‘JCB Diesel by Kohler’ engines will power several JCB compact machines

JCB’s Teletruk 35D forklift will be the first of several compact machines to feature Kohler Direct Injection engines.

JCB and Kohler Global Power Group have entered into a partnership that will result in several JCB compact machine lines being powered by Kohler engines.

The engines, built at Kohler’s Lombardini plant in Italy, will be branded “JCB Diesel by Kohler” and are Kohler’s water-cooled direct injection engines (KDI).

The engines meet Tier 4 Final emissions regulations without the need of  a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and provide an improvement of up to 15 percent on fuel consumption.

According to the Equipment World 2013 Spec Guide, JCB has been using Perkins engines for many of these compact machines for years.  JCB’s Director of Engine Programs Alan Tolley said the decision to move to Kohler “was driven by the synergy in the technologies used by JCB and Kohler to achieve stringent Tier 4 Final emissions legislation.”

A JCB 35D 4×4 Teletruk forklift will be the first machine to feature one of the KDI engines.

The engines will be introduced over time to JCB’s mini excavators; the 406 and 409 compact wheel loaders; 135, 155, 175, 190 and 205 skid-steers; 190T and 205T compact track loaders; TM180 and TM220 articulated wheeled loading shovels and the Teletruk TLT35D forklift.

The engines involved in the partnership include the 1.9-liter, three cylinder KDI 1903M and 1903TCR which deliver 41 horsepower and 93 pound-feet of torque and 56 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, respectively.

The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder KDI 2504M and 2504TCR are also included. They deliver 49 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque and 74 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, respectively.