Looking at a 3C mk3 this weekend. Any advice !!

[Tillywolves]

Been offered a JCB 3C mk3, by a family friend. Its well used and at the moment, laid up in a field with a broken front propshaft. It was working before the shaft uj gave up. The owner has a replacement shaft, and is trying to get it fitted for this Sunday, when I hope to have another look. I've had a look on this site, and it would seem the front pump has to come off, after the whole hydraulic fluid has been drained. I dont think the owner realises this.

Anyway, the price is £700, which I think is just above scrap value, and its only 4 miles away from where I live, which makes it a little bit of a steal.

The transmission is a torque converter, so what should I be looking for as a major fault ?

Downside is the front shaft, a lot of the hoses look cracked and worn, and because it used to have a breaker, most of the welds on the back actor are cracked round the pins. Is this a simple grind off, and get a mobile welder in to reweld job, or is a total replacement job.

The machine is just going to be used in a remote field to remove trees, and level off the land, about an acre, plus a bit of groundwork in the garden, so it doesn't have to be pristine condition.

I think its an extending rear dipper, but can anyone confirm this from the pictures ?

Any advice welcome....


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URL of the original image: http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac137/tillywolves/1185435_10151821232486384_481957098_n_zps5dfdc9b2.jpg


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[Stormin]

Looks a half tidy machine and a bit of a bargain for £700 which is well below scrap price.
Even if the front prop is not refitted to get the hyraulics working it may be possible to jack and secure the front and rear arms off the ground so you can undertake a test drive.
With the shuttle type transmission it is important to establish that there isnt too much slip especially when trying to load the front bucket and push into a pile of earth. The forward clutch packs get the most hammer from this. Faults can be as simple as an adjustment but a full shuttle rebuild will be expensive.

Simply grinding and welding the existing bushes may well work but you run the risk of heat distortion nipping a pin in a bush and partially seizing a joint. Ideally new bushes would be installed and line bored to ensure aligment and fit afterwards.

Sounds like a fair bit of work to do on this machine and the cab isnt the tidiest but I would be highly tempted just by the price alone. The fat it hasd the extending back actor is a bonus as long has it hasnt suffered to badly from the hammer work.

[Martyn Henley]

And its a 3Dmk3

[essexpete]

It looks cheap to me, although the cab is poor as most would be. I would have thought most of the cracks could be sorted by a decent welder. As to the torque con, as already said, you could do with seeing it run. When working properly and if the tyres grip they will push for England. They should also pull away easily in 3rd on the level/hard. Expect quite a delay between shuttling fwd and rev, that is normal. Having said all that it is cheap and a bit less than scrap so you have nothing to loose.

[Stormin]

And its a 3Dmk3

What makes you so sure Martyn?
I know its got the red badges usually associated with the 3D's but that definately says 3C on the rear wings in front of jack legs.

The usual giveaway of two position dipper (speed/power) is gone by virtue of the extending dipper. What are the other identifiers?

[agrimax]

Are you sure it has a torque converter?? Looks like a Nuffield 10 speed box with standard foot pedals to me.An early 3c mk3 just before the 3x3 transmission.

[essexpete]

Are you sure it has a torque converter?? Looks like a Nuffield 10 speed box with standard foot pedals to me.An early 3c mk3 just before the 3x3 transmission.

Just had a look, you are right. Clutch pedal on left and brake pedals on right + twin sticks.

Did the 3D have a larger bucket than the 3C?

[martyn williams]

Nice price Cab looks in need of a lot of TLC , typical JCB.. Just check general operational condition.You can get all gears,and does not jump out of gear and engine runs ok. Looks a tidy machine for price. If I saw a machine for £700, I would snap it up straight away.
Martyn

[Martyn Henley]

What makes you so sure Martyn?
I know its got the red badges usually associated with the 3D's but that definately says 3C on the rear wings in front of jack legs.

Well to be honest Storming its the boom, the rake and length is of a 3D, but this is the strangest thing, the kingpost is off a 3C, and if you look the boom lift ram sits way to low ........... and Pete the full width standard bucket for the 3D was phased out in 75 ... and its not a torque converter, missing is the two dials on the left hand side of the dash and absence of drive lever out of the steering column....

[Martyn Henley]

I guess its a possibility that the original boom has been relapsed with the 3D boom...