New engine installations – with no bulky diesel particulate filter or other after-treatment hardware except a maintenance-free catalyst in the exhaust – underpin the practicality of these machines, which offer easier servicing access, greater productivity potential and a higher level of personal safety than competitive machines.
The key to these bold claims are two unique features – clear side-door access to the cab and the PowerBoom loading arm.
JCB Agriculture Managing Director Richard Fox-Marrs said: “The single PowerBoom loading arm design of our machines gives the operator safe access through a full size door at one side, avoiding slip hazards and any contact with the boom and potentially dangerous attachments while getting in and out of the cab. Here in the United States, the NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) has rewritten its safety guidance after recognizing the many benefits of our PowerBoom side entry design.”
Operators appreciate how much easier it is to use a JCB skid steer or track loader. For one thing, 270˚ all-around visibility beats a typical conventional twin arm skid steer by 60% so operators can manoeuvre their machine in confined spaces with greater confidence.
And that side entry/exit makes a contribution to productivity too: Need to pass through a gate? Being able to step in and out of the machine with the boom raised, rather than having to lower
lift arms to get off, then lift them again before moving through the gateway, then repeating the process to close the gate, adds up to big daily time savings when it’s something that has to be done several times a day!
Service access is easier too – according to official comparison standards, the tilt forward design of the JCB cab results in significantly better service access than on competitor machines, with a wide rear door adding to the accessibility of the machines.
There are vertical and radial lift versions with an auto levelling option for the latter, and JCB’s Smooth Ride Suspension cushions the PowerBoom over rough ground to minimize spillage and give the operator a more comfortable ride.
With the entire 17-model range of JCB skid steer and compact track loaders now EPA Tier 4 Final compliant, the loaders contribute to reduced air pollution while operators get to enjoy greater fuel economy with no loss of performance.
The ‘small frame’ models – five wheeled, three tracked machines with rated operating capacities (allowing a margin for safety) from 1350 lb to 2050 lb (612 kg to 930 kg) – are now powered by 113 cu in and 151 cu in (1.9-liter and 2.5-liter) JCB Diesel by Kohler engines with 500 hour maintenance schedules.
JCB’s own Ecomax T4 engine powers the ‘large frame’ machines, which comprise five wheel and four track models with rated operating capacities from 2250 lb to 3200 lb (1021 kg to 1452 kg). This 4.4-liter engine has a new air filter design with high-efficiency active scavenging, which extends filter changes to 500 hours when operating in typical farm conditions.
Fuel economy is a real draw: the JCB Dieselmax engine used previously was up to 16% more fuel efficient than competitive machines, so the economy gain of up to 9% from the Ecomax T4 engine takes the large frame JCB machines even further ahead.
“It’s also worth noting that all three engines achieve EPA Tier 4 Final compliance without a diesel particulate filter (DPF) or any other exhaust after-treatment,” emphasizes Richard Fox-Marrs. “That’s an important consideration when operators are keen to keep service and other running costs to a minimum – and the lack of extra hardware meant our engineers could maintain the high level of rearward visibility for which these machines are renowned.”
As part of the new engine installation, all the loaders have a variable speed cooling fan to maintain regular operating temperature without draining power unnecessarily, with the option to add reversible drive to clear debris any time with the push of a button or automatically at 30 minute intervals.
Fitting load-sensing piston pump hydraulics to the two large frame loaders has reduced general wear and tear and demands on the engine while delivering optimum hydraulic performance to simultaneously use the boom and implement dump and crowd services for speedier loading cycles.
Standard oil flow is 23 gal/min (90-liter/min) at 2200 rpm engine speed but a High Flow option sends 33 gal/min (125-liters/min) to the front end for demanding powered attachments. Hydraulics on the ‘small platform’ loaders retain a gear pump delivering 18.5 gal/min (70-litre/min) or 26 gal/min (100-liter/min) with the High Flow option available on all but the smallest model.
Electro-hydraulic controls introduced across the range provide three response levels to suit different applications and operator preferences, while also making it possible to fit ‘H’ pattern controls in place of an ISO pattern if that makes for easier integration into mixed machine fleets.
An electric quick-hitch option also makes life easier for operators – changing over from a bale spike to a feed bucket, muck fork or any other implement in the extensive JCB AGRI range is a snap and the chances of hydraulic oil leakage during implement change-over are reduced.
It also means the operator spends more productive time in the cab – which is no hardship when it’s a third larger than on competitor machines. The cab comes open or fully-glazed with heater and air conditioning options, providing a comfortable working environment just an easy step away from the outside world.