One Machine, One Mission: Resurrecting Our 1988 JCB 3CX Grey Cab

[@mathias199611]

Love your videos. I have gray cab 1989 3cx in denmark, 17300hours on her💪🏼 keep it up!👌

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Wow .. over 17000 hrs, have you had to do much maintainance work over the years ?

[@hartleyhore9040]

I’ve been looking forward to these vids on the new engine replacement, I think you will be pleased with the results, it’s one of those jobs that’s really satisfying when done and working right , reckon you are doing a great job . Hopefully your good lady wasn’t too annoyed for long , great clip. Think you may have to take her out to make up ! “ JCB factory “ 👍😁

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

haha .. Yeah - Ill think of something. That 4L Perkins in that Project 7 3CX is a tight fit and could have been designed better by JCB im sure of it, or maybe they thought that the engine would never come out once it was fitted? So after removing the turbo and intake horn, lower the engine into place rear first-I think I will remember this should I find myself in this position again .. haha 😄😄 A JCB factory tour would be great for her, we were in the Caterpillar visiter center in Peoria a few weeks ago, I think she enjoyed that 😊👌

[@Olliegunns]

Brilliant Paul. Glad you managed to find a company who can still take on a job like this, these old engine specialists are getting few and far between nowadays. Love the upgrade in power idea too - not too much, but enough to help no doubt. Cant wait to see the old girl running again and you back behind the wheel for some more videos.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

I would have liked to have rebuilt this engine myself, but I was just too busy at the time and needed this engine and machine back to work asap. I had to cross hire equipment in to carry out jobs - which is not always ideal! 😊

[@diogomatos4097]

Well done. Almost there to see the old girl working again. That engine got a really nice rebuild.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks .. still fine tuning the engine, its good, but im not happy yet! 👌👍

[@ralphfell2119]

Great video. may I suggest that you oil the turbo before starting the engine as even the short time before oil is delivered can cause damage to the turbo, I believe that you can do this through the oil delivery pipe.

[@edclohosey490]

I hope you get many more years of service from in now. Its a lovely example of a grey cab. Well worth the investment in the rebuild. You know what you have now rather than buying an unknown second hand machine which often come with plenty of their own problems.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thank you very much! I would like to think that this 3CX will get better with each year, until I really cant improve it any further. The cab is becoming higher on the list - Cab full referb is coming .. 👌👍

[@njkip]

Great to see things moving forward....

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks, Im happy things are moving in the right direction too 👌👍

[@R.Sole88109]

Paul, Claire, I love your antics working together but Claire's no doubt logged the misdemeanour for the next "talk". 😜😄 For wire protection/organisation I've had good luck using self amalgamating rubber tape. It saves getting scratches from cut zipties. Have a good'un.👍🏻

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Iv had a look at the self amalgamating tape, I will try it!! Thanks for the advice 👍

[@bennybucknall341]

What an excellent surprise paul to see the engine return completely rebuilt. Hopefully, the power upgrade will make a noticeable difference to the performance of the machine. I'm definitely looking forward to watching the next instalment on hearing the mighty perkins running again. Keep up the excellent work, pal 😊👍

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks Benny, still fine tuning. A lot of reading and looking at what other people have done with this engine in different vehicles all over the world 👌

[@D0csavage1]

Amazing. Looking forward to seeing the shovel powering into Whinstone or rubble with that extra power with this 21st century upgrade. Look into ZX1 Extralube, excellent stuff that is. It bonds to the surfaces of the engine like the bores & bearings saving wear and tear on the engine, turbo etc.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks, I will look into that. Still working on the fine tuning so no final results in yet 😊

[@kevindb8804]

Hope it still has that bark to it! So much better than modern crap.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

I hope so too. Yeah - I agree with you about the modern crap, classic all the way 💪👌👍

[@dantheman7370]

I’m looking forward to see the old girl in action with her new heart

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

👍👍

[@dantheman7370]

@ it’s maybe just me but I’m noticing that the newer machines are a bit cheaper quality compared to the older stuff

[@JohnCollender]

Fantastic video.from jp South Ireland.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks John .. 👌👍

[@nickhill3362]

👍vid I wish my black cab had that phaser engine in it can't wait to hear your thoughts on the extra HP although my Perkins 4236 is underpowered it is great on fuel and has been very reliable Paul

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

The Phaser is a great engine, used in many different vehicles all over the world too. Basiclly .... the turbo engine has oil sprayed up into the inside of the pistons to help with cooling, but for the extra power, its basiclly a different injector pump, different turbo and injectors. An intercooler would help too, air to water would be the best type for space saving and effect. I will show the end result .. when Iv worked out what works best 💪👌👍

[@darrenfarrell-bn2cb]

Itl be some engine but it serves you well thank god

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

I hope so, just need to get it out working so I earn the money back .. 😊

[@johnlydon533]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@Isitthepinkorthebrown]

I hope you torqued the bell housing bolts up etc etc

[@R.Sole88109]

Aye, gotta keep yer nuts tight.😂

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Ha.. yes all nuts and bolts were checked and rechecked. Dont want the thing fallin in bits going down the road ... 😆

[@Josefrcoti]

The perkins engine is the best.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Perkins are a great long lasting hard working engine. If the valve hadn't had fail when it did, this engine would have gone on much longer 💪👌

[@darrenfarrell-bn2cb]

Personally I rebuilt My own

[@kevinhopkins8355]

Nice job .. who did your rebuild ..

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks Kevin .. I sent it to Timik in Southampton, the service was a little disappointing and they didnt do what I asked them to do. The engine is now being worked on and fine tuning by myself. Its not bad, but can be better 👌

[@darrenfarrell-bn2cb]

I built mine , that’s expensive the way you got yours done.

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

I wanted to build it myself too, but I was too busy at the time and needed the engine back in the machine as I was cross hiring equipment in for jobs at great expence. It was cheaper for me to send it out, but I really wanted to do it, video it, and make one great high hp Perkins, built by me! Im still working on the fine tuning, which I will go through when Im done 👌💪👍

[@hiscifi2986]

I don't see the need for more power, or even a turbo, on a 3CX. The hydraulic pump is fast enough, even at 1200 rpm. Any faster and you will be slinging a full ditching bucket much too fast. Nice to know what caused the smoke problems in the first place. Do any of your pivot points require line boring, I think you have the old type slew hydraulics..

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Some people are happy with low power and without the turbo charged engine, but for many people, driving a backhoe on the road, up steep hills, or dozing on site, having that extra power makes all the difference. Depends what you do with the machine I guess, but when all newer machines are turbo charged, the slower, under powered machine has no work. Working the hydraulics only, rpm will be around 1100-1600 - depends on the work load. Iv had the slew replaced, pot seals, king post rack and gear. As for the rest of the pivots, new pins and bushes was all it needed. Regular greasing to keep wear as low as possible 👍

[@hiscifi2986]

@@PSExcavationsLLC I look forward to seeing how you reduces the play in the steering track rod ends, on you high speed 3cx..!

[@brianduffy8768]

Mission, but you are so close

[@PSExcavationsLLC]

Thanks Brian 👍