Ian the case is on X jcb pattern which i prefer ,i have no problem jumping from a jcb to a 360
i used to work for a company that converted a few jcb,s to 360 pattern as the "drivers" could only drive kubotas
i had to cover one drivers holiday and it was fun for the first day
the problem with the servos on a backhoe is lack of feed back from the controls ,as most of my work involves digging around utility's i need it ,the case servos has a switch so you can have standard case pattern or 360 pattern
cheers graham

Hi Graham, The pilot control jcb i had a go on was a council water gang machine. The operator told me It took him a long time to get used to the total lack of feel in the machine. I dont have to tell you about feel in a machine doing that type of work but i think it comes down to your conferdence in your own abillity to control the machine not lever weight in controls . You say you operate excavators , which i guess should have pilot controls.and you dig round services in the excavator with no problems. I think it would come down to mind over matter in getting the confedence in yourself to operate pilot bhoe controls. As much as we tell ourselfs we can feel a pipe through the levers, its sensitive touch feel what ever you want to call it that a good operator that cares about his job That makes the difference. You obviosly have got the touch, i have got it but some times it disserts me.Unfortunatly the manafactures will all go pilot control so they dont get left behind in the teck race whether we as operators like it or not. ian.

Must say I do like JCB as a preference (but I would say that as I have to sell them!)

I should hope so too dave!
Can't have you promoting the competition.
It's Jason from Tch Alfreton by the way. Didn't know you were on here
Good to see someone else has a bit of an interest in the job!

Jason

hey jason!

I have interest in my job! lol

Well yeah I know that,
but you aint met some of the folks from out place lol

haha just u n the bear that came with you for the health n safety test or wat ever it was, lol

after 45 years as a plant hire firm that would only have jcb wheeled machines our boss has purchased a cat the jcb rep would not even come to see him and the cat was £4000-£5000 cheeper with better back up

In the 70s we bought a used J D 2010 tracked 4in1 loader with a JD backhoe it was a very good powerful digger which led us to buy a new JD310 wheeled backhoe loader which was a bit lacking the needed power so we traded it for a 410 that was in 1982. It has given excellent service for 27yrs I know theyre not to everyones likeing but I think the view of the front bucket and backhoe are unmatched even today. Most of our work has been on landscaping and so probably not fair to compare it with other makes,but I dont think we could have had much better 7000hrs 1 set of pistons &liners thats it.

Spod, any chance of a photo of the John Deere backhoe lader please as I'd love to see it.