I've been looking at 90's models (by body shape... series 3 I guess)... have to admit, I know little about them, so looking for any advise on what to avoid.
Manual boxes, shuttle boxes - not 100% on what to look for there. Also Project 8 and Project 12.... unsure on what those terms mean.
Any advise greatly appreciated to avoid buying the wrong thing.
Budget £15k, VAT not an issue.
Thanks.
Hi. I own a 1997 3CX. I bought it about 6 years ago in order to always have a machine on our farm site whilst I was doing some barn conversions. It has been an excellent machine, very versatile. I paid around £14500 from recollection. I was like you, I didnt really have a clue other than what I tried to read up on. I was looking for a little while then one came up locally at a good price. I got a chap who owned one locally to come and look at it with me and try it out. He gave it the thumbs up, then when payment was done, drove it back to my place. (I bunged him a few notes for his assistance). I then slowly sussed out how to use the machine, having just hired tracked machines previously.
Mine is the manual box i.e. big gear lever, not powershift. Its pretty standard but I chose one with the 'extra dig' (extending rear hoe). I would highly recommend this, the extra reach is great. I also added front pallet forks. Its a great all rounder, digging holes, dredging, shift piles of materials, but I've also lifted steels into place, unloaded pallets, pushed in fencing posts, used the front clam jaw to carry tree trunks and so on. My main gripes are, shifting pallets is very hard as you cant see the forks due to the front bucket, so its a careful process but this not really what its for, just a bonus that can you get you out a situation if needed. The other one is the weight. These are far less capable off road than a tracked machine. If its wet clay ground, like where I am, they really churn it up and quickly get stuck and you either make a worse mess digging itself out or have to get towed out. I dont know if they came with a locking diff as an extra, but mine doesn't have one and so you just end up stuck spinning one wheel. Ive learned not to go on the fields from Oct through to late spring!
In terms of running it Ive had very few issues. The engine has been great (perkins from what i can remember). Fuel filter needs cleaning regularly (might be my dirty red diesel tho) but its frugal on diesel and will work ok on near tickover. My gear box always feels a bit clunky and seems to resists going into gear a little, maybe normal or perhaps theres a wear issue. I grease regularly and whilst I have done filters etc, I tend to get a cheap local agri engineer to come and give it a going over one a year.
The pins are all a bit more worn than I would like so its a bit loose, but thats not too dissimilar to the driver! so check the play on all moving parts and judge what you can tolerate for what you want it for. Mine has blown a couple of fuses for no apparent reasons but i suspect the wiring looms are probably worn in places, likewise Ive changed the odd hose. Other than that, they are pretty solid, basic machines and very much jack of all trades.
Parts are easy to get. Genuine JCB are pricey but loads of stuff secondhand, inc buckets etc. I dont have a quick hitch, so I always curse faffing about changing buckets so intend on getting one oneday. Overall, I think if you can get someone who has one to give any potential purchase a quick test for you, you cant go too far wrong. They seems to really hold their value too. Best of luck
