New HTC-8640 has longest boom in the three-axle truck crane class

Lexington, Kentucky (March, 1999) – Link-Belt introduced the brand new HTC-8640 40-ton (36.3 mt) hydraulic truck crane, which boasts the longest standard boom in the three-axle truck crane class in North America. The standard boom outreaches the nearest competitor by more than 10 feet.

The HTC-8640 joins the family design of its highly successful larger brothers, the HTC-8650 and HTC-8670, which have dominated their market class in recent years.

The HTC-8640 is equipped with a 33 to 105 ft., (10.05 to 32.04 m) full power, four-section boom with the two-mode telescope proportioning system (A-max) for optimum strength and stability charts. Two new swing away attachments are available on the HTC-8640 including a 28.5 ft. (8.68 m), one-stage, swing away attachment and a 28.5 to 51 ft. (8.68 to 15.54 m), two stage, swing away attachment. Both of these attachments offset to 2, 20 and 40 degrees. The 51-ft. (15.54 m) attachment, in combination with the main boom achieves a maximum tip height of 162-ft. (49.37 m). Designed with the operator in mind, the HTC-8640 also has no deducts in capacity for stowed attachments, simplifying the crane’s capacity charts.

The HTC-8640 also includes two Link-Belt exclusive boom design features — the exclusive "A-max" boom mode and the "BOSS." For in-close, big picks, the "A-max" mode (or mode A) allows the operator to extend only the inner-mid section of the boom to maximize the crane’s optimum strength and stability. The "BOSS" is a patented Link-Belt telescopic boom design of high-strength angle chords (corners) with high formability sidewall embossments with no welds, places the most steel at the corners where the maximum stress is concentrated.

The HTC-8640, with a powerful, 350 hp. Cummins ISC350 8.3-liter engine with 1,050 lbs. of torque easily merges safely into highway traffic and can maintain travel speeds in excess of 60 mph. An Eaton RTX-11609B, nine-speed manual transmission is standard and an automatic, six-speed transmission is an available option.

A Sheppard rack and pinion system allows the truck to make 40-degree wheel cuts, thereby improving turning radius and handling.

The HTC-8640 is designed with two counterweight configurations, which enables the crane to meet the various local, state and federal regulations for road travel. Another Link-Belt exclusive in this class is the carrier design where the overall length is 40 feet (12.19 m) allowing the HTC-8640 to meet the most stringent local regulations for road travel without additional permits or restrictions.

The new HTC-8640 is equipped with Link-Belt’s exclusive CALC system, which allows operators to work in confined work areas where full outrigger extension is not possible. The CALC system provides three outrigger positions, fully extended, intermediate and fully retracted.

The HTC-8640 is also equipped with a new hand-held outrigger control, with 8 foot umbilical cord, that enhances the operator’s ability to position the outriggers.

A standard Link-Belt feature is the Microguard 434 Rated Capacity Limiter (RCL) with operator-defined parameters and alarm. By setting two points, the operator creates an imaginary vertical plane to maintain safe working distance from any nearby obstacles. Should the crane’s boom go outside the operator-defined limits, the RCL will sound an alarm. The RCL also improves the crane’s efficiency and production by ensuring the crane is operated within the lift chart.

The HTC-8640 features the environmental Ultra-Cab of LCM•2000 construction process featuring laminated fibrous composite technology that provides optimum strength and stiffness.

The Ultra-Cab is roomier and quieter than traditional cabs. The overhead console contains a full complement of easy to read and comprehensive backlit gauges as well as rubber encased toggle switches for protection against dust and moisture. Corner-post-mounted gauges monitor critical machine information, such as oil, fuel and water levels.

An automotive style windshield and large side and overhead windows provide the operator with 25% more glass for a full vision-working environment. The dash-less design, lift up arm rests and a wide opening slide-by-door allows operators to enter and exit the cab with ease.

The HTC-8640 features an exclusive, external RCL Load Rating indicator lights for improved communications with all jobsite workers. It also has a 360 degree (pawl-in-gear) mechanical swing lock, mechanical boom angle indicator, a hook block tie-down and the new ‘cabwalk’, a pull-out catwalk around the upper cab for easy operator access in any machine configuration. To improve the deployment of the crane’s outriggers, hand-held remote outrigger controls enhance the operator’s overall control and operation from the ground

The HTC-8640 features the Packard Electric Metri-Pack wiring system. Each wire and connector in the system is sealed to help prevent corrosion and costly downtime of machines. In addition, all wires have an automotive-type flame retardant cross-linked polyethylene insulation, resulting in a higher heat resistant wiring system.

Another Link-Belt design standard featured on the HTC-8640 is the innovative two-part paint coating technology coupled with a pre-assembly paint process to provide the finest quality coating system available today. This coating technology provides superior adhesion and abrasion resistance. In addition, because all parts are painted before assembly, 100% coverage of each part is realized. This process also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the final machine, as nuts, bolts, hoses and a multitude of parts are no longer painted. As a result, paint chipping, cracking and deterioration is significantly reduced when service work and disassembly are required.