JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

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Explo
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JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #1 by Explo » Fri Jan 29, 2016 12:46 pm

Hi guys,

Hoping to restore the 208 to mint condition and will post as I go along here hopefully some good photos and probably some stupid questions :-)
First question, the hydraulic system should use 'JCB Special Hydraulic Fluid'. Does anyone know what the non branded equivalent is? No grade was given the manual just 'JCB Special Hydraulic Fluid'.

What an earth does the 'unditching lever' do? Its not often I find something that Google does not know!

IMG_0188s.jpg


Cheers, Charlie.
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Jeremy Rowland
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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #2 by Jeremy Rowland » Fri Jan 29, 2016 3:03 pm

Nice one Charlie :thumbup: look forward to seeing your progress; the digger looks to be in relatively good condition which always helps.

Jeremy


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #3 by Explo » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:51 pm

Cheers Jeremy,

Took the dipper ram off tonight (with some help lol) as it was weeping pretty badly. Sods law the seals are the wrong size, way too big (the blue and clean yellow ones in the pic)!. The piston head was also unscrewed by hand easily. Nout I can really do till monday now :-(


Image
Image


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #4 by Jeremy Rowland » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:59 pm

Just keep plodding away at a steady rate and you will get there in the end. :thumbup: The seals are like many other parts on many different types of machine, always the right one's until you have got the thing to pieces. :dizzy:

Jeremy


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #5 by Mrsmackpaul » Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:55 pm

happy worker you have got there just wait until they become a teenager then they dont wanna help any more

Paul
Your better to die trying than live on your knees begging


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #6 by essexpete » Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:38 am

I wonder if that model was built or designed outside of JCB? If the grey cab is original colour I would guess it to be later 80s machine, possibly into the early 90s.


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #7 by Jeremy Rowland » Sat Jan 30, 2016 6:48 pm

essexpete wrote:I wonder if that model was built or designed outside of JCB? If the grey cab is original colour I would guess it to be later 80s machine, possibly into the early 90s.



It has a look very similar to one of the Smalley models?

Jeremy


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #8 by Explo » Sat Jan 30, 2016 10:33 pm

Cheers for your input guys,

Cab was originally white and the rest yellow. Then the whole thing was painted red! Then painted in its current day colours. The layout, controls, detail etc is 100% the same as shown in the 802 operators manual so I can't see how it can't be an 802? Even has 802 stamped on kingpin casting. If I'm wrong then please let me know.

C.


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #9 by essexpete » Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:54 pm

I am not doubting it was a JCB brand but I don't think it was their in-house design or build.

I think the early JCB minis may have had a Kubota link.


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Re: JCB Crawler Excavator 208 1983-86 model

Post #10 by Explo » Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:54 pm

JCB bought the KX14 base unit from Kubota, just as the "honourable Japanese" competitor was about to introduce their new model! As soon as JCB entered the mini market with the 802 the 1 to 1.2 tonne machines became popular, therefore few 802 were sold. It also made extensive use of an engine and other components from the Kubota KH14. Tha 802 was basically a Kubota undercarraige and JCB upperstructure.

C.


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