Written By Larry Gay
In October 1945, J. C. Bamford rented a garage in England, purchased a welder, and made an all-steel farm trailer from war surplus parts. Soon he added hydraulics to tip the trailer’s box. Next Bamford expanded into front loaders designed to fit on the Fordson E27 Major tractor. By 1950, he moved from the garage into an old cheese factory for more space. A backhoe was added to the line in 1953 and the company eventually became famous for its tractor backhoe loaders, requiring a new factory in 1970. The company produced its first farm tractor in 1991 and it was imported into the United States starting in 1995.
The JCB Fastrac 155 was a 4-wheel-drive tractor with four equal-sized tires, a rigid frame, and front-wheel steering. It was unique because it featured a combination of a suspension system and a top speed of almost 40 mph. The suspension system used coil springs and shock absorbers on the front axle and hydraulic cylinders and accumulators on the rear axle. Pivoting links between the tractor’s frame and the axles limited the movement of the axles to an up and down motion. The tractor was equipped with brakes on all four wheels which were operated by air.
Power for the JCB Fastrac 155 was supplied by a 6-cylinder, 365-cubic-inch Perkins turbocharged diesel engine which produced 155 engine horsepower and 138 PTO horsepower. The transmission combined a 6-speed gearbox with a 3-speed range box and a 2-speed powershift, resulting in 36 forward travel speeds ranging from 0.8 to 39.5 mph. The independent rear PTO was either 540 or 1,000 rpm and the rear 3-point hitch was a Category 3 size. A front 3-point hitch and a front PTO were optional.
The wide safety cab was standard equipment and was positioned mid-way between the front and rear axles. It featured a reduced noise level, a deluxe swiveling seat, a passenger seat, heater, air conditioning, and two truck type of rear view mirrors. Total weight of the tractor was 15,290 pounds and the front hitch and PTO added another 530 pounds.
Today JCB offers a range of agricultural products in the United States including six sizes of Fastrac tractors powered by Sisu engines, 4-wheel-drive loaders, telehandlers, skid steer loaders, and compact track loaders. In 2012, the company started building JCB diesel engines.
Larry Gay is the author of four tractor books published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, including Farm Tractors 1975-1995 and Farm Tractors 1995-2005. The four books may be obtained from ASABE by calling 800-695-2723.
