PIPELAYERS

CONTENTS Features:
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-1 ● Hydrostatic transmission on PL61.
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-2
Lifting Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-4 ● Planetary power shift transmission on 572R2,
Drawbar Pull Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-6 583T, 587R, and 587T models.
Travel and Hook Speeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7 ● Kick-out helps prevent boom bending as boom
Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-8 approaches near-vertical.
Extreme Slope Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-21
● Sealed and Lubricated Track.
7
● Simplified Controls for all functions including
raise, lower, quick-drop and power down, high and
low range and speed adjustments.
● Modular design of major components and
accessory drive system for simplified repair.
● Separate, self-energizing brakes for boom and
hook winches.
● Positive track pin retention (583T, 587R, and 587T).
● Hydraulic Drawworks with two independently
driven hydraulic motors for boom and hook winches.

7-1
Pipelayers Specifications

MODEL PL61 572R Series 2 583T

Flywheel Power 92 kW 125 hp 179 kW 240 hp 231 kW 310 hp
Operating Weight
(with full fuel tank and operator) 17 000 kg 37,480 lb 31 845 kg 70,206 lb 45 359 kg 100,000 lb
Engine Model C6.6 ACERT 3176C C15 ACERT
Rated Engine RPM 2100 2100 1850
No. of Cylinders 6 6 6
Displacement 6.6 L 403 in3 10.3 L 629 in3 15.2 L 928 in3
Lift Capacity at 1.22 m (4'0") Overhang 18 145 kg 40,000 lb 40 800 kg 90,000 lb 63 504 kg 140,000 lb
Standard Boom Length 5.49 m 18'0" 6.1 m 20'0" 7.3 m 24'0"
Width of Standard Shoe 560 mm 22" 660 mm 26" 710 mm 28"
Length of Track on Ground 2645 mm 8'8" 3.176 m 10'5" 3.556 m 11'8"
Ground Contact Area 3 m2 4650 in2 4.19 m2 6500 in2 5.10 m2 7896 in2
(with standard shoes)
Track Gauge 2m 6'7" 2.235 m 7'4" 2.34 m 7'8"
Fuel Tank Refill Capacity 295 L 78 U.S. gal 479 L 127 U.S. gal 409 L 108 U.S. gal
GENERAL DIMENSIONS:
Height to Top of Stack 2.91 m 9'7" 3.18 m 10'5" 3.454 m 11'4"
Height to Top of Counterweight
or Winch 2.45 m 8'1" 2.9 m 9'6" 3.505 m 11'6"
Height with ROPS (boom removed) 2958 mm 9'8.5" 3454 mm 11'4" 3728 mm 12'3"
Width, Weights Retracted 3m 9'10" 3.66 m 12'0" 3.73 m 12'3"
Minimum Shipping Width
(both side frames removed) 2560 mm 8'5" 2.895 m 9'6" 3.07 m** 10'1"**
Shipping Width (left frame removed) 2816 mm 9'3" 3.66 m 12'0" 3.61 m* 11'10"*
Overall Length 3.78 m 12'5" 4.74 m 15'6" 5.23 m 17'2"
Ground Clearance 360 mm 14" 416 mm 16.4" 470 mm 18.5"
DRUMS and CABLES:
Drum Capacity Load 73 m 239' 80 m 263' 181 m 594'
Boom 49.4 162' 52 m 170' 181 m 594'
Cable Diameter Load 16 mm 0.62" 19 mm 0.75" 19 mm 0.75"
Boom 16 mm 0.62" 19 mm 0.75" 19 mm 0.75"
Drum Diameter Load 216 mm 8.5" 254 mm 10" 317 mm 12.5"
Boom 245 mm 9.63" 224 mm 8.5" 317 mm 12.5"
Adjustable Counterweights 7@ 2@ 2@
67.7 kg ea 149 lb ea 370 kg ea 815 lb ea 300 kg ea 662 lb ea
9@ 7@ 5@
114.8 kg ea 253 lb ea 479 kg ea 1055 lb ea 430 kg ea 948 lb ea
6@
535 kg ea 1180 lb ea
Total Weight Extendable 1231 kg 2714 lb 5073 kg 11,184 lb 9036 kg 19,920 lb
LGP Option
Operating Weight 610 mm (24") 17 800 kg 39,242 lb
Shipping Width:
Boom Removed 3200 mm 10'6"
Counterweight Removed 3116 mm 10'3"
Frame, Brackets, Winches Removed 2760 mm 9'1"
Track Shoe Width 610 mm 24"
760 mm 30"
Ground Contact Area:
610 mm (24") Shoes 3.2 m2 4690 in2
760 mm (30") Shoes 4 m2 6200 in2
**Boom and counterweight only removed.
**Counterweight frame, counterweight mounting brackets, boom, and boom mounting brackets removed.

7-2
 Specifications Pipelayers

MODEL 587R 587T

Flywheel Power 262 kW 351 hp 273 kW 366 hp
Operating Weight
(with full fuel tank and operator) 53 442 kg 117,820 lb 53 070 kg 117,000 lb
Engine Model 3406C DITA C15 ACERT
Rated Engine RPM 1900 1800
No. of Cylinders 6 6
Displacement 14.6 L 893 in3 15.2 L 928 in3
Lift Capacity at 1.22 m (4'0") Overhang 91 625 kg 202,000 lb 91 625 kg 202,000 lb
Standard Boom Length 8.5 m 28'0" 8.5 m 28'0"
Width of Standard Shoe 864 mm 34" 864 mm 34"
Length of Track on Ground 3.587 m 11'9" 3.587 m 11'9"
Ground Contact Area (with standard shoes) 6.2 m2 9613 in2 6.2 m2 9613 in2
7
Track Gauge 2.54 m 8'4" 2.54 m 8'4"
Fuel Tank Refill Capacity 568 L 150 U.S. gal 568 L 150 U.S. gal
GENERAL DIMENSIONS:
Height to Top of Counterweight or Winch 3.505 m 11'6" 3.505 m 11'6"
Height with ROPS (boom removed) — 3835 mm 12'7"
Width, Weights Retracted 4.343 m 14'3" 4.343 m 14'3"
Minimum Shipping Width 3.860 m* 12'8"* 3.860 m* 12'8"*
Shipping Width
(boom and counterweight removed) 4.038 m 13'3" 4.038 m 13'3"
Overall Length 5.486 m 18'0" 5.486 m 18'0"
Ground Clearance 457 mm 18" 457 mm 18"
DRUMS and CABLES:
Drum Capacity Load 181 m 594' 181 m 594'
Boom 181 m 594' 181 m 594'
Cable Diameter Load 19 mm 0.75" 19 mm 0.75"
Boom 19 mm 0.75" 19 mm 0.75"
Drum Diameter Load 317 mm 12.5" 317 mm 12.5"
Boom 317 mm 12.5" 317 mm 12.5"
Adjustable Counterweights 2@ 2@
285 kg 628 lb 285 kg 628 lb
6@ 6@
640 kg 1410 lb 640 kg 1410 lb
7@ 7@
714 kg 1574 lb 714 kg 1574 lb
Total Weight Extendable 12 900 kg 28,440 lb 12 900 kg 28,440 lb
*Counterweight frame, counterweight mounting brackets, and boom removed.

7-3
Pipelayers Lifting Capacities

PL61 *Specified Equipment:

LIFTING CAPACITY* 5.49 m (18'0") BOOM ● 16 mm (5/8") diameter wire rope.
kg x lb x ● 183.3 kN (41,200 lb) minimum breaking strength.
1000 1000 ● 3 part load line.
40 ● 3 part boom line.
● 1231 kg (2714 lb) counterweight extended.
15 ● Standard 5.49 m (18'0") Boom.
A
30 ● Total operating weight
B Narrow — 17 000 kg (37,480 lb).
LOAD

10 LGP — 17 800 kg (39,242).

20

5
C KEY
10
A — Lift capacity at tipping point per ISO 8813
B — Rated load capacity per ANSI/ASME B30.14
C — Working range per ANSI/ASME B30.14
0 0
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 feet

1 2 3 4 5 6 meters
LOAD OVERHANG

572R Series 2 *Specified Equipment:

LIFTING CAPACITY* 6.1 m or 7.3 m (20'0" or 24'0") BOOMS ● 19 mm (3/4") dia. wire rope 261.66 kN (58,800 lb) mini-
kg x lb x mum breaking strength.
1000 1000 ● 4 part load line.
65 140 ● 4 part boom line.
● 5073 kg (11,184 lb) counterweight extended.
60 130
● Standard 6.1 m (20'0") Boom.
55 120

50 110

100
45
90
40 KEY
80 A — Max lift capacity per ISO 8813
LOAD

35 A B — Rated load per ANSI/ASME B30.14

70 C — Working range per ANSI/ASME B30.14
30 B
60
25
50
20
40
15
30 C NOTE: ISO stands for the International Standards
10 20 Organization. ANSI stands for American
5
National Standard Institute.
10

0 0
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 feet

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 meters
LOAD OVERHANG

7-4
 Lifting Capacities Pipelayers

583T *Specified Equipment:

LIFTING CAPACITY* 7.3 m, 8.5 m (24'0", 28'0") BOOMS ● 19 mm (3/4") diameter wire rope.
kg x lb x ● 26 672 kg (58,800 lb) minimum breaking strength.
1000 1000 ● 6 part load line.
65 140 ● 5 part boom line.
60 130
● 9036 kg (19,920 lb) counterweight extended.
● Standard 7.3 m (24'0") Boom.
120
55
● Total operating weight 45 359 kg (100,000 lb).
50 110

100
45
90
40
80
LOAD

35 KEY
A
70 A — Max lift capacity per ISO 8813
30 B — Rated load per ANSI/ASME B30.14
60
25 B C — Working range per ANSI/ASME B30.14 7
50
20
40
15
30

10 20 C
5 10

0 0
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 feet

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 meters

LOAD OVERHANG

587R/T *Specified Equipment:

LIFTING CAPACITY* 8.5 m (28'0") BOOM ● Load: 19 mm (3/4") dia. wire rope 26 672 kg (58,800 lb)
kg x lb x minimum breaking strength.
1000 1000 ● Boom: 19 mm (3/4") dia. wire rope 26 672 kg (58,800 lb)
95
200 minimum breaking strength.
90
190 ● 8 part load line.
85 180
80 ● 5 part boom line.
170
75
160 ● 12 900 kg (28,440 lb) counterweight extended.
70 150 ● Standard 8.5 m (28'0") Boom.
65
140 ● Total operating weight 53 070 kg (117,000 lb).
60
130
55 120
LOAD

50 110 KEY
45 100
A
A — Lift capacity at tipping point per ISO 8813:1992
40 90 B — Rated load capacity per ISO 8813:1992
80
B
35 C — Working range per ISO 8813:1992
70
30 C
60
25
50
20
15
40 NOTE: ISO stands for the International Standards
30 Organization. ANSI stands for American
10 20
10 10
National Standard Institute.
0 0
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 feet
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 meters

LOAD OVERHANG

7-5
Pipelayers Drawbar Pull vs. Ground Speed

PL61
N lb 
1000 1000
250
55
50
DRAWBAR PULL

200 45
40
35
150
30
25
100
20
15
50 10
5
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 mph

0 2 4 6 8 10 km/h

SPEED

NOTE: Usable pull will depend upon weight and

traction of equipped tractor.

572R Series 2 583T

lb  kg  kg  lb 
1000 1000 1000 1000
160
60 70

120 140
50 60
DRAWBAR PULL
DRAWBAR PULL

100 120
50
40 100
80 1 40
80
1
30
60 30
60
20
40 20
40
2 2
20 10 10 20
3 3
0 0
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 mph
0 2 4 6 8 10 km/h
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 km/h

SPEED
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 mph

SPEED
KEY
1 — 1st Gear
2 — 2nd Gear
3 — 3rd Gear

7-6
 Travel Speeds Pipelayers
Hook Speeds

MODEL PL61 572R Series 2

Travel Forward Reverse Forward Reverse
Speeds (at rated RPM) km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph
1st Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 1.9 3.8 2.3 3.5 2.2 4.5 2.8
2nd Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 3.3 6.7 4.1 6.1 3.8 7.9 4.9
3rd Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 6.2 10.0 6.2 10.6 6.6 13.5 8.4
Hydrostatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 6.2 10.0 6.2 — — — —

MODEL 583T 587R 587T

Travel Forward Reverse Forward Reverse Forward Reverse
Speeds (at rated RPM) km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph km/h mph
1st Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 2.3 4.7 2.9 3.2 2.0 4.3 2.7 3.2 2.0 4.3 2.7
2nd Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 4.0 8.1 5.0 5.6 3.5 7.4 4.6 5.8 3.6 7.6 4.7
3rd Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.8 6.8 13.8 8.6 9.7 6.0 12.6 7.8 10.0 6.2 12.9 8.0 7

MODEL PL61 572R Series 2

Pipelayer Hook Speeds per m/min ft/min m/min ft/min
minute, Bare drum at rated
engine RPM
Low Raise & Lower . . . . . . . . . . 33.0 108 11.0 37
Hi Raise & Lower . . . . . . . . . . . 69.5 228 22.0 72

MODEL 583T 587R/T

Pipelayer Hook Speeds per m/min ft/min m/min ft/min
minute, Bare drum at rated
engine RPM
Low Raise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.0 85 — —
Low Lower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.0 73 15.5 50.8
Hi Lower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.0 98 15.5 50.8

7-7
Pipelayers Application

PIPELAYER APPLICATION CALCULATIONS:

Typical pipelayer applications on
flat, firm underfoot conditions
PL61 laying 8" to 16" pipe
572R2 laying 16" to 24" pipe
583T laying 24" to 36" pipe
587R/T laying 36" to 56" pipe

LOAD OVERHANG

DITCH DEPTH Y
X SAFE SLOPE

DITCH WIDTH

The chart above provides general information rep- ● acceptable distance between pipe lifting points
resenting typical pipelayer applications. While the while suspended (to prevent bending)
following scenario explores many of the variables determined by the pipe’s bending characteris-
involved in pipelaying it does not cover all the pos- tics. If the lifting points are too far apart a pipe
sible variables that must be considered by pipelay- can sag enough due to its own weight that it
ing contractors. will damage itself.
When sizing pipelayers for an application there ● the operating safety factor desired by the contractor
are many considerations other than the machine’s ● the length of pipe that will need to be suspended
SAE rated lift capacity. These include but are not while laying-in
limited to: determined by pipe bending characteristics, ter-
● pipe diameter and weight per linear foot rain, etc.
● ditch width and depth ● ground conditions, road bed preparation
ditch width is typically 2  pipe diameter
ditch depth is typically >2.5  pipe diameter
● distance from the ditch (safe slope) required by
soil stability conditions
typically 2:1 (meaning the pipelayer must be
2  ditch depth from the ditch edge)

7-8
 Application Pipelayers

An important consideration is the necessary load It is important to remember that this is the dis-
overhang. This is the distance from the center of the tance between the lift points, not the distance nose-
pipe to the tractor’s left track rail. The load overhang to-tail between pipelayers. For this example, assume
required for an application can be estimated by: that 500 ft of pipe must be suspended during the
● load overhang = safe slope ditch depth + laying-in process.
(0.5  ditch width) 500 ft 5.9 which means that
=
The pipelayer’s rated load capacity at a specific 84.7 ft per pipelayer six pipelayers are needed
load overhang (per ANSI/ASME B30.14) can be The number of pipelayers required could also be
found in the load capacity graphs in this section of determined by a second method:
the performance handbook. Once the load capacity
is determined the maximum lift point spacing can ft of pipe suspended  pipe weight per ft
be estimated by:  safety factor
● max lift load capacity at load overhang rated load at overhang
=
point spacing safety factor  pipe weight In this case:
per linear foot 500 ft  125.5 lb/ft  2 5.9 which again 7
=
The maximum distance between pipe lift points 21,250 lb implies six pipelayers
(based on pipe bending characteristics) may be a
If, in this same example, soil conditions required
shorter distance than the maximum spacing between
a safe slope of 2.33 then the load overhang would
lift points as calculated based on pipelayer load
have been 16 ft. At this load overhang the 572R
capacity. If this is the case, then in order to avoid
Series 2’s rated load capacity is approximately
damaging the pipe, the shorter distance should be
18,125 lb. Using the equations above, this results
considered to be the maximum distance between
in 72.2 ft between lift points which means that
pipelayers.
seven 572R Series 2 pipelayers are now necessary.
As an example, consider a project involving 0.5"
Using the second method:
wall 24" diameter pipe which has a weight per lin-
ear foot of 125.5 lb and the soil has a safe slope of 2. 500 ft  125.5 lb/ft  2 6.9 again implying that
Using the above formulas: = seven 572R2 pipelayers
18,125 lb
● the ditch depth would be 3  2 ft = 6 ft deep are needed
● the ditch width would be 2  2 ft = 4 ft
● the load overhang would be 2  6 ft + (0.5  4 ft) Rather than adding another pipelayer, 583T’s
= 14 ft could be used. At a 16 ft load overhang the 583T has
Using the 572R Series 2’s lift capacity chart we a rated load capacity of 29,400 lb. This translates
find that the 572R Series 2 has an ANSI rated load to 117.1 ft between lift points. If the pipe’s bending
capacity of approximately 21,250 lb at a 14 ft load characteristics will allow this space between lift
overhang. points, the job could be done with only five 583T’s.
When using rated load numbers it is important
to understand that the lift capacity charts are based
on SAE and ANSI test procedures that rate pipelay-
ers on level, concrete surfaces. Working on softer
underfoot conditions, working on slopes, (and other)
can greatly reduce the pipelayer’s load capacity.
If the contractor employs a safety factor of 2 then
the maximum spacing between pipe lift points is:
21,250 lb
= 84.7 ft
2  125.5 lb/ft

7-9
Notes —

7-10