I am going to go back to basics on this post, and give a bit of history on the JCB 3CX, before diving into some thoughts about the buckets for this machine, and I'll explain why further on in this blog post!
Joseph Cyril Bamford began building machines from a garage in Uttoxeter. In 1949 he launched his first machine - the JCB master loader.
By 1953, Bamford had added a hydraulic backhoe to his Major Loader, to create the worlds first backhoe loader.
Fast forward to 1981, and JCB launched the JCB 3CX sitemaster which together with its big brother the 4CX, has become the biggest selling backhoe loader ever.
With its 6-in-1 front bucket, fold-over forks and a telescopic dipper arm to the rear, the machine quickly became the workhorse on every building site in the UK.
Since then JCB have launched various evolutions of this machine, but 1 thing hasn't changed... the bucket fitment, and indeed the buckets supplied with this machine!
So why does it matter that the modern day versions of the JCB 3CX are supplied with the same style of buckets as its 1981 relation?
The number one reason is to do with the hydraulic power and the breakout force, or tearout force of the machine.
Developments in hydraulics in the past 3 decades means that the JCB 3CX models on the market today have considerably more power than when these machines were first launched back at the start of the 80's.
Yet despite these advances, the design, shape and strength of the bucket hasn't been advanced along with the machine.
Secondly, JCB use the same bucket fitment on many of its 5-9 ton excavator range, including on models such as the JCB 805.2, 8055, 8060, 8065, 8080 and 8085 plus on the new models such as 65R-1, 67C-1, 85Z-1, 86C-1, 90Z-1,100C-1 and HYDRADIG.
These machines are another step up again in terms of Hydraulic power, compared to their wheeled cousins.
Another point to make at this stage is that traditionally the 3CX was supplied with a grading bucket that had a fully rounded back profile - there is no flat floor portion to the bucket. This largely had to do with how the bucket curled up into the back arm of the machine for transporting, and whilst the bucket works it is not the most efficient design for use for grading and levelling, especially when fitted on an excavator.
With all these points in mind, Rhinox have worked to develop an all new range of buckets which suit both the JCB 3CX and the JCB mini diggers available on the market today.
This bucket range seeks to solve all of the issues identified above - namely that the bucket strength is increased to match the demands of the modern excavator and the grading bucket design is changed to a more conventional design with a flat floor section to the bucket to allow for more efficient grading and levelling.
The Rhinox range of buckets incorporate some other key features into their buckets as standard which also benefit digger drivers as well:
As always, we believe in developing buckets that work best for our customers, so if you have any questions and even better suggestions on how we could make further improvements to our range of digger buckets we are always glad to hear from you. Just drop us an email to sales@rhinox-group.com and we will be right back.
Thanks for reading.