KrAZ-256 is a Soviet dump truck that replaced the earlier YAZ and KrAZ-222 trucks in 1966. The car was the first post-war heavy truck. Having huge dimensions, it was practically not used in urban economy, but it still works in quarries today. Its release lasted 11 years, after which, with the advent of KamAZ trucks, the need for such a giant disappeared.
Machine production was restored in 1986, but of the 18 copies that appeared during that period, not a single one was preserved. At the same time, in the car market you can find a car produced in the first 11 years. Its main features are its large payload, the huge weight of components (many parts were made of cast iron) and high traffic.
The lineup
The Kremenchug plant was originally built for the production of heavy, heavy trucks. First, the model 222, known as the Dnepr-222, was produced at the turn of the 50s of the last century. After 6 years, the KrAZ-256 appeared, which received the best practices of the 222nd version. This machine has found wide application in quarry developments or large-scale construction projects. Its main body was a bucket type dump truck without a tailgate. At the same time, on-board versions of trucks were produced on the basis of this modification, but for a number of reasons, these models were not received.
Over the 11 years of production, the KrAZ-256 was modernized several times, but the changes were mainly reflected only in the cab and hood. The main body remained unchanged. The car received its recognition as a simple and unpretentious strongman. Sometimes there are sayings: "a strong car is for strong men." If we recall that the Yaroslavl trucks manufactured in the post-war years served as the prototype of the car, then the statement gets a different meaning. Car controls required significant physical strength from the driver.
For the entire time of release, many machines that had the same parameters came off the assembly line. One of them is the KrAZ-256 dump truck. The characteristics of the truck have changed only twice. The first time a model was released for the conditions of the Far North, received the symbol "C" in the name. She had a warmed cabin and hood. Also appeared version "B", which had a divided brake system.
External parameters
Consider the external parameters of the KrAZ-256 car. The machine has a 6x4 wheel arrangement, two rear drive axles are reinforced with a pair of wheels on each. The tipper bucket in the raised position deviates by an angle of 60 degrees. The total length is 8100 mm, the distance between the centers of the rear wheels is 1400, between the front and the first rear - 4080 (along the axles). From the front bumper to the center of the front wheel - 1005 mm. The width of the truck is 2640 mm at the wheel hubs, height - 2670 mm at the cab and 2830 mm at the top of the bucket. With the bucket raised, the height is 5900 mm.
The bucket volume is 6 cubic meters, full unloading takes 20 seconds. In half a minute the bucket rises completely (lowers). For overturning, a gear pump and a 2-cylinder hydraulic system are used . Ground clearance is 290 mm. The track of the front wheels is 1950 mm, the rear - 1920. The machine is equipped with R20 disc wheels and two fuel tanks.
One of the reasons for the widespread use of this model was the ability to climb more than 30 degrees downhill (KamAZ only rises 18).
Under the hood
Now let's move on to other data of the KrAZ-256 dump truck. The technical characteristics of this unit are as follows:
- volume - 14.87 liters, 2100 rpm, 240 hp;
- V-shaped arrangement of pistons;
- 8 cylinders;
- as an option, you can add a pre-heater;
- with a large volume, fuel consumption will be 39 liters per 100 km;
- the car is capable of speeds of 68 km / h;
- clutch - double-disc, friction, dry;
- pressure springs are located on the periphery;
- 5-speed manual transmission.
Double-circuit pneumatics did not allow the engine to slow down on slopes, because with this action the compressor was idling, after which there was simply nothing to stop the machine. The first circuit of the system worked with the front and middle axles, the second - only with the rear. The parking lot blocked the rear axle.
Conclusion
As already mentioned, the modernization of the car during the production was carried out several times, but globally it did not change, so all the cars had one name - “KrAZ-256”. The photos presented in the article show the difference between the base model (first photo) and the version that received the “B” index (fourth photo). Otherwise, dump trucks are practically no different.