JCB adds Ecomax to backhoe loaders

JCB’s backoes include a hydraulic quickhitch with several features designed for operator safety.JCB’s backoes include a hydraulic quickhitch with several features designed for operator safety.

JCB has added Stage IIIB/Tier 4 Interim Ecomax engines and variable flow hydraulic pumps across the 3CX and 4CX backhoe range, which is expected to boost fuel efficiency by 11 percent.

Improvements to the new 3CX and 4CX backhoes include variable flow hydraulic piston pumps, uprated backhoe slide performance, reduced daily checks, LiveLink connectivity for engine and ECU data analysis.

JCB offers three power ratings for the 3CX and 4CX line-up. The 3CX and 3CX Sitemaster features a 74 horsepower engine with approximately 295 pound-feet of torque, a 5-percent fuel improvement over the previous 85 horsepower engine and a 1-decibel reduction in noise levels. An optional 91 horsepower, approximately 319-pound-foot version of the engine is also available; it provides a 4-percent boost in efficiency, compared to the previous 92 horsepower engine.

The 3CX Contractor and Contractor Pro, as well as the 4CX, feature a 109 horsepower engine with approximately 381 pound-feet of torque. This engine delivers a 2-percent boost in fuel efficiency.

The JCB Ecomax engine uses a combination of 2,000 bar common rail fuel injection, variable geometry turbocharging, in-cylinder design and cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to meet the EU Stage IIIB/US Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.

All models now have a variable flow hydraulic pump which is currently fitted to Advanced Easy Control models as standard, providing 165 liters per minute of flow and reducing fuel consumption by up to 6 percent. Peak flow is up by 32 percent on 74 horsepower machines, by 14 percent on 91 horsepower engines and by 7 percent on the 109 horsepower backhoes.

Features in the new engines include upgraded filters with the fuel sediment filter changed from 30 microns to 10 microns, a new crank case ventilation filter with a service interval of 1,500 hours, engine oil service intervals of 500 hours with no requirement for special engine oils and 250-hour maintenance checks with transmission service intervals maintained at 1,000 hours.

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The upgraded backhoes also feature LiveLink, which reports on fuel consumption, working time, travel and duty work cycle data, emissions data and service and critical warning messages; the service also provides service schedules, tracking and location data.

Other updates include improvements to the Powerslide backhoe side shifting system, such as the addition of a larger hydraulic ram, replacement of the Powerslide chain with a steel wire rope and improvements to the wear pad design.

As a safety feature, JCB has included its hydraulic quickhitch, which is CE marked for use with the 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders. The quickhitch, which is delivered with a comprehensive fitting kit including sensors for the machine’s boom and dipper arm, uses safe-operation features such as an audible buzzer in the cab and a light on the main boom to show the operator when the machine is in a safe position, a sprung design within the quickhitch which cannot be released without actively going through the unlocking procedure and two independent springs for each hook to ensure the attachment isn’t dropped during hydraulic failure.

Optional features include front shovel ram guards, front shovel street pads and removable rear light guards.

For more information, visit jcb.com.