Oils and greases: engine, transmission, hydraulic

Categories

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JCB JS200–JS260 Monitor Messages: What They Mean and What to Check

On JCB JS200, JS210, JS220, JS240 and JS260 tracked excavators with the AMS control system, the monitor in the cab shows the working mode, the time, gauges for oil temperature, coolant temperature and fuel level, and warnings in the message line. Each message first of all points to a real problem: low fuel or coolant, a blocked filter, overheating. But if a message stays on after the cause has been put right, the sensor, wiring or controller is at fault. Below is what each message means and what to check, based on Section C of JCB service manual 9803/6400.

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JCB JS200–JS260 Track Tension: How to Check the Sag and Adjust the Tracks

Track tension on the JCB JS200, JS210, JS220, JS240 and JS260 tracked excavators should be checked every shift. With the track raised off the ground, the gap between the underside of the track frame and the top of the track shoe at the fourth bottom roller from the front should be 275–295 mm on hard ground and 320–340 mm on soft sand and sticky clay. Tension is adjusted with grease through the valve on the track adjuster cylinder. The procedure below follows Section 3 of JCB service manual 9803/6400.

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JCB 3CX and 4CX Dipper Ram Creep: Causes, Ram Creep Tests and Repair

If the dipper of a JCB 3CX or 4CX backhoe loader drops on its own under load, there are three possible causes: a leaking piston seal in the ram, spool leakage in the excavator valve section, or a leaking auxiliary relief valve (ARV) in that section. The JCB service manual gives a test procedure that identifies the culprit before the ram is removed and stripped. Below are the test sequence, the permitted creep and the repair rules from Section E of service manual 9803/3290.

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JCB 3CX and 4CX Hydraulic Oil: HP32 or HP46, System Capacity and Changing the Oil

For the hydraulic system of JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders, the JCB service manual recommends ISO VG32 oil — JCB Hydraulic Fluid HP32 — at air temperatures below +38 °C. The more viscous ISO VG46, JCB High Performance Hydraulic Oil, is for air temperatures above +38 °C only. Machines with Advanced EasyControl joysticks need a separate all-season HV class oil, JCB Multigrade Anti Shear. The hydraulic system holds approximately 130 litres. The oil is changed every 2000 hours and the filter at every 500-hour service.

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JCB 3CX and 4CX Antifreeze: Which Coolant to Use, How Much and How to Change It

On JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders with the JCB Dieselmax engine, the coolant is renewed every two years, at the 2000-hour service. The cooling system holds 18.5 litres. The JCB service manual calls for an ethylene glycol antifreeze to ASTM D6210 with corrosion inhibitors and rules out organic acid technology (OAT) products. The standard mix is 50%, which gives protection down to −40 °C. Below we cover choosing, checking and changing the antifreeze as described in Section 3 of JCB service manual 9803/3290.

Oils, greases and service chemicals for construction machinery: engine oils, transmission and axle oils, hydraulic oils, greases (including JCB Special HP and hammer grease), antifreeze, sealants and thread lockers, brake cleaners, rust converters and grease nipples. Besides genuine JCB oils and Fuchs oils, the category offers aftermarket products; packs range from 1 litre to 1000 litre IBC containers.

Choosing the right oil

Oil is chosen by the specification in the service book: for engine oil the viscosity (for example 15W40, 10W30, 5W40) and API class (for example CI-4) matter, for transmission oil the TO-4 or UTTO standard, for axle oil the GL-5 class and a limited slip additive, and for hydraulic oil the ISO VG grade (32 or 46). Do not mix oil types; filters are replaced together with the oil.

Subcategories: engine oil, transmission oil, hydraulic oil, greases, antifreeze, sealants and accessories. Filters for an oil change are in the filters category, and the parts of the system antifreeze runs through are in cooling system.

Genuine JCB oils are made to the machine maker's own specifications and used in the JCB service programme; for aftermarket oils, check that the standard and viscosity on the label match the service book.

Antifreeze and greases

Antifreeze comes in G11 (green) and G12 (red) types in 5, 10 and 20 litre cans; do not mix the types. Greases are split into EP2 multi-purpose and graphite greases: graphite grease is used for breaker tools, multi-purpose grease for pins and bushes.

By production type, this category holds: original — 35, OEM — 1, aftermarket — 179. Send JF PARTS the product name, pack size and quantity with your price request to speed up part selection.