1996 JCB 3CX - What to look out for

southkilkenny

Hi folks,

going to look at a 96 3CX for general tidying up around the fields, moving bits and bobs of clay, digging holes to hang gates, taking out some clay from middle of old laneways and levelling stone to improve them (machinery use and occasional cattle on them also). I know any machine from mid 90s is going to have some wear but what are the big things to look out for on that model. Are they perkins or leyland engine? Much trouble from torque or 4wd?

I'm a novice when it comes to diggers but is it hard to tell difference between acceptable wear on the back actor and wear than needs to be addressed before being ready for work? O Neill's in Carlow have a number of 3cxs so was gonna head up there this afternoon.

Any advice or guidance appreciated! TIA.

lab man

Did u buy ?

southkilkenny

No, not yet, sleeping on it. o neills didn't really have anything suitable in my price range and viewed another 3cx near castlecomer, on donedeal, 96, 8900 hours, machine not bad overall but needs a door lock, windscreen, small side window, no handbrake working, no pallet forks, no indicators but mechanically seemed not bad, some wear on pins but nothing excessive, torque and engine seemed fine. 12900 asking with no wriggle room on price by seller

lab man wrote: »

Did u buy ?

whelan2

It's going to be hard to get a clean one of that age. Windscreen is cracked in our one this years, its plastic so no chance of shattering. Will you have it on the road much? Did you try Tom Hoey in louth? Door lock has gone on us numerous times. Handbrake though would be a biggy .

mycro2013

whelan2 wrote: »

It's going to be hard to get a clean one of that age. Windscreen is cracked in our one this years, its plastic so no chance of shattering. Will you have it on the road much? Did you try Tom Hoey in louth? Door lock has gone on us numerous times. Handbrake though would be a biggy .

Have you considered a fermec/terex. Those small items could cost up to 1500 to put right.

K.G.

For stuff like that id stay out of dealers yards.if you keep an eye out you ll come across good solid machines sold privately and might have some idea of what went on before.to be fair to dealers they get some fair buckets of s##t thrown in to them

Nekarsulm

Don't know about a 1996 3cx, but the handbrake on earlier ones were very simple.
Just two little pads, pulled mechanically by a cable, squeezing on a brake disk on the back of the gearbox.
Inclined to fall out when they get a bit worn.

Donald Trump

whelan2 wrote: »

It's going to be hard to get a clean one of that age. Windscreen is cracked in our one this years, its plastic so no chance of shattering. Will you have it on the road much? Did you try Tom Hoey in louth? Door lock has gone on us numerous times. Handbrake though would be a biggy .

Is that not what the jacks are for?

patsy_mccabe

Donald Trump wrote: »

Is that not what the jacks are for?

Or the front bucket?

whelan2

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Or the front bucket?

Aye the oh ****e method of stopping it

kerryjack

Big money for a machine that old; you would get a great 3 ton excavator and a good front loader fitted to a tractor for that price.

mr.stonewall

kerryjack wrote: »

Big money for a machine that old; you would get a great 3 ton excavator and a good front loader fitted to a tractor for that price.

They are such a handy machine around the farm. Have an old 3cx here 1989. Clock wasn't working when bought 20years ago, but easily puts up over 400 hrs a year. It ends up doing jobs you wouldn't think of. The main job is has here is as loading shovel. Feeding silage, pit and over 400 bales. Even at that vintage it's streets ahead of any loader on a tractor.
Once the mechanics of the machine is good they will last a long time. You will have small little jobs to be doing from time to time on a machine of this vintage.
They are heavy and tall. So be carefull will doors on sheds especially the ones with Henderson track. 13ft is the height with backhoe up. Altered all the doors over the years and just makes life easier. They are about 7.5 ton weight and with the torque if ground is greasy or wet it can be fun.
If you have stone on the farm it is wonderful to be able to dig out some and load it for jobs you need. The 3cx built a road way through the farm over 1.5 km. Only cost was time and diesel
Buying one for a farm you will not regret it

Nekarsulm

Whatever make you buy, it must have 4wd and the 4in1 front bucket.
The 4in1 bucket has so many uses around a farm, carrying round bales, pulling them asunder if needs be, scraping loose material off a yard, and then gathering it into the bucket without having to push it against a wall etc.
Thumping down posts, gripping posts and pulling them up, stubbing whines etc, as well as grading gravel etc.
Taking silage out of pits, grabbing anything that needs moved ( from rocks, tree trunks to girders to old Telegraph poles).
If your intended purchase has the 4in1 front bucket, but no extending back arm, someone has swopped the back arm, and the digger will be bouncier to drive.

patsy_mccabe

They say if you floor the digger in top gear, it gives an idea how the torque is working.