Bobcat skidsteer lift/tilt problem?

[saultgirl]

I’ve rented a little skidsteer S185 to move some gravel this weekend. Today is the first day I’ve ever driven one.

While I was just driving around with it to get the feel of the controls, periodically I would hear a beep and then the lift/tilt light would start flashing, and the lift and tilt would stop working completely.

I was able to “unlock” it a few times by doing a quick back up, but this kept happening, and I’m not sure if it’s something I’m doing when I’m operating it that is causing this problem, or if it’s a problem with the machine. It doesn’t seem to be happening consistently during a certain movement.

I will call the rental place in the morning, but if anyone can give me any further information in the meantime, I would appreciate it.

[Bluey]

Any leaks in the hoses, all connected properly?
Check the hydraulic oil level?
An hydraulic oil filter could be getting clogged.

Always start with the easiest to check, then go from that.

We had two Bobcat skid loaders, A700, but don’t remember any time that light coming on?

In these basic specs, looks like there ought to be a book somewhere in there:

http://lewisrentspdx.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YEwnKm3htpU=

There should be somewhere, maybe in a pocket on the back of the seat, a book you can read about that machine.

[saultgirl]

I’ve read the little manual, but it’s a lot to learn all at once. The light should be on during normal operation; it’s when it starts flashing there is a problem.

Is there a mistake I might be making in driving it, that could be causing the problem? I\m trying my best to operate it as smoothly as possible, but I’m still a little “jerky” sometimes.

[sk_pacer]

You could be inadvertently messing with the joystick. Don’t grip it tightly, but hold as loosely as you can and still retain contact.

[ReSomething]

We’ve had rental equipment blow hoses and such, outright break down. They aren’t always used well by the renters nor maintained really well by the yards. If it can’t do the job and you have to keep fussing with it then it might be time to find another.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=sk_pacer;7758694]
You could be inadvertently messing with the joystick. Don’t grip it tightly, but hold as loosely as you can and still retain contact.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this, I’ll make note of that when I go back out this morning.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=ReSomething;7758799]
We’ve had rental equipment blow hoses and such, outright break down. They aren’t always used well by the renters nor maintained really well by the yards. If it can’t do the job and you have to keep fussing with it then it might be time to find another.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I’m going to give it one more shot this morning and see what happens.

[saultgirl]

Ok, well, we solved the problem…

I was out again this morning, driving around pretty smoothly, and I scooped up a little bit of manure and took it to the pile (I didn’t feel ready yet to start moving the gravel around), and after I dumped it, I was just starting to lower the arms and it locked up again.

So. It was locked such that I could not open the door to get out. I could drive, back up, turn, but no lift/tilt.

I called the rental company and they had to send a guy out to “rescue” me. I know there’s a safety exit in the back but I wanted to hang in there – I wasn’t in any immediate danger.

After a few minutes of troubleshooting, he noticed the door wasn’t completely latched all the way. We shut it properly, and everything started working again.

He said there is a safety feature that stops the arms from moving if the door isn’t closed tightly; possibly because the door was mostly closed, the problem was intermittent.

I’m just having a coffee and a break now; once my heart rate goes back down to normal I’ll head out there again.

So: problem with your lift/tilt? Make sure the door is closed all the way!

[sk_pacer]

Glad you got it sorted - never thought of the door switch - the Bobcat I had for a while had no door as it was summer, so the door was removed.

[Bluey]

I was wondering about some of those safety switches, on the door, the arm that has to be all the way down and you have to have weight on the seat to even turn the ignition on.

But, being intermittent was not the way those switches act up, normally.

I had one such happen once.
I was clearing roads after a blizzard with the new to us bulldozer.
The snow was so high the county grader kept getting stuck and they asked us to help with the bulldozer, that went anywhere.

Well, every so often the dozer would make this sick gargling noise for a few seconds, then quit again for a bit.

I could not find what it was, no light was warning, so called the shop.
They asked the mechanics and one came up with checking the horn button.
Uhu? Who ever heard of a horn button on a bulldozer?
Who would ever drive a bigger bulldozer with steel tracks on highways?

Anyway, there was one in that model, on the side below the armrest and every time I moved my leg, my jacket pocket full of horse treats pressed just a bit on it, enough to barely set it off for a few seconds.

I sure felt sheepish after that one.
I am sure the mechanics in the shop are still laughing at that.

Glad to know you found the thing was not trying to blow up with you.

[saultgirl]

Ok, we’re on lunch break right now – WOW that is a handy little machine. Got the 5 yards of gravel moved around, the gravel and sand in the shelter, and hubby spent some time leveling out an area where we have a big hump and then a big dip.

I’m pretty happy with our progress so far!

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=saultgirl;7759141]
Ok, we’re on lunch break right now – WOW that is a handy little machine. Got the 5 yards of gravel moved around, the gravel and sand in the shelter, and hubby spent some time leveling out an area where we have a big hump and then a big dip.

I’m pretty happy with our progress so far![/QUOTE]

The best thing about skidsters is that you can see what you are doing, unlike tractor’s FEL, where you have to work by guess and bumping into things.