect them from damage and reduce wear. Hoses are longer and made of an abrasion-resistant material designed to withstand abuse. Extreme-duty rubber tube covers provide additional protection to the lift arm hoses. The covers reduce downtime by deflecting impact to the hoses and preventing friction damage from debris between the hoses.

To make getting in and out of the cab easier, Cat replaced the rubber belt step with a rigid, fixed step. Other enhancements include button head bolts to prevent wear on hoses and expander pins for cab mounts to reduce cab noise. The Cat 553 is powered by the Cat C6.6 ACERT engine 173 hp; the 197 hp Cat 563 and 225 hp 573 are equipped with the Cat C7 ACERT engine. All engines meet Tier III emissions regulations.

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