JCB’s first 508-66 Loadall has landed in North America.
The new pick-and-place telehandler can reach up 66 ft. with a 3,000-lb. load when its two front stabilizers are deployed. That’s enough reach to set a load of material or piece of equipment atop a six-story building, according to Stuart Fox, JCB North America’s product manager for telehandlers. “In some cases, it could save having to bring a small crane onto a jobsite for just a few lifts,” he says.
With the stabilizers set, the 508-66 can also raise its 8,500-lb. maximum load to a height of 33 ft., or reach forward 52’6” with a 400-lb. load.
The machine can also handle loads with its stabilizers raised. Lifting just off the tires, it can raise 1,000 lbs. to a height of 32’8”, lift 8,500 lbs. up to 18 ft., or place 400 lbs. at 31’8” of forward reach. It can also travel while carrying up to 8,500 lbs.
All of that reach and capacity come from a compact machine that has a turning radius of 13’6”, weighs 28,627 lbs., and stands just 7’10.5” wide, 22’5” long, and 8’10.5” high.
Beyond reach and capacity, the 508-66 Loadall offers many other features that deliver top performance, reliability, and return on investment.
One of the 508-66 Loadall’s largest productivity features is a JCB control system that puts control of nearly every function at the operator’s fingertips with an all-in-one electronic joystick that operates all boom functions and the hydraulic circuit for attachments.
The joystick even controls forward and reverse travel direction and gear selection.
The stabilizers have their own control, and a steering-mode selector dial on the dash lets the operator switch between two-wheel, four-wheel, and crab steering on the go.
The 508-66 Loadall is powered by a 74-hp. JCB EcoMAX engine and a drive train designed and built by JCB.
Fox says that making the whole system within JCB assures that all the components work seamlessly to provide maximum performance. Even at 74 hp. and engine speeds as low as 1,300 to 1,400 rpm, the engine and drive train deliver 295 lb.-ft. of torque so the 508-66 Loadall performs with ample power and speed while using less fuel. “In tests, operators could not tell the difference in performance between a machine with the 74-hp engine and one with a larger power plant,” says Fox.
The EcoMAX 74-hp engine meets U.S. Tier 4 Final emission standards using only exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). “There is no particulate filter, SCR system, or DEF to maintain,” says Fox. “There isn’t even a passive diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). The emission system is virtually invisible to the user.”
All service and frequent inspection points are easily accessible from ground level to simplify maintenance, and wherever possible, service intervals have been lengthened. “For example,” says Fox, “we recommend changing the fuel filter every 1,000 hours of operation. That’s twice as long as some competitors.”
As a second example of the 508-66’s simpler maintenance, Fox says that the boom sliders need to be lubricated at 500-hour intervals with a dry lubricant, whereas some competitors require that the boom be greased daily.
The boom itself is designed for efficiency and rigidity. Its deep U-shaped bottom with a closing plate across the top uses only two welded joints. The design minimizes stress points and maximizes strength-to-weight ratio. The five-section boom retracts to 22’5” (not counting forks) for tight-quarter maneuvering or shipping, and extends to provide up to 66 ft. of lifting height or 52’6” of forward reach. Regenerative hydraulics make boom lowering and retraction more energy efficient.
The boom top will be equipped with a lifting shackle that enables easy slinging and transporting of loads up to 8,500 lbs. The first evaluation unit does not have the feature, but all subsequent 508-66 units will. Fox says that putting the shackle on the boom top instead of on the carriage assures that the shackle is always available regardless of which carriage or attachment is mounted on the machine.
The boom is mounted low on the machine so the operator can easily see over it for excellent visibility all around when the boom is stowed or raised slightly for travel.
According to Fox, the new 508-66 for North America is based on JCB’s model 540-200, which has been well-proven in Europe for many years. The new American model, however, has been upgraded and modified to meet the needs of North American customers and complies fully with U.S. and Canadian standards.
The first unit to land in North America is now being tested in worksite applications by a major rental fleet, and JCB plans to bring in more evaluation units for field testing by potential customers. Depending on how the evaluations go, JCB North America may begin offering the 508-66 Loadall as a fully available product later this year.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
