On first glance a JCB skid steer loader looks like any other, but it soon becomes apparent there are major differences between that brand’s design and the configuration that has become standard in the industry. Most notably, JCB uses only a single loader boom on the right side of the chassis. That allows the cab to be offset to the left and offer a side entry. There is no need to climb over the bucket to get into this machine.
The side-mounted cab provides a wider, 270° field of vision for the operator with the boom arm lowered, which the company claims is 60 per cent more than the industry standard 165°.
The brand offers two chassis sizes, the five large-frame models use JCB’s own 74 horsepower EcoMAX diesel engines, while the five smaller models use a 48, 56 or 62 horsepower diesel engine built by Kohler. All those engines can be mated to a one- or two-speed transmission (except on the smallest model which gets just the single-speed). The two-speed transmission offers a much higher road speed, up to 21.7 km/hr. on the largest model.
In addition to the main hydrostatic drive pump, there is a dedicated loader and attachments hydraulic supply pump. It’s available with a “high flow” option that pushes flow rates to 51.4 gallons per minute on the small-platform models and 64.2 on their bigger brothers.
