John Deere introduces 844K-III wheel loader

John Deere has updated its 844K wheel loader with improvements to the hydraulic plumbing and the model’s Aggregate Handler configuration with a new enhanced performance bucket.

Powered by a 13.5-liter Deere PowerTech engine, the 844K-III boasts 380 horsepower while the Ag Handler configuration has 401. A five-speed transmission with torque-converter lockup in gears two through five complements this Tier 4 Final engine, increasing acceleration, speeds and cycles while optimizing power and fuel efficiency during transport, roading and ramp climbing, Deere says.

“The 844K-III is designed to take on the toughest aggregate and material-moving applications in the world. We worked closely with our customers to design these productive machines to be even more rugged and reliable,” says John Chesterman, Deere product marketing manager for production class four-wheel drive loaders. “The Aggregate Handler configuration of the 844K-III can load out 24 short tons of non-heaping, lower-density processed matter in just two passes into on-road dump trucks. Heavier heaping materials achieving 12-plus tons is not a problem.”

Deere has improved the hydraulic plumbing on these machines, replacing 81 feet of hoses with more than three dozen steel tubes. The update improves service and uptime by minimizing hose rubs. The company has also routed hydraulic hoses away from vital operating components to increase wear life and has enlarged articulation-joint and linkage pins for greater productivity.

Offering more power and designed for two-pass loading, the 844K-III Aggregate Handler configuration features a low center of gravity and optimized fore-and-aft balance for stability and full-turn tippling-load capacities, Deere says. This configuration cuts loading time by 30 percent, Deere says, with reduced fuel consumption by eliminating a third pinch pass.

The AH config also features larger tilt cylinders, higher hydraulic pressure and larger, 9.3- and 9.8-cubic-yard material-handling buckets. Deere has also updated these buckets with a narrower integrated spill guard and curved side cutters for improved load retention and visibility to the load.

The machines still feature Deere’s Quad-Cool System with reversing fan which “provides wide-open access to both sides of the coolers for easy cleanout,” Deere says. The machines also feature integrated tire monitoring which reports pressures and temperatures on the monitor inside the cab and through JDLink Ultimate telematics.

Inside the cab, operators will find joystick steering with forward/neutral/reverse, a sealed-switch module, ride control and hydraulic controls integrated into a heated seat.

Deere says the 844K-III Aggregate Handler will be on display at ConExpo/Con-Agg 2017, March 7 – 11, at booth N12525.