JCB is showcasing its latest compact wheeled loader – JCB 403 Agri – at LAMMA 2017 today.
The 403 Agri is aimed at dairy farms, pig and poultry units, plant nurseries and equestrian centres.
With a load capacity rated at 0.3 cu m using a standard bucket, the machine is less than 2.2m tall and only 1.1m wide on narrow tyres, even when fitted with its new cab, which is available for the first time on a JCB wheeled loader of this size.
This cab is fully glazed and, according to JCB, provides ample working space for operators and easy access thanks to “substantial” steps. Machines operated mainly indoors can have, as an alternative, an open canopy platform with ROPS/FOPS protection.
In both cases, the machine is equipped with a “modern” colour instrument display, while a tilting steering column is also standard.
Standard loader arms on the 403 Agri provide a load-over height of 2.6m (8ft 6in). For stacking and loading into high-sided bins or trailers, the extended arms option provides 2.8m (9ft 2in) of lift height.
The 403 Agri is powered by a 35.5hp Kubota engine.
A 40.5-l/min gear pump provides the hydraulic grunt. An adjustable, constant flow of oil is available for powered attachments such as bucket feeders and animal bedding dispensers.
There is a 2-speed hydrostatic transmission between the 35.5hp Kubota diesel engine and the drive axles, with 92Nm of torque available in ‘low’ for digging into materials, while ‘high’ provides a top speed of 20km/h – or 30km/h as an option.
For improved traction in sticky conditions, manually-engaged diff locks front and rear can be added to the standard equipment, which includes parallel lift, hydraulic locking pins, joystick control of the hydraulics and transmission, and a brake pedal inching switch that helps to reduce unnecessary wear and tear on the brakes.
The JCB 403 Agri’s articulation joint also allows some oscillation of the front and rear chassis sections, when tackling rough or undulating ground.
