JCB 540-70 - any good?

[newbfarmer]

Hi,

Have the chance to buy a JCB 540-70 early 2000's. Low hours.

Anything i should be looking out for?

It isn't 'farm special' - not sure what that actually means?

Cheers

 

[Timbo]

Hi,

Have the chance to buy a JCB 540-70 early 2000's. Low hours.

Anything i should be looking out for?

It isn't 'farm special' - not sure what that actually means?

Cheers

If its a construction spec, non turbo, walk on. They're super cheap for a reason

 

[dod1e]

Farm special usually means more power (turbocharged engine) and wider tyres (17.5 vs 15.5), both essential if you are going to be venturing anywhere other then flat concrete really. One of the heavier, longer models as well.

 

[Lakesdigger]

If its a construction spec, non turbo, walk on. They're super cheap for a reason

Depending on whats exepected from it and if it's just to be a yard machine that could also mean a bargain

 

[newbfarmer]

If its a construction spec, non turbo, walk on. They're super cheap for a reason

Depending on whats exepected from it and if it's just to be a yard machine that could also mean a bargain

You mean you wouldn’t buy one (non turbo) as grain handling, fert handling, general loading machine?

 

[Lakesdigger]

You mean you wouldn’t buy one (non turbo) as grain handling, fert handling, general loading machine?

No quite the opposite they are perfect for that and tbh if you're on a budget arguably better value. But if you want to be up and down the road in and out of fields forget it (although imho that's decent loader tractor work anyways).
Ag spec machines generally have bigger hp engine and better hyd flow so even in a yard can make them more productive but for many yard machines the simple bottom spec machine driven properly will do as well as any.
Depending on boom type on that machine ag could have better tip/crowd angle than a cons spec too.

 

[Timbo]

You mean you wouldn’t buy one (non turbo) as grain handling, fert handling, general loading machine?

If any grain handling involved, definitely not, hyds will be deathly slow, have no pushing power and poor crowd / headstock angles.

 

[Sparkplug]

Slow and simple might be just what you want - what's it been doing all its life?
Or buy a 540-70 Farm Special that's 20 years old and had seven bell's knocked out of it with a number of different owners - it will be well and truly worn out!

 

[TomB]

If any grain handling involved, definitely not, hyds will be deathly slow, have no pushing power and poor crowd / headstock angles.

Have a 530-70 construction spec here, only 75hp, it’s now semi retired but will still load a lorry in 20 minutes. A very simple machine and has done us well. Headstock angles the same as farm special on ours at least.

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Boom geometry/headstock angles on construction and ag models are identical.

 

[alomy75]

Have a 530-70 construction spec here, only 75hp, it’s now semi retired but will still load a lorry in 20 minutes. A very simple machine and has done us well. Headstock angles the same as farm special on ours at least.

Same here; 530-70 here identical to ag spec apart from the engine. Even has air con. Excellent value teleporter for arable work; loading lorries loading drills etc. only time I’ve ever noticed lack of power is if you’re lifting and crowding and accelerating on a cold day soon after start up.