Written by John Swire
A tracked version of the innovative Teleskid has been introduced by JCB to handle loading and re-handling tasks in farming and forestry where conditions underfoot are delicate or especially demanding.
The Teleskid 3TS-8T is unique among compact tracked loaders in having a telescopic boom that adds to the machine’s capabilities and performance envelope.
It has all the benefits of the highly manoeuvrable large platform compact tracked loader on which it is based but also the advantages that come with a telescopic boom – such as being able to load into higher-sided bulk trailers and spreaders, to stack and retrieve bales and vegetable boxes from a greater height, and to handle and push loose materials into deeper stockpiles.
JCB’s chief innovation and growth officer Tim Burnhope said: “This is the single most innovative development of the compact tracked loader since its launch 20 years ago. The machine lifts higher, reaches further and digs deeper than any tracked loader of this size.”
The concept of a skid-steering compact loader equipped with an extending boom is already proven on the wheeled Teleskid 3TS-8W, which has similar performance figures in terms of lift height and forward reach.
However, the tracked machine manages to lift more within safe limits by dint of its greater weight – 5.7 tonnes for the 3TS-8T versus 4.4 tonnes.
Rated operating capacity (35% of the tipping load) for the JCB Teleskid 3TS-8T is 732kg when the purpose-engineered monoboom is at full extension, and maximum load-over height increases from 2.9m to 3.8m, with forward reach at ground level increasing from 1.1m to 2.25m.
Between those two extremes there is sufficient forward reach to load and offload pallets, potato boxes, fertiliser bulk bags and bales from one side of a standard truck or farm trailer.
Operators can switch between fixed and self-levelling bucket control using a button on the in-cab control panel. With self-levelling engaged, the attachment will remain at the chosen angle throughout the lift – which helps retain loose materials in a bucket, for example – and also as the boom is lowered, so a bucket can be positioned ready to dig into a stockpile again.
The tracked loader’s boom is equipped with JCB Smoothride System suspension to also help retain loose materials – and provide a more comfortable ride – when travelling over a rough surface. In addition, Teleskid operators can manipulate the boom to replicate the characteristics of a loader with vertical lift geometry.
A seven-way multi-function joystick provides precise electro-hydraulic control over the boom and attachments, with three software settings for the controls and transmission enabling the machine to respond to inputs according to the operator’s preference and the working situation.
As with the wheeled model, the purpose-engineered monoboom gives the machine uniquely safe and efficient cab entry via a side door.
The new telescopic tracked handler is powered by a 4.4-litre JCB EcoMAX engine developing 74hp (55kW) and has a hydraulics system generating 90-litres/min of oil flow as standard or 125-litres/min with the optional high-flow system.
Hydrostatic drive provides precisely controlled ground speeds up to 12.6km/hr, running on 450mm wide rubber belts fitted to the rigidly-mounted track frames for a combination of traction and flotation over soft surfaces.
Like its wheeled counterpart, the new JCB Teleskid 3TS-8T is available through JCB Agriculture dealerships with 0.43cu m or 0.36cu m shovels and other attachments from the extensive JCB AGRI range.
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