Review of technical characteristics of the KrAZ-260 vehicle

Car history

In the whole list of vehicles of the automobile enterprise in Kremenchug, the 260th tractor has a special place. Its development was started by the design staff in the early 1960s.

The most important conditions that were chosen for this model were durability and increased cross-country ability. The vehicle was positioned as a replacement for the KrAZ-255B. From the very beginning, the main buyers of the 260th vehicle were the military, but after that the truck began to be used in other areas.

In the mid-1960s, the design bureau of the automobile plant, under the direction of a senior designer (at that time he was V.V. Tabolin), began designing a brand new vehicle with increased cross-country ability.

During the design of the new product, specialists chose a three-axle version with increased load capacity as the base. But for a suitable “filling” more in-depth improvement was required.

As a result, both important components and the cabin were modified. The outdated metal-wood cabin was no longer in production. Work on the design of the leading truck, which would very soon become the ancestor of a considerable family of trucks, was completed in 1979. Production of the serial plan of the model began only after two years.

The technical characteristics of the car were quite high for its time. It made it possible to use a cargo vehicle for transporting military personnel, various cargo and military installations on any surface, even if it was off-road.

If we compare the model with its predecessor, the new product had many advantages. Thanks to extensive testing, it became clear that the speed limit was increased by 11 percent, the weight of transported cargo was increased by 20 percent, and fuel consumption was reduced by 6 percent. Operating resources have been almost doubled.

The KrAZ-260 truck was distinguished by ease of use, good power, excellent maneuverability and a good level of comfort in the cabin.

Despite the fact that the design staff decided to preserve the hood layout of the truck, the cab of the 260th model truck was moved forward, which can be seen in the diagram.

Thanks to this technique, it was possible to increase the length of the loading platform, which thus increased the vehicle’s carrying capacity by one and a half tons. In addition, the designers reduced the length of the hood and increased visibility from the cab.

They decided to borrow the new all-metal three-seater cabin not from anyone else, but from the 250th model of the Kremenchug Automobile Plant. If you compare it with many army vehicles of that time, it has an acceptable level of comfort, as well as modern performance.

On top of that, the cabin has modern ventilation and heating systems, and there is also a sprung driver’s seat with the ability to customize it to the individual needs of each person.

Installation of a seat belt is also provided. The standard body is a military-style metal platform, where you can open the tailgate. Its design capabilities include lattice-type auxiliary sides.

There you can find the presence of reclining seats and the possibility of mounting an awning. There are many examples of KrAZ 260 photos on the network, as well as an instruction manual.

Literature

• Cars KrAZ-260, KrAZ-260V, KrAZ-260G. Manual. Kharkov, "Prapor", 1990.

This page was last edited on April 27, 2019 at 5:10 pm.

• KrAZ-260 // Brief automobile reference book of NIIAT. 10th ed., trans. and additional M., “Transport”, 1983. pp.74-75
• Cars KrAZ-260, KrAZ-260V, KrAZ-260G. Manual. Kharkov, "Prapor", 1990.
• Army vehicles 1956 - 1990 YAZ/KrAZ-214/255/260. ARMYBOOK, 2000

Application of the model

The 260th model of the Kremenchug Automobile Plant is a universal truck. In addition to the military field, such a machine is widely used in the national economy.

The truck has become popular due to its good cross-country ability under different road conditions. The 260th is a complex of a tractor with an all-terrain vehicle that can transport cargo weighing up to 10 tons.

The vehicle is used to transport S-200 and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, and also perfectly transports passengers and large cargo to hard-to-reach regions.

Due to its reliable qualities and ease of use, the KrAZ-260 vehicle is used not only on domestic soil, but also abroad, because the vehicle has established itself as a universal model, the technical component of which is simply excellent. The catalog on the Internet contains a tractor and a dump truck, which are often used for military purposes and in various quarries.

The truck has a turning radius of 13 meters, as well as a possible maximum forced fording depth of 1.2 meters. This makes it one of the most passable domestic cars.

KrAZ-269V truck tractors were in considerable demand. At the back of the truck there is a shortened frame and a fifth-wheel coupling device, with which the vehicle could tow semi-trailers weighing more than 27.5 tons on a city highway and 23 tons on a dirt road.

Such trucks were often used by military units, as road trains, for installations of launchers and anti-aircraft missile systems, radar stations and other things. The extended chassis, which became standard for the design of various special equipment, acquired the name 260G.

On its platform they were able to install pontoon vehicles, bridge-building machines, cranes and drilling rigs, desalination stations, fuel tankers, and so on.

The design staff of the enterprise also developed prototypes of a timber truck, which is very similar to similar special transport, on the 255L platform. But serial production could not be established, and a little later, for the needs of forestry production, a specialized KrAZ-6437 was produced.

Notes

1. ↑ 123V. Tabolin, V. Petruk, S. Malov. New all-wheel drive KrAZ // magazine “Automobile Transport”, No. 7, 1984. pp. 48-50
2. ↑ 12345678910KrAZ-260V // Brief automobile reference book of NIIAT. 10th ed., trans. and additional M., “Transport”, 1983. p.81
3. ↑ 12V. V. Tabolin, S. S. Malov, S. P. Kontanistov. All-wheel drive KrAZ-260 // Automotive Industry magazine, No. 12, 1981. pp. 31-32
4. ↑Production of trucks in Russia and the CIS // magazine “Behind the Wheel”, No. 9, September 1994. p. 14

Specifications

Power unit

The car, taking into account serious improvements, needed a more powerful engine. As a result, we chose the eight-cylinder V-shaped 15-liter multi-fuel engine YaMZ-238L, which was turbocharged. The engine developed 300 horsepower.

The car was often used in difficult road conditions, therefore, an innovative system was used in the engine design, which included automatic dust extraction and a pair of air filters with a two-stage cleaning system.

Exhaust gas exhaust systems have also been modernized. Instead of a muffler, a supercharger turbine was installed here.

Engine YaMZ-238L

To ensure engine starting in cold times, the motor received a “Thermostart” electric torch device and a pre-start heater. The location of the motor cannot be called too convenient, since to remove the power unit it is necessary to dismantle the cabin.

The high-pressure fuel pump was 8-sectional and had a spool type, which included a low-pressure fuel priming pump, a fuel injection advance clutch and an all-mode speed controller. The nozzles are closed type.

The KrAZ 260 engine consumed about 34 liters of fuel at a speed of about 50 km/h. At a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, consumption increased to 38.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

In total, two tanks were installed, each of which contained 165 liters (a total of 330 liters), and there was also an auxiliary one - its volume was 50 liters of diesel fuel. If the car was fully refueled, it could travel up to 1,000 kilometers.

The speed limit is limited to 80 kilometers per hour. Don’t forget what kind of car this is and for what purposes it was created. Then fuel consumption and questions about its dynamics fade into the background.

Transmission

Due to the fact that a stronger engine was installed in the KrAZ-260, the installation of a more advanced gearbox was required. Therefore, the model had a four-speed YaMZ-238B transmission, which had synchronizers at all forward speeds.

The changes also affected the two-stage transfer case, which had an electro-pneumatic speed control and made it possible to lock the center differential by pressing the required switch. The latter could be found on the instrument panel.

The clutch is a dry, double-disc type, with peripheral springs and a hydropneumatic actuation drive. From the 255B car, we decided to take a more reliable front axle, which was slightly modified. The middle bridge was made by the design staff, passable.

Suspension

The suspension installed in front is dependent, and has a base - a pair of semi-elliptical springs and shock absorbers, the ends of the springs are installed in rubber cushions of the support brackets.

The suspension installed at the rear is dependent, has a base - a pair of semi-elliptical springs, where there are six reaction rods, and the ends of the springs are made of a sliding type. The ground clearance height is as much as 370 millimeters. An all-wheel drive system is provided, which allows the vehicle to have good off-road performance.

Brake system

A working brake system is used, which has drum mechanisms and a dual-circuit pneumatic drive. One circuit goes to the front and middle axles, and the second to the rear.

When the parking brake is applied, the spring energy accumulators begin to work. The drive is pneumatic. The spare brake is combined with the parking brake. The additional brake is a motor retarder, and the activation drive is pneumatic.

Steering

On the steering mechanism, there is a hydraulic power steering wheel, which makes it possible to steer such a massive vehicle without much effort. The device has a screw and a ball nut-rack, which is engaged with the gear sector.

There is also an amplifier distributor.
The power cylinder of the power steering was connected to the double-arm steering knuckle lever. There are many additional characteristics of the KrAZ 260 on the Internet. Technical characteristics

Modifications

In addition to the standard model, the Kremenchug Automobile Plant produced other specialized modifications of the car:

• Standard KrAZ-260 , which went into mass production in 1981;
• KrAZ-260A , came with a YaMZ-238N engine operating on diesel fuel. The model did not have an additional fuel tank and BCN-1 petrol centrifugal pumps;
• KrAZ-260V is a truck tractor with a fifth wheel coupling and a frame reduced in the rear part. Used together with a semi-trailer whose weight is 27,500 kilograms;
• KrAZ-260G – the model has an extended chassis;
• The KrAZ-260D is an experienced truck tractor that is operated as part of an active road train. The Kremenchug Automobile Plant produced only a couple of such cars;
• The KrAZ-260L is an experienced timber carrier, which is structurally similar to the KrAZ-255L1 model;
• KrAZ-6437 is a serial timber carrier, where the chassis design has been redesigned.

On the Internet you can find a catalog of these modifications, and also see the KrAZ 260 truck crane, which is not so common.

Chassis

All KrAZ-260 suspensions are spring, double-block, designed for three times overload. The vehicle's shock absorption is provided by telescopic hydraulics. Brakes on all wheels are drum type with pneumatic drive. High-pressure air comes from a pneumatic system receiver, which is functionally connected to the piston compressor when the engine is running. The parking brake does not depend on the vehicle's pneumatic system; it operates on the energy-accumulator principle.

Price

Following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the popularization of the 260th model decreased sharply. But even today on the car market there are a large number of cars from the Kremenchug Automobile Plant, which can be purchased second-hand. The price category of models produced in 1991-1992 will range from 400,000 to 700,000 rubles.

Some modifications will cost much more - up to 1,300,000 rubles. Such price changes are quite easy to explain - cars have different conditions, year of manufacture and installed equipment. You can also rent a car, for each hour you will need to pay about 1,000 rubles.

Device

The KrAZ-260 is characterized by a hood arrangement. On the transportation platform there are folding benches, arches and an awning. It itself is made of durable metal and is complemented by a side that opens from the back. The model is available in different types of bodies, which makes it more versatile.

Thanks to the all-wheel drive system, the vehicle's maneuverability has increased significantly. This was also facilitated by a new tire pressure monitoring system, single-pitch tires and short overhangs.

The model is equipped with a double-disc dry clutch. The drive of this unit consists of the main and working cylinders, a suspended pedal, pneumatic and hydraulic drives. For this element, monitoring the volume of brake fluid and the condition of the pistons and cuffs is important.

The KrAZ-260 transfer case is located behind the gearbox. A small cardan shaft is used for connection here. The element is suspended on three supports using rubber pads and brackets. The transfer case includes two gears and is a gearbox with specific spur gears and three shafts.

The truck's driveline has 4 driveshafts connecting the gearbox and transfer case. They differ in the placement of parts and sizes.

The design of the KrAZ-260 includes intermediate, rear and front drive axles. The differences between them are manifested in the main gear, drive parts, pinion shaft and crankcase. The main purpose of the front drive axle is to supply force to the wheels through the main gear and angular velocity joints.

KraZ-260 off-road

The brakes of the model have a drum structure. When the parking brake is applied, spring energy accumulators are activated. The auxiliary brake is pneumatically driven.

The KrAZ-260 cabin is made of all-metal sheet. It can accommodate up to three people and is equipped with ventilation and heating. The driver's seat is height adjustable. You can also control the tilt angle and distance to the steering wheel. The seat has a hydraulic shock absorber and a sprung design. The power steering makes it easy to steer a heavy truck.

A headlight is installed on the roof of the car, performing the function of a finder. The basic package also includes a radio.

Despite the fact that production of the tractor ended in 1993, it is still in demand.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of the car

• Excellent maneuverability;
• Large load capacity;
• Acceptable ride height;
• Availability of all-wheel drive system;
• The car is not difficult to operate and repair;
• There are all the necessary parts and spare parts;
• Quite a small turning radius;
• Not afraid of temperature changes;
• Tolerates dusty areas and highly contaminated work;
• Overcomes deep fords (up to 1.2 meters);
• Created as an off-road vehicle;
• Quite a small cost for a truck with all-wheel drive;
• There are various modifications;
• Powerful power units;
• Quite comfortable cabin;
• There is hydraulic power steering;
• Powerful appearance;
• Not afraid of overloads;
• Can transport semi-trailers and trailers;
• The cabin has a heating and ventilation system;
• The driver's seat is conveniently adjustable.

Cons of the car

• High fuel consumption;
• Insufficient visibility;
• Large dimensions;
• Noisiness;
• The salon is still far from its European counterparts;
• The KrAZ 260 cabin is already outdated.

Design

The KrAZ-260 truck, the photo of which demonstrates its power, is equipped with a metal body with a hinged tailgate, benches along the side sides and a canvas awning complete with supporting arches. The vehicle's high cross-country ability is ensured by permanently engaged all-wheel drive, short overhangs, and high-profile tire tread. The cabin is pushed as far as possible onto the engine compartment, the hood is short and wide, gently sloping down to the radiator grille. The layout of the front of the car provides a good view of the area from the driver's seat. The headlights are built into a massive front bumper, which is a stamped module made of 10 mm steel. The chassis has a three-axle design, all three axles are driving.

Let's sum it up

The KrAZ-260 turned out to be very balanced and powerful. Its domestic counterparts had a much weaker power unit. Perhaps this is why KrAZ trucks were often used to transport heavy equipment, such as tanks.

Moreover, the model has received a respectable ground clearance, which, together with the all-wheel drive system on all six wheels, provides the vehicle with simply excellent cross-country ability.

It is not for nothing that most of the vehicles are used for the needs of the army, where reliability, unpretentiousness, power and maneuverability are precisely what is required. Despite the fact that the car was created for off-road use, it was not deprived of comfort. The model received a hydraulic power steering wheel, a heating and ventilation system, and an adjustable driver's seat.

It is clear that during development at the Kremenchug Automobile Plant they did not think only about cross-country ability and power, but took care of ensuring a fairly good level of comfort. The car is not afraid of overloads, so it is often used as reliable workers in various quarries and loess production.

Of course, the engine eats a lot, but there is enough power to transport even a very heavy load. Single wheels equipped with off-road tires will help you get out of almost any off-road situation. You can no longer buy a new car, but it is often purchased second-hand, since its price is much lower than its European counterparts.

We advise you to read the article: KrAZ - the history of the Kremenchug Automobile Plant

Video

For that time, the technical characteristics of the tractor were top-end. The car was used to transport various cargo, personnel, military installations and was not afraid of obstacles and off-road conditions. In comparison with the KraZ-255, its advantages were obvious. The model's carrying capacity increased by 20%, speed by 11%, service life by 95%, and fuel consumption decreased by 6%.

The tractor cab was moved forward, which increased the cargo platform and carrying capacity. The length of the hood has decreased, which has a positive effect on visibility.

KrAZ-260 photo

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