1984 JCB 3CX - Need someone to look at it for me

[Fouroaksred]

Hi all

I have a 1984 JCB 3CX have simply won't start. Could anyone recommend someone that I can contact in order to get them to come round and have a look at it for me.

I am based approximately 10 miles north of Birmingham, but either someone in the West Midlands or Staffordshire would probably do.

Many thanks for your assistance

[Slooby]

Can't suggest anyone local I'm afraid, but what are the symptoms? It could be something obvious.

[Fouroaksred]

Its not an electrical problem, it turns over but doesn't fire. (it's the 2wd non turbo Perkins engine model) I'm sure it's something fairly simple but I'm no mechanic hence my request.

[essexpete]

Any smoke out of the exhaust during turn over?

[diggerjones]

Whats the story. Did it just stop. Have you just bought it. I'm south Cheshire. Pictures would help. Probably crap in the fuel. I would change filters. Make sure your getting fuel from the tank

[Slooby]

And to add to what Dylan just said; if the filters have been changed or air has got into the fuel system it will need bleeding, which is a bit of a faff

[Slooby]

Here's the description I gave someone else on how to bleed the fuel system:

Just been through this with mine; the manual (here) describes the bleeding process,but essentially:

Crack the fuel outlet union on the debris trap (chassis leg) and the gravity feed from the tank should force fuel out of it then tighten up the union
Move to the fuel filter (on the engine), crack the fuel outlet union then on the mechanical lift pump pump the manual overide lever until fuel starts coming out. Tighten up the union.
Now move to the mechanical injector pump and there are two bleed screws on the pump body (you'll need to refer to the manual for the positions) crack the lower one and manually pump the lift pump till fuel comes out, tighten the bleed screw, move to the upper bleed screw and repeat.
Now ideally you need an assistant for this, wear fuel proof gloves and get a rag; go to the injector furthest from the pump and crack the inlet union, get your assistant to briefly crank the engine, while you with rag in hand watch the union when fuel starts coming out of the union catch it with the rag, stop cranking and tighten the union, repeat for the next injector working back towards the pump and so on. If you are unlucky, like I was, you may have to repeat the injector bleeding a couple of times. Mine actually fired up by the time I'd got to the last injector on the third attempt. It's a matter of perservering with it till all the air is removed.

Fiddle with anything on the fuel system on these and you need to bleed them

Downloading the manual i linked to will help, it's not a difficult job, just a bit slow going