JCB 3C MK III restoration
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:05 am
My latest restoration project is a 1978 3C MK III which I recently found on eBay. The machine is in very good condition for its age and has been barn stored for the past 5-10 years. The machine still had the originally Lewisham Borough Council stickers on the side of it and after a little research I spoke with the council who remember the machine being used by their old sewers department, mainly for excavating the roads in the borough when carrying out sewer repairs and driven by Bill Ironside.
Having found the original sales ledgers at JCB I found that the machine was quite expensive in its day and about £4,000 more than other 3CIII's sold at the same by Berkley JCB. The machine is quite a unique specification which caught my eye on ebay and has the Montabert road breaker (believe it is a BBH31 - ?), 6-in-1 shovel, forks, torque convertor, industrial tyres, and jaw circuit on the back and soundproofing in the cab. The machine has a large tool box mounted on the fender and still has the original spacer bars for lifting pipes and all the tools for the breaker. Unfortunately the jaw bucket is missing so are looking for one if you know where there is one?
I took the machine out for a test run on the weekend and the brakes are 100% and stop the machine very well, the gearbox is very positive and both the gearbox and torque convertor oil is like new. The fuel filters are still JCB branded so probably hasnt been serviced since the council last did it, which they told me they used to do on a regular basis so probably why the machine is in such good working condition. The inside of the cab has suffered some rot to the fenders and the box section at the base of the cab due to the rubber mates holding the water.
Im going to start work straight away on restoring the machine and are looking for a jaw bucket, a set of rear buckets and any parts anyone may have to help with the restoration which includes the steering wheel centre cap and spinner knob. The seat wobbles around on the pedestal – anyone know the best way to fix this? Also need the chrome door handle on the side door to the hydraulic filter, beading and rubbers seals for around the cab. Also the hand breakers needs an overhaul – are the parts still available, and ‘Keep it Genuine’ sticker for the roof.
Please let me know what you may have to help - thanks
Having found the original sales ledgers at JCB I found that the machine was quite expensive in its day and about £4,000 more than other 3CIII's sold at the same by Berkley JCB. The machine is quite a unique specification which caught my eye on ebay and has the Montabert road breaker (believe it is a BBH31 - ?), 6-in-1 shovel, forks, torque convertor, industrial tyres, and jaw circuit on the back and soundproofing in the cab. The machine has a large tool box mounted on the fender and still has the original spacer bars for lifting pipes and all the tools for the breaker. Unfortunately the jaw bucket is missing so are looking for one if you know where there is one?
I took the machine out for a test run on the weekend and the brakes are 100% and stop the machine very well, the gearbox is very positive and both the gearbox and torque convertor oil is like new. The fuel filters are still JCB branded so probably hasnt been serviced since the council last did it, which they told me they used to do on a regular basis so probably why the machine is in such good working condition. The inside of the cab has suffered some rot to the fenders and the box section at the base of the cab due to the rubber mates holding the water.
Im going to start work straight away on restoring the machine and are looking for a jaw bucket, a set of rear buckets and any parts anyone may have to help with the restoration which includes the steering wheel centre cap and spinner knob. The seat wobbles around on the pedestal – anyone know the best way to fix this? Also need the chrome door handle on the side door to the hydraulic filter, beading and rubbers seals for around the cab. Also the hand breakers needs an overhaul – are the parts still available, and ‘Keep it Genuine’ sticker for the roof.
Please let me know what you may have to help - thanks