Preview of New and Upgraded Models 2005

JCB Inc. chose its headquarters in Rocester, England, as the venue to preview the latest equipment models debuting at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005.

Although some of what we saw will not be officially unveiled until the show, the company was willing to let us share the highlights about some of its latest innovations.

ZTS with a full-size cab

According to JCB, the JZ140 is the first 14-ton zero tailswing excavator to feature a full-sized, high-specification cab. The cab incorporates a deluxe suspension seat and engine management monitor that are fully adjustable.

Further improvements include reduced in-cab noise, a built-in mobile phone holder and charger, responsive heater and air conditioning system and even a cup holder.

Powered by a 98-hp engine, the JZ140 has a drawbar pull of 29,225 lbs. and a maximum travel speed of 3.3 mph. The latest AMS management system offers four selectable working modes. The AMS links the operator control movements with the engine and hydraulic systems, maximizing productivity while lowering operating costs and fuel consumption. The system also records operating history; this information can be downloaded to a laptop for facilitating service and monitoring machine operation.

The 56-in. rear tailswing and 81-in. front radius enable the JZ140 to work in tight areas not suitable for a conventional profile machine. The ZTS design also provides greater visibility over the rear, and enables use within a single lane of a road or highway or against a wall.

Curved side skirts and a high clearance over the tracks help to reduce the risk of damage to the superstructure, while guards shield the undercarriage hydraulics from debris. Cushion control on the boom and dipper services reduce wear on machine parts and provide a smoother ride.

A step-down service area provides comfortable access to the engine. Service access doors around the machine facilitate ground-level access to service points and remote test points. Additional features include a 500-hour first engine oil and filter service interval, 1,000-hour greasing intervals on boom-base and boom-to-dipper pins and a Plexus oil filtration system.

Upgrades to a proven design

Just prior to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2002, JCB launched a completely restyled and redesigned family of backhoe-loaders. For 2005, it introduces a series of further improvements initially available for European models, with availability in the United States and Canada later this year.

When it introduced its Precision Control system in 2003, JCB offered a seat-mounted hydraulic pilot control system that enabled the operator to utilize the controls in whatever direction he or she was facing. It now introduces an upgraded version.

This new Precision Control system retains the seat-mounted levers, but the left- and right-hand pods will be mounted in a more comfortable operating position for a smooth transition from loader to backhoe operation. Activation of the controls when changing from loader to backhoe is also simplified. The button to activate the backhoe controls is on the right-hand lever, and a light illuminates to confirm the pods are active. Backhoe controls are not deactivated until the seat is rotated past the central cab post. When facing forward, you can operate the excavator by depressing a button on the front face of the right-hand lever.

A proportional roller, also positioned on the right-hand lever, allows precise control of the Extradig function. The left-hand lever now features a switch that governs the use of a hydraulic breaker or other auxiliary attachment.

Loader controls consist of a single lever with a proportional roller to operate auxiliary attachments. This provides a more accurate, responsive loader when operating a 6-in-1 bucket or other auxiliary attachments.

An increase in hydraulic pressure delivers 10% extra lifting capacity and breakout force to both the loader and backhoe. This allows for faster digging cycles over the previous design.