JCB has launched a new ultra-compact wheeled loader which boasts double the power of the current model.
The JCB 403 Plus mirrors the size and layout of the current 25hp 403 Smart Power but draws on a 50hp engine and 60L/min hydraulics to tackle more demanding work, the British machinery giant says.
This means that despite its small size, it “packs a real punch” in tight farmyards, small buildings and other confined locations.
Within an overall width of just 1.10m on narrow tyres, the JCB 403 Plus packs in a 1.7L 50hp (36kW) engine equipped with JCB Autostop to shut down the engine if left idling for a time-adjustable period to avoid using up fuel unnecessarily.
In addition, JCB LiveLink telemetry is installed on the new Plus model to “help keep the machine secure, encourage timely service scheduling and provide remote location, fault early warning alerts and operational records”, the manufacturer says.
An auxiliary circuit to operate attachments such as a muck grab also provides constant flow to drive a hydraulic motor on equipment such as feed buckets; flow can be controlled using a regular lever valve or the optional electric control on the loader’s joystick.
Up front, there are two options for lift arm sizes – the standard version, with a load-over height of 2.6m, and the extended option, which takes load-over height to 2.8m for stacking and loading.
Four different quick hitch couplings with hydraulic pin locking from the driver’s seat cater for new or existing attachments on the farm, the manufacturer says.
When it comes to daily checks and routine servicing, the one-piece hood of the JCB 403 Plus opens rearwards to give access to both sides of the engine bay, where the air filter, battery, fluid reservoirs and electrics are housed.
Together with the engine coolant radiator, these components are all protected by a cast counterweight.
Tyre options include narrow fitments that keep overall width to a minimum but can be flipped to provide a wider stance, and more substantial agricultural pattern sizes for best traction.
