New LS Skid Steer

[jk96]

LOL you guys are brutal... unfairly.

Nothing brutal or unfair, just pointing out the obvious. Just take a look at the hose routing over the rear boom and down the back of the machine. One quick spin too close to a tree branch and those lines are ripped from the machine. So many obvious design issues makes me wonder about the rest of the machine.

 

[jk96]

Even the fuel fill location. I give it a week in the timber and its either damaged or the cap ripped off.

 

[4570Man]

Even the fuel fill location. I give it a week in the timber and its either damaged or the cap ripped off.

Yes, that’s bad too. This thing wouldn’t survive a day in the woods. Even if it was only ran on open dirt in a construction environment the visibility is essentially non existent for the sides and back. Then the first time you back it into something which won’t be long you’ll probably need a radiator. It looks like the size of a 95 Kubota. It wouldn’t take long to wad up the bucket either.

 

[4570Man]

With just a few relatively small modifications it would be a lot better. Well that’s assuming the rest of it isn’t designed as poorly. Put a heavier duty bucket on it, re locate the high flow lines to inside the boom. Re locate the boom safety lock, relocate the fuel fill spout, Put a heavier duty back hatch on it. The screen on the back blocking the view is probably a hydraulic cooler. It needs re located too.

 

[jk96]

And ditch those mirrors so your not spending time bending them back upright or off of the cab.

 

[4570Man]

And ditch those mirrors so your not spending time bending them back upright or off of the cab.

I figured the mirrors and the lights would sort themselves out pretty quick.

 

[TSO]

So coming from another skid steer user was I wrong on any of the points?

Nope you guys are correct on most of the points... I agree that the mirrors will be snagged almost immediately but if you look closely at the pics, you'll notice that the mirror stalks/posts are bolted to the machine frame... So the user can choose whether or not to use the mirrors. In a construction yard or other places, the mirrors would be helpful and not necessarily at too much risk. I agree that the rear screen needs to have a tighter hole pattern, and that the quick connect area needs a metal loop for hose routing. I prefer cab doors that open UP vs swinging sideways, but I don't know how you can call the cab-door junk (from the pictures). I agree that the rear hose routing may be problematic, but I don't think it's anywhere near as dire as you guys claim. Rear visibility looks to be about as crappy as many of the other units out there with vertical lift configurations. Side visibility looks slightly worse than some others due to the boom arms appearing to be on the "chubby" side. The bucket looks fine.

But it's a gen 1 machine... There's a learning curve and based on how much they've adjusted their tractors in the last couple years, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be as aggressive with making improvements to this machine. Besides, a fair live demo will be needed before you can pass judgment on the overall quality of the machine.

 

[jk96]

Here's a couple of pics of the TR340 just for comparison on visibility and hose routing. Notice how everything is tucked tight and inside the frame and booms, visibility out the rear, rear door protecting the radiator, etc. Will be interesting to see how the LS unit evolves and would like to see some specs on it.

2019-10-16_10-28-38

2019-10-16_10-27-58

2019-10-16_10-28-13

 

[4570Man]

Nope you guys are correct on most of the points... I agree that the mirrors will be snagged almost immediately but if you look closely at the pics, you'll notice that the mirror stalks/posts are bolted to the machine frame... So the user can choose whether or not to use the mirrors. In a construction yard or other places, the mirrors would be helpful and not necessarily at too much risk. I agree that the rear screen needs to have a tighter hole pattern, and that the quick connect area needs a metal loop for hose routing. I prefer cab doors that open UP vs swinging sideways, but I don't know how you can call the cab-door junk (from the pictures). I agree that the rear hose routing may be problematic, but I don't think it's anywhere near as dire as you guys claim. Rear visibility looks to be about as crappy as many of the other units out there with vertical lift configurations. Side visibility looks slightly worse than some others due to the boom arms appearing to be on the "chubby" side. The bucket looks fine.

But it's a gen 1 machine... There's a learning curve and based on how much they've adjusted their tractors in the last couple years, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be as aggressive with making improvements to this machine. Besides, a fair live demo will be needed before you can pass judgment on the overall quality of the machine.

I wouldn’t be against a live demo but I’ve already seen enough to know I won’t be owning a blue skid steer. The side hinge door would be enough to turn me away. I can’t stand those. The loader arms look artificially over built to make a box for the hydraulic couplings. Just moving that safety brace would make it a lot better. As it is the side visibility looks almost completely blocked. Rerouting the hoses off the back and off the top of the boom would also help visibility. I don’t think it would take very long for a tree branch to remove the hose loop on the back The rear visibility looks pretty much non existent. The Kubota skid steers have a 3/4 thick plate that sticks past the door for a bumper that also serves as a tie down place. I don’t think the little stamped bumper would hold up as good. The back hatch needs a complete redesign. I don’t think a live demo would leave you impressed. They’ve already screwed up so much so far my expectations are pretty low for the rest of it. I saw a Kubota with an optional forestry guard in which I thought was a pretty nice option.

 

[TSO]

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying I'm heading out to the LS dealer to buy one! Just saying that before we condemn it as junk, we should be fair and see/use it in person.

I love my Terex/ASV machine but my next machine may be a Kubota SVL....

 

[4570Man]

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying I'm heading out to the LS dealer to buy one! Just saying that before we condemn it as junk, we should be fair and see/use it in person.

I love my Terex/ASV machine but my next machine may be a Kubota SVL....

I haven’t decided if my M59 is going to curb my desire for a skid steer or not but if I do buy one it’s probably going to be painted orange.

 

[TSO]

...but if I do buy one it’s probably going to be painted orange.

oh is Kioti making a skid steer now too... ?

 

[4570Man]

oh is Kioti making a skid steer now too... ?

I’ve never seen one if they do. I’ll take the original orange. If Kioti did make one it would probably be better than this amateur hour attempt.

 

[jk96]

I haven稚 decided if my M59 is going to curb my desire for a skid steer or not but if I do buy one it痴 probably going to be painted orange.

The Case TR340 and Kubota SVL90 were my top 2 when searching. Neighbor is on his second Kubota SVL and really likes them.

 

[4570Man]

The Case TR340 and Kubota SVL90 were my top 2 when searching. Neighbor is on his second Kubota SVL and really likes them.

A Kubota is the only tracked machine I’ve ran. Although I’ve looked at about all of them and haven’t seen anything I liked better. What features made you decide on a case?

 

[jk96]

A Kubota is the only tracked machine I致e ran. Although I致e looked at about all of them and haven稚 seen anything I liked better. What features made you decide on a case?

Controls were the main thing that sold me. The EH controls on the case were just so smooth and instantly responsive. Was able to run a used one from the dealer for a couple of days and it just felt right. The kubota felt like it was a bit behind on movements for me but I also did not get the seat time in the kubota like I did the case.

The other factor was I prefered a radial lift machine over a verticle lift for simplicity and less maintanance. Kubota only makes a verticle lift. My main uses are digging, grading, moving pallets on/off flatbed trailers, and running a brush cutter. Nothing I do requires loading or dumping anywhere near full height so the extra linkages and wear and tear on a verticle lift machine didn't make sense for me.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve never run a 90 Kubota but the controls on a 95-2 were first class. They were very smooth and responsive with no delay. The 95-2 is hydraulic over hydraulic controls. I’ve seen videos of a bobcat with electric controls. That would be agony.

 

[TSO]

I also found there to be a slight delay with the Kubota machine hydraulics...

I was lucky enough to have a demo svl75 - 2, a demo Takeuchi tl8, and my ASV/Terex PT70 all on one of my job sites at the same time. (I have ran others from Bobcat and Cat as well).

The Kubota had the nicest cab. The Tak was nice but didn't excel at anything compared to the other 2. The ASV was the most productive, was the smoothest to operate, and in my opinion, and the opinion of my guys running the machines, felt that the loader was stronger.

Keep in mind that my jobs are mostly landscape related and revolve around finish contouring and grading, often in soft conditions. In those environments, the ASV undercarriage gives a big advantage over the other machines with traditional CTL undercarriages. Better float, better traction, better at holding slopes... But if I was mainly working construction sites I'd opt for the traditional CTL undercarriage.

 

[DK35vince]

I’ve never run a 90 Kubota but the controls on a 95-2 were first class. They were very smooth and responsive with no delay. The 95-2 is hydraulic over hydraulic controls. I’ve seen videos of a bobcat with electric controls. That would be agony.

I run a Case SR240 every day with the EH controls.
The response is smooth and instant.

 

[DK35vince]

I’ve never seen one if they do. I’ll take the original orange.

Allis Chalmers.