The Wabco 339F scraper by Richard Campbell

With sales of its electrically operated B series Tournapull scrapers slowing down significantly, Wabco realised that it was time to upgrade its large open-bowl scraper line or they were about to get left behind in the large motor scraper market.

The Wabco B series, introduced in 1959, and particularly the model B-70, had been good sellers for Wabco but was, by the late 1960s, decidedly old technology and still featured cable controlled bowl functions. Wabco’s design team totally revamped the old B series tractor unit but elected to stay with the former’s GM 12V-71N powerplant.

This was attached to an Allison CLBT5960 6-speed transmission with in-built retarder. In this configuration the B339F (the ‘B’ was retained for a short time in the machine’s designation) put out 475 horsepower and was capable of 33 mph. A totally redesigned, fully hydraulic steering system was fitted which was a mirror image to that fitted to the smaller C222 and C229 scrapers, only larger.

What really set the machine apart from its predecessor was the all-hydraulically operated bowl, apron and ejector. Rated at 25 cubic yards struck and 34 cubic yards heaped, the B339F was more than capable of taking on its contemporaries, the Caterpillar 631, Terex S-24 and Allis-Chalmers 460.

Weighing in at 39½ tons and possessed of very good riding qualities (unlike some of its competitors), Wabco saw no need to fit any form of suspension system to the machine which was formally introduced to the contracting world in late 1968.

The B in the designation had been dropped by 1970 and now the machine was known simply as the 339F.

Manufactured up to 1972 with only a few cosmetic alterations, Wabco changed the powerplant in this year to the turbocharged GM 12V-71T V-12 diesel rated at 500 horsepower and replaced the transmission with an Allison CLBT5965.

The single aircleaner was replaced with dual units, one on either side of the machine’s radiator cowl. Capacity and other basic operating specifications remained the same.

The last major change came in 1974 with the addition of all the OSHA mandated equipment that was by now necessary on motor scrapers in the USA. These included a ROPS, seatbelt, exhaust mufflers, emergency brake and mudguards on the scraper.

Horsepower and bowl capacity still remained unchanged but by now the 339F had gained over two tons and now weighed 41.3 tons empty! The 339F was dropped from production during 1976 due to a worldwide decline in the sales of large scrapers, however the tractor unit continued in production as the prime mover for the models 333F and 333FT elevating scrapers.

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