JCB Micro Digger Issues

[Duncan g]

Hi all - just to apologise first off & say that I know NOTHING about diggers. I have had a JCB micro mini excevator (I believe from 2004) on loan from my father in law for about 9 months now. When he first brought it he told me there is an oil leak from the right hand track & that I should top it up with oil regularly, so that's what I've been doing. The oil leak has continued the entire time I've had the digger but I was able to use it just fine.

Over the last month or so the digger has had problems tracking - it would be slow and very jerky ie you would push both levers forward, the digger would remain motionless for maybe a second then lurch forward a couple of feet, stop again for a second or two then lurch forward again. Both tracks were stopping at the same time - not just the one with the oil leak. It seemed to improve after a couple of minutes of use.

The other day I start up the machine and pull back the lever to lift the boom and nothing happens. I release the lever & pull it back again - nothing. I hold it back & after around 10 seconds a tiny twich from the boom - it took about 30 seconds for the bucket to lift off the ground. Exactly the same with the dozer. Then I push both levers forward to move & the digger sits motionless for 30 seconds - then tiny movements forward - it took 4 or 5 mins to get 20 feet out the garage. I'm thinking this is really bad now.

I've taken the digger to a local firm to see if they can repair it and I heard back from them today. They said the machine needs a new track motor & a service. My question to you guys is this - will a new track motor & a service resolve all the other issues I've spoken about here? As I say I know nothing about diggers, but how can replacing a track motor have any effect on problems with raising the dozer etc ... or is it all connected up somehow ... or is it the service that will resolve these issues?

The firm have quoted me £1200 for the new track motor - does anyone know if that sounds about right? They told me a seal kit is around £500 and there is no guarentee that would work, or continue to work long term so its a risk to just do the seals rather than replace the motor.

Anyway, thanks for reading all this and any thoughts you have would be most welcome.

 

[Gecko]

Sounds like the hydraulic oil tank is low to me.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[Duncan g]

Thank you Gecko - would he top this up as part of a service? Should I ask him to top it up? ... I don't want to tell the man how to do his job!

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

Lowit sounds like the oil is rushing round to get back to the suction side of pump

 

[Gecko]

I'll bow out as I have no experience with these machines, but just to confirm, you were topping up lubricating oil in the hub and not hydraulic oil?

 

[Duncan g]

Yep just lubricating oil - no one told me anything about hydraulic oil or gave me a manual or I'd have been checking it - like I say I unfortunately know nothing about diggers! I'm gathering from your helpful comments & Mick's side-splitting comedy that the issues I'm having are due to low hydraulic oil level & nowt to do with the the track motor, so I'll get the service done, save myself 1200 quid on the motor & make sure I keep on top of the hydraulic oil level in the future. Thanks very much for your help Gecko.

 

[V8Druid]

Sounds like the hydraulic oil tank is low to me.

And welcome to the forum.

exactly my first thoughts

Lowit sounds like the oil is rushing round to get back to the suction side of pump

was my second thought too
must be making some interesting noises too

 

[Duncan g]

Thanks for your help Druid - na, no unusual noises at all.

 

[V8Druid]

Thanks for your help Druid - na, no unusual noises at all.

unusual to you perhaps ...... depends on how long that poor little pump's been scavenging for oil

 

[hiluxman]

On a 2004 then it'll be an original micro, now known as the 8010.

I'd also say it's low oil.

They are prity simple machines so no electronics to upset things.

The hydraulic tank is on the left hand side of the machine. It's in between the diesel filler cap and diesel filter.
I'd assume its a metal tank on that year machine and the sight is on the left side of the tank as you look at it from the side of the machine. Later tanks the sight glass is easier to see and also Later tanks had a proper dipstick fitted.

 

[Gecko]

I'm guessing you are using it for a self-build or similar low hour use in which case the occasional hub topup isn't a significant problem (so long as you don't forget!). So if it's 1200 for a new motor, you may as well keep using it and topping up as needed - can't see you getting much for a leaky motor as a trade-in. If it fails, you are no worse off.

Sounds like it's probably due for a service anyway, oils and filters are everything when it comes to longevity.
Grease - I'm not game to ask. Make sure you have a good grease gun and load it with the correct type of grease - and then use it.

 

[Duncan g]

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

 

[V8Druid]

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

NICE ... did something similar on a house I owned back in the '90s - terraced the patio down to the lower garden level - worked well

 

[V8Druid]

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

There are many more people on here, far worthier of the "mighty" title, than me Duncan .... have just had a bit longer to 'encounter' these sorts of things, at 67, than some of our 'younger' members..... and learn from such encounters .. there're also lots here who deal with them daily ... Alex has the benefit of direct experience of your machine model too and the memory to be able to help in such detail .... 's what this place is all about really - sharing knowledge and experience (and I'd never roll my eyes at a genuine Q )

 

[Duncan g]

Thanks Druid - aye it seems like a friendly, helpful & very knowledgable bunch on here - I'm glad I posted! A google search for these sort of things usually brings up more questions than it answers for a novice like me - but nothing can beat getting advice on forums from people who genuinely know what they're talking about.

 

[6feetdown]

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

Whilst I`ve gleaned a great deal of information/advice from this forum over the

Once engaged, you lean on the handle, the bucket disengages from the moving jaw, the bucket rolls forward, drops out and lands on your foot.

kids and Vicki been here most of the day, so sod all done today ...
sat after lunch with Harper sprawled out asleep on me and dozed off too ..
rudely awoken half an hour later thinking "sh1t -- I've pee-ed meself !! " - nope but Harper had ...
she's been very good for some time, but was unconscious after a very busy morning and seemingly full to the brim, she'd 'let go'

so after a wash and a fresh change of clothes - only thing she didn't wet was me socks - the day continued ...
Vicki'd been washing and cleaning her car out, whilst I had Harper and came out to find these sat on the walll -- could I find somewhere to 'store' them ?
View attachment 63922 View attachment 63921 View attachment 63920 View attachment 63918
View attachment 63919
made them for her, for her graduation fashion show in '09, at Earls Court -- 'sposed to represent pit head winding wheels -- been a while since I'd seen 'em -- a day's work in the workshop on a Sunday, with a manakin wrapped in an assy blanket
didn't want 'em polished up -- wanted the natural patina left on the steel -- was quite a challenge at the time .. the model at the back's wearing the 'hip' jobs
View attachment 63916View attachment 63917 ... and he was apparently !!

Hi To All. Whilst I`ve gleaned a great deal of information/advice from this forum over the years I`ve finally taken the plunge and am introducing myself here. I`ve always found forums to have been a fountain of knowledge readily provided to those in need. Whilst classic cars are my hobby I`ve also have a elderly Case 580K,a Bobcat 323 and Case 895 Tractor and and a Lamborghini 600 tractor all of which are/were used over the years in my building business and because I enjoy getting covered in grease and oil ( fellow members will understand this fetish I`m sure!!!) Anyway so "flannel" over I need help with a Benford 3 ton dumper I`ve acquired. It`s got a Lister 3 cylinder engine which is throwing out oil from a pushrod tube in the middle pot. My questions are where do I start, what manual is available and finally is it an inevitable can of worms?? Hoping for help.

Thanks hiluxman, that's really helpful info - I'm sure I'll be able to locate the tank from your description when I get the machine back - I'll try to get my hands on a manual as well. I realise that folks like the Mighty Druid emerge from the womb already knowing this stuff & rolling their eyes at those who don't, but the rest of us mere mortals have to learn from helpful people like yourself.

You're absolutely right Gecko - used it for building my patio so its prob only done about 20 - 30 hours in the 9 months that I've had it. One of the tracks came off a while ago so I got my hands on a grease gun to sort that out - maybe the manual will tell me I should be greasing other things too. Thanks again for your help.

You're probably right about the noises Mighty Druid - I just didn't notice it sounding any different from when it was working perfectly - but then I'm not very experienced with the different noises a digger can make. What do you make of my patio so far dude? ... I'm sure you have an appropriate emoji for my brickwork

Grease is definitely your friend

 

[6feetdown]

1 day I'll work out how to quote part of a message

 

[Bri963]

1 day I'll work out how to quote part of a message

Do you think you should be giving technical advice?

 

[6feetdown]

Do you think you should be giving technical advice?

I'm OK with grease but quoting