JCB 3CX Project 7 Shovel Reset

[Charlie20v]

Hello all, I have owned my 1989 3cx for nearly a year now and this site has been very helpful to me I have usually managed to find my answers without posting but can't seem to find anything on this matter.

I'm talking about the bar that is jubilee clipped to the top of the right hand shovel ram, at first I thought it was a homemade affair but have since noticed the same set up on other 3cx's of the same age. I have had a look on the JCB parts website and found it under Controls, Machine > Installation Shovel Reset...

What is it and what does it do??

[Jeremy Rowland]

Hi Charlie and welcome somebody on here should be able to help you.

Jeremy

[pgplantservices]

Hi Charlie
this allows you to return the bucket/shovel to level/dig position after dumping the bucket.
if you hold the lever to crowd the bucket {front shovel}over it should hold it there until the bucket is level.
a magnet on the spool holds the spool in the crowd position

[Charlie20v]

Thanks pgplantservices

I had a go with it today and never noticed the lever hold before so thanks for clearing that up I also noticed it hold when you push it forward (lower shovel arms) but that stays there until I manually pull it back, Should that release itself too?

[diggerjones]

That's the float position. Quite handy. Means the bucket follows the contours of ground

[Scooby]

Hi Charlie
this allows you to return the bucket/shovel to level/dig position after dumping the bucket.
if you hold the lever to crowd the bucket {front shovel}over it should hold it there until the bucket is level.
a magnet on the spool holds the spool in the crowd position

I know I am probably being very stupid here but I don't understand that. Let's take it step by step please. I have the front bucket up in the air and use the crowd ram to "un-crowd" it. i.e. I tip the bucket. What do I have to do to get the bucket at the correct angle so that it is level with the ground when I lower the bucket down on the ground ?

Surely if you

hold the lever to crowd the bucket {front shovel}over it should hold it there until the bucket is level.

that will just crowd the bucket again ?

I know about the float position on the up and down control and I have the magnet and spool jubilee clipped to the ram.

[essexpete]

I'm glad you asked Scoob as I was interested to know how it worked.

[pgplantservices]

hi scoob
on the o/s loader bucket tilt ram there is a rod and micro switch,when the lever is held over to the return to dig position the magnet on the underside of the spool valve is energised.
as the bucket ram curls back the rod moves back until it switches the micro switch which in turns breaks the circuit to the magnet on the bucket spool
then the spool returns to the neutral position.
the return to dig position is altered/ adjusted by moving the switch on the ram whilst the bucket is in the dig/flat position
hope this helps

[Charlie20v]

How does the float work? Mine just lifts the front wheels of the ground making it impossible to steer

[essexpete]

The float position puts the spool into a detent to hold it there and in that position there is free return of oil from the lift ram in both directions. You have to positively push the lever past the lowering position. Stating the obvious don't use this position when lowering with a full bucket. You may experience the front wheels lifting if you take an aggressive cut with the bucket in hard ground. Effectively the loader is being stopped but the rear drive wheels still turning will make the front lift.