Jcb 803 Mini Digger 4 Buckets Jcb 803 Micro Excavator

JCB 803 mini digger 1990 something, 803, 360 degree and 180 degree, twin speed tracking, piped for breaker, 5,838 hours on the clock, with four buckets (48” grading, 30”,18” and 12” digging). I have had this for about 5 years to do a barn conversion. Recently lost our dry storage for it where it has been for the last 3, so as I really don’t use it and don’t have space for it, rather than let it get wet in the garden in the way, it’s time for it to go. I guess I only kept it as it is just so handy, and it’s just such a good toy. Engine is very good indeed, starts straight away, no smoke at all and runs very smooth.

1990 Something as I simply don’t know when it was manufactured. Local JCB dealership can only say ‘after 1992’ from the serial number on the front. Not too helpful but they can at least find all the parts. It has metal tracks. If you don’t know the difference, then usually they are made of rubber, a soft black material, these are made of steel a hard shiny or rusty material.

The steel tracks were better for me as they grip better in the mud and we have a lot of flint in the soil here which shreds rubber tracks quite quick. Also they are good for running over hard core to flatten it. Down side is that they make a mess of tarmac in the summer when you turn as they get a little too much grip … and rip it up a little. They also don’t wear out unlike rubber. Had it serviced a little while ago, just general stuff and all pumps were showing, what the fitter described as, ‘remarkably good pressure’.

Not sure the pump block isn’t a lot younger than the machine. All the glass is intact and everything that should work does, with the exception of the windscreen wiper and horn. The seat cover has been shredded as they seem to be made of tissue. I had a waterproof one I used to use but I can’t find it for some reason. It has the wear and tear you would expect for the hours.

The pins and bushes towards the bucket end are worn and could probably do with replacing; the kit is about £50 on classifieds board I think … search for ‘803 bush kit’ and see what comes up. Always intended to do it but never quite got round to it, mainly to stop the bucket rattling some times. Still works fine even with the play in the old bushes. The paintwork is all original and nothing has been re-painted on the main machine with the exception of the hydraulic tank, no idea why this was repainted. Cab has been repainted at some point but has still rusted in paces specifically at the bottom of the cab.

So basically what you see is what it is, nothing has been over painted to hide things or make it look better than it is. That’s about it, it works very well, will work just as it is but new bushes on the bucket wouldn’t go amiss. The white seat cover isn't there to keep the seat clean, it was there as I was wearing a suit when I bought the machine out for it's pictures. The seat is underneath with a worn appearance as most of the JCB seats tend to be. It’s my personal machine so no VAT to be added and no VAT receipt available