JLG 1350SJP-Making good on a tall order

April 7, 2004- Topping the market with its newest Mega Boom, JLG Industries, McConnellsburg, Pa., has a real winner in the 135-foot 1350SJP. The 1350SJP is unparalleled in its reach capabilities, yet can be transported without the need for special equipment or permits. And, according to one 1350SJP owner, "It is a tribute to the electronic control system that the few problems we do have seem insignificant because it is so easy to trouble-shoot."

For a review of its key features and specifications, go to Part 1 of this story.

Overall, the electronic control system is smart, but not overly sophisticated. Through this system, both operators and technicians receive clear, useful information to more efficiently do their jobs. For example, during my test drive, I had trouble raising the boom. Then I noticed a flashing axle enabled light on the information screen. Not knowing what this meant, I turned to the operator's manual, located in a compartment to the right of the operator's station, for an answer. I was impressed with how well-organized and easy-to-read the manual is and quickly discovered the answer to my problem. The flashing light meant that the outriggers were not in a fully locked position.

On the platform control panel, functions that work in conjunction with the yellow variable speed dial (the one with the tortoise and the hare) are grouped together on the control panel. This design allows the operator a certain amount of metering control over the defined set of functions. My only complaint is that the boom telescoping function is included in this set. On a machine this big and this nice, I think it deserves a larger fully proportional boom extension/retraction controller.

The 1350SPJ offers superb range of motion. This is due in part to the way the Automatic Capacity Control System (ACCS), a JLG-designed microprocessor, manages the work envelope. As you approach the limit of the work envelope, the system visually and audibly warns the operator and automatically slows the unit down to a creep mode. As the platform is raised or lowered, the ACCS extends or retracts the boom as needed in order to keep it within the working envelope. Although this is likely to be a feature operator's will greatly appreciate, it does take some getting used to. Despite the visual and audible warning, the first time I felt the boom automatically telescope, it really got my attention.

Also contributing the unit's wide range of motion is the jib boom, which offers 130 degrees of vertical articulation (+75/-55) and 180 degrees of horizontal movement. This trademarked design, called JibPLUST, is really quite a trick. It allows for increased access and area coverage without repositioning the machine, and it permits the jib to be folded back for shipping. When the platform is stowed, the overall length of the unit is less than 40 feet.

As I mentioned in Part One, JLG has done away with the more traditional master/slave hydraulic cylinder system for leveling the platform in favor of an electronic system. This system should improve operator comfort when negotiating steep inclines. The unit I test drove, however, was out of calibration, causing the platform to sometimes be out of level. This in turn caused the ACCS to kick operation into fail-safe snail mode.

For me, the real medal of a Mega Boom is how it drives when fully extended. It is in that moment when you go from stop to start and back to stop again that determines the true merit of the machine. If all is not perfect, the jolt you get when the brakes turn loose can really leave you white-knuckled. Another common problem is surging or wobbling when employing the drive function. This often occurs if the hydraulic system isn't correctly balanced. All told, the 1350SJP operated as smoothly as I could have hoped for!


Likes

• Electronic control system is smart but not overly sophisticated.
• Service and operation manuals contain complete and complex data in an easy-to-use format.
• JibPLUST feature allows 180 degree jib rotation.
• Controls boast simple, intuitive design.

Dislikes

• Electronic platform leveling system performs poorly if not correctly calibrated.
• Hoods are not able to be locked.
• Boom telescope function controller works as intended, but it could be much improved with the addition of a dedicated joystick.

Verdict

The 1350SJP is unparalleled in its reach capabilities, yet can be transported without the need for special equipment or permits. And, according to one 1350SJP owner, "It is a tribute to the electronic control system that the few problems we do have seem insignificant because it is so easy to trouble-shoot."