Second hand JCB Telehandlers.

[Ted]

When looking at second hand JCB telehandlers 536-60, 531-70 and similar, what apart from obvious wear and tear should you be looking for?
Are they known to have many common faults or generally good all round with the usual flaky paint in places?

 

[ridger]

I hear a turbo could set you back 3000 pound

 

[jd6820]

When looking at second hand JCB telehandlers 536-60, 531-70 and similar, what apart from obvious wear and tear should you be looking for?
Are they known to have many common faults or generally good all round with the usual flaky paint in places?

Depends on age, give us a ballpark age range you are looking at. They produced both models for quite a few years and they vary quite a bit in both engine specs and reliability.

 

[Ted]

Depends on age, give us a ballpark age range you are looking at. They produced both models for quite a few years and they vary quite a bit in both engine specs and reliability.

2018- 2019 ranging from 4500 to 6000 hrs.
Varying differences in condition depending on end use and industry.

 

[jd6820]

2018- 2019 ranging from 4500 to 6000 hrs.
Varying differences in condition depending on end use and industry.

Ah so fairly modern, well into Ad-blue territory. Not bad machines and most issues should have been found by that sort of age. Get to 6000 hours and be expecting pins and bushes if not well greased. Look for a well looked after machine, axle oils often get forgotten. Gearbox oils not changed as often as they should be. Just give whatever machine you purchase a good service. The in cab controls should still look fresh at those hours and age. If the rubber is missing off the joystick buttons that may indicate a less careful operator. The screens can give bother and machines that new are most often dealer only laptop jobs. Really good to drive and generally not too bad for reliability. Usual Ad-blue issues, occasional steering sensors and other niggly bits really. Look for high spec agri machine and you'll be suited.

 

[ridger]

I used to work in a recycling plant, wouldn't touch a waste spec one anyway, they have a hard life

 

[Ted]

Ah so fairly modern, well into Ad-blue territory. Not bad machines and most issues should have been found by that sort of age. Get to 6000 hours and be expecting pins and bushes if not well greased. Look for a well looked after machine, axle oils often get forgotten. Gearbox oils not changed as often as they should be. Just give whatever machine you purchase a good service. The in cab controls should still look fresh at those hours and age. If the rubber is missing off the joystick buttons that may indicate a less careful operator. The screens can give bother and machines that new are most often dealer only laptop jobs. Really good to drive and generally not too bad for reliability. Usual Ad-blue issues, occasional steering sensors and other niggly bits really. Look for high spec agri machine and you'll be suited.

Ah so fairly modern, well into Ad-blue territory. Not bad machines and most issues should have been found by that sort of age. Get to 6000 hours and be expecting pins and bushes if not well greased. Look for a well looked after machine, axle oils often get forgotten. Gearbox oils not changed as often as they should be. Just give whatever machine you purchase a good service. The in cab controls should still look fresh at those hours and age. If the rubber is missing off the joystick buttons that may indicate a less careful operator. The screens can give bother and machines that new are most often dealer only laptop jobs. Really good to drive and generally not too bad for reliability. Usual Ad-blue issues, occasional steering sensors and other niggly bits really. Look for high spec agri machine and you'll be suited.

Sound advice.
They seem to command a bit of a premium in the second hand market.
As you point out , previous service and maintenance may be more important than hrs really.

 

[jd6820]

Sound advice.
They seem to command a bit of a premium in the second hand market.
As you point out , previous service and maintenance may be more important than hrs really.

Yeah they are good machines to drive, as a mechanic I've fixed at least one of every brand, so they all break. Choose the machine you like and like you say the service history and general condition should matter more than hours. If the mudguards are hanging off, windows smashed and bonnet scuffed/smashed then its not had a good home and may be a problem machine. I tend to look for machines off an Arable unit, that have done bulk of hours during summer in dry conditions, generally greased and well maintained as not required all day everyday for feeding stock etc...

 

[icanshootwell]

I used to work in a recycling plant, wouldn't touch a waste spec one anyway, they have a hard life

Harder than a dairy farm?

 

[Spencer]

Harder than a dairy farm?

Nothings harder

 

[Scholsey]

Ah so fairly modern, well into Ad-blue territory. Not bad machines and most issues should have been found by that sort of age. Get to 6000 hours and be expecting pins and bushes if not well greased. Look for a well looked after machine, axle oils often get forgotten. Gearbox oils not changed as often as they should be. Just give whatever machine you purchase a good service. The in cab controls should still look fresh at those hours and age. If the rubber is missing off the joystick buttons that may indicate a less careful operator. The screens can give bother and machines that new are most often dealer only laptop jobs. Really good to drive and generally not too bad for reliability. Usual Ad-blue issues, occasional steering sensors and other niggly bits really. Look for high spec agri machine and you'll be suited.

If it’s needs pins and bushes doing at 6000 hours I wouldn’t go near it, got a 2010 536-60 to 10500 hours no problem at all with weekly greasing.

 

[Timbo]

7500hrs on a 2014 531-70 Ag Super 145hp machine.

I am about to have the EGR cooler etc off the engine to clean it- they block over time and symptoms are a derate that comes and goes. Mine is almost as tight as when new - its greased weekly.

Issues:

Boom pipes burst- check nothing has bent/damaged the swan necks under the front of the boom which causes the internal rubber ones to rub against the inner boom - i.e putting something on the chassis then lowering the boom onto it.
Speed sensors on trans - you;ll loose the speedo and 6th gear (if 6 speeder)
Rear boom pin - must be greased regularly through the little door.
Engine water pump- there is no gasket and they will often be weeping un-noticed - check coolant level frequently.
6 speed box must have oil changed frequently- i.e. every engine oil change- they are known to wear the castings internally - gears disappear when hot- no issues with mine as yet.
Cab a.c is just terrible- just about adequate when you've been right through it and new filters. There is an in cab filter no one seems to know about.

Basically you want to try properly before you buy, and know what you are looking at. Rear axles don't like excessive weight on the puh

 

[ridger]

Harder than a dairy farm?

Yes, full revs all the time, air filter blocks, just take it out and throw it away, solid wheels, never seen abuse like it

 

[icanshootwell]

Yes, full revs all the time, air filter blocks, just take it out and throw it away, solid wheels, never seen abuse like it

The best I ever saw was a manitou with net wrapped under the prop shaft, guessing on how thick it looked I would say it had happened lots of times.

 

[Woody j]

7500hrs on a 2014 531-70 Ag Super 145hp machine.

I am about to have the EGR cooler etc off the engine to clean it- they block over time and symptoms are a derate that comes and goes. Mine is almost as tight as when new - its greased weekly.

Issues:

Boom pipes burst- check nothing has bent/damaged the swan necks under the front of the boom which causes the internal rubber ones to rub against the inner boom - i.e putting something on the chassis then lowering the boom onto it.
Speed sensors on trans - you;ll loose the speedo and 6th gear (if 6 speeder)
Rear boom pin - must be greased regularly through the little door.
Engine water pump- there is no gasket and they will often be weeping un-noticed - check coolant level frequently.
6 speed box must have oil changed frequently- i.e. every engine oil change- they are known to wear the castings internally - gears disappear when hot- no issues with mine as yet.
Cab a.c is just terrible- just about adequate when you've been right through it and new filters. There is an in cab filter no one seems to know about.

Basically you want to try properly before you buy, and know what you are looking at. Rear axles don't like excessive weight on the puh

Where is the in cab filter please ?

 

[Hilly]

I had to go back to the 70s to find a seconhand loader worth buying , been loading muck all day great machine

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Where is the in cab filter please ?

Out side the cab front side corner under the boom

 

[Timbo]

Where is the in cab filter please ?

By your right knee behind the panel

 

[aidan]

7500hrs on a 2014 531-70 Ag Super 145hp machine.

I am about to have the EGR cooler etc off the engine to clean it- they block over time and symptoms are a derate that comes and goes. Mine is almost as tight as when new - its greased weekly.

Issues:

Boom pipes burst- check nothing has bent/damaged the swan necks under the front of the boom which causes the internal rubber ones to rub against the inner boom - i.e putting something on the chassis then lowering the boom onto it.
Speed sensors on trans - you;ll loose the speedo and 6th gear (if 6 speeder)
Rear boom pin - must be greased regularly through the little door.
Engine water pump- there is no gasket and they will often be weeping un-noticed - check coolant level frequently.
6 speed box must have oil changed frequently- i.e. every engine oil change- they are known to wear the castings internally - gears disappear when hot- no issues with mine as yet.
Cab a.c is just terrible- just about adequate when you've been right through it and new filters. There is an in cab filter no one seems to know about.

Basically you want to try properly before you buy, and know what you are looking at. Rear axles don't like excessive weight on the puh

6 speed box issues, is that a new box job when that happens.

 

[Timbo]

6 speed box issues, is that a new box job when that happens?

Basically yes, since a new box is close to the cost of one rebuilt but with unknown lifespan.
It is possible to machine and sleeve the worn piston bores, but its a massive job, complete strip down of everything out of the case.