KrAZ - The live legend!

[MagnuM]

This material is not a KrAZ company history, is just a chronology of 6x6 vehicles YaAZ/KrAZ, created for the army, started in the former Soviet Union and continued after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The history of this vehicle, began in 1956, in Yaroslavl, Russia, on the YaAZ factory; (YaAZ - Yaroslavsky Avtomobilny Zavod). Developed on a project since 1951, the plant YaAZ want to made a 6x6 vehicle for the army, to replace the 6x4 models, YaAZ 210G, with payload of 8 tons, used during that period. The project launched in 1951, called YaAZ 214, was based on YaAZ 210 model, was similar in architecture with 210 series, but with transfer case modified to admit the installation of a driving axles in front.
The transfer case of model YaAZ 210, was with 2 speeds, lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle. On this model, the two driving shafts, runs parallel, from the transfer case to first rear axle: the right driving shaft drive the reducer of the first axle, the left driving shaft drive the driving shaft of the second axle through a coupling mounted on the first rear axle. The vehicle was equipped with an axle with single wheels in front, two rear axles with twin wheels and tires: 12.00-20. Length: 9660 mm, or: 7375 mm (210G), width: 2650 mm, wheelbase: 5050 mm + 1400 mm, or: 4780 mm + 1400 mm (210G), track front / rear: 1950 mm / 1920 mm.


YaAZ 210





YaAZ 210G





Prototype YaAZ 214 was equipped with 2-stroke diesel engine with 6 cylinders in line, YaAZ-206, similar to U.S. GMC 6-71 engine, with engine capacity: 6981 cc, power: 165 hp, torque: 70.5 daNm, wooden cabin, covered with tin, twin disc dry clutch, 5-speeds gearbox and transfer case with 2 speeds, without central differential between front axle and rear axles, with lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle, the intermediate shaft of the transfer case, drive along with the rear axles differential, the axis of the front driving shaft. This shaft was provided with the possibility of decoupling the front transmission, the vehicle running under normal conditions, only with rear wheels drive. The vehicle was equipped with an axle with single wheels in front, two rear axles with twin wheels and tires: 12.00-20. Length: 9660 mm, width: 2650 mm, wheelbase: 5050 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 1950 mm / 1920 mm.


YaAZ 214 prototype




In 1956, the YaAZ factory decided to introduce in production a new military vehicle with payload of 7 tons, with all-wheels drive, equipped with single wheels and equally track. The new prototype taken the technical platform of the YaAZ 214 of 1951, and its name. The new YaAZ 214 chassis was shorter, had a new wooden cabin, covered with tin and straight front grill (cabin that will equiped all 6x4 series YaAZ - 219, 221, 222 and 6x6 series YaAZ - 214), was equipped with new engine 2-stroke diesel, 6 cylinders in line, YaAZ-M206B, displacement: 6981 cc, power: 205 hp, torque: 78 daNm, steering with pneumatic booster, twin disc dry clutch, 5 speeds gearbox and transfer case with 2 speeds, without central differential between front axle and rear axles, with lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle, mechanical winch, tires : 15.00-21. Length: 8530 mm, width: 2700 mm, wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2030 mm.
In 1957, the factory has developed a project for a new range of trucks from 225 series, including a military 6x6 model called YaAZ 230. This project has never materialized.
In May 1958, the Soviet government developed a plan for reshaping the factories and decided to move the trucks production to Kremenchuk, in Ukraine, to the KrAZ factory; (KrAZ - Kremenchuksky Avtomobilny Zavod), YaAZ following to specialize in engines production, thus ending YaAZ trucks production. Subsequently, the name of the factory became YaMZ; (YaMZ - Yaroslavsky Motorny Zavod).


YaAZ 214

[MagnuM]

The KrAZ factory was founded in 1946 and was focused on the production of combines and agricultural machinery. After the Soviet government decision, KrAZ take over the production lines from YaAZ and, in 1959 begin manufacturing the entire range of trucks 6x4 YaAZ - 219, 221, 222 and 6x6 YaAZ - 214, under the name KrAZ. The new KrAZ 214, facsinile of YaAZ 214, will become the basis of the Soviet army truck, the KrAZ 214 chassis being used for the fitting of various military structures. It was equipped with the new 2-stroke diesel engine with 6 cylinders in line, YaAZ-M206B, displacement: 6981 cc, power: 205 hp, torque: 78 daNm, steering with pneumatic booster, twin disc dry clutch, 5 speeds gearbox and transfer case with 2 speeds, without central differential between front axle and rear axles, with lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle, mechanical winch, tires : 15.00-21. Length: 8530 mm, width: 2700 mm, wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2030 mm.
In 1963, was developed the KrAZ 214B model. With this model, was introduced the front hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, electrical installation has gone from 12 V to 24 V, and the early 60's, 2-stroke diesel engine with 6 cylinders in line, YaAZ-M206B was replaced with the new V8 diesel engine, 4-stroke, YaMZ-238, displacement: 14866 cc, 215 hp, torque: 80 daNm. Since 1966, the power of the YaMZ-238 engine was increased to 240 hp and torque to 90 daNm.


KrAZ 214







KrAZ 214B

[MagnuM]

In 1967, KrAZ 214 model was replaced by the new 6x6 vehicle, KrAZ 255B, with payload of 7.5 tons, equipped with the new V8 diesel engine, YaMZ-238, displacement: 14866 cc, 240 hp, torque: 90 daNm, MAZ steering box with hydraulic booster, pneumatic circuit with valves for tires pressure adjustment, twin disc dry clutch, 5-speeds manual transmission and transfer case with 2 speeds, without central differential between front axle and rear axles, with lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle, mechanical winch, tires: 1300x530x533. Length: 8645 mm, width: 2750 mm, wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2160 mm.
The factory keeps for the 255B model, the 214 cabin model, which will also equiped all new KrAZ 6x4 models - 256, 257, 258. KrAZ 255B will quickly replaced the 214 model, to be equiped with various military structures, becoming a symbol of Soviet military vehicles.
In 1977, was released KrAZ 255B1 model. This model had headlamps and signal lamps mounted together in rectangular boxes on the front wheel arches and separately front and rear pneumatic brake circuits.

In the '60s, the factory made a few prototypes KrAZ 6x6, from 253 series, or 10x10, from 259 series, with cabins over engines, produced by KrAZ, or other manufacturers, like GAZ, KamAZ, MAZ; (GAZ - Gorkovsky Avto Zavod; KamAZ - Kamsky Avtomobilny Zavod; MAZ - Minsky Avtomobilny Zavod), equipped with front and rear independent suspensions. None of them did not enter in series production.


KrAZ 255B










This post has been edited by MagnuM on April 17, 2010 01:42 am

[MagnuM]

KrAZ 255B1

[MagnuM]

In 1979, was made first prototype of KrAZ 260 model and, after two years, start the production for 260 series. It was equipped with the new V8 turbodiesel engine, YaMZ-238L, displacement: 14866 cc, 288 hp, torque: 108 daNm, MAZ steering box with hydraulic booster, pneumatic circuit with valves for tires pressure adjustment, twin disc dry clutch, manual transmission 4-speeds synchromesh with reducer, 2 speeds transfer case with lockable asymmetrically central differential between front axle and rear axles, electropneumatically controlled and a single output for rear axles, lockable axial differentials, mechanical winch, tires: 1300x530x533. Length: 9005 mm, width: 2750 mm, wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2160 mm.
Among the major updates to the KrAZ 260, may be mentioned: the cabin with new design, with the wheel arches incorporated into the engine hood sides, built entirely of tin - designed since the early '60s, but fully assimilated in manufacturing, only in 1978 (cab which will equipped both series; 250 - 6x4 and 260 - 6x6) and the 2 speeds transfer case with lockable asymmetrically central differential and one output for rear axles. For this model, the rear driving shaft get into the reducer of the first rear axle, drive the reducer, cross the reducer, leave the reducer from the back side and drive the second rear axle driving shaft - the second rear axle is identically with the first rear axle, but with rear reducer exit blocked by a cap. Between these two axles, there is no interaxial differential. For 250 models - 6x4, retained the architecture of previous models, with the transfer case with 2 speeds, with lockable symmetrically interaxial differential and independent outputs for each rear axle.


KrAZ 260 prototype




In 1981, KrAZ 255B model was replaced with new 6x6 model, KrAZ 260, with load capacity of 9 tons, equipped with the new V8 turbodiesel engine, YaMZ-238L and, from 1984, YaMZ-238A, displacement: 14866 cc, 288 hp or: 318 hp (260G), torque: 108 daNm or: 121 daNm (260G), MAZ steering box with hydraulic booster, pneumatic circuit with valves for tires pressure adjustment, twin disc dry clutch, manual transmission 4-speeds synchromesh with reducer, 2 speeds transfer case with lockable asymmetrically central differential between front axle and rear axles, electropneumatically controlled and a single output for rear axles, lockable axial differentials, mechanical winch, tires: 1300x530x533. Length: 9005 mm, width: 2750 mm, wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2160 mm.
In 1987, the cab of KrAZ 260 model had a face-lift, the new design come back to the old style, with the wheel arches outside the engine hood sides. This face-lift cab, it was use an all 6x4 models, from 250 series.

In the '80s, factory made a few prototypes KrAZ 8x8 with full chassis or articulated chassis, with cabins over engines and some 6x6 prototypes, based on the 260 model. None of them did not enter in series production.


KrAZ 260 - 1-st edition










This post has been edited by MagnuM on April 17, 2010 01:38 am

[MagnuM]

KrAZ 260 - 2-nd edition









With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, KrAZ factory loses an important part of the military vehicle market, and the work was focused on modernization and diversification of the cabins and civilian models. In the same period, numbering of the new series was changed. Gradually, on the new series was adapted the single driving shaft transmission for the rear axles, but on the entrance on the first axle reducer was mounted a lockable coaxial symmetrically interaxial differential, electropneumatically controlled, front driving axle will be available for civilian models and the new range of civilian models including chassis with 2, 3 and 4 axles.

[MagnuM]

In 1993, KrAZ 260 model is replaced by the new 6x6 model, KrAZ 6322, with payload of 10 tons, equipped with the V8 turbodiesel engines, YaMZ-238BL, YaMZ-238D or YaMZ-238DE2 (Euro 2), displacement: 14866 cc, 330 hp, torque: 125 daNm, MAZ steering box with hydraulic booster, pneumatic circuit with valves for tires pressure adjustment, twin disc dry clutch, manual transmission 4-speeds synchromesh with reducer, 2 speeds transfer case with lockable asymmetrically central differential between front axle and rear axles, electropneumatically controlled and a single output for rear axles, lockable axial differentials, mechanical winch, tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533, or 16.00-20. Length: 8980 mm, width: 2500 mm (tires: 16.00-20), or: 2720 mm (tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533), wheelbase: 4600 mm + 1400 mm, or: 5000 mm + 1400 mm, track front / rear: 2050 mm (tires: 16.00-20), or: 2160 mm (tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533).
Cabin of these models is completely made of tin, with wheel arches outside the engine hood sides.


KrAZ 6322

[MagnuM]

From 1995, based on KrAZ 6322 chassis are made the 4x4 models, KrAZ 5131, KrAZ 5133 and KrAZ 5233, with load capacity of 5 tons, equipped with the V8 turbodiesel engines, YaMZ-238D or YaMZ-238DE2 (Euro 2), displacement: 14866 cc, 330 hp, torque: 125 daNm, MAZ steering box with hydraulic booster, pneumatic circuit with valves for tires pressure adjustment, twin disc dry clutch, manual transmission 4-speeds synchromesh with reducer, 2 speed transfer case with lockable symmetrically central differential between front axle and rear axle, electropneumatically controlled, lockable axial differentials, mechanical winch, springs articulated on the chassis with bolts and shackles, tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533, or 16.00-20. Length: 7900 mm, width: 2500 mm (tires: 16.00-20), or: 2750 mm (tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533), wheelbase: 5000 mm, track front / rear: 2050 mm (tires: 16.00-20), or : 2160 mm (tires: 1300x530x533, 1350x550x533).


KrAZ 5131






KrAZ 5133








KrAZ 5233





Currently, from the variety of models manufactured on Kremenchuk, KrAZ 6322 chassis remains the basis for most military equipment, continuing the legend created by previous models.

[C-2]

There are some of those trucks still in service in romania.

[MagnuM]

How can it look, a "civilian" KrAZ!