How to Choose the Right Long Boom Configuration for Your Excavator

[MikePhua]

The long boom is a vital attachment for excavators, designed to extend their reach and versatility. It is a custom piece that significantly enhances the machine's performance and is often chosen based on specific project needs. Here is a guide on how to select the right long boom configuration for your excavator:

   

1. Types of Long Booms
Excavator long booms are typically classified into two main types:

• Two-Stage Long Boom: The boom can extend up to 13-26 meters and is most commonly used for earthworks, deep trenching, and long-distance dredging tasks.
  
• Three-Stage Long Boom: These booms can extend up to 16-32 meters and are often used in high-rise building demolition and similar heavy-duty tasks.
  

2. Key Considerations for Selecting a Long Boom
When selecting a long boom, the weight class of your excavator plays a key role in determining the configuration. Here are the most common configurations based on the machine's weight class:

• For 10-16 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 13 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with a 7.1-meter long boom and a 5.9-meter long arm.
    
• For 20-22 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 15.38 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with an 8.22-meter long boom and a 7.16-meter long arm.
    
• For 20-25 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 18 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with a 10-meter long boom and an 8-meter long arm.
    
• For 25-34 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 20 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with an 11-meter long boom and a 9-meter long arm.
    
• For 35-40 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 22 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with a 12-meter long boom and a 10-meter long arm.
    
• For 40-50 Ton Excavators:
  • Extension: Up to 26 meters
    
  • Configuration: 1 bucket, 1 bucket cylinder, 6 pins, 4 high-pressure hoses, 3 grease pipes, 1 link assembly, and a counterweight (1-3 tons). The arm is configured with a 14-meter long boom and a 12-meter long arm.
    

3. Compatible Excavator Brands
Long booms are available for various excavator brands. Some of the well-known brands that offer long boom configurations include:

• Caterpillar (CAT)
  
• Komatsu (PC)
  
• Hitachi (EX, ZAX)
  
• Kobelco (SK)
  
• Daewoo (Doosan) DH
  
• Hyundai ®
  
• Kato (HD)
  
• Case (CX)
  
• Sumitomo (SH)
  
• Volvo (EC)
  
• LiuGong
  
• Yuchai
  
• SANY
  
• XCMG
  

4. Selecting the Right Long Boom
When selecting the right long boom, consider the specific needs of your project. Longer booms are suitable for tasks that require greater reach, such as demolition, deep digging, and material handling over long distances. Ensure that the boom’s extension and the excavator’s lifting capacity match your project’s requirements.
In conclusion, choosing the right long boom configuration will depend on factors such as the size of your excavator, the nature of your work, and your reach requirements. By selecting the correct attachment, you can enhance the performance and efficiency of your excavator in various applications.