MadModder

The Craftmans Shop => New from Old => Topic started by: awemawson on October 06, 2021, 04:50:43 PM

Title: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 06, 2021, 04:50:43 PM
A long trip today Sussex to Norfolk, Lincolnshire, / Cambridgeshire borders to kick the tyres of a JCB 3CX Project 8 1995/6 back hoe excavator. Lots of driving but worth it I think as this seems so far to be a pretty good specimen for it's age.

I've been looking for a few weeks and seen some absolute dogs so it was a relief to find this one that lived up to it's description and photos.

It comes with a ditching bucket, four digging buckets and a 'quick hitch' which is a 'good thing' as those six items would be about £2K to buy at the moment!

No doubt there will be many little things to sort out - inevitably there always are - but the first thing to sort out is moving all eight tons of it the 170 miles home  :bugeye:

 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on October 06, 2021, 10:12:42 PM
Very handy to dig the veggie patch.

Not planning to drive it home then? Say ride there on a motorcycle, put it in the bucket and drive the whole lot back?

Didn't you pick up a big trailer for something a while ago? Bit of extra bracing and it'll be good to go...

Russ

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: SwarfnStuff on October 07, 2021, 01:43:05 AM
Golly, A nice handy toy Andrew if you have big stuff to do, dig and move.

Here in OZ a friend has one that he used to transplant many 30yr old olive trees setting up his olive farm.
It still gets used to shove, dig and generally make mayhem around his now 5 acre block after selling off the rest of the farm. (Should be quoting in hectares, but, hey, I'm on my 81st lap of old Sol).

Good luck with the move.
John B   :beer:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 07, 2021, 02:29:42 AM
Russ even that big trailer wouldn’t take this beauty!

John, I’m regressing really. I had a 1990 Project 7 3Cx some years back when we moved here and there was genuine reasons to have one. Her indoors objected to it as being ‘ugly’ in the farm yard. OK it was a bit rusty, but a faithful work horse nevertheless. This one is very much more tidy.

My ‘justification’ is that we have a large pond that needs clearing out, and about 3/4 mile of ditches that need clearing, but really it’s just because I WANT one !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: PekkaNF on October 07, 2021, 02:30:23 AM
Should be good for digging trenches and building barricades. It is JCB by Lord Bamford after all.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: mattinker on October 07, 2021, 03:59:54 AM
This should be interesting! Maybe I'll get to see it in person one day!

Cheers, Matthew
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Spurry on October 07, 2021, 04:50:55 AM
That looks a very nice machine. It does even have the 'Extra Dig' if I'm not mistaken. Looking forward to your mods.
As it is all a question of Want or Need, I was considering a 360, but trying to find something to compare with the reach of the JCB is difficult.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on October 07, 2021, 05:49:57 AM
I hope we don't need to be building barricades just yet!!

I've no idea what 'extra dig' might be??

My acquaintance with 'plant' gets no closer than having a stepson who's a plant operator but I do seem to watch a lot of YouTube videos.  It seems to me that someone needs to invent a digging machine that can dig with offset - with the diggers I see you have to either position the machine astride the trench or to dig obliquely (slant-wise) across the trench.  With a long trench, surely there are times when it would be an advantage to dig from one side but track the machine parallel to the trench??  Please will someone lighten my darkness????
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on October 07, 2021, 06:10:36 AM
Like this?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211007/40db47cffa976e8c3e81b18317fdd992.jpg)

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on October 07, 2021, 08:12:23 AM
Hi there, Russ,

Thank you for your post.  That photo looks like the machine is digging at right angles to the trench.  Also, that's much wider than what I'd call 'a trench' - does it even have another side?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 07, 2021, 11:14:07 AM
That is a ditching bucket being used to fair up the sides of a ditch, which is pretty much exactly what I will be using mine for initially - I've about 1/2 - 3/4 mile of ditches to clear.

The 'Extradig' is to extend the 'dipper' further. The back end has a 'boom' pivoted on the machine, with the 'dipper' pivoted on the 'boom', the 'extradig' is a co-axial  very stout square tube partially inside the dipper that can be extended by a foot pedal. It is this inner tube that has the buckets and other attachments on the end.

Using this construction with the extra dig gives the 3CX a total 'stretch' of 7 metres (21 foot) from the machine, which I need to reach to the far side of ditches as clearance can only happen from one side.

A '360' machine (ie one where the boom and dipper along with the cab are mounted on a turntable) is far easier for ditching as it can drive parallel to the ditch as the work progresses. However a '360' with a 7 metre reach is a very big and expensive machine - probably 30 ton whereas the 3CX is 'only' 8 tons.

Incidentally, for the anoraks, the machine that Russ posted is either a 'Project 12' or a 'Project 21' - the give away being the way that the boom is swiveled. All the 3CX's pivot the backhoe assembly on a massive king pin, and up to and including 'Project 8' this kingpin has a 14 tooth heavy duty gear splined onto it, and two small hydraulic cylinders push a rack past this gear rotating the boom. The later model have a pair of hydraulic cylinders bearing directly on the king post thus turning it left or right. You can just see them in the photo.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: djc on October 12, 2021, 12:50:05 PM
...a digging machine that can dig with offset - with the diggers I see you have to either position the machine astride the trench or to dig obliquely (slant-wise) across the trench.

One of the things machine designers need to consider is how to get the forces seen at the pointy end of the bucket back up the arm of the machine, into its superstructure and back down to the ground upon which it is sitting. They need to do this for all possible positions of the boom making sure the machine does not tip over.

In the standard configuration of a (360) machine, with it astride the trench, the machine end of the arm is very close to its centre of rotation and the counterweight on the back is opposite the boom. This gives maximum stability or maximum force-exerting potential for a given amount of stability. When you do things like offsetting the boom, the stability or bucket force or both are considerably reduced. In the picture above, the machine is a lot less stable digging over the side than with the arm central and facing rearwards. You have to trade off versatility for speed or power.

The sideshift with vertical stabiliser legs is a little peculiar to UK and Europe. If you look at US-model backhoes, the boom is invariably centre-mounted and the stabilisers when deployed exceed the width of the machine.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 12, 2021, 04:15:25 PM
JCB have made both styles for quite a few years now. The centre mount with 45 degree stabilisers is known as the 1400b or some such title in the states.

When operating side shifted to the extreme, and the rear leg inevitably on relatively soft earth being the top of a ditch, the massive 4 in 1 (or 6 in one in my case) front shovel restores stability but tends to twist the machine. This can be augmented by putting a ton of ballast or even earth in the front shovel.

When ditching the extreme extension of the dipper and 'extradig' obviously exerts huge torque, however there is no need to actually lift when so extended as you are scraping the far bank and ditch bottom so the forces are actually upwards on the boom and dipper. As the extradig is pulled in and boom swung back over land to dump what you have scraped the geometry becomes far better !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 20, 2021, 09:10:19 AM
Well guess what turned up today  :clap: :clap: :clap:

Various things have conspired to delay the delivery of my new toy. I had made contact with a transport firm that was only 1.5 miles from where the 3CX was lying,and arranged a reasonable price for delivery. The father of the chap I bought it from was supposed to drive it the short distance to the transport yard and it would go at the next opportunity which was to have been last week - that all fell through when he ended up in hospital  :bang:

The seller drove it to the transporters yard who kindly sent me photographs of it safely in his compound to await the next opportunity which turned out to be this morning.

On a beavertail lorry it safely got under the multiple telephone lines and 415 volt 3 phase lines that cross my drive (phew!) into the farm yard where the very nice driver (who was actually the owner of the company) unloaded it and put it my Tractor Shed. Oh good - it does actually fit  :thumbup:

Now I have decided to let the excitement calm down and NOT drive it for a bit - you can do a LOT of damage in a short period! I even got the delivery driver (who co-incidentally has owned one in the past) to park it up for me in the Tractor Shed.

. . . evaluation phase starts now !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 20, 2021, 09:20:41 AM
Now the cab is absolutely full of junk - old bits of rag, drinks cans, grease tubes mud - you name it. When I can face it I need to take several black bin bags full of grot out, and vac and sweep it out to see what remains.

Things that I KNOW are needed:

Glass for instrument cluster (declared broken by seller so no surprise)
Two rear view mirror glasses - simple plain mirror no heaters!
A plastic 'stone guard' that fits behind the rear chassis frame (plain flat plastic 3 mm sheet easy to make)


Then I need to give it a good service. A full filter kit covering engine oil, gearbox oil, hydraulic oil and air cleaners plus diesel filters.

Then a good greasing - I already have in stock about a dozen genuine JCB 400 ml tubes of grease - it looks like I'll need quite a bit - there are 70 (yes 70!) grease nipple on this machine  :bugeye:

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on October 20, 2021, 11:30:16 AM
Well you would think with a purchase of that magnitude they would have given it a bit of a pressure wash and valet!! Never mind Andrew, it will be easily done and very rewarding. I am jealous! Looking forward to see some digging videos!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 20, 2021, 11:49:54 AM
Private sale Phil. Actually I'm happy it's not been 'prepared for sale' as you see it warts and all - there seems to have been no attempt to cover anything up.

So I ventured out armed with a big workshop vac, a dustbin, and a dust pan and brush and made all sorts of discoveries having fully filled one dustbin:

A/ Various missing retainers and covers.

B/ The 'optional' cab fan that fixes on an arm

C/ A very worn and tired copy of the operators manual

D/ And biggest surprise of all - THERE IS a FLOOR  :clap:

All seems to be in pretty good order - the only dodgy thing I've found so far is that the bracket that holds the door opening limit strap on has been torn off at some time and rather badly welded back. At first I thought that it was tin worm, but no just grotty welding. Close to the (bonded in) glass so not ever so easy to fix.

One discovery is that there is a fold out / fold down anti vandal cover that locks in place over the instrument console - oh and shards of glass from the original glass showing that it was 1.75 mm thick but I think I'll probably put poly-carbonate back.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 21, 2021, 07:07:34 AM
This mornings task was to drive the 3CX into the farm yard, open all the windows and doors, and give it a good blow out with an air line in all the nooks and crannies. Still amazing amounts came out despite yesterdays intensive hoovering and sweeping.

After another sweep out and hoovering, I followed up with a 'wet cloth swabbing down' which at least now lets me read all the various legends on controls. A good clean up like this i find is the best way to find the true state of new toys as you are forced to look at every detail.

Fortunately no horrors revealed and in fact it's confirmed that ALL the rubber gaiters for the controls are intact and in good condition. Quite surprising for a 25 year old machine.

Reversing blind back into the Tractor Shed I took extremely carefully, as both rear view wing mirrors are broken, neither were originals by the look of it, and no doubt are a pretty expendable item when working on site! Two genuine one ordered.

It looks like my hope that I could get a few days in this year ditching has been dashed. Last night the River Brede over topped it's banks and we are flooded, so the ground will stay too soft for quite a time.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: ozzie46 on October 21, 2021, 08:35:10 AM
Re; the title , what is Big Bird doing in the tractor shed? :D :D :D

Ron
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 26, 2021, 09:33:38 AM
Things are beginning to happen, and bits arrive. I've decided to give the 3CX a full service, including changing all the antifreeze. No idea what is in it, the coolant level is low so the lot is coming out, a quick flush, and new at 50% dilution going in.

So today the new coolant arrived - 25 litres of concentrate as I need 20 litres (at least) of diluted. Also the replacement rear view mirrors arrived, so backing into the Tractor Shed should be less hazardous!

First thing this morning I unloaded the four digging buckets from the front shovel and palletised them for easier movement and storage - pleased to find that they are genuine JCB ones. This will allow me to more safely prop the front arms 'up high' to allow access to the engine.

We had a heavy  frost the other morning and it  resulted in the death of the battery - it soon recovers after a few minutes charging but time for a new one as these things have to be reliable - replacement due to be delivered tomorrow.

I've ordered a full set of engine oil, transmission oil, hydraulic oil, fuel, and air filters along with a new sight glass for the hydraulic tank, new glass for the instrument panel, and breather filter for the hydraulic tank - this lot should arrive towards the end of this week.

Meanwhile I've been tracking down a minor hydraulic leak from the back end - only slight but needs attending to. It's a bonded washer joint to a hydraulic fitting - it's as tight as I can get it so at some time I'll have to remove and replace it - fairly sure I've the correct size in stock.

To more easily get at it I fully removed the remains of the PVC 'stone guard' that protects the hoses from muck chucked up by the rear wheels - it's badly broken - there's a left and right side version - can't see the rhs one as it's behind the carriage which is currently slid to the right, but it's probably in much the same state. £150 each from JCB or £17 each (in black) as a pattern part !

Still can't find why the interior cab light and radio aren't powering up - fuses are OK so a bit of tracing called for.

On the subject of fuses I find these modern car fuses with the two flat blades confoundedly hard to pull out and re-insert - can't see what your doing and fingers are in the way anyway. Particularly troublesome as the Project 8 fuse board is to the right hand side of the drivers seat and only about 6" away so no room anyway. I think I'm going to bend up some sort of clip to grip the fuses for removal and insertion !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete. on October 26, 2021, 01:45:58 PM
I bet you could find a fuse puller on thingiverse. I might have one somewhere you often find them supplied in car/van fuse boxes.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on October 26, 2021, 02:24:14 PM
Hi there, Andrew,

You referred to a 'bonded washer'.  I take it that's the generic name for what I was introduced to as a 'Dowty Seal'?

Are they a multi-manufacturer item?  Are Dowty still in business? 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 26, 2021, 03:33:04 PM
PeteW - yes Bonded Washer = Dowty Seal

Pete. - turns out eBay abounds with fuse pullers so order placed ! Johnny Bravo popped over to pick up some electrolytic capacitors and pointed this out to me .

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 27, 2021, 04:40:06 AM
Only a little thing this morning, but at least it's ticked off the list: Replace the broken rear view mirrors. I had a few moments waiting for someone to shift some of the 'stuff' he's storing here so grabbed the opportunity !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: pycoed on October 27, 2021, 04:42:52 AM
 Well Andrew, do you really expect us to believe it'll be just a Dowty seal? :D We all know it will be an internal  crack in the valve block, which is obtainable only on special order (8 months delivery ) at a cost of £4,199.57 plus a 10% order fee, plus the VAT, payable in advance. This option you will decline.
The alternative will of course require drawing a new part using some arcane 1970's CAD system to machine a pattern on the Beaver to make a casting using an induction furnace, subsequently modified to improve the design so it can be capable of easier machining.
The resultant valve block will be turned out on the beaver at 25% of the JCB price, ensuring that you make millions & can therefore stay in the pig business for at least another 3 years.
Am I right?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 27, 2021, 05:23:26 AM
I sincerely hope that you are off the mark there, but I must admit that valve block on the JCB803 (which I assume you are referring back to?) did come to mind when I was trying to tighten the fitting !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 27, 2021, 07:42:54 AM
A bit more trivia done this afternoon - the replacement Astray arrived and was fitted:

Is it a Merc, or is it a Mk1 Mondeo, or is it a JCB - answer - it is all three !

Just a case of sliding it in!

(Previous one wouldn't stay closed)
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 27, 2021, 03:27:29 PM
More trivia: The replacement starter battery arrived bang on cue. 'Enduroline' brand from Tayna Batteries on eBay. Over the years I've had probably a dozen starter batteries from them and they have been consistently good in terms of price and performance. This one comes with a 4 year warranty. And as ever with them they are delivered next day.

Quite a palaver getting the old one out and fitting the new - on the 3CX the battery is high up in the engine compartment below the windscreen, and both halves of the bonnet have to be removed having first removed the exhaust stack and the air input pre-filter, then the battery has to be lugged up over the loader arms - quite high up really and it's a heavy old lump.

The positive battery connector was covered in 'acid fuzz' and was on the point of disintegrating, which it did as I unscrewed its bolt. Cut off with a battery powered angle grinder and a lug crimped onto cleaned up cable and new post style connector fitted.

Always smear your lead acid battery terminals and connectors with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to stop this happening.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on October 27, 2021, 04:03:43 PM
That's certainly better taken out of the starting lottery, cold weather or not.

Russ

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on October 27, 2021, 04:44:31 PM
Wow maybe you didn’t need a new battery looking at the terminal, I had a friend once that had a dead battery but turned out to be oxide on the terminals preventing the battery from passing any juice to the starter.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 28, 2021, 01:01:05 PM
The glass for the instrument panel arrived today so I set to trying to remove the console arrangement. Rather too many plastic mouldings each mutually trapped by the location all on top of the actual metal panel that I needed to release.

Eventually out of desperation, using broad blunt paint scrapers and putty knives and the inherent flexibility of the upper moulding I was able to gingerly ease it over the metal bringing it forward for access.

But my troubles weren't over even then. The panel has two Sumitomo loom connectors, a 10 way and a 14 way, and try as I could I could not release them. I could see the locking mechanism release but no way were they parting using normal forces. In the end I had to jam a screwdriver between the male and female cylindrical part, and using screwdriver bending amounts of force got them apart. Much marring to the plastic, and the 24 pin female has cracked, but they seem to go together still, and the contacts look clean as a whistle.

So - panel out and on the bench, dismantled, broken bezel bits glued, rubber gasket recovered and reused (should have bought a new one as it's rather ragged) and assembled with the new glass.

Then it was a case of removing, testing, and refitting the gazzillion pea bulbs in this thing ready for re-installation hopefully tomorrow.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 29, 2021, 06:49:54 AM
This morning I managed to re-assemble the instrument console - putting it back was easier than removing it though.

Also a bit more trivia - I re-fitted the near side door catch cover. This was floating on the floor in all the detritus and I found it when mucking out. The 6 mm screw that holds it had been sheared off so it was a case of drilling out the stub and re-tapping - only one 3.7 mm drill died in the process !

 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete. on October 29, 2021, 11:04:49 AM
Your attention to detail is inspiring Andrew. Many people would have blown it out with an air line and silicone glued a piece of plastic over the instruments. We all know that ain't happening here :D
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 29, 2021, 12:43:28 PM
If it's worth doing it's worth doing properly . . . . or so I was taught anyway . . . . . thanks for the kind comment Pete.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 30, 2021, 09:09:37 AM
Another day of trivial fixes:

Firstly I replaced the broken rear light cluster - fairly straight forward - the only complication being the the heavy steel guard that surrounds it is held on by four 8 mm bolts into thread clips which were rather crusty but did survive the experience.

(Well ACTUALLY firstly I had my flu jab which delayed things !)

Then I took delivery of the copy of the Operators Manual that I had had printed. There was a very trampled, wet and soggy copy on the floor of the cab, and although I carefully dried it and cleaned as much mud off as possible decided a re-print was called for. I already had a .PDF copy that was virtually the same - same part number but there ARE differences !

As it's 190 pages I really wanted it printed double sided on heavy paper and decently bound - 80 gsm and spiral bindings don't last long when you are thumbing through them. Although I have the kit to spiral bind printing double sided always seems to go wrong for me somehow  :scratch: So I decided to 'outsource' the job to Viking Print House who did it on 100 gsm paper and 'Velobound' it. (Rigid riveted plastic bar down front and back.

I'm so impressed that I think I will have the workshop manual printed out by them again on heavy paper double sided, but ring binder bound as it's 702 sides ! I only have it electronically and a paper copy is much easier to work from I find.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 31, 2021, 01:23:42 PM
Today I got a few hours to drain the coolant and re-fill with Anti-Freeze of a known type.

Now we all know what happens when we put anti freeze in - it seeks out every possible weak spot in the system - well I don't think it had to do much seeking - there was a BIG leak  :bang:

You may recall me saying that when I got the machine the coolant was too low in the expansion bottle for me to draw off a sample to test - well this is probably why ! As I drained what was in the system undoing the bottom hose I did take a sample and my refractometer tester said that it was protected to below minus 25 so any damage is unlikely to be by frost.

Having initially started the engine after re-filling to try and circulate the new of course water has splashed EVERYWHERE and definitely determining where it's coming from  isn't easy until things dry off a bit.

However I'm fairly certain that it's the radiator itself sadly. Fortunately it looks fairly easy to remove (two hoses and four bolts) but I think I'll try a pressure test on it in situ before I remove it. The expansion bottle pressure cap is a 7 psi one so a low pressure test I think.

Just to rub salt in the wound, the rev counter that got a new glass the other day was working happily showing approx 1000 rpm, then as I watched it it fell to zero, and came back, then back to zero - the hours meter that's embodied within it still works, but my money is on a poor contact on the alternator 'W' terminal after all the coolant splashing about in the engine bay.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: mc on October 31, 2021, 07:43:44 PM
Worst part of getting the radiator out, is the hoses. Top and bleed hoses you can take out with the radiator, but the lower one is a nightmare if it's got a transmission cooler attached.
Transmission cooler should be held onto the radiator cowling with a big P-clip. Last one I done, I left the cooler in place, as it's easier to wrestle with the bottom radiator hose and P-clip bolt, than the two transmission oil pipes.

Rev counter will likely be a wiring issue. I've yet to come across an older JCB where the chassis wiring isn't falling apart.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 01, 2021, 05:09:04 AM
Well Morray I hope that you are wrong ! The top hose is a dodle as fully exposed, the bottom hose is a bit of a wriggle but looks quite possible with a socket on an extension. I'll probably need to slacken off the mounting bolts for the oil cooler to slide the rad upwards.

. . . . because . . . this morning I proved the leak to the radiator. I removed the expansion pipe from the system to the expansion tank and fitted a PCL air fitting to it, and added a short length of 1/2" pipe to where it had been, which I blanked off with a bar end and Jubilee clip. Then having once more drained the system using the bottom hose I attached a small regulator and brought the system up to about 5 psi. In fact the supposedly 7 psi cap wouldn't seal at 5 psi (new  one on order) so I used 3 psi !

Then I could easily HEAR the leak hissing away but couldn't see it, even spraying copious amounts of 'leak detector' (dilute washing up liquid!) on it. In the end I located it using a couple of feet of flexible conduit, one end to my ear, the other seeking leaks, and it was surprisingly accurate. Then I confirmed the spot with more leak detector.

The oil cooler mounts in front of the radiator, and where the leak is there is a displaced plastic spacer between them that might be the guilty party for causing the leak in the first place. Anyway it all needs to come out.

New radiator on order and should be here in a couple of days, meanwhile I'll pull the old one out and probably skin a few knuckles!

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 01, 2021, 09:52:09 AM
After a quick lunch I attacked the leaking radiator.

Firstly the 'bonnet' came off (blooming heavy 4 mm plate!) which required the vertical exhaust pipe and air pre-filter to be removed. Then I undid the top and bottom hoses. As I thought, the top hose was a doddle, the bottom hose required a bit of ingenuity with a flexible 1/4" drive.

Then, having undone the four bolts actually fixing the radiator, and slackening the four that hold the oil cooler I was able to remove the radiator itself sliding it upwards using a bit of Egyptian technology using levers and wedges.

Once out it was evident that this radiator has given problems in the past and has had at least one tube squashed and soldered, also there is evidence of 'sealant' having been used in the coolant. At least this justifies my decision to replace rather than try and repair the radiator.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 01, 2021, 03:59:28 PM
I used to use a radiator recoring service in Scarborough, about half the price of a new one, but I doubt he is still in business! The last job he did for me was actually the Fordson major rad! That rad needs at least recoring, what is the cost for a new one Andrew?
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 01, 2021, 04:54:49 PM
£350 plus the VAT Phil, and hopefully next day delivery.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on November 01, 2021, 05:19:27 PM
Years ago I used automotive filler (bondo) in a pinch I was surprised it held but it never leaked again.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 01, 2021, 05:53:55 PM
Classic remedy for a leaking car radiator was a couple of spoonfuls of Scott’s Porridge Oats. It often actually worked !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 02, 2021, 05:51:06 AM
OUCH! a bit more than I used to pay, lets hope it is a copper one! Still, when you have finished you will know it is right and reliable, and you are adding value! Better a new rad than a new head gasket!!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 02, 2021, 05:56:33 AM
Porrige oats, I have heard that was a cure for weepy stean boiler rivets as well, got a breakdown call out to an Austin 1100 in the distant past, and when I got there the rad top tank was full of scrambled egg, I didnt have the heart to tell them that you are only supposed to use the egg white!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 02, 2021, 08:25:45 AM
Sodium Silicate syrup is another trick that actually works. It was the classic way of curing the 'Ford Porous Block' syndrome of the 'Pre-Force' Ford 3000 and 4000 blocks.

. . . .twiddling my thumbs as new radiator hasn't yet arrived . . . I don't do patience  :clap:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: mattinker on November 02, 2021, 08:38:42 AM
I remember, some 45years ago, I fixed "temporarily" a leaky top tank on my '52 landrover with glaziers putty, I forgot about it and it lasted a very long time!

Cheers, Matthew
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete. on November 02, 2021, 11:52:09 AM
Drop of sikaflex up the core tube would sort it :D
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 02, 2021, 01:01:52 PM
The trick used to be to grip the offending core tube with snipe nosed pliers and roll it up either side of the burst to form a seal. Once rolled grip the rolls again with the snipe nose piers and squash them to form the seal.

(This is still a useful trick to know when crossing the desert with no radiator shops for miles as it uses no materials ! )
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 04, 2021, 11:17:54 AM
The new radiator arrived at lunchtime, but to my horror when I unpacked it it was damaged  :bang:

However it really only was superficial - the squashed port for the bottom hose dressed out OK and the crushed fins probably don't make a jot of difference to the cooling. OK I could demand a replacement but there seemed little point. I've told them and sent pictures but life is too short to get too excited!

So I fitted it, did a low pressure leak down test with air, then took the risk putting in the rest of my antifreeze solution, having lost half of it on the floor with the last escapade!

No leaks apparent so far - I've run the engine at a fast idle (1250 rpm) for an hour, with the front of the radiator blocked off with a towel, but can't get it warm to give it a true test. The gauge just perceptibly moves off it's cold resting point - but it is quite a chilly day. 

Not put the bonnet etc back as it'll be easier to change all the filters with them off.

Incidentally, the rev counter that stopped working in the last 'coolant change' episode is now working fine. Either the coolant that was gushing out and splashing everywhere from the split radiator got into the alternator and stopped the W terminal working, or as I now think more likely, the Vee belt drive was wet with it and slipping.

 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 04, 2021, 03:47:53 PM
Thats a pain Andrew, you would think at the price they could put some wood packers around it, or even polystyrene! still, as you say easily rectified. The cooling fins are easily straightened with a screwdriver, and a bit of matt black makes good! I once fumbled a screwdriver whilst clearing some tools off the bonnet landing panel of a customers car I was fixing, and of course it fell into the fan of the running engine, and a little jet of water appeared. I was lucky, it was a good radiator and the hole was in the outside of a tube between the fins, took it out and soldered the pinhole with a big electric iron!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 05, 2021, 06:59:32 AM
So once Grand-Children, Dogs and Wives had been packed off to hunt edible chestnuts I was able to resume activities. I set myself a low target today as folks staying and cottage guests in abundance arriving today.

Once at the tractor shed I was delighted to find that the floor WASN'T awash with the expensive coolant that I put in yesterday, so I got on changing the engine air filters. There are three - air enters via a dust separator that is mounted above the bonnet then passes through an outer and then inner filter before getting to the turbo. The dust separator gathers debris by spinning the air flinging it by centrifugal force to the outer edge of the bowl, where it falls down into a gully provided for it. A good blow out with an airline followed by a wash in hot soapy water got it ready for re-installation. The Inner and Outer filters are just a case of changing the element. Usually you'd only need to change the outer one, but as I have no idea how old they are I changed both.

While doing this I noticed that the 'safety valve' (or Fart Valve as I always known them !) is missing so order placed for one. This device is just a rubber moulding designed to allow air out but not in by it's shape. So if explosive fumes were to accumulate in the filter housing and got ignited, it would blow off rather than burst the filter housing. Without it some air will circumvent the dust filter so it's needed.

Still got the hydraulic filters, fuel filters and sediment bowl (it's nasty in there !), and transmission oil and engine oil filters to go !

And when all that's done just 70 grease points to grease, four final drive planetary gear boxes and two axle / differentials to check for level !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: mc on November 05, 2021, 07:09:02 PM
Just realised that's the newer version of 3CX from the one I replaced the radiator on.
At least JCB seem to be making some things easier to fix.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2021, 05:47:54 AM
The Postman delivered the new 'Fart Valve' today so I was able to just slip that on, but nothing else will happen for a couple of days due to family commitments.

He also delivered the replacement Oil Pressure Switch, so that's handy I can replace it when I drop the oil next week.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: howsitwork? on November 06, 2021, 06:01:24 AM
very nice Andrew

always wanted one of those.

got to drive one  when our house was being built 33 years ago, now where did those years go ???

I shall watch enviously as this proceeds
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 08, 2021, 07:01:22 AM
So no putting it off any longer - time to change the oil !

First I replaced the oil pressure switch (*) and proved that it worked, then left her warming up for a bit, then actually draining out the old oil wasn't too bad - most went in the bucket  :bang: Once it stopped dripping I attacked the oil filter - this is the bit I wasn't looking forward to as it's in an amazingly awkward place to get at - has to be from underneath.

Old diesel engine oil is remarkably good at marking anything within ten foot! The filter is pretty well horizontal, you have to be under it to undo it - well you get the picture  :bugeye:

Anyway it's done and so far no leaks  :thumbup:


(* I'd thought that there was an issue with an o/c wire in the instrument harness, but eventually a few days back proved the fault to the actual oil pressure switch)
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on November 08, 2021, 08:49:55 AM
That reminds of my Honda!  But with more room and a bigger filter ;-)

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 09, 2021, 10:06:19 AM
I may have mentioned that I had had the Operators Manual printed from my PDF on nice heavy 100 GSM paper and was so impressed that I decided to have the Service Manual also printed on thicker paper.

Well it arrived the other day but WASN'T on 100 GSM paper but something considerably thinner which was easily apparent to the touch. Well they weren't having any of it until I called their bluff with a micrometer :clap:

First print run 122 micron paper, this print run 105 - they obviously didn't expect an Engineer at this end of the discussion  :lol:

Then I really made their day pointing out that they were fiddling their courier sending me a 1 kg return label for a 2.75 kg parcel.

Anyway it's off back to them tomorrow to reprint - I fully understand why they wan't the first version back . . but it ain't me fiddling !!!

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 09, 2021, 10:21:26 AM
Today's job - replace the diesel filter and clean out the sediment bowl.

I wasn't looking forward to this expecting trouble bleeding the system of air afterwards, especially as the lift pump is on the other side of the engine from the filter and sediment bowl.

First I removed the sediment bowl - it was full of all sorts of muck - and when it came off the 'swirl funnel' detached and for the life of me I cannot see what is supposed to hold it up against the top of the fitting. Anyway I gave it a good clean out and rinse in clean diesel and started scratching my head. The swirl funnel doesn't seem to be available as an individual part, and the whole sediment bowl second hand is £75 so ingenuity was called for. Very careful examination revealed no broken edges - I suspect that it relies on the "springyness" of the plastic that it's made from to clip onto features round the inlet and outlet pipes but the plastic is 25 years old and not springy.

Obvious answer - a suitably long weak spring to push up from the bowl itself under the funnel and keep it in contact where it should be, and the collection of random springs that I keep kindly provided a suitable candidate :thumbup:

So putting everything back together time to do the priming. Odd set up - no bleed screws - the procedure is to turn on the ignition to open the fuel solenoid, and hand pump the lift pump lever for two minutes, and amazingly it works!

I did actually have an issue getting the new filter to seal in it's housing - significant leak first time - but a bit of jiggling the  sealing ring round a bit has (I hope) cured it.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 12, 2021, 08:05:09 AM
Not a lot of progress as I'm 'waiting for things' but this morning I thought that I'd knuckle down and try and trace the wiring for the cab interior light, and the warning buzzer.

Warning buzzer was EASY - it isn't sounding as it isn't there  :lol: It's the same format as the plug in relays and I bet someone unplugged it when the oil pressure switch failed. Quite clever really, all the various pressure and temperature sensors feed into a multi-input diode logic OR gate the output of which brings up a big red warning triangle on the dash, and sounds the buzzer - well it would if it was there ! Replacement on order.

I totally failed to trace the Cab interior wiring issue. The light should have ground (battery -ve) on one side (it does), and a permanent live feed via fuse A7. Measuring at fuse A7 it has no live feed but in looking into how it is fed I find on the circuit diagram it is via "Fuse Link 7" . Now nowhere is there reference to fuse links as opposed to fuses, the fuses are designated A1 though A9, B1 though B9 and C1 through C9 and have a different circuit symbol to the Fuse Links (Which are drawn as a resistor zig-zag line)

Incidentally, the (not working) radio which is fused by 'A8' is ALSO fed from 'fuse link 7' so it probably IS the problem if I can only find it!)

Trying to trace it using a Tempo tone tracer the only place it turned up was on the steering column right hand stork that controls full or dipped headlights !

. . . .so it remains a mystery  :bang:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on November 12, 2021, 08:16:18 AM
I'd look for a black box near the battery...  follow the hot lead!

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 12, 2021, 09:56:52 AM
Morray, I'm coming to the conclusion that they are simply individual wire cores in the harness from the starter motor to the fuse box rather than an individual component. Certainly there are seven yellow cores of varying gauge crimped into a big tag on the starter motor and disappearing into the 'cab harness' and there seem to be seven of these 'Fuse Links'

Later Edit: (oops - it seems that there are 9 'Fuse Links' ! )
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 15, 2021, 06:51:18 AM
Time for the hydraulic filter change. This had been delayed as the new gasket that seals the access port  for the filter had been supplied incorrectly. They sent the inspection port gasket by mistake. Replacement arrived by today's post so onward and upwards . .

Clean up round the port, unscrew the bolts, scrape off the old rubber gasket, remove filter, replace with new - what could be simpler. While the oil level was low I replaced the totally opaque old level gauge and fitted a new one.

There is a tank breather in the filling cap that needs replacing, but in fact I replaced the entire cap with one with a locking facility.

Topped up the 32 weight hydraulic oil to the mark - job's a good 'un

(except that that was the last of my 32 weight hydraulic oil so an order placed for a further two 20 litre drums)

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 15, 2021, 07:33:22 AM
Yesterday I had another crack at the wiring mystery - this 'fuse link 7' business. I'm more and more convinced that the fuse links have been done away with and are merely cores in the wiring harness.

Also, thinking as the faulty cab light AND the faulty radio were both supplied by this link then it must itself be faulty. WRONG  :bang:

I took the radio out of the console and powered it up from a bench power supply, and it IS genuinely faulty. Then just to confirm it I proved a connection was getting to it's power connector using the tone tracer.

So it now turns out the cab light isn't working possibly due to a single failed core or connection splice on cable  303 in the wiring loom. This of course is hidden behind the head lining and trim but I may be able to get a bit of access where the clock mounts.

I'd thought that I could use my endoscope camera BUT plugging it all together it turns out that the 'ap' no longer works with the version 15.1 of IOS that recently upgraded on my phone and the Chinese supplier hasn't written an upgraded version :bang: Don't you hate technology.

So - now I'd like to get the radio working - far from essential but nice to have. It's a Clarion Finish Line 540 single DIN sized with an ISO connector for power and audio, mounted in a cage for it to slide in.

Easiest option is to find something physically compatible and just swap it out but I'm not sure how 'standard' the standards are in terms of the placing of aerial and ISO sockets - certainly the few I've seen on eBay seem to have the same sockets but in differing places.

So . . any suggestions welcome as always.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 22, 2021, 06:48:34 AM
I've spent DAYS trying to find the 'Boom Lock Master Cylinder Reservoir'. The Boom Lock is a tri-angular plate with holes in it that hinges on the kingpost, and when lowered goes round a cast knob on the boom, preventing it drooping when in transit.

The service book is little help with location other than that fore and aft it's in line with the rear axle. As it's on the 50 hour service check interval I'd expected it to be somewhere easily accessible. I've poked and prodded into all the nooks and crannies of the cab trim expecting an access hole somewhere but today I gave up that approach, and got out the crawler board and slid underneath. No problem getting on the board, it's getting up afterwards that's the issue  :bugeye:

Well guess what I found ! Far from being on the right hand side of the machine near the lever and where the manual implies it is, it's mounted on the extreme left hand side of the axle, with the filler cap practically touching the floor and virtually impossible to get at to unscrew or fill. Still I've found it !

Oh and I found a chap under there muttering about having lost a reservoir  :lol:

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 22, 2021, 02:13:51 PM
No problem getting on the board, it's getting up afterwards that's the issue  :bugeye:
I know the feeling well Andrew, but we are driven! This afternoon I found myself wearing headtorch to fight my way through brambles in the dark, to get to the cabinet at the base of a mast, to try and get the internet back on for mum and cousin! In this weather, why do we do it? It can only be because it is there!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on November 22, 2021, 05:06:49 PM
Looks like you took your blanket under there with you!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 22, 2021, 05:30:44 PM
Looks like you took your blanket under there with you!

A few weeks ago that jumper was OK for a trip to the pub for a meal, not any longer I fear !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 23, 2021, 07:56:25 AM
And now I'm being told that actually it's NOT a Project 8 3CX but a Project 9 :clap:

According to an expert on the Facebook Vintage JCB group they were Project 8 when the console was at the front, but became Project 9's when the console was moved to the right side of the drivers seat.

I had always thought the the move from slew pots (internal rams moving a rack across a gearwheel) to swing the king post to external rams acting directly was the distinguishing feature but it seems I was wrong.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on November 24, 2021, 03:29:07 AM
Does that increase the value, because it is newer, or decrease because it is 'less vintage'?

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 24, 2021, 06:03:57 AM
Well Russ it stays the same!

The age hasn't changed, the only thing different is the name! It's a bit like the various car variants that tended to come out ready for new registrations - minor tweak - new name - must have!

I wasn't aware that there was a 'Project 9'  3CX - I was aware of Project 7, Project 8, Project 12 and Project 21 but what happened to the numbers in between ?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 25, 2021, 05:57:02 AM
My Oil Boiler man Mike was here today replacing a PRV, so as he's FAR more flexible than I am he kindly cleaned off and topped up the boom lock reservoir.

It was at about 1/3 full so adequate but low, now topped up to full so should be OK for the next 25 years  :clap:

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 26, 2021, 07:38:06 AM
The radio / cassette player that was in the JCB when I got it was faulty. I've been trying to find a plug compatible one, and thought that I had.

It slides into a sleeve that has the ISO socket and aerial plug fixed in it's interior. I thought I'd found one with identical pin outs so bought it on eBay. It arrived this morning, and it turns out that it had a two bank ISO plug and the aerial was very slightly in a different place - BUT it did come with a short sleeve.

So butchering the ISO socket on my loom by sawing off the third bank, and installing the short sleeve in the console I've been able to adapt it, AND it works.

It even had a Motown CD in it so I could test both the radio AND the CD function :lol:

So that's another item ticked off the list.

I 'topped up' the front axle on Wednesday and had intended to move on to the rear one, however it took 3 litres to top it up (holds 13 litres) so I'd run out off the Castrol Transmax Universal that I'm using that blends with both GL-4 and GL-5 EP oils (front uses GL-5 and rear uses GL-4) so I ordered a further 5 litres.

Got a text to say it had been delivered 23:05 last night, and sure enough there was a soggy cardboard box by the gate soaked in rain. Who the heck delivers at 11 at night !

So that's my job for Saturday I think.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: modeng200023 on November 26, 2021, 12:09:20 PM
I know what you mean, wet cardboard boxes by the gate.

John
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 28, 2021, 11:01:18 AM
At last I got the opportunity to crawl under and check the rear axle oil level.

Oil level plug is a 1-5/16" Hex and when I did the front axle I had to jump on my longest breaker bar from the 3/4" square set and even then it was a struggle to unscrew it. (Tapered BSP thread).

So I'd planned all sorts of strategies to get the rear one undone, as being between the wheels and well underneath there was certainly no room for jumping! So - Jack under far end of breaker bar, or make extended 3/4" extension to bring it to 'out from under', or . . . . well what, and to honest this 'or what' had been making me procrastinate.

In the end I thought - 'OK get get under there and try it'. Well legs braced against near side wheel, firm grip, give it your all. No not enough oomph  :bang:

So before dragging out the jacks etc, in one last effort, I got my biggest 'rubber dead blow hammer' and whacked it with all my might. Not easy lying on the floor in a cramped space . . . . but, hey hang on, was that  movement or am I about to skin my knuckles as the socket comes off the hex plug. Another try, and yes, we HAVE movement.

Now bear in mind all I'm doing is checking the level, drip bucket underneath, take it out, and . . . . . it's grossly over filled :lol:

Better over filled than empty, and the fact I'd bought oil in advance matters not a jot as it WILL be used in the future, but that at least is the rear axle and its epicyclic hub gear boxes done  :thumbup:

Not done the front epicylic boxes as I need a 'banksman' to tell me when the level plug is on the horizontal as I drive back and forth. I did try the other day lifting the front on the front shovel so the wheels are off the ground, and turning the wheels by hand, then lowering back to earth, but having the differential between them, as you spin one it turns the other in the opposite direction. Wedging one wheel 'almost' worked, but then the act of lowering back to earth, because of the geometry, turns the wheels. I'll have to be patient and wait for a hapless passing soul to grab  :thumbup:

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 29, 2021, 05:46:58 AM
OK front axle hubs SORTED  :thumbup:

After MANY iterations of driving small amounts either forward or back, then clambering out of the cab and testing the cast in level line on the hubs I managed to get the lines level and test the oil levels one after the other. Near side wasn't too far off only needing about 250 cc but off side took most of a 1 litre bottle.

What would make this job far easier single handed would be one of those spirit levels that bleep at you when horizontal. Not sure if a magnetic version is available  :scratch:

So as far as gear boxes and hypoid oil is concerned that's it apart from the King Post slew gearbox. To do this the machine needs to be on a level surface and the back actor / hoe fully extended horizontal to expose the drain plug and filler / level plugs. Apparently this box accumulates condensation, and the process is to slacken the drain plug to drain the water off, and then tighten it and top up to level, the drain plug having grooves in it to let the water out without fully disengaging it's threads.

I don't quite have enough length in the tractor shed to set the machine up in this configuration so it will have to wait until I've moved a few things about
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 30, 2021, 08:01:17 AM
So today's job: check  / top up the 'Slew Gear Box' so I need to take the JCB out of the Tractor Shed and put it back in the other way round to give me room to extend and lower the boom and dipper to give access to the slew gearbox filler plug.

As I was moving it across the yard it was sensible to top up the diesel tank while there. It's a bit tight to get it close enough to the Diesel Bowser for the hose to reach and it had to be slightly up the ramp into the workshop to fit.

This revealed another issue to sort - the handbrake wouldn't hold it so needs adjusting !

79 litres later into the 100 litre tank brought it to the top, but I had to put both buckets on the floor to stop it rolling down the slope.

OK back to the tractor shed with the back actor / hoe in the correct position for the next step - check the slew gear box oil.

Drain plug was mighty tight taking a 6 foot scaffold pole on the breaker bar to shift it, and when loose very little condensation water came out. However the oil itself was rather emulsified so I decided to drain and refill with fresh. Left it for ages to end dripping to make sure it was all out.

Now the book - in fact two books (Owner Manual and Workshop Manual) say 4.3 litres but I got barely 2 litres in before it was topped up to the level plug. Not sure whats going on there and suitable questioning post placed on the Vintage JCB Facebook group that has some very knowledgeable members.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 30, 2021, 10:47:02 AM
Good Work Andrew, not really the weather for it, but  when it's done it will be a diamond!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 30, 2021, 11:37:24 AM
Thanks for the kind words Phil, yes I'm getting there !

Annoyed that I hadn't measured the volume of the oil that I drained from the Slew gear box, and to satisfy this nagging doubt about the 2 litres of hypoid  that I got back in compared with the 4.3 that the book says, it dawned on me I could fill the drain pan with 2 litres of water and compare to the previous photo of the emulsified oil in the same pan. Sure enough what came out was marginally less than what I put back - the book must be wrong!

So hand brake tomorrow. Should be fairly simple, adjust pads to close to the disk, then take up the slack in the cable - this is assuming that the pads aren't too worn. Changing pads is easy (*) but I don't have any to hand.

(* I got used to changing pads on my Project 7 - it was all too easy to drive off with the handbrake on fully, and either rip the pads out or wear them rapidly. This machine has an interlock microswitch. Hand brake on and no motion !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 01, 2021, 06:10:40 AM
Back under this morning to sort out the parking brake. As I mentioned it's a caliper and pads working on a disk on one of the prop shafts ie a 5th brake, with each wheel having a 'wet brake' internal to the respective axle.

It was just a case of adjusting the 'hold off' of the pads - the hand lever doesn't have a ratchet as you might expect, but is an 'over centre toggle' arrangement. So adjustment is done by ensuring that in the toggled position (ie 'on') the pads firmly grip the disk. It was quite a way off. Then a quick check to make sure that the interlock microswitch was still doing sensible things - it was - and a short drive to the ramp to check that it would now hold the machine - it does  :thumbup:

I'd intended to grease the three prop shafts while I was under there but ran out of enthusiasm. The two driving the axles have three nipples each - one on each universal joint and one on the sliding spline. But oddly, if the book is to be believed, the shaft driving the hydraulic pump, although of the same construction, only has one on the spline - presumably the u/j's are sealed for life? I'll find out when I grease it !

Instead I finally got round to starting to clean out the toolbox. I thought I'd taken pictures of it's utterly disgusting state, but I can't find them. There were various bucket shims and wear bushes, but so much dried up grease that I couldn't detach them from the box until I used a scraper. Anyway today I gave the inside a good brushing down with red diesel and left it to soak, having first scraped and hoovered as much as possible. After a wipe down it's a bit more palatable but still not exactly clean. It'll do for now until things get steam cleaned and painted.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 06, 2021, 11:04:00 AM
I decided the time had come to have a serious go at cleaning the build up of ancient grease off the machine. Arming myself with a hand pump bottle of Gunk, all the accumulations of baked on grease got a thorough soaking, going round the machine three times.

I then left it to soak for a couple of hours while I did some paperwork (oh joy!) and came back to give it a very intensive cold water pressure wash with my petrol driven unit.

The result was much less than spectacular - OK some got blasted off, mostly onto me, but not at all satisfactory. This stuff is REALLY tuff - I suppose it's a mixture of grease, hydraulic oil, and dust of whatever site it's been working on. It needs the steam cleaner to do a proper job.

So, with the JCB out of the tractor shed I took the opportunity to dig out the Karcher Steam Cleaner from where it was  buried deep behind tractors, flail mowers, a dumper truck and assorted junk. Now I knew that it's battery had died and was refusing to take a charge, and that the high pressure cut off switch needs attention, but hadn't been able to get at it to do anything - but now I can  :thumbup:

To get a replacement I needed to pull the battery out to identify it. I do wish the designer had been with me while I did it - what a ridiculous 'design'. To remove the battery, you have to remove the diesel tank (only a Jerry Can), the frame that secures the diesel tank (three bolts BUT it's used to tether the main wiring trunking with bolts from inside the trunk behind the loom!) then remove the top and back of the electrical enclosure. Now there is JUST room to slide the battery rearwards. If the plonker had made the frame opening big enough the battery  could have been lifted vertically like any other conventional positioning. As I say, I wish the 'designer' had been with me - he'd have learnt a few new expressions!

After that it was only an '096' 75 AH 680 CCA normal car battery - one on order should arrive tomorrow when I'll have to go through the reverse rigmarole.

. . . then I can start it . . then I can attack the pressure switch issue . . .then perhaps I can steam clean the JCB - why is life so bally complicated!

Have a before and not much better after photo !



Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on December 07, 2021, 08:38:37 AM
I used this on the tractor Andrew, wear face protection as its a bit caustic, but I was amazed how much paint was on the tractor when I cleaned it, and areas that I thought were bare rusty metal were actually muck on top of good paint!! I think gunk is another thing that has had the essential solvents removed by H&S! it used to look and smell a bit like jeyes fluid, and would rip into any grime if left long enough!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223961393879
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 07, 2021, 11:03:32 AM
Thanks for the link Phil, I've put it on my 'watch list'

The new battery arrived for the steam cleaner, so I've just fitted which was an ridiculous struggle as anticipated. I proved that the engine now starts briskly but the weather at the moment and working in an open shed  I've lost the will to live so have retreated to an open fire and a cup of best Yorkshire Tea  :thumbup:

Before completely battening down the hatches on the battery compartment  I want to re-make the terminal arrangement - that 'designer' bloke again has created an abortion of copper links pivoting on the terminal clamp screws to bring the cables  up to the top of the battery from the recessed posts. I hope to fit a stud style with proper crimped lugs if I can keep the height low enough not to arc on the metal cover.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on December 07, 2021, 02:49:32 PM
if I can keep the height low enough not to arc on the metal cover.

Don't worry, the arcing will create its own clearance...


But you have to wonder what is in some people's minds. It's bad enough when its something that was highly unlikely to ever need attention, but a battery, or indeed many other service items as you have explored on the jcb, should have had accessibility as a primary requirement.

I remember my FIL telling me of a particular v8 engine vehicle. Changing 7 spark plugs had a service allowance of about 30mins, the 8th had an allowance of 6 hours as it was necessary to drop the exhaust and remove manifolds to reach.

-russ
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 08, 2021, 06:43:29 AM
Very good Russ - hopefully not necessary  :clap:

Woke up to an extremely heavy hail storm beating on the windows. When it had ceased, checking the rain gauge, it melted into a tad over 20 mm but it sounded like most of the ice cap was being hurled at the house!

I braved the tractor shed, doors open to give adequate light, and had a go at the Karcher Steam Cleaner battery terminal arrangement. I won't list all the 'gotcha's ' that tripped me up on the way but suffice it to say all I got done in a three hour session was to re-wire the battery terminals. Anyway eventually it was done and I could move on to the next step - look at the flakey pressure switch.

This switch was actually broken when I got the MPDS fourteen years ago - in theory it's relatively simple. It monitors pumped water pressure by moving a rod up against a spring. Fixed to the rod are two plastic disks, between which sits the operating lever of the actual microswitch. When I got it, the disks being brittle plastic, had cracked and temporarily I replaced them with 'penny washers' as at the time the workshop was still packed up from moving so no lathe. Since then I've turned a suitable nylon spool arrangement, but it's always been hard to set the hysteresis reliably, and I suspect this is the issue now. I did prove that the micro-switch was working and operated the electric clutch for the high pressure pump, but to go further requires connecting up the water and I'm already too cold and have retreated to the house! It'll have to wait for the next session.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 09, 2021, 06:12:05 AM
After MANY quite serious (*) distractions I got to water up the pressure washer this morning, and it's not good news I'm afraid. I do vaguely remember similar problems a year or two ago and thinking I'd have to tear the pump apart. The high pressure pump is leaking back into the water feed pipework and blowing it apart with quite dramatic results. I assume that there is one (or more) none return valves in the pump through which it draws it's feed and they should close as it pumps, but it (they) must be stuck open.

OK a job for the future and I'll have to find another way of de-greasing the JCB  :bang:

(*Many Distractions: A friend was here having tea waiting for the time to collect toddler from playschool in Battle - a couple of miles away. Goes to car and starter solenoid just clicks. I trundle a huge tractor battery to it in a wheel barrow - still just clicks - getting dark, can't see the starter motor to thump it - time running out - OK I'll take you to collect child and worry about car when we return. While this is going on her husband rings to say that their Shire Horse mare is 'down' - this mare is 3 months from foaling. OK abandon car, take her and three kids home meanwhile husband trying to get vet. Dropped her off, still no VET, and she is arranging for Fire Brigade Fallen Stock Unit to try and raise the mare.

This morning I got the sad news that the mare (and of course foal) had to be put down - all rather depressing)
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Spurry on December 09, 2021, 07:40:05 AM
It seems that the more problems we have, there is always someone who has more...
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 09, 2021, 02:59:07 PM
That's certainly true Pete, sadly someone else is always having a worse time.

Still the RAC turned up to tow her car away today, and by one of those odd co-incidences he was a chap who rents storage space for his caravan here !

So this evening I proved that a hot air gun was able to soften the congealed grease on the JCB sufficiently for it to scrape off with a paint scraper, but this is not a practical method. Firstly it would take a month of Sundays, but also there is a danger of scraping the paint off as well.

. . . However it proves that a hot water pressure washer should work.

Next decision . . devote time to dismantling and hopefully fixing the Karcher MPDS or shove it back in storage and find another method . . . .suggestions on the back of an envelope please !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on December 09, 2021, 08:51:00 PM
While possibly not the optimal outcome for you, a thread on repair and refurbishment of the pressure washer would be an interesting interlude to the refurbishment of the jcb...

Otherwise, did you try a spray on degreaser?
Or, depending on the location etc, can you feed hot water into the cold water washer? Nowhere near as hot but maybe sufficient?

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 10, 2021, 05:41:45 AM
You are right of course Russ !

I woke up this morning thinking I can't face working down on the floor (where the Karcher water valves are) on this rather cold blustery day with my head streaming with a cold (no NOT Covid - I tested last night!)

Then it struck me - let the JCB HELP with the Karcher steam cleaner repair - it has forks (although up until now I've not deployed them) so bung it on the forks and raise it to a convenient working height. Looking at it, it is possible that the valves I need to rectify are all 'screw in external' types.

. . . job done . . just needed to lubricate the bar that the forks slide on to be able to slide them into a narrow enough format, and numerous ups and downs in and out of the cab to get them level and an inch off the ground before sliding the Karcher onboard and lifting to a convenient working height.

I've leave it at that for now, and put the dismantling and hopefully repair in the 'rebirth' thread that already exists on the forum: here for new viewers!

Old thread to be updated in a few days : https://www.madmodder.net/index.php/topic,11079.msg128557.html#msg128557


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on December 10, 2021, 08:35:06 AM
Wow!  An actual accumulator!!!  If you have the fittings you may want to verify that it's still pressurized.  Sneaky would be to apply pressure from the water side with a hand pump.  Presdure should go up quick to the precharge pressure, then the slope will change.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on December 10, 2021, 09:19:58 AM
I suspect that it isn't, as the poor old pressure meter oscillates all over the place when running !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on December 10, 2021, 09:51:48 PM
Ooh!  Yeah that's not optimal!  Do you have the gas fittings?  Theres, like, 5 standards :-(
I had to kit our shop with a whole whack of them.  And a gas booster to reach 5ksi precharge...

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 28, 2022, 07:29:22 AM
Well at long last I'm getting round to sorting the irritating oil drips from the front axle.

The offside front hub drips from its rear seal which involves quite a bit of dismantling as the seal is the far side of a large bearing that has to be removed, but it's a drive on fit. I now have the seal and a set of bearings as they are unlikely to survive removal.

The front axle differential pinion shaft seal is dripping - this requires the front of the front prop shaft to be removed, the drive yoke and retaining 'staked nut' to be removed then the seal to be pulled and replaced.

I've been held up devising a safe way to support the front axle while this is going on. The various nuts are torqued to phenomenally high values so undoing is not going to be a gentle process and I don't want it all to come crashing down.

Rejecting my wimpy axle stands as too weak. A friend gave me some stout 'cable jacks' - very adequately strong but sadly 6" too tall. Another friend cut me some huge baulks of tree trunk from his wood - height obviously easily adjusted but their girth was so big I couldn't get them in place round other obstructions. In the end I found a 6" x 6" gate post that had rotted out and was destined for the bonfire, but there was enough reasonably sound timber to cut five one foot lengths to arrange as cribbing that seems (now in use) to be very adequate for the job. Much better to have wood / metal contact than metal / metal  contact in situations like this.

So this morning I loosened the five wheel nuts using a 6 foot scaffold pole (660 nM torque  :bugeye: ) before raising the machine on the front bucket and applying the cribbing. Then it was a case of removing the wheel and it's associated mudguard.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 28, 2022, 07:39:48 AM
So with the wheel out of the way access was far better to the prop shaft yoke etc.

The front U/J is retained by 12 point 3/8" UNF  bolts - first time I've come across these, but apart from being extremely tight they came off OK with a normal 3/8 bi-hex socket.

This revealed the 'staked nut' that holds the yoke on - now this is tightened REALLY tight then the staking is applied, so to stop it rotating there is a special tool that slides onto the yoke and the other end rests on the floor. I did what I could to 'unstake' the nut then again using the 6 foot scaffold pole broke the nut free.

This allowed me to tap the yoke rearwards and remove it. Not suprisingly the seal surface of the yoke is rather scored.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on January 28, 2022, 07:51:24 AM
Ouch! that is rather scored, turn it down and sleeve it? Our American cousins have a full range of ready made sleeves on the shelf but I don't  know if they are available in the uk, of course it is probably hard as the hobbs of hell, but I am sure you have machines and inserts that will cope with it! Metal spraying could be an alternative.
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 28, 2022, 08:15:28 AM
Phil, It just so happens that I have a replacement to hand - I thought it unlikely that it wasn't scored so I bought one in anticipation! I had thought that if it were I could mount it in the cylindrical grinder  and remove a few thou but though not cheap they don't break the bank!
 
Now the issue is removing the old seal - my brand new seal removal tool broke on it's first outing  :bang:

I'll probably fabricate a puller but not today - company due any minute !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 29, 2022, 06:16:20 AM
So this morning I made a 'slide hammer' to remove that pesky seal.

(6 mm silver steel 'hook' bent red hot, threaded into a 7/16 rod with a bung welded on the far end and a random bar end drilled 1/2" as the hammer)

Did it work? . . . Well initially NO  :bang:

It was obviously applying significant force and although distorting the flat steel face of the seal, the axial part just wasn't for coming out.

Reluctantly I ground up a very small chisel and gently cut through the flat steel face at one point and only then would the axial part release. I can only suppose that it had been installed with Loctite bearing retainer or some such product.

Now the seal is out the oil of course wants to drain to a lower level so while that happens I'm off to chop firewood. Hopefully this afternoon I can put it back together with the new seal.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 29, 2022, 10:43:59 AM
So after lunch I fitted the new oil seal to the differential pinion shaft.

Before fitting the yoke I had to fettle it's casting to fit the genuine JCB spanner - it's obviously a pattern part.

Once the yoke was back in place (which took quite a bit of tapping to get on the new heavily greased seal) I torqued up the special 36 mm AF nut with my newly acquired monster Britool torque wrench to 250 nM. Then I staked the nut and re-fitted the UJ retaining saddles. This wasn't without incident as of course the needle roller bearings wanted to all fall out.

OK when the needles were all back it was just a case of torquing the 12 point bolts retaining the saddles to 79 nM with my baby Britool torque wrench, however this wasn't entirely straight forward as locking the prop shaft from turning with a bar through the UJ in two of the four positions needed blocked putting the spanner on  :bang: Anyway all now done.

I've set the hub draining ready for my next session which won't be until Monday at the earliest.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 31, 2022, 11:41:11 AM
Today's objective: Remove the hub and dismantle the bearing and seal assembly ready for new components.


Well I achieved it in the end but it was a mighty struggle. Actually removing the hub was easy, Two bolts retain it from the rear once the wheel is off (wheel studs being the main mechanical retention). Method is to slacken the bolts and tap them to force the planet gear 'top hat' off its seal. Then the removal of the sun gear and the gear annulus was easy once I'd determined that the extracting bolts were M12 (a lot of Imperial fittings as well as metric on this machine)

Then the fun started . . . .
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on January 31, 2022, 11:57:33 AM
So now we are left with the pair of taper roller bearings and a big seal (the one that's leaking) to remove - how hard can it be  :scratch:

Well it took the whole of the rest of the day  :bang:

The outer bearing came off the axle spigot with a few solid thumps on the hub to encourage it leaving the inner bearing and seal on the swivel spigot. The inner race was tight against the seal shoulder with no room for  any pullers - I did try modifying one to suit but to make the claws fine enough to fit they were far too weak.

In the end I mangled the roller cage letting me remove it and the rollers which left me a shoulder on the race that I could get at with a drift. By carefully heating the inner race with a tangential flame I was (with several iterations) able to tap the race off the spigot - it took ages !

So now I was left with just the seal - again no gaps for pry bars etc. It turned out that the steel part of the seal had rusted to it's seating on the spigot. After much tapping and cajoling it eventually moved just enough for me to insert a crowbar after which it was mine  :clap:

Now the rust looked pretty horrid, but actually it was fairly light and a good application of emery and elbow grease cleaned it to a tolerable finish.The new seal will sit on this surface with Blue Hy-lo-mar sealing compound so it should be absolutely fine.

The outer bearing races tapped out of the hub easily so no issues there.
With any luck it's just a case of  putting it all back together tomorrow with new bearings and seals
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 01, 2022, 11:27:33 AM
Apart from initially setting the axle oil draining ready for later it was a day of putting it all back together !

The seal went back on to the axle stub reasonably easily, and tapping the inner race onto the stub wasn't too bad once it had actually engaged. I turned up a bronze drift to tap it home all the way to the seal.

Once I'd fitted the outer races for the inner and outer bearings onto the wheel hub I reassembled the gear annulus  and its eight bolts all torqued to 320 nM (which is amazingly tight!) making sure that the pop marks I'd made on disassembly matched up to keep the orientation correct.

Time now to re-fit the sun gear facing the same way that it was when removed (I'd marked the outer face) and it's retaining circlip.

There is a large O ring seal between the wheel flange and the 'top hat' of the hub - I fitted a new one and smeared it and the flange face with blue HyLoMar to hopefully keep the oil in.

Then offering up the 'top hat' (which carried the planet gears) to the Wheel flange, with a bit of wiggling the gears engaged and it went home. These two are really held together by the wheel studs, but there is a pair of bolts from the rear to stop them parting when a wheel is changed. These bolts were dressed with Loctite pipe sealant as the threads form a passage to the outside world for the oil. They were then torqued to spec and the wheel re-fitted (blooming heavy!)

I had ordered 20 litres of gear oil which conveniently was delivered this morning and the axle draining was finished so I refilled it. I tried using my 12v fuel transfer pump but 90 weight oil was too much for it even at 24v so it was a case of squirting it in 1 litre at a time from a squeezy bottle that I kept refilling.

The hub got the same oil treatment after which the machine was brought down from its' cribbing and taken for a little drive round the yard.

Early days yet but no oil drips from the axle ! (That's blown it !)

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 01, 2022, 03:58:22 PM
Glad that worked out, Andrew.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 01, 2022, 04:46:56 PM
Thanks Steve, always good to reduce leaks, though they do say that JCB's mark their territory  :clap:

Trouble with doing this sort of job is that you notice other things that should be done. The near side and offside steering swivel housings are tied together by a very heavy rectangular bar with beefy 35 mm diameter bronze bushes pressed in to accept 25 mm bolt retained pins. There is far too much play allowing the wheels to wobble independently.

My first reaction was to measure up and turn some new ones, but frankly when I saw the price of new ones it's not worth it, especially as I'd have to buy the bronze. The bushes and pins are just over a fiver each, and there are grease seals that I couldn't make anyway for less than a pound. So order placing tomorrow morning !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on February 01, 2022, 05:41:28 PM
Now the continual feed rust prevention system is disabled, you'll have to paint it...



-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 02, 2022, 03:35:36 AM
To get an idea of how much play there was in the steering tie rod pins, and also the steering hydraulic RAM pins I wanted to shoot a couple of very short videos. Hardest part was persuading the wife to sit in the cab and rock the wheel !






. . . off to order the bits !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 03, 2022, 06:28:56 AM
The replacement tie rod bushes, pins, seals, grease nipples, and circlip arrived this morning - good service actually a day earlier than anticipated so a shout out to Vicary Plant Spares  :thumbup:

All I need now is a bit of enthusiasm to do the job - not today as it's drizzling and cold and anyway company is expected - probably won't get to it until the weekend.

Now please explain to me why 668 people have watched the little video I posted of the near side slack movement? The off side has had 27 views, which is about the number of views the pictures in this thread get, but why 668 for the other one - the title must trigger some search that certainly I don't understand  :scratch:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 03, 2022, 08:20:58 AM
Try changing the title by removing the "Project 9JCB....." portion of the offside video as a test.

If the hits are still disproportionate I'd say it simply comes up first in play order (as well as here in the thread), and the majority are not interested enough after seeing it to follow up with the second. Also check your stats and see how many people finish the first video as opposed to leaving it before the end. That would tell you if the title of the first one was generalized and therefore not well matched to the content. A viewer who is there mistakenly for a tie rod problem on his Prius will not follow up with more excavator wear videos.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 05, 2022, 08:17:48 AM
Today's task: replace the track bar pins, bushes and seals:

Firstly I turned up a tool to drive the old bushes out and the new ones in. Just a length of round bar large diameter 29.90 mm and smaller diameter 24.90 to be a nice clearance fit for the 30 x 25 mm bushes.

That done I raised the front axle on the bucket and applied myself to extracting the off side tie rod pin but very quickly got stuck with the inevitable 'gotcha's ' ! . The pin was amazingly tight - OK not unexpected - and eventually using an air chisel with a snub nose tool was able to get it moving upwards only to find that this pin retaining tab fouls on the eye of the steering ram, so the pin for the steering ram needs to come off first  :bang:

Now that wasn't too bad I I have the new bush for the steering ram to fit . . .BUT . . this pin is into a blind hole so no knocking it out from below and it's just as tightly in the non rotating bit as was the other pin.  . . . an impasse. I then discovered that by removing the mud guard, putting the steering hard over to the right and removing the steering ram grease nipple the tie rod pin retaining flag would just pass it if suitably rotated.

OK we're back in business - the old bush knocked out fairly easily and the new one went in fine. I took the precaution of injecting grease through the nipple to ensure that the passageway lined up. However the seals were most unhappy to be driven into their counter bore and I ended up spoiling two in the attempt.This means that I can only do this end of the tie rod today until more seals arrive.

At least this will give me time to work out how to remove the steering ram pin. My thoughts at the moment revolve round drilling and tapping it and using a slide hammer. It's a compromise between using a large thread size that will have the strength but weaken the pin in the event that I can't get it out or using a smaller thread that leaves plenty of material in the pin but may not be strong enough for the job !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 05, 2022, 09:32:21 AM
Try changing the title by removing the "Project 9JCB....." portion of the offside video as a test.

If the hits are still disproportionate I'd say it simply comes up first in play order (as well as here in the thread), and the majority are not interested enough after seeing it to follow up with the second. Also check your stats and see how many people finish the first video as opposed to leaving it before the end. That would tell you if the title of the first one was generalized and therefore not well matched to the content. A viewer who is there mistakenly for a tie rod problem on his Prius will not follow up with more excavator wear videos.

Oddly the views have almost equalised Steve having made no alterations to the titles   :scratch:

They are sitting at something like 645 & 680 each and it still deeply puzzles me why so many people have viewed them. I just use Youtube as a way of sharing content (mainly) on this forum - I'm not running a 'channel' and really don't care how many hits they get, but it intrigues me !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on February 05, 2022, 01:54:54 PM
The inequality of views at first I cannot explain, but I can easily see why a picture and instructions for repairing any part of any JCB would get loads of hits from searches. I have two videos on my channel that have way more hits than others, one about repairing a Ford mondeo heater fan, and one about rebuilding a carb on a Stihl 08S chainsaw! When ppl want to do a job they have never done before, they start by googling it! I have had thanks from all over the world for publishing the Stihl carb repair!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 06, 2022, 06:15:38 AM
Last night I made an adaptor for my slide hammer to give it a 10 mm nose, and this morning drilled and tapped the blind pin that is very reluctant to come out.

Much sliding and much hammering and quite a bit of applied heat from a blow torch and . . . . .. the pin hasn't moved one jot  :bang:

. . . hey . . .there's not THAT much play on this pin, leave it . . . Get thee behind me Satan  :bugeye:

So at the moment another impasse. It's slathered in 'Plus Gas' penetrating oil more in hope than expectation whilst I have another re-think - I may make a longer slide hammer that would allow better whacking and I could perhaps give it a heavier hammer but I'm afraid of stripping the thread.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: RussellT on February 06, 2022, 12:48:51 PM
Hi Andrew

If you've already tapped it you could try drilling right through the pin and using a bolt to jack it out, or using a bit of tube and some threaded rod to make a puller, (or both). When you've got as much tension on as you can then heat and bash it on the sides.

Sorry if your grandmother can already suck eggs.

Russell
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 06, 2022, 01:57:40 PM
Russell yes that would be a good approach were it possible. I have no way of tapping a full length thread for the 100 mm of the pins length. The forging that the pin goes into is much deeper than the pin at that point and forms a vital web retaining the tie rod pins - I don't want to weaken it even if drilling through were an option so I can't hit it from below. I'm also not that confident that my 25 mm deep threaded  hole is sufficiently accurately vertical to arrive in the correct place were it extended to the needed 150-160 mm  :palm:

Current plan is to block up the front axle, remove the front wheel (more long scaffold tube torque amplifiers!) and have a go with the better access thus created. If still no go, I'll make a longer and heavier slide hammer with the risk that I'll strip the 10 mm thread.

If it does strip I have the possibility of one more round of attempts re-threading it at M12 as the tapping size for M12 is 10.2 mm

The 'burning my boats' approach it to cut the pin with a Sawzall and remove the upper and lower bits individually. The upper one should be OK but the lower one still has the problem of drilling and tapping at the bottom of a deep hole.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: mc on February 06, 2022, 05:24:10 PM
If it does strip the 10mm thread, I'd just weld a slide hammer to the pin.

I've got an old slide hammer for the sole purpose of being welded to things, as it saves the hassle of drilling/tapping, plus the extra bit heat often helps loosen things.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on February 06, 2022, 06:51:55 PM


. I have no way of tapping a full length thread for the 100 mm of the pins length....... I'm also not that confident that my 25 mm deep threaded  hole is sufficiently accurately vertical to arrive in the correct place were it extended to the needed 150-160 mm 

The thread doesn't need to be full depth - drill a smaller hole (8mm?) from the bottom of the tapped portion, and drop a "driver" rod into it which the 10mm bolt can then push

Although it risks buckling.

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 07, 2022, 08:40:33 AM
This morning I successfully drilled a 5 mm hole roughly co-axial through the pin into the cavity below it without breaking the drill, which at 106 mm deep drilling hand held was a distinct possibility !

Two objectives: A/ Introduce penetrating oil below the pin for it to soak in  both ways, and B/ Possibly make a fitting to take a grease nipple into the M10 tapped hole to pressurise under the pin with a high pressure grease gun and maybe even force it out that way.

Well objective A/ did work but B/ is thwarted as the penetrating oil is leaking somewhere down there and there'd be no chance of getting significant pressure.

So back to heating and slide hammers. Another session with the existing slide hammer was fruitless so I made another hammer - actually repurposed the one I made to try and release the man hole cover over the bore hole. Had to weld on a smaller diameter 'stop' to match the 12 mm slider.

The 'new' hammer weighs 2.5 kg whereas the original was only 850 grams but still not effective. Obviously a longer slider lets you get up more speed thus greater inertia. Hunting for suitable rod a length of M12 studding came to hand and was pressed into service.

Still not moving the pin one iota  :bang: Amazingly the M10 thread into the pin hasn't stripped as it's taking an enormous whacking.  The pin will be a decent steel no doubt and the nose is made from an HT bolt.

. . . tactical withdrawal to cogitate !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 07, 2022, 08:54:33 AM
Andrew I didn't want to intrude, since you seemed to have it handled -- the slide hammer seemed like it would work, but just as a last resort could you weld something onto your pin and tab to engage a puller? Or even just weld a big bolt on, head down, and pass it through a drilled bit of channel iron legs down, and us a nut to pull the pin? Then grind the temporary stuff off after?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on February 07, 2022, 09:03:08 AM
O/A! heat both ends of the pin till glowing red, then cool rapidly, repeat a few times and it should give up! Drill it out?
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 07, 2022, 09:23:49 AM
Steve / Phil thanks for the comments.

If I were prepared to give the forging a good heat with OA I'm sure that the recalcitrant pin would come out with the slide hammer BUT there's just too much 'stuff' in that area that would suffer from the heat (oil seals etc) and it's not that easy to dismantle. (Hub has to be  dismantled and removed and we saw what a pain that was with the other side!)

As a last resort I'll keep filling the tapped hole with penetrating fluid in the coming season capping it with a bolt and hope that a bit of usage will free it up. The actual pin / bush wear isn't too awful.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 07, 2022, 09:58:39 AM
Time, solvent oil, and pressure is a nearly inevitable shifter. Sounds like a plan!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on February 07, 2022, 12:48:18 PM
Is this the pin that has a locking tab on it?  If so, put a jack or a wrench on it and try to turn it!  Maybe even while impacting ;-)

Sent from my SM-G715A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 07, 2022, 02:49:29 PM
Yes it has a lock tab of reasonably heavy gauge - 3 or 4 mm.

I've tried driving it round with a big adjustable
I've tried driving it round with a punch and lump hammer
I've tried driving it round with a blunt air impact chisel
I've tried getting under it with a sharp cold chisel and lump hammer
I've tried getting under it with a sharp air chisel
I've tried levering it with a crowbar on the one bit where that's possible

 . . .all to no avail . . . that pin is REALLY stuck.

But I do agree with the comments regarding heating to red with OA - I'm sure that would work but I'm not doing it for the aforementioned reasons .

But I did make a new slider bar for the slide hammer this afternoon - I didn't like sliding on the 12 mm  - threaded bar - plain bar much better engineering even if it had the same lack of result  :bang:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: RussellT on February 08, 2022, 05:18:31 AM
Hi Andrew

If you can't heat it up, how about trying to cool the pin.  Could you drop some dry ice into the hole you've drilled.  I seem to recall you can get dry ice by discharging a CO2 bottle into a cloth bag.

Russell

Edit: On second thoughts trying to fill the hole probably won't do it, but it should be possible to cool the top of the pin.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 08, 2022, 05:29:24 AM
Russell, I had considered that, or even the freezer spray used for electronics diagnosis, as I have some of that. But the amount that you can get in the hole is pretty minuscule.

I'm sorry to have to confess BUT I've admitted defeat on this one for the time being - it's taken up far too much of my time and at the end of the day the play in the pin is not a big issue. I've filled the hole with penetrating fluid, capped it with a bolt and put everything back together this morning. When and if I have to do the bearings and seals on the near side hub, which is fairly likely as the offside had to be done, I can then apply significantly more heat without risking to much collateral damage.

Meanwhile I'm back in clean clothes for the first time in days, and the jeans are going in the washing machine !



Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 08, 2022, 09:05:56 AM
Sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor.  :dremel:  :beer:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on February 10, 2022, 05:44:57 AM
With all the faffing about failing to get the steering ram pin out I hadn't finished the tie rod - the off side bush, pin and seals were still sitting on my desk in the workshop nagging me.

So with slight trepidation, not wanting to start another mammoth task I set too. And I'm delighted to say that the pin came out with two bursts of the air hammer and the entire job took about an hour including rebuilding my grease gun :clap:

Quite significant wear on this side (why more here  :scratch:) - the nominal 25 mm pin was down to 24 mm in places and the bush was at 26.5 at the worst place.

Previously, when the front end was up on the bucket you could grasp a wheel and rock it quite a bit - now there is no discernible play  :thumbup:

So just that pesky steering ram bush and pin, but that will have to wait until the season is over. If only it was a 'through pin' and not buried in a blind hole.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on February 10, 2022, 08:25:21 AM
Must feel good to have the steering tight, though.  :clap:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 29, 2022, 06:47:48 AM
I got a call the other day from the chap who I bought the JCB from. He'd found the 'engine covers' which he hadn't thought that he still had.

These were originally optional extras, and a designed to reduce noise as much as keep the engine clean of mud etc. Project 7 ones and Project 21 ones regularly turn up on eBay (at a very silly high price) but I've not seen them for this Project 8/9 machine - available new but again at a silly price and they are by no means essential - but nice to have.

He let me have them for a modest price and they arrived this morning. Rather filthy so they've been pressure washed and will be mounted when the sound proofing has dried - or I may replace it as it's acoustic foam and showing it's age by being rather crumbly.

In other news: Ditching paused as the first lambs arrived this morning, one is not feeding and is on the bottle already, and as the lambing shed is on the other side of the hedge from where I'm ditching the attendant noise isn't wise!

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 31, 2022, 05:59:28 AM
Having had a fan blowing on them overnight the foam sound deadening on both engine panels is now dry, so I've re-fitted them.

The fit isn't brilliant - I suspect that the front nose cone / radiator cowl arrangement has met with a mishap at some time as the angle that it sits at isn't quite right compared to the shape of the panels. I can't see that the panels have altered so the cowl must be bolted on at a slightly jaunty angle.

. . . another winter job to put on the list but again definitely a non-urgent one.


In other news, reluctant ram lamb now feeding off mum, but I still can't resume ditching as we've have modest rain for two days and the ground is no firmer than it was before
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 30, 2022, 07:11:14 AM
When I got this 3CX there was a slight leak from the 'Auxiliary Valve' - this is a foot operated valve that would operate a hydraulic breaker were one fitted, but on my machine operates the 'ExtraDig' dipper extension slide that gives an extra few feet of reach.

As I played with the machine the leak got a bit worse and I decided that it needed sorting.  It was a check valve that was leaking - a simple cylindrical body crossed drilled for one of the bolts that hold the slices of the valve together and thus retained in the valve. This body has an O ring and backing ring to seal to the body of the valve and has a spring and clack valve pressing onto a machined surface for it's check valve function.

Internal spare parts for this valve are 'no longer available' from JCB or the various parts dealers, however I was able to find a good secondhand valve which I got my hydraulic fitter Martin to put in, his flexibility being considerably greater than mine. It only needs a mechanical pedal linkage removing along with four hydraulic hoses and some mounting bolts - technically trivial but physically impeded by loads of other bits of JCB surrounding it!

Needless to say after a few months of operation the replacement started leaking in exactly the same way  :bang: I tolerated it until recently while ditching I burst a hose on the Extradig circuit and when replaced the valve leaked hugely. Probably the extra pressure pulse had destroyed the O ring seal.

Well - this time I still had the original valve so could dismantle it to measure O rings, backing rings etc - slightly odd ball sizes but I am sure that I could have found them from the myriad of hydraulic suppliers that are on line.

In an idle moment one evening I searched for 'Check Valve' on the official JCB parts portal and found all sorts of definitely different valve but one 'spares kit' that looker remarkably close to the one I'd dismantled. Listed as a spare for a totally different machine and NOT for a 3CX I got a spares dealer to measure the bits and guess what - the same size  :ddb:

Armed with the part number I was then able to identify the correct O ring and backing ring and ordered a complete 'spares kit' ie the whole check valve, and also spare O ring and backing washer. These arrived this morning allowing me to replace the complete check valve in situ on the machine and have bits to repair my original auxiliary valve as a 'shelf spare' for the future.

Although far easier than removing the auxiliary valve for bench repair replacing the check valve while on the machine wasn't the easiest task however it is done and works so far without any leaks ! I've still to repair the spare unit.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Sea.dog on May 30, 2022, 07:21:01 AM
I'm surprised that a dealer wasn't aware that the 3CX was used on later models. It used to be common place in the automotive and motorcycle worlds for dealers to know interchangeable parts.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on May 30, 2022, 10:16:57 AM
One of the things we Madmodders do, which is unusual elsewhere, is investigative research beyond the usual authoritative answers. It's always fun to read about one of us succeeding where most people give up: No Longer Available.

Say's who?  :dremel:

We're not friends of planned obsolescence.....
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 30, 2022, 11:04:17 AM
Thanks Steve. Yes also 'beyond economic repair'  is another of my red flags.

If I'd have known it was as simple as it is I'd have pulled the original auxiliary valve apart and even if I had to make the backing ring I'm sure the odd size O ring could have been sourced. That way I'd have saved a sizable chunk of hard won cash (the 'good used' item was £250 including VAT and carriage)

I've just rebuilt the original valve as a known good shelf spare - to my surprise I find the backing ring is actually split with a 45 degree overlapping cut making fitting to the valve body very easy. I'd expected to have to warm it in hot water, and indeed was advised to do this by the dealer, but that wasn't necessary.

The split  backing ring shows up on this image from a CAT dealer's parts site !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: PekkaNF on May 30, 2022, 02:09:13 PM
I enjoy much these stories.

....
I've just rebuilt the original valve as a known good shelf spare - to my surprise I find the backing ring is actually split with a 45 degree overlapping cut making fitting to the valve body very easy. I'd expected to have to warm it in hot water, and indeed was advised to do this by the dealer, but that wasn't necessary.

The split  backing ring shows up on this image from a CAT dealer's parts site !
Looong time ago I needed to field fit one of that kind of hard plastic backing ring on a hydraulic valve. There was no professionals, but there was a spare part and me...I got a hand-written instructions from the office (fax). I had to ask machinist to make two cones, one to expand the seal and the other to calibrate (shrink) the expanded backing ring. Third one was just a piece of pipe to push the seal straight. The backing ring needed to be heated in oil to about 70-80 C and then it would be pliable enough to stretch.  That ring was pretty hard, felt like POM hard.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on May 30, 2022, 06:06:04 PM


. It used to be common place in the automotive and motorcycle worlds for dealers to know interchangeable parts.

I remember a long time ago my brother telling me of a customer who came into the auto parts store he had just started at. Customer asks for set of pistons for an older jag, computer says yes, price $40 each. Storeman looks at part number, says just a minute and looks up piston for  Holden something, the dominant vehicle of the day. Same part number, price $20 each...

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on May 31, 2022, 04:46:10 AM
this is why parts  boxes started to show just a number, and even the "Fits Make, make, make etc" was quicly phased out, it enables the manufacturer to sell the same part at a range of higher prices based on the percieved wealth of the customer. If he can afford to buy an XXXXX he will expect the parts to be more expensive. I used to buy Saab disc pads at the Ford price because the car parts shop next to our second hand selling service was a good guy, and knew the con! I did the same in reverse in our shop, but I had to do it on the fly!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: pycoed on June 02, 2022, 04:34:09 AM
Some years ago, I had a Ssanyongg Korando & lost 5th gear. Usually a circlip comes off & 5th floats free, except the circlip is somewhere in the box! There was a chap on the owners forum who was a gearbox specialist, so I took out the transfer box & gearbox & took the gearbox to him in Presteigne. We sat on his terrace in the sun & he rebuilt the cluster for me using bits from the Ford Mustang Driver’s Club.
The gearbox (Tremec T5 wrc IIRC) was used in the “real” Mustang, with different first & second gears. He had a range of spares on the shelf all bought very cheaply through the Mustang club. Same gearbox was also used in the Sierra Cosworth 4X4.

Following this I kept tabs on Ebay for interest (as you do) & saw s/h Korando/Musso gearboxes for around £200-250 whereas the Cosworth boxes went for £750 upwards!! Sometimes a little knowledge can be a very useful thing eh?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on June 02, 2022, 01:39:59 PM
I have another one! When I was doing classic cars, we bought an early Aston Martinn DBS  V8 rather cheap because its Chrysler Torqflite auto box was dodgy, after some investigation it turns out that exactly the same transmission also fits a Matbro Fork lift truck and there is an auto transmission specialist less than 30 miles away who carries the rebuild kit on the shelf! £90.00 . Box out and stripped, flushed out the cooked fluid, and bits of brake band, and rebuilt! Purrfect!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 16, 2022, 08:37:22 AM
The fuel gauge stopped working the other day. Had been fine, then zilch, no deflection at all with a full tank.

Now diagnosis should be pretty simple if access was better. It can only be the gauge itself, a fuse, wiring or the sensor in the tank. Not a fuse as other things on the same feed are working. Access to the gauge is a right pain as it means removing the side console instrument cluster - took two days last time.

So how about the sensor in the tank? On my last 3CX the only way to get at it was to remove the tank, but on this somewhat later model I spotted a trim moulding on the off side cab edge that might just let me get at it.

Sure enough only held on by some M6 bolts and removing it revealed an amazing build up of muck - anyone would think it's been used shifting loads of earth! Digging though the buildup with a scraper, and workshop vacuum cleaner eventually revealed the flange holding the sensor in the tank and it's two pin electrical connector. Carefully puling it apart and squirting it with contact fluid made not a jot of difference. Now these sensors, as far as I can tell, vary from about 24 ohms to 75 ohms empty to full.

I stuffed a 56 ohm resistor into the loom cable socket and lo and behold we have a 2/3rds full indication on the gauge - the fault IS te sensor - no having to dig into the side console again.

When I can get through to the parts place to confirm the part number I'll order one up, but so fr they're always on the phone  :bang:



Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 20, 2022, 06:51:37 AM
The replacement diesel level sensor arrived this morning, so first measure it's full and empty values:


Full = 13 ohms
Empty = 285 ohms.

Now to fit it. I had already pumped 20 litres out of the tank last night to avoid it flooding out when I removed the flange, and that black plastic trim bit was already off so it was 'just' a case of unbolting the six flange screws, lifting out the old and inserting the new.

Well of course it wasn't quite like that - as I had feared the long stem on the sensor clashed with the cab floor prevented it tilting enough for the variable resistor bit to come out through the hole. With rather more force than desirable eventually it came out by levering it with a screw driver and bending the case. Obviously the new one couldn't go back like that, and I wasn't going to drop the tank.

I ended up bending the long stem allowing the box of tricks to pass through the hole, then as far as I could bent it back in situ. If I ever have to do this again I will cut the stem and make up a coupler  collar with grub screws to put it back together.

What I've done obviously will change the calibration a bit but not too much I hope.

Then to dismantle the old one and find out what failed. It's resistance element is nichrome wire wrapped round a shaped former, with a springy contact finger rubbing up and down as the float angle changes. End to end the nichrome wire was OK giving sensible readings, but it's end termination had given up the ghost and was broken. Theoretically I could mend it but probably won't !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 20, 2022, 09:45:13 AM
So not willing to chuck out a potentially repairable diesel level sensor I pulled it apart.

The break in the nichrome wire was very close to the riveted end connection - so after a bit of a clean up with brake cleaner I drilled out the riveted terminal connector, unravelled a bit of the resistance wire to give enough to wrap round the bolt that I replaced the rivet with, and screwed it all back together.

I bit of tin bashing on the box housing the resistance element to make it back to original shape (damage caused by me levering it out), and it looked almost presentable. Bending the wiper to give a bit better pressure I re-assembled it. bending it's fragile lugs back to retain the halves together.

A quick ohms test shows that it works - so it's been bagged up in the packaging of the replacement one and put on the shelf for next time.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on June 20, 2022, 09:51:53 AM
That is some fine wire!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 20, 2022, 11:15:25 AM
That is some fine wire!

Oh yes Steve - I definitely needed my magnifying glass !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on June 20, 2022, 11:55:53 AM
And a fun coil to get a complex taper!

BTW, it's probably not nichrome. Probably manganin.

Sent from my SM-G715A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on June 20, 2022, 12:24:58 PM
I have a burnt out plastic welder I'd like to repair. If you guys could advise on the heating wire (I'll open another thread) and on possibly repairing it, I'd greatly appreciate!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on June 20, 2022, 01:50:25 PM
Worth a try!  Pictures needed, though!

Sent from my SM-G715A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on July 18, 2022, 10:51:38 AM
The 4 wheel drive output flange that carries the front prop shaft to the front axle differential has developed an oil leak. Entirely possible that this is my fault as I managed to over fill the synchro-shift gear box - and there are grave warnings about not doing this is the book of words - I suspect the excess pressure has reversed the lip seal lips.

Exactly the same construction as the pinion flange that I fixed in the front axle - there is a yoke that receives the UJ on the prop shaft, a special nut retaining the yoke which is torqued to a phenomenal torque, and a three lip seal that performs the actual sealing.

Having received the parts I thought I'd check if the yoke fits the special huge spanner that holds it still while doing up that nut, and sure enough, like the last one, the pattern part was too fat to fit the spanner, whereas the genuine part on the machine fits like a glove.

Last time I just trimmed it down with an angle grinder, but having prior warning I actually got to do some machining and reduced the width of the yoke by 4.25 mm on the Bridgeport. Much nicer than using the grinder!

So all ready to do the actual job but a few other jobs are ahead of it in the queue . . my bench is covered in a totally dismantled Stihl 023 chain saw waiting for crank shaft seals - then there's a friends generator to fix, and 18 stillages of logs to re-stack in the tractor shed - so probably a week or two before this gets done. But at least I'm prepared.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on July 23, 2022, 02:28:45 PM
This afternoon I finally got round to changing the front output shaft seal. I'll be honest, I've been putting this off. Not over keen on rolling about on a concrete floor.

It was basically a repeat of doing the front axle pinion seal with the same issues that I had there - old seal reluctant to come out, universal joint needle rollers happy to discharge themselves all over the place but I got there in the end.

First thing to do was to drain the old transmission fluid, and the book method is to remove the gauze strainer bolted on sideways on the side of the assembly - worryingly the bolts were barely finger tight but the good news was that the cork gasket was in good condition as I'd overlooked buying a new one. Gauze was clean as a whistle but I blew it out anyway with an air line.

Without working over a pit it was actually impossible to use the big special spanner to hold the yoke still while unscrewing it's big retaining nut as the spanner clashed with other bits of JCB - probably OK if the gear box was on the bench but not in situ.

However my Milwaukee M18 1/2" impact driver unscrewed it reasonably happily so it wasn't a problem .

So job all done time to change the filter which according to the hand written date on it was last changed in 2002.  :bugeye: In a bit of an awkward position but amazingly I was able to unscrew it by hand. New filter duly marked up with today's date and screwed home having oiled its rubber sealing ring.

According to the book this transmission takes 14 litres - so I put in 12 and dipped it. Bally thing was over filled. I ran the engine briefly to fill the filter but no still too full  :bang:

So crawling back under again (repeatedly!) I loosened the strainer and must have drained off at least another litre before the dip stick was happy. As over filling was I think partially the cause of the seal failing it was important to get it right.

A big clear up of tools and a floor sweep and horror of horrors I found an oil seal reinforcing tubular spring of the sort that biases the seal lips onto the shaft - sinking feeling - would need a total repeat operation to refit the spring  :bang:

However all was well - inspecting the seal that I had removed it's spring was missing - phew  :clap:

So time to try it - a quick trip round the field in both two and four wheel drive - all seems to work - (but of course this yoke / prop shaft is rotated by the front axle in two wheel drive any way)

Left standing a couple of hours while I had a shower and supper (a nice gammon rasher  :thumbup:) and so far no more pools of oils.

. . . so hopefully that's another job jobbed

Sorry no picture - I was too oily !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on July 23, 2022, 07:01:50 PM
So not willing to chuck out a potentially repairable diesel level sensor I pulled it apart.

The break in the nichrome wire was very close to the riveted end connection - so after a bit of a clean up with brake cleaner I drilled out the riveted terminal connector, unravelled a bit of the resistance wire to give enough to wrap round the bolt that I replaced the rivet with, and screwed it all back together.

I bit of tin bashing on the box housing the resistance element to make it back to original shape (damage caused by me levering it out), and it looked almost presentable. Bending the wiper to give a bit better pressure I re-assembled it. bending it's fragile lugs back to retain the halves together.


A quick ohms test shows that it works - so it's been bagged up in the packaging of the replacement one and put on the shelf for next time.

Looks like a throttle for a toy race car control.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 28, 2022, 06:56:53 AM
Continuing chasing minor oil leaks I recently attacked the oil seals for the offside front drive shaft. There is a seal in the end of the front axle casing, and another where the shaft goes into the steering knuckle, with a dual UJ unit between them.

To get at the seals the shaft has to be removed, involving removing the  final drive sun / planet gear box, and releasing the steering knuckle from it's top and bottom taper roller bearings. These bearings are mounted on pegs on a pair of trunions (upper & lower). Although in theory it is simply a case of unbolting the four retaining bolts from each plate and pulling them off invariably they are stuck fast and apparently the lower one can be a right b....r to get off. Well mine was no exception though the upper one wasn't too bad.

Seeking help on the Facebook JCB group I was given all sorts of suggestions, but what worked for me was removing the upper trunion, inserting suitable packing where the peg seats, and bolting it back up. As I tightened the four bolts it pushed the lower trunion just enough to open a gap into which I could use a cold chisel as a wedge to remove it completely.

There are two varieties of steering knuckles - an early one that needs the taper roller bearing pre-load setting by shims, and a later version where 1 mm of preload is pre-set in the machining of the part. Fortunately mine is the later version, as wedging with cold chisels would inevitably ruin any shims.

Once dismantled it was a case of lifting the inordinately heavy knuckle off with my nice Epco engine hoist, pulling out the drive shaft, polishing its oil seal bearing surfaces with 400 grit emery cloth, replacing the seals and putting it all back together.

A simple little job this one that took a full day last Saturday from 07:30 to 18:30 working straight through and no stopping for lunch !

Still - no weeping seals now  :thumbup:

(There was a precursor to this job - repair the steering system on the Epco hoist. It has castors at the rear that are joined by a bar to keep them in phase, and this bar is moved by a steering handle allowing fine adjustment of the cranes position. Mechanism was seized and the castors were pointing at odd angles as one had a pivot shaft that was no longer vertical. Repaired involving oxy-acetylene big hammers and grinders !)



Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 28, 2022, 07:30:08 AM
So having fixed most (I hope) of the front end oils drips (there are still a few at the back end but nothing too major) time to turn to things cosmetic. It's generally in not too bad condition in the paint work department but the radiator cowl and what they call the bumper below it could do with painting.

Now I have a big tin of RAL 1007 'JCB Yellow' machine enamel paint left over from refurbishing my 6 foot grass fail a few years back - is it still viable and do I have a suitable primer? Have to do a test.

Now there are a whole variety of slightly different yellows on this machine, and it obviously will have faded since built in 1995 but JCB did change their yellow at one point so there is 'early and late'  - no idea which mine is. So I prepared two pieces of 1.5 mm steel about 6" square, cleaned them up with a rotary wire brush followed by brake cleaner, and sprayed them with Red Oxide Primer (Brundles best!) which was all I had. After the mandated 12 hours drying before re-coating I then sprayed them with the RAL 1007 quick drying machine enamel.

Leaving them over night there has been no reaction between the two paints so that is the first test passed, and as for colour match it all depends which bit of the machine you contrast it with - but it's certainly acceptable !

So when I'd done my chores this morning I started removing the radiator cowl and under bumper. Nothing too complicated. Front bucket needs to be fully up for access, so this was done and the safety prop fixed in place on the lifting cylinder. Then essentially it's all held together with only four M16 bolts (24mm hex). I thank the day I decided to buy my Milwaukee  1/2" drive impact driver. These bolts were amazingly tight and with normal spanners it would have been a two man job stopping the nuts rotating further away than an arm span!

The 'bumper' really is a guard under the main hydraulic pump and has a horizontal 'shelf' that had half a field sitting on, and caked to, it  :bugeye:

OK so the clean up begins - scrapping  the bulk of the muck off I first attacked the bumper interior with a needle gun (everybody out - I can make a noise) but I got rained off - this was not forecast  :(

So I'm taking a break while the weather sorts itself out - hopefully back to it soon.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 28, 2022, 11:02:09 AM
The sun actually came out briefly after lunch (Scotch Egg) so I was able to carry on. The bumper / oil pump cover thingy got pretty well stripped to bare metal as its paint was flaking badly - needle gun, stripping disk, and wire cup wheel. The cowl I went to bare metal on the rusty bits but tried to feather the edges to avoid a complete strip down. (This may have been a mistake as despite feathering the areas show up in the primer.)

A full 500 cc spray gun cup of Red Oxide just finished the job.

Ready for Yellow tomorrow unless I decide to fair the 'feathered' bits - I'll sleep on it.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on August 28, 2022, 12:52:57 PM
That machine is begiimimg to look Good Andrew! I keep thinking I really need one..................
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 29, 2022, 02:41:43 AM
Thanks Phil.

Up early doors this morning to get a coat of yellow on the Cowl and Bumper so that I could be cleaned up and presentable before I had to deal with the two sets of cottage guests that are leaving this morning. All done and dusted by 07:30

Again 500 cc of paint used - you'd not think that there was that much surface area but obviously there is ! When it's dry and I can properly inspect it I'll decide whether I'm going to put a second coat on.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: pycoed on August 29, 2022, 04:16:26 AM
Very interesting... I have a front driveshaft U/J (same double U/J configuration) gone on my Zetor 7045, along with knackered bottom & probably top knuckle bearings. Can't steer to the left, reliably! Eventually (after replacing multiple worn steering joints around the power assisted steering, I diagnosed that the knuckle bearing(s) had failed allowing the rollers to pile up in one direction. Not having any flat concrete or even really flat hardcore to jack up the front - this took a bit of doing!
The Zetor has shim set taper rollers (booo!) but each trunnion housing has six holes, two of which function as jack off points (hurray!), so removing them should ( ha!) be OK. I then have to remove the outer races, there are large Welch plugs sealing the outer races top & bottom, but I don't know until I start the job whether there are drifting grooves to punch out the races or not, therefore it will probably involve some upside down welding & multiple profanities for the bottom one.
Currently awaiting parts to arrive from Czech Republic.
 
 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 29, 2022, 07:02:19 AM
In this picture it probably looks much as it did, but the Cowl and Bumper have had their second coat - just in time for me to spruce up ready to greet the next two pairs of cottage guests. In the flesh it looks better coverage. I remember when painting the flail mower it wasn't the easiest colour to get coverage without runs !

A few days drying now before re-fitting
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on August 29, 2022, 07:05:50 AM
Pycoed that looks to be an almost identical arrangement - actually it's not that different to series Landrovers.

Good luck with the changing of the bearings - I supose the rollers are acting like a sprag clutch !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 02, 2022, 09:07:57 AM
Yesterday I refitted the Cowl and Bumper leaving all bolts loose. It's fit will need adjusting on these bolts to match the hinged engine cover and engine side cover to get the various gaps and angle correct.

Of course the hinged cover is badly shown up by the newly painted bits, so I have removed it and hope to sand blast and paint in the next few days.

Meanwhile the pivots for the hinges needed attention. Originally there were bushes riveted onto both moving halves with a grooved pin as pivot and a clip to retain in. The bushes had rusted to the pin and come loose, and the clips were in a sorry state. Redesign called for. I've turned up a 12.5 mm wide brass hex spacer to be the same width as two bushes, and bored it for a 12 mm shoulder bolt which eventually will be retained by a self locking nyloc nut. This involved slicing the original bushes off with an angle grinder - should work fine.

So next job lug out the big sandblaster.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on September 02, 2022, 08:24:58 PM
So, you will be attaching the 'keep it genuine' label with a fabricated part....

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 03, 2022, 02:21:34 AM
Neither the ‘keep it genuine’ nor the ‘Moving parts inside’ labels were available from the usual dealers, so I put a plea out on the Facebook Vintage JCB group for help. I had a reply from a senior JCB executive who is sorting some out for me  :clap:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: WeldingRod on September 03, 2022, 10:21:31 AM
Oh, that's beautiful in soooo many ways! 

Sent from my SM-G715A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 03, 2022, 12:33:43 PM
I set out this morning with the intention of grit blasting both sides of the two parts of the engine cover.

Dragging out the Hodge Clemco 1440NC blast pot for the first time in years and putting it all together wasn't entirely straightforwards. Firstly the claw fitting for the blasting pipe where it goes onto the pot had a claw broken off  :bang: They are a tough plastic and I'm surprised that it broke. Never mind, I have an extension pipe that has these fittings on each end - steal one. OK end replaced. Sensibly this fitting has an additional safety feature of a stainless steel wire peg that stops the fitting uncoupling - it's spring loaded and should engage as the claw fitting is rotated to seal, but no it wasn't going to. Some faffing about and bending and it went home - OK couple up the breathing air filter. Another claw fitting feeds it and these seal by compressing a rubber washer in each half. Having not been used for some time the rubber was rather hard -in the end I had to lay the filter on its side and use my entire body weight (not inconsiderable!) to compress the rubber while turning.

OK its together get on with it ! Started off quite well but then things became erratic - the pot wasn't building up pressure. The 'pop up' valve that drops to let sand enter from the hopper, and should seal when the dead mans handle is closed, wasn't sealing. After much head scratching I convinced myself the the valve itself must be damaged - so remove it for inspection. This involves removing all the sand crushed glass through a 'mud hole' inspection port and unscrewing an 1-1/4 BSP pipe leading to the valve. Eventually I got it out and to my untutored eye it looks fine.

Reassembling it all I did a test while the pot was practically empty and the top shield removed so that I could watch the valve operating. Well it wasn't ! It was only being driven feebly. Now the 'Dead Man' or Remote valve should operate it and it must be jammed and dismantling is not an easy task due to the way it's been plumbed in - all connections are on knuckle joints and easy to remove EXCEPT the one fixing it to the blast pot.

At this stage I'd blasted one side of one panel so only quarter of the job  :bang:

So I packed up the blast pot for attention later and attacked the panels with paint stripper - the good stuff that actually works but makes your hands tingle through thick rubber gloves. Now this paint stripper is good stuff but blasting is far better as it puts a micro texture on the work that greatly aids adhesion. Also it's horrid messy stuff to clean up. BTW HOW are you supposed to neutralise it as it must linger in crevices. I used masses of industrial thinners on a rag as this is what the paint is thinned with.

So at last - paint them - a coat of red oxide primer applied.

Just to make my day even better the paint gun decided to clog up just as I was finishing - I ended up putting brake cleaner through it to unclog it for next time.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: edward on September 05, 2022, 04:54:16 AM
I've stripped a couple of bike frames (steel and aluminium) with methylene chloride based stripper. Scrubbing with fairy liquid, hot water and scotchbrite a few times then rinsing with hot water seemed to get it off pretty well. The steel one got a coat of phosphoric based rust converter before paint and there hasn't been any breakthrough for a couple of years now. The ali one I just polished and that seems to have survived quite well too.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 05, 2022, 07:34:14 AM
Thanks for the info Edward.

Well Saturday continued to be an unmitigated disaster - The primer that I sprayed had gone on far too dry and was lumpy - I contemplated rubbing it down with wet and dry but in the end decided to start over.

So Sunday was taken up with paint stripping the two engine cover panels - this time I used the same methylene chloride based stripper but instead of scraping it off I used the pressure washer which was quite effective. I blew them off with an airline to dry them ready for another session this morning with the electric wire brush and stripping pad to get back to bare metal once more. What a waste of time and materials  :bang:

After several test sprayings and altering pressures and viscosity I got a satisfactory finish. Years back I made a simple 'viscosity meter' comprising a piece of 3/4" copper pipe blanked off with an old penny (240 to the £ !) with a bit of 1/4" copper pipe soldered in a hole in the middle of the penny. A bit more 1/4" pipe soldered on as a handle and I'd dip it into the diluted paint and time how long it took took to run out. This gave consistent mixings from batch to batch and was very handy. I see that plastic versions are now available on eBay - too late for today but I've ordered one 

So the primer can harden for a day or two as I'm busy tomorrow - there are a couple of insects that will need pulling out !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on September 05, 2022, 08:05:25 AM
I hope that you won't think this input too far off topic but it does refer to cleaning stuff of metal panels.

I house some of my workshop 'bits & pieces' in a steel cupboard with adjustable shelves.  The cupboard originally served in an electronics factory and was used to store soldering flux.  In configuring the cupboard for my use, I rejected a shelf on which liquid flux had been spilt.  There's a sticky patch of mostly dried 'stuff'.

I now need to use that shelf to replace another shelf that got bent.  It was in another cupboard that rests on the workshop floor and I inadvertently leaned on it while attempting to get up from a kneeling position.  A casualty of anno domini!!!  I don't have the panel beating skills required to 'unstretch' the front flange!

I was told, years ago, that all fluxes are either toxic or carcinogenic so I've had the polluted shelf in quarantine for a few years now.

I did wonder whether a domestic steam wallpaper remover might deal with the problem.  Or maybe just hot soapy water?

Any helpful advice will be welcomed.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 05, 2022, 08:35:02 AM
Pete, personally I'd scrape as much off as possible while dry and wash the affected area with boiling water. I doubt that the quantity is sufficient to be too worried by it.

Alternatively - don the Hazmet suit, and build a Chernobyl style containment sarcophagus  :clap:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 06, 2022, 01:12:40 PM
I didn't think that I'd get much done today - it's my birthday and apparently you have to do 'special things' on birthdays  :scratch: So we went round Newhaven Fort which was quite interesting. Apparently the last troops billeted there were Ukrainians in the late 1940's helping us with UXB bomb disposal. Rather ironic in the current situation.

 Anyway we got back in time for me to be able to rub down the engine cover panels with very fine emery paper, blow it off and spray the first coat of top coat JCB Yellow RAL 1007. Let's hope I don't have to strip THIS one off !

Doesn't look to bad for a first coat - it can sit for a bit before the next one.

To resolve the paint gun setting dilemma I gradually worked up in  thinners dilution until I got a decent result - this being 75 ml of thinners in 400 ml of paint. As I mentioned I've ordered a 'viscosity cup' and not wanting to use my iPhone to time it with painty hands, and having a vague recollection of having had a 'school lab timer' I went searching and sure enough there it was it a cupboard. A bit like an old fashioned alarm clock - genuine clock work, with an arm to start and stop it and one to reset it. A bit rusty but fully working. So this saves searching eBay  :clap:

Anyway have a picture of the engine cover panels in their first coat:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on September 06, 2022, 01:54:30 PM
Happy Birthday Andrew! What paint system are you using, acrylic, machinery enamel tractol etc etc? I go by the rule of thumb taught to me many moons ago, mix to the consistency of creamy milk, then stand back and let it have it! Looking good, when you have big flat areas on a panel try to get the biggest area of flat horizontal, much less risk of runs! I used to be rather expert at runs, The guy who taught me the above used to say, " I see you've got the curtains up, swags an all"
Happy daze!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on September 06, 2022, 01:57:31 PM
Happy Birthday Andrew have a great day!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 06, 2022, 02:16:46 PM
Thanks chaps.

Yes Phil I'd much prefer to set the panels horizontal, but as I'm doing both sides that's not really feasible. All the edges and corners that they would rest on are visible when on the machine.

The paint is an alkyd based machine enamel, and although specified as quick drying it's not quick drying like cellulose paint was where panels were handle-able  within minutes. It needs several days to fully cure - manufacturer says 21 days for fully hard but touch dry in 15 minutes.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 07, 2022, 08:21:03 AM
After lunch I managed to get the (hopefully) LAST top coat on the engine cover panels. I'd been hanging around for a plumber who was coming 'in the morning' only to find he'd been called to an emergency leak at Biggin Hill airport - he should be along later but at least I got my spraying done!

There is one 'droop' but it's small and on the inside - after all any critics need to be able to find something to grouse about !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on September 08, 2022, 03:16:53 PM
I put the black on the lathe today, awful colour to spray, reflections and the like, I have to spray with the doors open as I no longer have extraction, all in all it went well, but the paint pigment has clumped (don't know why, its not old)and I had to double filter it, but the second coat went on really well, used 2 spray guns, gravity gun for underneath so the cup didn't get in the way. Much more difficult than the Colchester, which of course was all in pieces!, No matter, it is done now, and I will probably build it up, and then put another coat on the bits I chip!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 08, 2022, 03:39:00 PM
I sprayed some black today as well Phil as it happens! Just the chaff guard for the radiator and the top of the air filter and only using a rattle can so cheating really.

Yesterdays yellow is hardening up nicely - looks as though a bit more thinners would have been better and a bit of over spray in places - I may polish it a bit with some 1200 grit wet and dry  but I'll experiment on the underside first !

I fitted new M8 captive nuts for the chaff guard and and the bolts retaining the engine cover to the cowl so hopefully the engine cover panels can go on for a trial fit tomorrow to let me adjust the cowl rake angle to suit. But being a Friday we have two couples departing, two couples arriving and a swarm of cleaners needing attention !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 09, 2022, 07:16:22 AM
So at long last it's all back together. Assembling the two part engine cover hinge in situ was a bit fiddly trying to avoid scratching the new paint, and I did scratch a bit but it's now all there and can be left for several days to fully harden. At that point I'll decide whether to touch up the bits or not.

 - so now I need to sort that sand blaster out !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on September 09, 2022, 06:05:27 PM
Looks good
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 14, 2022, 08:24:11 AM
Thanks Tom.

The Decals arrived in  the post this morning - so after a bit of trimming (glad I bought a 'roller guillotine' a few years back!) I went to fit them.

The ones either side of the bonnet went on fine as per pictures below, however the 'Keep it Original' sticker has the adhesive on the wrong side - OK for mounting inside a windscreen for instance but no good going on the underside of an opaque metal bonnet  :bang:

Anyhoo . . . it's progress and hopefully my chap can find the correct 'Keep it Original ' sticker in the days to come.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on September 14, 2022, 01:24:10 PM
I tried to get a Decal set for my Big Bee topper, no luck!!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 14, 2022, 02:04:41 PM
The black & white ones are obviously just printed on a vinyl printer - he must have the artwork, but the 'Keep it Original' one is the real McCoy - just intended for a windscreen not bodywork !

Given a decent copy of the art work there are loads of places that can print reproduction logos etc
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on September 15, 2022, 03:31:46 PM
Hmmm, now you have me thinking, I will see what I can find!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: djc on September 17, 2022, 07:06:08 AM
'Keep it Original' one is the real McCoy - just intended for a windscreen not bodywork

Cover the sticky side with standard sticky-back transparent film and put double-sided sticky tape on the back. It will be three times its original thickness but that might not matter.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 17, 2022, 11:33:03 AM
Good idea as the JCB chap hasn't come up with the goods yet.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 18, 2022, 09:28:59 AM
Thanks to DJC's cunning suggestion I got round to fixing the final decal of this painting session - the 'Keep It Genuine' sticker under the bonnet.

I stuck the label to a piece of laminating film, trimmed it to size, then stuck it on with double sided tape. Not sure how long the materials will last under a hot bonnet, but it looks good at the moment !

Many thanks for that suggestion.


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on September 18, 2022, 05:12:36 PM
There’s always Crazy Glue if it comes off.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Sea.dog on September 20, 2022, 10:03:37 AM
Just the rams and arms to paint now, Andrew  :D
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on September 20, 2022, 12:56:55 PM
I'd love to Graham, but to do a proper job they need to come off and be stripped back to bare metal - nothing worse than a tarted up bit of plant that's '10 yards pretty' and I barely have the lifting tackle for the job.

No pun intended but it's not a task to take lightly,.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on September 21, 2022, 04:43:37 AM
SNIP - nothing worse than a tarted up bit of plant that's '10 yards pretty' - SNIP

Someone whose YouTube video I was watching recently used the expression 'Dulux overhaul'!

(I previously thought 'Dulux' was an ICI brand-name - I didn't realise it was known in the USA as well as in the UK.)

But still, as the famous quote has it: 'Fog in channel - Continent isolated'.   :D   :D   :D 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on October 31, 2022, 12:25:02 PM
So today's job - replace the fan belts on the 3CX - originally it had twin belts, but only one remains and that's a bit frayed.

Simple enough job in theory EXCEPT that the main hydraulic oil pump is driven by a propshaft whose drive flange is bolted to the main crankshaft pulley, and is in the most confoundedly inaccessible position. Prop  shaft has to come off to fit the belts. Relatively easy to see but there is barely any room for fingers never mind hands. I've been putting this job off for a few weeks knowing that it would be knuckle challenging but today was the day  :bugeye:

Once the engine side panels were off and the front arms and bucket fully raised with the safely stop installed it was 'just' a case of undoing four bolts (5/8" hex head) to release the flange from the crank pulley. I could get a small 5/8th ring spanner on any two of the bolts but the engine needed 'barring' to get at the others. Anyway a short ring spanner is no good at all. These bolts are torqued just beyond 'murder tight'. No room to put a longer spanner on - could I encourage the shorter one with a baulk of timber and a lump hammer? No ! Timber always slips off and there are delicate things like expensive radiators in the area - exercise caution!

Then I thought - OK the timber slips off - bolt the spanner to a bit of flat bar in such a way that they are approximately 90 degrees to each other and apply the heavy persuader to the end of the bar - to my great surprise it worked a charm, but by heck those bolts were tight.

So with the propshaft disconnected I could remove the frayed belt and feed the new matched pair in through the blades of the radiator fan hanging them on the water pump double  sheaved pulley.

The alternator was rather stubborn but moved in the end and it was at this point I noticed that IT ONLY HAD ONE SHEAVE  :bang: This was why there was only one fan belt - some one has replaced the alternator with one with a single sheave - it's probably been like that for years.

What to do :scratch: Well I COULD have ordered up a double sheave pulley but I need to move the machine tonight. OK Fix the extra belt somewhere round the shaft so in the future the prop shaft doesn't have to come off to fit the belt. A good theory but I could find nowhere that I considered safe to fix it - grave danger of catching in the fan and destroying an expensive radiator. So off it came again.

Propshaft back on using the bolted on spanner in reverse and the machine is back together but it took a full day just to change a fan belt !


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on October 31, 2022, 02:48:19 PM
OMG! Struck down in the prime of life!
 

 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Spurry on November 03, 2022, 01:22:22 PM
Bolting a spanner to a bar is a rather cunning idea. Nice one!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2022, 05:23:22 AM
A very curious cable tracing problem

For some time - in fact since I got this machine, I've been trying to solve a wiring issue in the cab. Obvious symptom - interior light not working but in fact nor are the various sockets for beacons. Circuit shows that unswitched 12v is supplied to fuse A7 and the output of this fuse goes into the loom as cable 303 then splits as 300A, 300B etc  to feed 12v to the cab items. The loom goes by a very contorted route which I've only just found !

It turns out that it emerges on the RH chassis leg behind the rear wheel. Rear wheel off (oh boy they are heavy!) and clipping my trusty 'Tempo' tone tracer to fuse A7 output shows that there is a break in this run behind the wheel - excellent - sorted  :ddb: or so I thought  :bang:

Picking the very tough woven sheath apart I revealed a place in cable 300 where the copper had corroded and broken - no external damage to the sheath (before I wrecked it!)  :scratch:

So carefully cutting the cable back to non corroded copper I crimped in an extra length and thought things would be sorted - oh no !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2022, 05:52:05 AM
A quick test of the light - no power  :bang:

Clipping my tone tester to the light power input in the cab and testing to the output of Fuse A7 a very strong signal - VERY peculiar. Testing with my Fluke multimeter absolutely NO continuity what so ever even in the 10's of meg ohms range.

The wire is supposedly isolated at the cab light and and at the fuse A7 output end (no fuse inserted) - has absolutely no conductivity using a multi-meter but gives a very strong tone on the tone tester - both with the source at the fuse and the source at the light. No shorts to earth - so how this can happen is a complete mystery to me .

I have cut my crimped repair and fed 12v directly from the battery to the end that goes up into the cab and sure enough the cab light can be switched on, proving that the fault is in the run from the break behind the rear wheel up through the side console and on to the fuse block. I've been trying unsuccessfully to unscrew the fuse block to get behind for and inspection - retained by four long screws into thin (1.5 mm) sheet metal - two have come out but two just turn - threads stripped I suspect. Access is far from ideal being beside and to the right of the drivers seat. Another likely place for problems is where the sheath goes though the cab floor but access is even worse !


 I would welcome any suggestions.
 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on November 06, 2022, 05:56:40 AM
I've never used a tone tracer, but since it basically sends an ac signal(? ), could capacitive coupling at a break cause that?
If there is one 'mystery' break, there could be more.


-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2022, 06:06:00 AM
Yes Russ it injects a signal of about 1khz - warbling to make it more distinctive - and the detector picks up this signal amplifies it and drives a small speaker. The detector has a threshold detector that if it reckons it's 'On Target' brings on a red light.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2022, 06:48:44 AM
Russ I'm sure that you are right about capacitive coupling (cross talk in telecoms). I grounded the fuse A7 output terminal, fed the signal into the break where I cut my crimp and can follow the signal as far as where the loom goes up into the cab.

Any further tracing is going to need me to open up the side console where the fuse box is which I really didn't want to do it was a pain last time and no reason for it to be better now !

(post #30 here https://www.madmodder.net/index.php/topic,13429.msg161541/topicseen.html#msg161541 )
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on November 06, 2022, 06:56:27 AM
It is passing signal, but not current, once the deadly green has got into this era of wiring harness it is toast, you are going to have to replace the wire from the fusebox to the cab.  Problem is, if you bend another area of the cable, if it is internally corroded, it will fault again!I am usually an avoider of replacing cable runs as opposed to repairing them, but in this case I think you will have to!
Phil (recovering slowly)
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Sea.dog on November 06, 2022, 09:13:31 AM
That cable looks as though it's been shorted at some stage causing to overheat and burst the insulation, allowing water ingress.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 06, 2022, 11:16:45 AM
That wire in the loom is the only one in the wet area (ie under the floor and exposed) that is permanently powered up.

Anyway a bit more progress - I chased further up the loom, found another swollen bit of cable with green ooze, went to try and strip back to uncoroded copper and it broke off - fully sulphated and horrible. it's now far too short and near the hole in the floor that it will need completely replacing.

So the hunt is on to find how it gets to the fuse box. It turns out that the hole that it initially passes though in the floor is actually within a space round the hand brake and hydraulic controls for the front shovel, adjacent and butting up to the actual side console. Taking the rubber boot off the hand brake (an operation requiring Hellerman Oil!) within I can spy what appears to be two circular connectors joining the loom.

The cover is retained by four screws - three came off and the fourth one so far has defeated me. It fixes into a captive nut in the floor that is turning, and needless to say it's upper side is between the cover itself and the seat and needed three extension bars on my 3/8" socket set to even get a socket on! I have managed to get a snipe nosed Mole Wrench to grip the plastic housing of the captive nut but it still turns. When I can borrow another pair of eyes to confirm that I've got the right captive nut while I turn it from above I'll make up a long cold chisel and chop the nut off.

I did take pictures inside the cover with my endoscope camera, but it puts it's photos on a micro SD card and it turns out I don't have a reader  :bang: (One on order now !

enough for today - play resumes tomorrow.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: russ57 on November 07, 2022, 05:54:52 AM
How do you feel about a wifi controlled light?

-russ

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vtsteam on November 07, 2022, 08:53:30 AM
Capillary movement of electrolyte from moisture and dirt through an opening or insulation crack down the length of stranded wire, creating galvanic corrosion in a continuously powered circuit, which happens to be in close proximity to a surrounding wetted mesh ground (earth - .Br.).

Or,

what hermetic said.....

time for a new wire.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 07, 2022, 11:11:00 AM
Too right Steve and Phil !

So today having totally failed removing the last screw retaining the cover round the loader controls I set too with my Fein Multi-Tool with my longest protruding 'end on' saw blade and cut a rectangle round the bolt head thus releasing the cover from the offending bolt. Then a bit of juggling to get the control levers disengaged from their rubber gaiters and at last 'the dog could see the rabbit' !

The tone tracer soon found me cable 303 - there are a pair of round plugs and sockets in the loom under this cover, and a 'proper job' would be to release them, release the pin for wire 303 and replace it, but where I have disconnected other plugs and sockets on this machine I entered a whole world of pain so this time just trimmed the cable back to a pig tale and crimped a new piece of 1.5 mm stranded and tinned cable, threading it through the floor grommet and down to the loom that runs above the chassis rail where it was crimped to the original end of wire 303 that goes onwards to the cab roof.

After much testing to prove that I hadn't disturbed anything else and that the 12v permanent feed to the cab was sound I re-bound the loom. Two wraps of ordinary sticky pvc tape first to draw the cables into a tight bundle followed by a wrap of self amalgamating tape and an over cover of Hellerman Spiral Cable Protector. Ty-wraps replaced holding it all out of danger and the rest of the gubbins could go back on. Great fun working in that cab - not a lot of room to get at things.

. . . what a lot of fuss for a single wire . . . but it's done now AND works. Things like the self parking feature of the wipers previously didn't work as they use this live feed to get back to home position - now they do  :ddb:

Rear wheel put on with the able assistance of our new young gardener Eliot - Clive having retired - I wouldn't have been able to do it single handed without a lot of messing about.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 14, 2022, 09:55:12 AM
Continuing clearing the various electrical gremlins in this machine I turned my attention the the 'Face Level Fan'.

As received about a year ago, this fan was lying loose on the floor of the machine amongst all the detritus and rubbish that I had to clear out - It's bracket had broken and it's source cable had been pulled out of the cab light fitting where someone had lashed it in rather crudely previously. I'd already superglued the bracket once but it wasn't strong enough, and it's been kicking about on my desk giving me resentful looks ever since.

OK make a stronger bracket out of brass. The original plastic one had been fixed with two self tapping screws into the cab frame, and rather than end up with loads of holes in the frame I stuck with the same spacing, marking out the same shape on a bit of thick brass sheet kindly donated by the plunger EDM machine.

The central thread was 16 mm o/d by 1.5 mm pitch, and by sticking with the same size I could re-use the original retaining knob.Roughing out the holes & slots on the milling machine and the overall shape on the band saw gave me an approximate shape to file and band face to the correct dimensions.

Then the male 16 mm thread was silver brazed into the mounting plate and everything cleaned up on the wire wheel before a test fit. I increased the size of the mounting screws as the previous ones were a bit wimpy and countersunk the plate to receive them so as not to foul the fan itself.

In all a simple but satisfying repair - or is it a reconstruction?.

While I was tracing the fault that prevented the cab light working I had come across the correct wiring feed from the main cab loom for this fan (The fan was an optional extra and although this is the correct fan it's a retrofit) and rather than have the wiring 'hard wired' I'm fitting a plug and socket arrangement so the fan can actually be easily removed if it gets in the way.

JCB on the 3CX use a special socket and plug for things like the flashing beacon rather than a standard 'cigarette lighter' socket so I will use one of the JCB one in order to keep consistency. There are two varieties of the socket. A 'surface mount' version which would be much easier to mount, and a through panel version that is a much nicer bit of construction, but there isn't enough depth behind the relevant panel. I suspect I'll go with the later version and make a little box to mount it but the jury is still out on this.

Continuing the concept of sorting electrical gremlins the cab clock, which now tells the time following fixing the cab light,doesn't work in the 'back light' department - only a bulb, but a special bulb which is now on order.

Strangely the clock has four wires going to it:

1 - Ground
2 - permanent 12 v to keep time going
3 - 12 v from ignition switch
4 - 12 v from side light circuit

As the side lights can be put on without the ignition I can only assume that there are diodes between the ignition 12 volt feed and side light feed to stop it back feeding.

Seems a bit of a luxury having the clock light on when the side lights are on - an added complexity to the wiring loom !


 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 17, 2022, 09:51:55 AM
The 'special' bulb for the clock back light arrived - odd little things that have wings that poke through a hole in a printed circuit board, and ramps on the wings tighten the connection - well they do when the ramp has been re-bent !

However back light still not working (though original bulb WAS blown and new one IS OK  :scratch:) - time for more investigations. Metering the four pole connector on the wiring loom, Ground was where I expected it, 12 volt permanent was there for the clock itself, as was the feed for when the ignition is on, and separately the feed for when the side lights are on for the clock back light. Problem MUST be within the clock module itself.

Time for a bit of brain surgery. Usual 'popping plastic clips' dismantling got me inside. Sure enough as I previously postulated, the feeds from the Ignition and the Side Lights each go straight to their own isolating diode, with their cathodes being commoned and going to one side of the light bulb. I would expect the other side of the bulb to be taken directly to Ground - but no, no sign of any connection to it - certainly none to anything that was accessible.

I should point out that this clock module is a 'sandwich ' of two PCBs separated by riveted and soldered spacers that would be virtually impossible to undo without damaging other bits.

Fortunately I was able to poke a fine tipped soldering iron in between the two PCB's and put a 'salvage link' from a bit of track from the o/c side of the  bulb to the rear of the Ground input pin.

. . . let there be light . . . and there was, both with just the side lights, and also with the ignition being on.   :clap:

Just one more gremlin knocked on the head - getting there  :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Spurry on November 18, 2022, 04:21:18 AM
Yet another job well done, Andrew. Those little bulbs seem to have been well-used by JCB in the past, but are no longer listed as spares apparently.
Are yours pattern parts? The only ones I could find (for my neighbours JCB loader) were the integrated ones with bulbs fixed into the holder, but there used to be some holders with a removable glass section.
Pete
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 18, 2022, 05:32:27 AM
Pete the original ones have a 'pea' bulb soldered to the wing contacts of the holder - they were available for about £5 each. I bought a pack off ebay of clone for £3.13 including postage. The black plastic is noticably softer than the originals, and I had to tweak the wings to make proper contact, but they work. My side console dash is tull of them hence the x10 purchase !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354054545304
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on November 19, 2022, 09:58:59 AM
I finally finished fitting the face level fan  :thumbup:

(how alliterative was that  :lol:)

I'd sourced a neat little die cast box off eBay (though actually Rapid Electronics) and fitted it to the cab a few days ago, and was waiting for a 'curly cable' - again from eBay. The fan can be moved to point at you whether you are in the front or back seat, so I decided that the extra movement of the curly cable was well worth while - anyway it was only £2 ! Obviously surplus from some nice equipment as it is super fine strands with reinforcing cotton or polyester up the middle. Mind you this meant that it had to be terminated with crimps and ferrules.

The original connection at the fan end was by 1/8" miniature push on 'mini lucar' connectors which amazingly I had in stock from some long forgotten project so I was able to do a pretty neat job of it.

All connected up and working on both speeds (knob Off - Slow - Fast co-axial with fan motor) it's another 'little job' put to bed.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 13, 2023, 08:55:47 AM
At long last I've got round to a job I've been putting off for months. The engine was being over cooled, the temperature guage only just came off the base line, and I strongly suspected that the thermostat had failed or maybe wasn't even fitted.

Well today has been a bit warmer and I had a free morning - so get on with it.

One part of this job I'd really not looked forward to was draining the coolant - drain plug isn't ideally placed - so I used a trick a plumber friend of mine showed me some time ago. Slacken a hose clip, ease open the joint slowly and use a Wet & Dry vac to suck the fluid as it comes out. Worked splendidly with barely a drop lost on the floor.

Once the top hose was off the thermostat housing there were six M8 bolts to undo - the usual five easy ones, and one who's flats had previously been rounded off. My Irwin bolt remover worked splendidly and the housing was mine to clean up. Scraped with a razor blade paint scraper, tickled with a rotary wire bush and the cast iron housing and flat on the block cleaned up nicely.

There WAS a stat in there, and it was closed so all very odd so why over cooling?

Anyway it all went back together - new stat, new gasket, smear of HiLoMar, and bolts torqued down. I've temporarily replaced the rounded off one with a standard hex head - originals are flange bolts. I'll order a new one when next I place an order but not worth doing as a one off as postage swamps the goods.

I was able to re-use the coolant - I had cleaned the bucket of the Wet & Dry vac carefully so I could do this as I coolant was changed when i got the machine and is beautifully clean.

 Machine set for a fast idle while I cleared up and then monitored it with the IR meter. Stat started to open at about 85 degrees and now for the first time in my ownership the temperature gauge shows sensible readings nicely at midle travel of the needle.

 . . job's a good 'un  :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 14, 2023, 08:54:28 AM
This really has me puzzled, I tested the old thermostat in a pan of boiling water - it resolutely stayed SHUT. So why was the engine over cooled and not overheating :scratch:

The over cooling was cured by installing a new thermostat so this defies logic - can anyone give me a logical explanation of what's happening here ?

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: ddmckee54 on March 14, 2023, 10:50:31 AM
The bypass hole in the old thermostat looks huge, was the hole the same size in the new stat?  If that was bypassing too much coolant into the radiator that would keep the engine temp low.  I haven't changed THAT many thermostats, but I don't ever remember seeing one with a hole that bit.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 14, 2023, 11:07:56 AM
if you mean the second hole in the cast housing, it is blanked off by a flat face on the engine block.

(I imagine it's a part also used on bigger engines that use a pair of thermostats - my Dorman 110kva generator is like that with two stats to give adequate coolant flow)
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: David Jupp on March 14, 2023, 11:26:32 AM
Now it has been mentioned the hole (without the expected jiggle pin) does look large.  Without jiggle pin it will always pass water too - jiggle pin usually shuts flow off when engine is running.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Roger B on March 14, 2023, 11:26:49 AM
I could suggest that it was stuck open until you started disturbing the housing and then it dropped shut. As it didn't open under subsequent heating it was obviously faulty. Can you push it open by hand?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on March 14, 2023, 11:42:57 AM
Nope - I couldn't shift it at all by hand.

binned it !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: ddmckee54 on March 15, 2023, 12:12:42 PM
Andrew:

I was talking about the hole in the thermostat visible at about the 7 o'clock position in the photo Offending Thermostat #2.  I believe that the hole is there to limit the pressure on the coolant pump seals when the thermostat is closed.  That one seems a little excessive.

Don
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 13, 2023, 10:15:05 AM
For a long time I've been puzzled by an hydraulic leak from the back end - puzzled in being unable to locate it that is !

There are 6 hoses formed into a 'trombone shape' conveying fluid to the various services on the back actor - (they move side to side as the boom is side shifted) - they'd got pretty grubby with mud so I cleaned them down the other day. Five minutes later oil was dribbling down the hose nearest the front of the machine. Was this my mystery leak? Only a small dribble and no sign of damage to the hose. A few more cleaning & trying cycles and yes certainly something was leaking. Both ends were tight (1/2" BSP female) but bally difficult to access.

So I ordered up a hose, and also a 27 mm 'crows foot spanner' the more easily to undo the ends. A bit of time today so I started. The whole rear arm needs to be lain on the floor just so things don't descend suddenly when opening hydraulic joints, so a bit of tractor shifting first then lay the boom down.

Old hose eventually was cajoled off and I realised then that the 'energy chain' that these hoses run in was packed with oil laiden mud so would have to come off for cleaning. Now oddly there was no sign of any damage on the hose that I removed.

With the boom down on the floor it was obvious that one of the 'crowd' cylinder hoses had come to the end of it's life - worn down to the inner of the two braid layers. Again 1/2" BSP - straight one end and 90 degrees on the other but I hadn't ordered a spare  :bang:

Fortunately I had suitable ends and hose so I crimped up a custom part. Everything fitted back together without too many dramas and what's more there is no leak!

I tested it without the 'energy chain' so that I could feel all round the hose - glad to say all's well and I refitted the newly cleaned energy hose.
                 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 16, 2023, 08:54:12 AM
Carrying on with the 'sort all those little jobs' theme on the JCB I today fitted the near side hose guard. When I got the machine the original (JCB Yellow) hose guard was very mangled and I've not been able to source a replacement. It's bent from a sheet of 2.0 mm yellow HDPE sheet - and I couldn't even find a source of the sheet unless I bought a metric ton of the stuff, so I bought black. The black sheet has been kicking about my workshop while I remained in hope of either finding the real thing or yellow sheet.

But no - so yesterday it got cut to size. I had heated up, ironed out the mangling in the original, and plastic welded it with a soldering iron to be able to get a decent pattern, but the plastic welding isn't strong enough to bend it to use it.

Now before fitting it I decided to steam clean all the plumbing behind and about it - not only makes the fitting job more pleasant but helps enormously in tracking any further hydraulic leaks.

So that's one more job off the list. The ram for the offside front bucket crowd function has a small weep so at some time soon I need to pull it apart and replace the seals. Fairly straightforward job apart from the sizes involved - cylinder cap nut for instance is 65 mm AF and on at a huge torque so that will be fun. I made a 65 mm 'flogging spanner' the other day on the CNC Plasma Table in preparation.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 17, 2023, 09:23:55 AM
When I made up the excavator bucket crowd hose the other day I blindly copied what was there - except that it had 'hose wrap protector' on it to save it from chaffing. Well I had some wrap on order and it arrived today.

It's a bit of a b****r to fit to already installed hoses but possible, so that was this mornings little job. I'd just finished BOTH ram hoses realising that the other one had no wrap when I realised that the hose that I hadn't changed had a much nicer routing. It had straight 1/2" BSP female fittings on both ends whereas the one I removed had a 90 degree bend on one end making it stick out like a sore elbow !

Then it dawned on me - someone in the past had burst a hose and just used what was to hand that 'sort of' fitted' Time to make up another hose with straight fittings on both ends. It lays so much nicer in the guides and doesn't stick out like the last one !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 18, 2023, 01:14:53 PM
JCB's are well known for 'marking their territory' so it is no surprise having fixed the bigger oil leaks smaller ones are becoming apparent !

I noticed today that one of the 'hdyra clamps' has a small weep. These four short stubby hydraulic cylinders clamp the 'back actor' to the 'rear rail'. Relaxing them allows the entire back actor to be 'side shifted' and in operation they are pumped up locking everything together.

The individual bits are available, but I notice that the upper pair look quite different from the lower ones, one of which has the leak. I am minded to replace them all to get to a known starting point - a full kit is available and although not exactly cheap won't break the bank - especially as I have other bits to order that will share the carriage charges.

 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 24, 2023, 09:01:29 AM
I have Hydra-Clamps and Rod cylinder seals on order but not yet arrived, so I decided to tick off one more 'get round to it one day' jobs on the JCB.

The cab doors were both originally equipped with 'door stays' allowing the door to be fixed a few inches open to get a bit more ventilation while working. Near side was present but off side has gone missing. Just an 8" length of 1/4" bar screwed into a ball joint at the tethered end, and a special button fitting that engages with the door lock at the other. Zero dealer stock and anyway listed at £24 plus VAT - so make one !

6 mm ball joint ordered on eBay (£2.99) - 1/4" bar from stock as was a bar end to make the button. Simple turning and threading job had the bits ready before the ebay delivery - which was today.

I glass blasted the parts and cold blued them with 'Perma Blue' and I was impressed with the finish it gave me - not used it before - I've had it on the shelf for a while having bought it on impulse !

All bits Loctited this morning and I've just fitted them - seem to work OK and indistinguishable from the originals  :clap:

In the 'parked' state the stay sits on a little clip holding it out of the way - clip was missing - also unobtainable - so I 3D printed one.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 26, 2023, 04:33:45 AM
My long awaited parts order has arrived so work can commence.

a/ Correct flanged bolt for Thermosat housing

b/ Four Hydra Clamp seals, bolts, nuts & Lock Washers

c/ Four hydraulic cylinder seal sets to cure a few weeps

So first do the trivial flange bolt replacement - original had had to be removed with a bolt extractor and I'd temporarily substituted a normal bolt - job done.

Then paying attention to the hydro-clamps I find what appears to be a custom made extra bracket spanning between the bottom two massive bolts - can't find it on any parts listing - it'll have to come off to replace the hydro-clamps but I can't really see what it's intended purpose was - need to ask a few questions.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 26, 2023, 11:20:56 AM
So I've just crawled back to the house after 7 solid hours fighting the hydraclamps and that strange bracket. It turns out that the bracket supports the breaker return hose that passes under the back actor to stop it dragging in the mud.

I'd intended to do one side at a time as the 38 mm through bolt (which I was replacing) can only come out at the extreme ends of the channel that the back actor slides on so doing both lower ones for instance means keeping on sliding the whole rear arm on it's mounting. Not only is this a fag, but it means that you need plenty of space either side of the machine as the rear arm is used to push the mounting side to side.

However with that pesky bracket on the two lower bolts / hydraclamps I had to do that pair and suffer the inconvenience - which is one reason I've only done two of the four in a seven hour stint.
Once the bracket is removed (it then dangles on a heavy hose) the back actor has to go to extreme left and the 38 mm bolt then can pass through a cut out on the front of the rear rail. The new bolt can then be inserted, however it has an anti rotation lug sticking out that has to be aligned (by feel!). Then the back actor has to be slid to the extreme right and the process repeated.

Then comes the tricky bit that took absolutely ages ! The one piece bracket thing has to be placed over the left and right hand bolts without either pushing them out of the channel or disturbing the location of the anti-rotation tabs. Meanwhile it's heavy hose is pulling it out of your hands and the bracket is springy so the hole spacing needs tweaking . . . .  :bang:

Needless  to say it was  an iterative process involving an excess of frustration, but I got there in the end.

Actually rebuilding / resealing the hydraclamp units was simplicity itself - douse everything in hydraulic fluid and press them together. The old ones were a bit manky !

Hopefully the upper hydraclamps will be much easier, and in fact I may not replace the bolts as they look to be in better condition than the lower ones.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 27, 2023, 10:24:59 AM
Well the good news is that the Hydro-clamps no longer leak  :thumbup:

But the bad news is that they probably will soon as they are not sitting flat on their seating  :(

Why - well it's all down to that blooming bracket that I spent most of yesterday wrestling with. It's obviously not original but I now (having crawled under!) see why somebody installed it. It gives a forward support to the flexible 1" BSP breaker return hose stopping it dragging in the mud. Sadly whoever made it got it slightly wrong  :bang:

The body of the bracket fouls on the base of the back actor carriage forcing it into an uncomfortable angle resulting in the 'tabs'with 38 mm holes for the hydra-clamp bolts to not be vertical - thus they are not sitting flat.

I've decided to make longer tabs to hold the bracket a good inch or more lower - by cutting off the original tabs just below their 38 mm holes I can leave an upright bit to bolt my new tabs to. By slicing the forward part of the bracket I can get it off the machine without draining all the hydraulic oil and it can be bolted back together.

This way the currently one piece bracket will be in four separate pieces greatly aiding refitting it - and the entire caboodle can sit at least an inch lower no longer risking fouling the base of the carriage.

I was manoeuvring 8 mm plate on the plasma cutter to make the new tabs when I managed to dig a small chunk of skin out of my finger - a very small wound (but deep) that won't stop bleeding so I've stopped for the day to let the platelets do their work !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 28, 2023, 05:52:00 AM
So with the bleeding stemmed this morning I've completed 'phase 1' remove the bracket, prove that the clamps seat properly with no bracket fitted, and slice the bracket ready for modification.

The tabs on the bracket are fairly grossly bent - I suspect whoever made it didn't leave enough bending allowance for the 8 mm plate that its made from resulting in it fouling the base of the back actor. To get  it to fit over the 38 mm clamp bolts the tabs had to be bent which is why we are where we are.

Still enough forensic engineering - what to do? Draw up and cut longer tabs with the 38 mm holes, slice off the originals and arrange holes in tabs and bracket to fix them on. But first I need to bend the tabs to true 90 degrees so my longer replacements sit vertically. This may involve heat - I may have to fire up the ceramic chip forge but I'll see what a sledge hammer does first. best done before cutting the old tabs off to give more leverage.

However other matters now demand my attention so play will have to cease  :(

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 28, 2023, 07:43:06 AM
I managed to sneak away for another half hour. As I'd feared blows from a sledge hammer failed to give the results that I wanted. I tried the 60 ton press but not really suitable, so . . . . . fire up the Ceramic Chip Forge  :bugeye:

It's many months since I've used it and I was delighted how easy it was to set up and  quick to get up to heat. Once those bends were glowing it was dead easy to coax them to shape - too easy really as I overshot and had to bring them back again.

The angle is now much closer to 90 degrees - I only want the bottom 1" straight as the rest is getting cut off anyway.

(amusing to think that the propane bottle that I used came with me from Bromley in 2007/8 when we moved here - old gas  :clap: )

Got to resume other duties so the rest will have to wait  :(
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on April 28, 2023, 03:10:25 PM
 :thumbup:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 28, 2023, 03:46:39 PM
Well I got quite a bit more done this afternoon:

a/ New longer tabs drawn up in Autocad and cut out on the CNC Plasma table

b/ Old tabs cut off and remains of the bracket trimmed up

c/ Forward arm for the pipe support trimmed more neatly

d/ New tabs and bracket drilled for 8 mm bolts to fix back together

e/ Bracket assembly loosely put together and offered up to the clamp bolts to test the 38 mm hole spacing.

NB the nuts were left on the the clamps bolts so the back actor was safe and an other pair used to pull the bracket into place.

I suspect that a bit of fettling will be needed for the final fit - I'm not certain the the pairs of 8 mm bolts holding the new tabs on will clear the body of the hydraclamp - time only will tell.

So a bit of fettling then drill the forward part of the pipe clamp to match, then dissemble, clean up and paint before final assembly. Probably not for a couple of days as we have house guests coming for the weekend.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 29, 2023, 05:55:54 AM
This morning I managed to finish the fettling. It was just a case of relocating the new tabs to the other side of the original tab stub to give enough clearance for the body of the hydra-clamps.

I then with great trepidation drilled the holes in the bracket that is still attached to the 1" BSP breaker oil feed - very easy to put the drill right through the hose especially as acess is fraught - anyway I didn't  :thumbup:

So all that remains is to remove the assembly, strip, grit blast and paint, and re-assemble using shake proof nuts. Then the hydra-clamps can be properly torqued down, tab washers locked on and any air bled from them.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on April 30, 2023, 01:23:07 PM
House guests this weekend so not much done, however my muscular son had a go at undoing the nuts for the upper hydra-clamps - no, no joy I will have to cut them off when the time comes.

Meanwhile I've just grit blasted and sprayed the modified lower bracket in red oxide primer - hopefully it'll be RAL 1007 JCB yellow tomorrow !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 01, 2023, 04:07:41 AM
I got the first coat of RAL 1007 JCB Yellow on this morning before 09:00. Hopefully this will let me put the top coat on in the late afternoon to give it over night to harden up a bit.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 02, 2023, 06:49:08 AM
This morning I re-assembled the breaker hose bracket that I recently painted and re-installed it on the lower hydra-clamp bolts.

I won't torque them up until I've sorted out the upper clamp stuck bolts. Apparently there is a lug projecting from the clamp plate that slides in the rear channel and take the weight of the back actor. This lug engages with a flat on the 38 mm bolt head to stop rotation and it seems that we managed to sheer a bit of it off in our attempts to free the stuck nut. New one on order. Also on order is a longer reciprocating saw blade to cut the bolt off.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: modeng200023 on May 02, 2023, 09:28:36 AM
Going on like this Andrew, you'll soon have a new machine with al the replacement parts you've fitted.  :D

John
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 02, 2023, 09:53:18 AM
Yes it rather feels like that John.

Once you're into something like this there's no point in not sorting out things as you find them, or they'll come back and bite you in the nether regions.

Classic example this morning - crawling about fitting that bracket I noticed that the hydraulic hose for the near side slew cyllnder had been chaffing and worn though it's outer sheath. 1/4" BSP female ends, 1050 mm long and not available from the supplier that had the plate clamp in stock, so extra postage from another supplier but £34 each and no point in not replacing both. As luck would have it I have the 1/4" BSP ends and ferrules and the hose in stock so I've crimped up a pair of hoses this morning ready for when I do the job.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 04, 2023, 11:02:06 AM
The Replacement hydraclamp plates arrived this afternoon so I got on with sawing off the offending bolt to release the nut that's been giving me grief. By heck it was a tough bit of steel!

One hour and a half of sawing, and three reciprocating carbide tipped blades later, (using coolant as well) it was mine and the rest of the job was pretty simple. Knock out the remnants of the 38 mm old bolt - remove the old plate - and install new plate and bolt ensuring that the lug aligned with a shaped head of the bolt.

I've not at this time replaced the actual seals in the hydraclamp to avoid duplicate oil draining- I will do when I do the bolt on the other side but frankly when the bolts and nuts are undoable it should be very easy.

Lots of copper grease used on the nut and bolt when re-assembling to help the next bloke down the line.

I was rather surprised how little of the anti-rotation lug had been chewed away on the old plate. I'd wondered if I could have built it up with weld but in the end decided that it was a false economy on what is a highly stressed part.

. . perhaps do the other side at the week end depending on other pressures.
 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 05, 2023, 08:25:06 AM
The forecast for the weekend was rain, so I decided to get on and saw off that offside hydraclamp bolt. Didn't go too badly but still took ages and several saw blades !

So having got the new plate and bolt installed (no pictures, just like the other side) I went ahead and changed the actual seals inside these upper hydraclamps - so now all four are new.

Now to get at the bolt the boom has to be slewed all the way in one direction and the carriage slid to the extreme end of the support channel. What I DIDN'T know was when slewed to 180 degrees either side, that bracket that holds the breaker hose up was fouling on the slew cylinder steel pipework that is part of the cylinder itself. Although the pipes are not leaking they have been compromised.

So now I need to work out a more satisfactory arrangement to support the 1" hose for the breaker AND a repair strategy for the slew cylinder pipes. I've taken the new bracket off and have temporarily supported the pipe with a bungee cord.

 . . . one step forward . . two back . . .  :bang:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 06, 2023, 06:50:19 AM
OK time for a bit of lateral thinking regarding this pesky hose bracket.

There is barely an inch of available clearance between the top of the slew pots and the bottom of the hydraclamp bodies. Not much space especially as the carriage will not necessarily sit exactly horizontally due to play in its mounting. It seems the original JCB fitting routed the hose ABOVE  the carriage and had a loop to allow for side shift and the pipe was then routed into the guts of the machine. I've attached a picture of how it was supposed to be - nothing like mine !

Now I don't HAVE a breaker. I don't NEED a breaker. So why the heck go to great lengths to support its hose - take the blooming thing OFF !

So my objective this morning before watching the Coronation was to take off the hose and fit blanking adapters to where its ends were. The solid pipe running down the boom ends up on top of the near side slew pot - easy job, (well needed great force!) unscrew and blank off - job done. Now the other end terminates in a very oily lump of control hydraulics that at first I thought fixed with a standard 1" x 60 degree cone fitting. So I crawled  under only to find after much cleaning was in fact a 1" BSP Quick Disconnect flat faced fitting. more cleaning and a few more grunts and eventually it was off - the hose was mine !

A bit of a daft place to fit a QD fitting - should have been plumbed to a place that was more easily accessed.

A quick washing of hands and I'm just in time for the big ceremony with Zadok the Priest being played at high volume on the telly - phew marital harmony preserved AND the hose is off :lol:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 08, 2023, 07:06:57 AM
When I'd finished removing the breaker return pipe I steam cleaned the oily bits where it came from, however my Karcher HDS550C was playing up. It would fire up every time water was blasted but would stop firing or pulsate, and the water although hot was no where near the intended 99 degrees C.

So first job this morning was to sort it - I've not had this machine long - bought locally on Facebook Marketplace I used it a couple of times last year then it got put away for the winter to save it from frost. Sounded like fuel starvation to me, so possibly pump coupling slipping, blocked jet, or maybe it has a fuel filter. Oh yes - tiny little gauze affair in a die cast housing. Filter removed, blasted with compressed air and seems very free to certainly my blowing ! Re-installed and yes we are up and running and can get on with the intended task of the day which is to prepare for replacing the seals in the offside bucket  ram on the 3CX. Fingers crossed this is the only remaining significant leak left to fix.

Now this ram has the 'Return to Dig' feature clamped to it - this allows the bucket to be lowered from on high back to exactly ground level plus a tad by pressing it's control lever over into a detent position allowing the operator to concentrate on aiming the beast at the pile to be scooped up. Feature is very simple - a rod is fixed to the bucket end of the ram and passes up a tube that is fixed to the body of the ram that has a microswitch that the rod operates when the bucket is at the correct point.

Rather crudely fixed by a pair of Jubilee clips around the body of the ram, with the rod being bolted on. Rod was easy as were the Jubilee clips, but the nuts holding the microswitch were thoroughly rusted and had to come off with a nut splitter.

So with the wiring Ty-Wrapped out of the way I could slip my 'chrome protector' (split pipe) onto the rod, and apply a mighty Swedish pipe wrench to the cylinder cap - no, no movement - even with a fair length of scaffold pole on the wrench - no movement. That's as far as I've got. I may have to apply heat to the cap, but once I do that the seals will be totally destroyed and at the moment we just have a little weep !

. . . time to cogitate I think.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 08, 2023, 09:02:51 AM
The 'book of words' suggests sealing the end cap with brown  Loctite 932 which is a low strength thread locker able to be dismantled with hand tools.

There is no knowing if someone in the past hasn't just grabbed the nearest Loctite bottle - maybe red high strength - which Heinkle say needs 250 degrees C to release which I'm sure will destroy the existing rod seals.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 15, 2023, 09:43:43 AM
Putting the slightly leaky bucket cylinder problem 'on the shelf' for a while while I cogitate I turned my attention to the two 'slew pots' that swing the back actor.

As you may recall the welded on pipes on these cylinders have been scalped by that pesky bracket, and whether I try to weld on new pipes, or if I replace them they will have to come off. They are each retained by four blooming great 1" bolts that are torqued up to 970 Newton Metres  :bugeye:

I had already attempted to undo them with my 3/4" socket set and a 5 foot scaffold pole to no avail. More in hope than expectation I had ordered a cheap Chinese 'Torque Multiplier Set' on eBay - proper professional ones cost several hundreds of pounds so I didn't expect much for my £60 including postage. There were even cheaper ones on eBay but I chose this one as it came with a fair selection of sockets (including the 38 mm / 1-1/2" one I needed) and quoted a maximum torque of 3200 Newton Metres.

Well today it arrived. Turning it by hand it felt rather horrid - I wasn't over surprised, but to give it a fair chance I stripped it down to grease pack it. Consisting of three sets of sun / planet gears in a common ring gear there was a nominal bit of grease on the outer set, but deeper in there was none. I packed (probably over packed) it with a decent grease and put it back to work.

And does it work . . . . you bet your boots it does . . . I couldn't believe how easily the first bolt came out just cranking lightly on the 10" handle that is provided. The advert says it has 58:1 gearing - I didn't count teeth but I can well believe it. I think it was well worth stripping and greasing as it doesn't feel at all bad now !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: modeng200023 on May 15, 2023, 10:25:28 AM
Amazing  :clap:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: hermetic on May 15, 2023, 02:50:06 PM
A very valuable addition to your JCB tool kit! It's big, it's yellow, and it needs delivering to Langtoft!!
Phil
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 15, 2023, 03:05:15 PM
It'd be a long bouncy drive Phil  :lol:
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 22, 2023, 11:46:23 AM
So it's time to sort those damaged pipes on the slew pots. I've been accumulating 'bits' over the last few days and I 'think' (well hope!) I've got everything.

There are very few videos on YouTube showing pot removal but many showing the difficulty of re-installing them - much heavy hammering and grunting. So I needed to plan a re-installation method that didn't involve many beefy blokes with big sledge hammers and hopefully relied on subtly rather than brute force.

My plan is to make two studs threaded 1" UNF that can screw in where those big bolts fit. and be counter-threaded M12 so that M12 studding can be used with a spreader bar across the rear of the cylinder to pull it back onto the new piston rings and seals. Two lengths of high tensile M12 studding ordered and I already had M12 coupler nuts that will give greater thread engagement. I should perhaps explain that an M12 Hex nut will fit through a 1" hole so the puller / pusher can be removed when finished !

Where to find some 1" UNF studs - I was about to set up to thread some when I happened on some pivot studs left over from when I had a Fordson Major tractor - they were part of the three point linkage.

Also I needed heavy wall drawn tube to make up the replacement for hydraulic feed pipe  that is damaged and causing all this fuss. Original was 31/64" by 14 SWG - the nearest that I could find was 1/2" by 1/4" bore - slightly smaller bore but the flexible hoses feeding it are 1/4" so I don't suppose it will matter a jot.

OK now I need a seal / ring set for both sides which arrived this morning.

So no excuses - get a pot off ! Our satellite dish had gone wonky and while the chap was fixing it (corroded 'F-Type' plugs) I left the slew gear box draining into a sheep lick bucket.

Next job - remove the bracket from two of the pot retaining bolts as it obstructs the other two bolts - replace them but with heads protruding about half an inch. Slacken the now exposed other pair of bolts a similar distance then . . crank up the engine (keys have gone missing - use the spares !) lift the back arm up so that the bucket is just off the floor and slew boom to off side thus pressurising the near side slew pot. This pushes it off a bit until it hits the bolt heads. Cut engine - wiggle hydraulic controls to release the pressure - uncouple the hydraulic feed pipe and cap it off - remove those huge bolts then gently lever the slew pot off the piston assembly. And it's blooming heavy !.

OK one pot off - I'll do one pot at a time I think.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 22, 2023, 11:52:38 AM
So now the pot is on the bench I can have a good look at it.

Bore looks to be in good condition. The shaved pipe seems to enter tangentially and oil flows into some sort of baffle arrangement deep in the outer end of the cylinder.

Tomorrow I need to carefully mark up where the pipe runs on the cylinder and try and replicate it - that'll be fun !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 23, 2023, 10:51:25 AM
Today I sliced off the damaged pipe, bent a new one and welded it on . . .

. . . .sounds simple doesn't it ! Well it wasn't. Cutting off the old was easy. Cleaning up the barrel and milling a 1/2" recess for the new pipe was easy - well the fixturing took a bit of head scratching - (the clamp that seems to be on the inside of the bore is actually on a bit of soft aluminium)

What took the time was bending the new pipe to shape and welding it on. It is a very odd compound set of curves - I was doing it hot in the forge but got an approximation in the end !

Welding was never going to be easy round the 'back' of the pipe close to the cylinder wall and I'm by no means certain that it's going to be hydraulically sound - time only will tell. I can't pressurise it for testing so at the moment am relying on the 'blue towel test'. Blue workshop towel goes much darker with the slightest bit of water. Currently filled with boiling water and sitting on a towel !

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: pycoed on May 24, 2023, 04:34:12 AM
andrew,
I know it's a bit late now, but if you can weld well enough to seal the new pipe against hydraulic pressure, wouldn't it have been easier to weld or even braze the damage on the original pipe in situ? It wasn't leaking as it was, so it would have been "belt & braces" & if disaster did occur, well you'd be in the same boat you are now? May be a thought for the other pipe, since one looked worse than the other?
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on May 24, 2023, 01:51:00 PM
Well things change ! The pot hadn't leaked against the very modest few inches of water head overnight but I wasn't happy about it. Took the dog for a walk to cogitate ! I decided to rig up a crude pressure test by cutting an 8 mm plate to rest over the open pot mouth with four holes corrspnding to the pot fixing bolts. Then, with a piece of rubberised cork gasket material started pumping the pot up using my plumbing pressure tester.

At 15 psi the weld started to leak - only very slightly but this is 15 psi not the 3000 psi that it will see in service. Cleaned up with a grinder, a bit more welding and gave it another test - got up to 60 psi and the rubberised cork gasket blew out  :bugeye: Probably I'd not given it enough over lap . Reseated the gasket and pumped up to 60 psi when there was hissing round the gasket but apparently no leak at the weld.

At this stage I thought - this is silly - OK used slew pots in good condition aren't cheap but to go through multiple test cycles - even probably putting them on the machine and having to pull them off again if they leak - life is too short - just bite the bullet and buy the used pots. Pots ordered !

I had actually decided when I got up this morning to attempt to weld up the pipe that I'd cut off as a trial, and if it went well do the same operation on the other slew pot pipe but I never got that far, getting involved with the pressure testing. I don't regret it really - I've a lot on my plate in the next few days and weeks and this will be one less thing to sort out (but I'll still have fun refitting the replacements - they may even get a coat or two of paint. The sealing plate I made for pressure testing will double up as the 'pusher' for my refitting press !)

I may have done better to dig out my oxy-acetylene set as getting a smooth flow is for me easier but I not gas welded in years. I suppose really I should set my self up for TIG welding - but I haven't !
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 01, 2023, 12:53:31 PM
So at long last my (second hand) replacement Slew Pots arrived in a battered box this afternoon. Praying that the pipes weren't crushed I opened the boxes (total of 92 kg!) and - phew - they were OK.

fortunately the bore of these hydraulic cylinders is exactly the same as a 110 mm underground drain pipe so I was able to blank the operating end with drain stoppers, and the hydraulic pipe with a standard 1/4" BSP bung. Left them soaking in de-greaser for half an hour then hit them with the hot pressure washer. They came up reasonably clean - I'd hoped it would take the paint off but no such luck.

So when they were dry they got two applications of extremely strong paint stripper and then most paint came of with the pressure washer. Again after a drying session I removed the few reluctant bits of paint with a wire wheel, then washed them in Industrial Thinners ready for painting.

The thinners soon evaporated and they got a light coat of red oxide primer which is dry already, but I'll leave it over night before starting on the RAL 1007 JCB Yellow that they will soon sport.

. . . time to make supper . .
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 02, 2023, 06:05:01 AM
Last night the primer was amazingly hard - passed the finger nail test - so I gave it a first light coat of RAL 1007. When I came back to inspect it just before bed time to my horror I found that in one or two places the dark orange pigment had settled out from the paint forming splodges.

This morning all was dry (it is supposed to be able to over coat within an hour) and I tentatively rubbed at the splodges which also were rock hard. OK I'll try another light coat and see what happens.

Diluting the paint with the thinners it started to curdle (OK the tin is dated 2016 !) so I threw that batch out and opened a fresh pot. Diluted to thin cream consistency I gave them a blush coat (it avoids runs) followed a few minutes later by a slightly heavier one which is already touch dry and no splodges this time thank goodness.

I may give them another coat but in all likely hood actually wait until they are on the machine as they are bound to be knocked in the re-fitting process.


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 03, 2023, 07:17:03 AM
This morning I removed the off side Slew Pot and then started making my patent "Slew Pot Puller" to pull the replacement over what will fairly certainly be rather tight new seals.

As previously mentioned this device requires two 1" UNC studs counter drilled and tapped M12 to take the actual studs that do the pulling, and cross bored for a tommy bar to allow tightening up and removal.

Based on a redundant pair of Fordson Major 3 point linkage pins the turning to size proved 'interesting' Being a wear part the original pin has been selectively hardened, and even carbide lathe tools were struggling in places. Fortunately the outer end was relatively soft and could be parted off and drilled & tapped M12 but turning the body down to 1" was a bit of fun. My tommy bar cross hole had to go further out than I'd intended as the material was too hard to drill !

I had thought of sticking the original studs in the induction furnace and annealing them - but life's too short !

So one down one to go - I may get time after lunch.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 03, 2023, 08:53:16 AM
After lunch I made the second stud - great fun turning hardened steel with the swarf glowing white hot as it comes off !

So with the two adaptor studs made I assembled the slew pot pusher as a 'dry fit' on the bench - it should work - well I hope that it does ! No idea how much force is needed but some advocate pushing them on with another digger  :bugeye:

A few grandchldreny things coming up so hopefully play can recommence on Monday.

Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 05, 2023, 01:36:44 PM
When the dentist had finished poking about in my mouth I was able to start fitting the new (used s/h) slew pots.

First a good clean up of the pistons, remove the old piston seals, backing rings and wear rings, douse with ISO32 hydraulic fluid and fit the replacement seals. Fairly uneventful.

Then a good clean up of the slew pot, again douse it in ISO32 hydraulic fluid and offer it up approximately at the right level using my pump up trolley. Then fitting my patent pot pusher it was pretty easy to pull the pots into place. I did try first doing it manually but that wasn't happening !

Pot mounting face where it joins the slew gearbox is sealed with Blue Hylomar and then those four big bolts need torquing down to 990 Newton Metres  :bugeye: So far they are just 'pretty darn tight' - I can't swing the torque wrench where the machine is at the moment - it needs pulling out of the tractor shed.

Then I replaced the hydraulic hoses feeding the pots. One was well past it's sell by date so I had already made up new ones some weeks ago.

I've just downed tools and come in for supper - I'm pooped ! Tomorrow a grand clear up, oil up the slew gear box which had to be drained for the pot replacement, then see if the new pots work !


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 06, 2023, 07:16:20 AM
Hopefully this is the end of Slew Pot issues.

Today I added hose protectors to the new slew pot hoses - mainly as the near side one had originally been grouped with the tiny 'boom lock' hose to give it some support, but the sleeve had hardened and cracked off as I fitted the new hose. The same sleeving had been used where the hoses are clamped between the king post and it's cradle so it seemed sensible to carry on to the off side hose. I already had the spiral wrap so it was a no cost choice !

Then I filled the slew gear box - darn silly place for the filler - the only way of getting at it is to stretch to the boom and dipper out on the ground then reach in behind the boom pivot where the (plastic) filler bung sits covered in all the hydraulic hoses ! And to complicate matters the filler incorporates a breather so a deep socket is needed when you can guess what size it is (1-1/8" AF for future reference)

Squeezy oil bottle is about the only way of getting the oil (4 litres of 75W90 GL4/5 Universal gear oil) in as the spout is needed for its reach.

Having done all that I brought the machine out into the yard where I could try full left and right slew and check no hoses were stretched.

Glad to say all  seems to work  :thumbup:

The only thing to work out now is how to torque those bolts to 990 Newton Metres - my big torque wrench runs out of steam at 550 NM ! (But they are blooming tight! )


Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: vintageandclassicrepairs on June 13, 2023, 05:43:30 PM
Hi Andrew and All,
The next time you see a "sump draining pump" in Lidl or Aldi buy one!
Pull off the dipstick tube and fit a same size tube as the outlet side
I have found many uses for the pump since I did this.
Filling almost a gallon of gear oil into my MGB gearbox only took a couple of minutes :ddb:

John
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 18, 2023, 12:07:54 PM
At long last I've been able to make some progress addressing the weeping rod gland on the front shovel ram. It's only a little weep but annoying. I bought the seal kit some months back but I've been unable to unscrew the rod gland nut. I even made a custom 'flogging spanner' but the flogging got to a pitch where I was reluctant to go further as it threatened to bend the rod itself.

So basically I've given in and enlisted the aid of a local hydraulic company. My previous traveling hydraulic man Martin seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth so hunting for another I came across a promising sounding chap and gave him a call. He was refreshingly honest saying yes he was happy to do the job but he actually would remove the rod and take it to Ella which I could do myself. Imagining Ella to be another specialist company I asked for details. Oh NO Ella is a young lady who rebuilds hydraulic rams ! Apparently her father was running a small company out of the family farm and when he passed on she took over the business and is very good.

So today's job was to remove the ram from the machine - I'd already checked that the pins were moveable. Now this ram isn't enormous but it's big enough to be a handful at head height so I enlisted the aid of the Epco engine hoist and I'm glad I did. Disconnecting and blanking off the ports and hoses, and with the ram secured to the Epco with a strop I pulled the pins. The upper end was happy to come away but the lower end fought me fiercely. Turns out that there are steel 'wear sleeves' in the holes in the machine and on one side they were pushed in too far preventing the eye of the ram from disengaging.

Anyway it's now out, sitting on my pump up trolley and waiting for me to take it to Ella - I assume she has well equipped hydraulic benches as this stuck gland business must be fairly common.

Hoping to get it to her on Monday between other duties - more to follow . .
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on June 18, 2023, 06:26:43 PM
I sure miss the like button!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 19, 2023, 06:51:30 AM
Thanks Tom  :thumbup:

So off to Ella's place early doors - a very interesting farm yard with a huge American Army howitzer, multiple Land Rovers of all ages in various stages of rebuilds, much farm machinery, and tucked away in a corner Ella working from a small barn.

Concreted into the yard outside she has a steel framework allowing ram eye pins to be tethered, and from her workshop she brought our a humongous Stillson Wrench that was about as big a she was and probably weighed a bit more  :bugeye:

One swing on the recalcitrant nut and it turned  :thumbup:

Should be ready for collection tomorrow morning - guess where I'll be tomorrow.

I spent the rest of the morning cleaning up the remarkably hard grease from the pins and bushes and clips and also the mounting points for the ram eyes. It really is surprising how hard grease can cake up - I suppose some of it could be 28 years in the cooking.



 
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: modeng200023 on June 20, 2023, 05:35:44 AM
I wonder how long it will be before you have a concreted-in peg  :clap:
John
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 20, 2023, 07:46:20 AM
I've certainly thought about it John !

Ella called me at 08:30 to say that although the ram was finished and ready for collection she was moving cattle so just a slight delay. Anyway I was back home by 11 am complete with resealed ram in the boot.

Now without that EPCO engine hoist, fitting this ram single handed would end it disaster but with it it went pretty smoothly. Once the top pin was inserted things got much easier (and safer!) and it was all back together by 12:00. I had two pin shims left over - they are not illustrated on the parts picture and don't seem to be needed - someone in the past has probably been trying to eliminate slop. If I find that they are needed it's fairly easy to fit them.

A quick test to full travel both way with the bucket in the air to ensure that the rams are bled, and all seems to be OK - time will tell evidenced by absence of  pools of hydraulic oil when I look at it in the morning.

I've still to re-fit the 'return to dig' microswitch assembly - it needs a bit of TLC and a coat of paint but that's for another day.

While I was at Ella's place I had a good 'rubber neck' at the big gun which apparently is called a 'Long Tom' - have some photos.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: tom osselton on June 20, 2023, 05:48:31 PM
 Would make a great Punt gun!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: Pete W. on June 21, 2023, 03:56:24 AM
That gun reminds me very much of a toy I received as a Christmas present when I was about ten years old.

It was a nicely detailed model with facilities to rotate the gun in azimuth and elevate it.  You loaded it with a wooden projectile and put a percussion cap on the breech.  The firing hammer detonated the cap and the resulting gasses passed via a hole into the back of the barrel, expelling the projectile.

I awoke early in Christmas morn and discovered and unpacked this gift.  Of course, I just had to try it out.  My bleary-eyed father came into my bedroom as I was shooting playing cards off the picture rail!  'Do you know it's only two o'clock?' quoth he!
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 21, 2023, 07:23:25 AM
It's certainly quite a beast - acording to Wikapedia it can fire a 45 kg projectile 14 miles  :bugeye:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/155_mm_gun_M1

Today I de-rusted, sand blasted and heavy zinc primered the 'return to dig' attachment that was fitted to the recently re-sealed ram. Essentially as the ram moves, a rod co-axial with a mounting tube operates a heavy duty microswitch that cuts off the rams motion when the bucket is at the correct angle if the operator puts the control lever across into a detent.

Tube and microswitch mount got a coat of red oxide primer, and the rod got sprayed satin black which is how it will stay.

Yellow RAL1007 on the tube & microswitch mount will be applied later this evening with a second coat tomorrow.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 21, 2023, 01:04:52 PM
I gave the return to dig parts a coat of JCB yellow with the rod remaining black.

Next job: pull machine out of barn to where there is room to swing the dipper full left  right to give the slew pots a final tighten with a 10 foot scaffold pole. Only problem, drivers seat which should swivel to let you use the rear controls was totally stuck.

Then followed a couple of hours pulling the seat out, finding that the main central shoulder bolt that holds the seat down was too short, so when the seat is turned it tightened the bolt clamping the seat. Five minutes of lathe work produced a captive spacer and another lengthy period of contortions putting the seat back  :bang:

After that actually doing what I had intended and torquing the eight slew pot bolts was trivial.
Title: Re: It's BIG, Yellow and digs holes! JCB 3CX Project 8 is joining the Tractor Shed
Post by: awemawson on June 29, 2023, 09:49:02 AM
At long last I've been able to re-mount the 'Shovel Reset' or as it's sometimes called 'Return to Dig' assembly on the shovel ram.

This is a simple but very cunning mechanism that once you have tipped a load from the front bucket, automatically returns the shovel to a horizontal position ready to scoop the next load. The left hand (shovel) control spool has a magnetic detent that holds the spool in the 'I'm coming back up' ie far left, until a microswitch on the mechanism mounted on the hydraulic ram trips dropping the detent and allowing the spool and lever return to the neutral position.

In my case the microswitch wasn't playing fair - always open circuit. Now they come as a plug, cable form (moulded into the microswitch) and Honeywell microswitch with a roller ended lever operating arm and are hugely expensive. Opening the microswitch failed to allow me to resurrect it  and the only 'none JCB Spare' equivalent micro switches were equally stupidly expensive (actually slightly more!)

So I ordered up a genuine spare but when it arrived it was faulty  :bang: Replacement arrived overnight and worked fine so that is what I fitted this morning. A bit of nifty lacing of the cable form to avoid it being sliced as the rams move and not only is it fitted - it works  :clap:

The mechanism is clamped by jubilee clips round the hydraulic ram and unfortunately I rather scratched up my new paint but it'll touch up when next I have an open paint pot.

The idea is to set the 'detect' position to 'shovel level' so a few iterations with a spirit level got it to an acceptable setting.

Before the switch had arrived I'd tested the circuit to make sure that the wiring was OK and that the magnetic detent solenoid worked (paperclip replacing switch!) In these tests the coil was drawing 1.1 amps which seemed reasonable but the control wasn't being retained fully left. Now the engine was not running so no hydraulic pressure but I'd have expected the shovel spool to be clamped. Now it's back together it works so I can only assume that it uses hydraulic pilot pressure somehow.

 . . but hey . . .it works !