JCB Kicking Grass Demo tour update

The two JCB loaders that are taking part in the JCB Kicking Grass 2014 loader demonstration tour have almost completed their work with first-cut silage harvesting outfit this week. Irish JCB distributors ECIJCB have arranged for two machines, a JCB 418S and the new JCB 435S, to work with the variety of users in practical contracting situations of first-cut silage.

The machines were worked with more than 50 contractors and farmers. They will continue to be in action in the coming weeks and right up until the grain harvest is completed.

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The loader tour of the country now includes the opportunity to monitor the machine’s performance online through the JCB LiveLink information system. The daily performance and location and the performance of the machines can be tracked through the Irish Farmers Journal website www. farmersjournal.ie/farming/machinery by clicking in to the JCB Kicking Grass Tour icon on the machinery section.

JCB has joined with the Irish Farmers Journal in allowing loader fans to see how well the machines are performing in living up to their fuel economy and hard work ethic.

The download sheets, which are available on the Irish Farmers Journal website, show that the JCB 418S has been the busier of the two machines, clocking up almost 50 hours of demonstration time in the last seven days.

The figures from the JCB LiveLink tracking system show that the loader was working for 82% of that time, used 540 litres of diesel and this averaged at 11.1 litres per hour. Over the period of the 159 hours that the system has recorded for the machine, the fuel consumption level averaged at 10 litres/hour.

For the bigger JCB 438S loader, the performance figures are based on a lower number of working hours as this machine started to work later in the season. The LiveLink figures for this loader show that it was working for 74% of its engine running time.

The average fuel consumption level was 13.3 litres per hour

This loader is powered by a Cummins QSB 6.7-litre engine and produces 230hp, with a peak engine torque of 945Nm at only 1,500rpm for impressive loader response.

The engine is Tier4i/Stage 3b emissions compliant using a diesel particulate filter and oxidation catalyst.

It must be borne in mind that some of that working time was spend on travelling between jobs, according to the LiveLink system. This fuel consumption level is average and is still impressive for loaders of this size working in what have been heavy silage crops.