Jcb 3c markIII brakes, tire tread direction, gears grinding

[Pepijn]

Hello there,

Happy owner of a wonderful rusty but sturdy JCB 3cIII 1978

Advice needed on the following:

1. When I shift into gear, it nearly always makes a slight grinding noise, accept when shifting from
Reverse to forward or other way round, I can not shift up or down when driving. But if in gear she works well.

2. Why does it have a left and right brake seperately, can only think it has something to do when stuck in
Muddy ground.. as no difflock.

3. Might have something to do with above, my jcb has the left rear tire tread in forward direction and
The right rear fitted in reverse way, any reason other then a silly mistake??

Thanks for the advice in advance!!

[Mrsmackpaul]

1
I dont think it would be syncro so you most likely need to double the clutch when shifting

2
All tractors since as long as I can remember have steering brakes and this helps to turn in very tight areas like headlands at the end of a paddock or tight manouvering in slippery conditions

3
Silly mistake

Paul

[essexpete]

Paul summed it up, I assume it is a manual with a clutch? Will not be synco which ever.

You can use the independent brakes to assist a turn when the front wheels are slipping or a a poor man's diff lock by gently squeezing the brake on the wheel that is spinning.

[Pepijn]

Thanks to you both, was already worried about the clutch. So how does double clutching works.. depress then shift in
Neutral then clutch depress again and shift up or down? Quite a heavy clutch to work like that..

[mechman]

Yes you've got it.

[Mrsmackpaul]

yep pretty much what you said just need to adjust the revs to suit the next gear as you go ie either give it a little bit of a rev when down shifting as you go thru neutral and back the revs off as you go thru neutral when shifting up
The idea is to match the speeds of the new gear you are trying to select
And slow right down and give it all plenty of time to happen on the shift, you cant race the changes or it will always be a mess and the shafts need time to slow or speed up in the gear box

Paul

[essexpete]

I have never driven a manual JCB but the only time you will really need to change gear is on the road and I would start off in the highest gear possible that does not cause the engine to labour or abuse the clutch.

[Tillywolves]

I have a manual 3cmk3. Sounds like its your clutch. Have you tried adjusting the clutch actuator, from the pedal mechanism to the clutch lever. It should be a rod, which has an adjusting thread and locking nut. You may find that will give you a few more hours on your worn clutch.