JCB 530/70 vs 531/70 - Decisions Decisions!!!

[Durrus]

Hi all,

I apologise in advance as I know this is another telehandler thread ( I have read most of them!!) which has nearly been done to death, but please bear with me!!!!

Finally in a position to upgrade from the trusty but limited 3cx (which will be kept for Emergencies!!) to one of the above.
Machine not required for roadwork or to tow, so 30K box fine and no PUH. Manual gearbox would also be fine but they seem harder to come by...

What I'm really hoping you can help me decide is am I better to dig out a late clean 530/70 on a Perkins engine with Turbo or go a little newer onto an early 531/70 with JCB engine before they start getting too ' fandangled '

Coming from a 3cx and with only basic yardwork a construction spec machine with turbo would probably be fine but seem to be now harder to source than the agri spec's. Powershift transmission also seems much more available but having never owned one, should I be wary and hold out for a manual??
Budget approx. £25k if the right machine appeared.....

All replies, advice and divine wisdom appreciated!!!!

TIA

Jim

 

[Timbo]

Very late 530/70 off a horse yard, if you can find one but you may need to stretch your budget.

Build Quality and complexity falls away afterwards. That said I have a 14 plate pre-ad blu 531/70 which has been pretty good in 5000hrs - I am told the ad blu engines are constant trouble and the 6 speed box abit chocolate - mines good so far but we change the trans oil & filter every 500hrs, and she never goes on a clamp.

 

[Ray]

Have both here and wouldn't think there's much wrong with either tbh. JCB engine (non adblue) been fine as is the Perkins. Never had any gearbox trouble but I do believe the 4 speed PS to be a more reliable unit than the 6 speed transmissions from what I hear. If your looking for a constriction spec machine it be a 4 speed anyway and they're much cheaper than agri machines. There's always plenty to choose from at Euroauctions.

 

[Spud]

I echo Rays comments.
Older 530 very reliable but slow hydraulics (black mudguards, 02&older iirc)
Mechanic told me to avoid 06-15reg machines.
4/5 speed power shift gearboxes or manual all way better than the 6 speed auto abomination.

 

[Goweresque]

I thought the construction spec 530/70 didn't have a turbo? Mine definitely doesn't. Still plenty powerful enough for me though.

 

[Fraserb]

Weve had 530 and 531's the first jcb engined ones were no bother, newer ad blu ones give sensor issues and one has needed a new pump and nozzle, most have been 4 speed powershits and gave no bother, currently have 2 with the 6 speed, ones on 5000 hrs and other 4000 I think and so far been no bother.

 

[nick...]

Got an 05 reg 531/70.it has a jcb engine with mechanical pump and obviously no add blue.apart fro modern diesel eating o rings in fuel pipes it’s been faultless
nick...

 

[ih1455xl]

Got a 07 531/70 ag super been very reliable brought is in 05 with 3500hrs now at 8500hrs had 1 set of tyres and 2hyd hoses might change it if I find a nice one with low hours

 

[Lakesdigger]

I thought the construction spec 530/70 didn't have a turbo? Mine definitely doesn't. Still plenty powerful enough for me though.

If its only gonna be yard based construction spec non turbo be fine I would think. A lot simpler machine with less to go wrong as a rule.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Not a fan of mechanical joystick on 530-70., A bit stiff to move, and have to move it a long way. Electric joystick on 531-70 is much nicer to use.

Hydraulics also a nice bit faster on 531.

Either machine will be marvellous compared to the 3cx, so you won't be disappointed.

Tried a construction spec 530 once and it was noisy, gutless and poor gear ratios.

Had to make same decision as you, and went for a 536-60 (size suited us better). Just a bit nicer machine. Risked the jcb engine over the Perkins. That said, jcb agent says they have trouble with head gaskets on the perkins.

Worst thing is a bit jumpy on forward/reverse, and auto gearbox on 531/536 is dreadful when it shifts down from 4th to 3rd. And transmission modes are also a bit strange on 531/536 Think it's field mode where if you choose 3rd gear, it will go in the 3rd forward, but then 2nd for reverse which I find silly. Therefore use it in auto mode, which uses 3rd for forwards AND 3rd for reverse, if doing a job such as loading bales.

Obviously a 531/536 will be a higher houred machine for same £££ spend. Paid £22k for 536 with new tyres and just over 7000 hrs on clock. Same condition and hrs on a 530 would have been about £18k+ I would think.

General consensus seems to be that 530 is bomb proof, and 531/536 is pretty good.

We could have managed with a 530 (or a 335-60), but after driving 536 (or a 531) didn't want anything else.

 

[Speedstar]

We ran a 02 plate 530 super with the perkins turbo engine and a 40kph gearbox was a fantastic machine did over 16,000 hours before we sold it and had nothing apart from being serviced , best JCB forklift we have had , had a 531 for a month or two was so much trouble it was taken back and would not have another one ,got a 536 -70 not it is ok but not as good as the 530-70

 

[Will 1594]

Hi all,

I apologise in advance as I know this is another telehandler thread ( I have read most of them!!) which has nearly been done to death, but please bear with me!!!!

Finally in a position to upgrade from the trusty but limited 3cx (which will be kept for Emergencies!!) to one of the above.
Machine not required for roadwork or to tow, so 30K box fine and no PUH. Manual gearbox would also be fine but they seem harder to come by...

What I'm really hoping you can help me decide is am I better to dig out a late clean 530/70 on a Perkins engine with Turbo or go a little newer onto an early 531/70 with JCB engine before they start getting too ' fandangled '

Coming from a 3cx and with only basic yardwork a construction spec machine with turbo would probably be fine but seem to be now harder to source than the agri spec's. Powershift transmission also seems much more available but having never owned one, should I be wary and hold out for a manual??
Budget approx. £25k if the right machine appeared.....

All replies, advice and divine wisdom appreciated!!!!

TIA

Jim

Any good ,and your side of water

 

[Sparkplug]

Hi all,

I apologise in advance as I know this is another telehandler thread ( I have read most of them!!) which has nearly been done to death, but please bear with me!!!!

Finally in a position to upgrade from the trusty but limited 3cx (which will be kept for Emergencies!!) to one of the above.
Machine not required for roadwork or to tow, so 30K box fine and no PUH. Manual gearbox would also be fine but they seem harder to come by...

What I'm really hoping you can help me decide is am I better to dig out a late clean 530/70 on a Perkins engine with Turbo or go a little newer onto an early 531/70 with JCB engine before they start getting too ' fandangled '

Coming from a 3cx and with only basic yardwork a construction spec machine with turbo would probably be fine but seem to be now harder to source than the agri spec's. Powershift transmission also seems much more available but having never owned one, should I be wary and hold out for a manual??
Budget approx. £25k if the right machine appeared.....

All replies, advice and divine wisdom appreciated!!!!

TIA

Jim

CONSTRUCTION SPEC ONLY
Best years for either 530 Perkins or 531 JCB were between 1999 and 2012 - Avoid early 1997/8 Yellow Mud guards models --- from 2010 to 12 there was some extra electrics introduced but the main change was 2013 Tier 4 onwards -(Fluted Bonnet & 74 HP)-
Up To 13 All 531-70 had a Turbo for Exhaust Emissions but still 86 HP, with the option of 100 HP - not that for your work you will notice the difference.
Avoid all machines ex Farms - they started out on big units and by the time they get to 20k they will have had the living daylights thrashed out of them - you want an ex Plant Hire machine from a good home from before 2013 - I have sold hundreds of used ones over the last 20 yrs but now thin on the ground due to buying patterns of Plant Hire Companies and massive Export Market has left very few left. in the UK available for sale and the shortage has increased prices for pre Tier 4 models. Always looking for this model so will PM you if anything arrives.
Ag Spec are a different can of worms and not my domain.

 

[Durrus]

Excellent replies and advice here, thanks to all.
Was there any known issues on the 444 engine when it first appeared in the 531-70? They're well tested now!!
Was the transmission just a continuation of what went before on the 530 regarding the 4 speed powershift version?
Seem to be a few early 531s about and always a little 'cagey' regarding the first of any new model until they ironed out the gremlins!


Thanka again

Jim

 

[Sparkplug]

From inception on construction spec no problems - has been very good - problems on Ag Spec later on with engines blowing up with no reason - even low houred ones - not sure of age range but only since 2013 - rumoured to be crap quality piston rings - the engine from 2013 hates being left ticking over - with failures of exhaust filter very common - I have seen machines with only 500 hrs and engine out for blocked filter on Tier 4 spec.- transmission did not change -

 

[Durrus]

Guys, can anyone tell me if torque lock is only on the 6 speed transmission models? Been given a heads up on a 2008 machine.

TIA

 

[Sparkplug]

Never seen torque lock on 4 speed gear box

 

[nick...]

Only on 6 speed
nick...

 

[Durrus]

Thanks guys.
I've just been sent on some pics and while it says 'Torque lock' on the panel under the engine bay, the forward reverse shuttle only reads 1-4, so I'm pretty confused!!
It has a 130hp common rail engine so is obviously an agri spec....

 

[Lakesdigger]

Torque lock came out on 4 speed powershift 3cx's so it's possible on a handler. I may be wrong but i don't think torque lock is a major re design is it not just a different torque converter?