Mustang Adds to Telehandler Product Line

Enlarge Photo Mustang 642 has more lift height.

January 12, 2005—Mustang Manufacturing Co., Owatonna, Minn., introduces two new telescopic handlers to its Value Series product line, the 642 and the 844. The 642 replaces the 638 model, and it offers a 42-foot lift height • an increase of 4 feet more than the 638. The 844 is a new addition to the Value Series line, and it has a rated lift capacity of 8,000 pounds and a lift height of 44 feet. The 642 and 844 share boom designs with the larger Deluxe Series of telehandlers.

 

In addition to the increased lift height, other new advancements include pilot-operated joystick controls, a new tilt cylinder, and an optional Work Platform System. According to Doug Snorek, marketing manager for Mustang, joysticks have been upgraded to be like the 634 model. The Mustang 642 and 844 pilot-operated controls have one joystick for boom control, and another for frame-leveling and attachment control. “The two-joystick design was optimized using computer simulation to improve the ergonomics for the operator,” Snorek said. The previous model had three hydraulic controls, one for each of these functions.

 

A new tilt cylinder also has been installed to quickly tilt the forks and increase productivity and performance. One notable optional feature is the Work Platform System, which allows for the safe use of a personnel work platform attached to the forks. “Once the WPS is activated, the system senses the attitude of the machine, neutralizes the transmission, applies the parking brake, disables the fork tilt and auxiliary hydraulic circuits, and restricts use of the frame leveling circuit, providing platform workers with a safe and stable environment,” Snorek said. The WPS adds an additional safeguard for platform workers: a remote shutdown switch that gives workers on the platform the ability to stop boom movement if needed.”

 

A spring-applied, hydraulically released (SAHR) parking brake is standard on the new machines. The SAHR \brake is automatically applied when the engine is shut off, the boom is raised over 60 degrees, or the WPS is activated. A rocker switch is used to apply the brake, which makes the parking brake easy to use and eliminates problems like cable stretch that are found on hand-lever-actuated parking brakes.

 

Look for these new telehandlers at World of Concrete, The Rental Show, and ConExpo this spring. For information, go to www.mustangmfg.com.