jcb foot pedals mk 111 3c

[pauldoc]

could someone tell me what the left round foot peddel is for on a JCB 3c mk 111 automatic digger is for please . seems to push a cable/ button on the torque convertor

could be why my digger seems to have very little drive in gears above 1

[Hugh Jaleak]

If I recall correctly, (haven't driven a 3Ciii for 20 years!), it's known as a 'dump' pedal, use to 'dump' or disconnect the drive to allow you to change gear whilst the machine is moving. It is not a clutch and shouldn't be used as a clutch, press it to change gear when required, otherwise leave well alone!

Have you checked the oil level in the gearbox/torque convertor? Insufficient oil may cause loss of power/drive.

[essexpete]

A badly adjusted cable or stuck cable could, I suppose, give you poor drive but the transmission would damage very quickly. Your first check ought to be oil level, you might be lucky. There is also a strainer in the shuttle sump and an external filter in the system. Failing that it could be a fault with the shuttle clutches. Does it drive better in reverse than forward?

[pauldoc]

sounds good . should i be able to pull away in any gear? or do i have to start in 1st and change up with the pedal?

[essexpete]

The gear you could pull away in depends on the slope and how soft the surface is. I used our old machine in 3rd all the time on the stubble loading straw but if the ground was soft it was really too much and could get hot. I would use 2nd for general loading but again if you have good traction and start pushing hard, say on a slope stripping soil, then 2nd might be too high. On the road around here (not very steep hills) I would use 3rd to shift off then change. There is a temp warning light for the transmission as well as a pressure light, it would be good to have those working.

[Hugh Jaleak]

4th is only ever really for roading, and that's only if you can get the machine up to top speed, keep her in straight line and stay in the seat!

[essexpete]

We had a turbo 4.98 in our old Powertrain and it went like a scalded cat with long loader arms and the b hoe tucked in it drove well on large tyres. If it did get into a bounce it could be scary.

[Hugh Jaleak]

One I had was pretty straight at full speed, unless you hit a bump, and then life became interesting! Few years after that though, I had to drive a 2WD 3CX from Stamford to Corby, that proved impossible to keep in a straight line! I didn't dare get out of 3rd gear for fear of wiping someone out on the opposite side of the road, it was that bad!

[charlie2]

I had some scary moments in 3cs it seemed best to let the machine wander then correct at the very last minute impossible to go in a straight line at all and then having to crowd the bucket to hydraulic stall and slow machine as the brakes were a nightmare especially steep downhills.