EARLY JCB

[MGI]

The very first machine I ever drove (for a living) was an early JCB, I am talking about 1963 - this machine was huge in those days, it had a central jib which could not be moved laterally and it was extremely tall, caution was required around some bridges, it had a a single out rigger which was the width of the machine so it was only possible to lift the back up in one plane. It had 5 levers and they were arranged in the arrowhead shape with the longest lever in the middle, then 2 slightly shorter & then the last 2 shorter again. I think it may have been a JCB 4? Shortly after starting on this machine (about 2/3 months) they bought 2 MF 205X's with the small cabs which rotated with the jib (providing you remembered to slide the valve across before exiting the cab) and I went onto one of those... Anyone have any idea what the JCB was?

[Stormin]

Hi MGI,

At first from your description I thought a JCB4. Sliding back actor wasn't introduced until the advent of the 3C that same year 1963.
The rear arm was quite tall when stored with a very long boom but only a short dipper, so the bucket was some distance away from the ground when in stored position.
But the JCB 4 also coincided with the introduction of the innovative two lever cross pattern controls, so seems likely you may have actually started on the Hydra-digger, the predecessor to the 3 and 4.

[TullyveeryClassicJCB]

Heres a video of a JCB 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Z_5HHKj5A&NR=1

Heres a picture of a Hydra Digger

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.farmingmachines.co.uk/uploads/M06349_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.farmingmachines.co.uk/machinery/M06349&usg=__NSIET1ICX71491_z75gf3kdPMyw=&h=255&w=450&sz=29&hl=en&start=4&sig2=J17eCmFDdj1APjKbAgKdfA&zoom=1&tbnid=FKZUVVzyBBgZGM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=127&ei=w1v7TeLFG4Sw8QP-1YmqCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djcb%2Bhydra%2Bdigger%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4ACAW_en___GB407%26biw%3D1020%26bih%3D528%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

I actually thought it was only when the 4c came out that the lever set up was changed and that the layout was the same on the 4 and the Hydra Digger.

[Stormin]

I actually thought it was only when the 4c came out that the lever set up was changed and that the layout was the same on the 4 and the Hydra Digger.

I was just going on info from the book "JCB the first fifty years", not 100% sure if it's correct.

[TullyveeryClassicJCB]

Norman you're right just seen a good photo of the lever layout and it is cross pattern.

[essexpete]

The video highlights how underpowered the Major engine was for such a big beast. Still it was cutting edge once. Could do with pulling in the dipper when trucking about.

[Martyn Henley]

Hi Bill ...was the machine you are on about this one ?

jcb4backc.jpg

I think i am right in saying that the JCB 4 when it first came out had the 5 levers, and i think the two lever set up was an optional extra at the time... the later 4's and 4C's came with two levers as standard

Martyn

[Steelfab]

yes thats right the first machines had 5 levers and the two levers were developed with Hamworthy hydraulics

[MGI]

Yes Martyn, that is the exact machine... thank you very much! Brings back memories although it was a bit of a beast - the MF 205X I had after it was much smaller and far more maneuverable although it wouldn't dig as deep!