JCB Backhoe questions...

Can someone get me started on understanding this thing? It seems like an extremely well built and powerful machine, anxious to get started with it.

Thanks...

And do you guys know if the 1550b was sold in the UK? If so does it have another nomenclature, but is otherwise the same machine?

And as to oils, I noticed that there are two hydraulic reservoirs inside the cab by the defroster ducts. Are these for the brakes and clutch or just brakes? I notice it has two separate brake pedals linked together, can you use differential steering on this unit? And the reservoirs say that "mineral oil" is to be used. Here in the states mineral oil is usually used as "baby oil", although I have seen Shimano mountain bike hydraulic brakes use it too. Is British "mineral oil" the same as our (US) brake fluid, or do I put real mineral oil in them? And we have several types of ATF fluid here in the states, but usually Dextron II and Type F is used. Do you know offhand which type goes in this machine? And what about the power steering, does it have a separate automotive type pump or does it run off the main hydraulic system?

Lastly this machine is missing its exhaust after the turbo outlet. The hood is hinged and swings up for engine access. How is the original exhaust supposed to maintain a seal between the underhood exhaust piping and the upper pipe mounted to the hood? I need to fabricate a redneck equivalent and would like to know how the original was configured so I can stick as close to that design as possible.

Oh and this perkins motor starts easily, has plenty of power and purrs like a kitten. I've always heard they were good engines, so far I'm very impressed with this machine overall. I almost can't believe my good fortune finding it.

Thanks again, hope I'm not bothering you with too many questions, I'm working on getting a manual.

• Exhaust

• Exhaust

Thanks again, you're a tremendous help!

I own a JCB 1400B and have the 1400B manual on cd, I am told the manual will also work for the 1550B.

If you would like a copy please email me at luvmud@yahoo.com

I experimented today a little more with the machine and I can see now that it does have a torque converter. If you have it in low gear at idle and release the clutch, it wants to go forward (or reverse depending on where the shuttle lever is put), but it can be stopped by hitting the brakes. Then if you give it some gas, it will overcome the brakes and start moving. If it only had a clutch (that slips) it wouldn't do that, so it seems clear that it's a torque converter machine. It may also mean the idle is set a bit high and that's why it wants to move at idle.

Otherwise I ran it through all its gears and it pulls strong in all of them, seems to run great. A lot bouncier and much more top heavy than my crawler, but that's to be expected. The whole machine is incredibly heavily built. It almost seems like some kind of armored vehicle. Big slabs of one and even two inch thick plating throughout the hoe frame, heavy forged members and thick welded steel plate frame with integrated hydraulic tank. And the hydraulics seem massively powerful, I was playing around with the hoe and it easily picks the whole machine up and flings it around with just a twitch of the wrist if you don't watch what you're doing. Overall I'm very impressed, it would be interesting to take a look at some of the Ford's, Case and JD's to see how they're put together in comparison. I'm sure they're all comparable, but this thing is a tank, hard to imagine anyone building a sturdier/heavier unit. Although I've heard the old Dynahoes are serious heavy metal too, almost absurdly overbuilt.

Thanks again to everyone for the help, looking forward to getting to know this machine.