I am considering buying a new bucket for my ASV SR80. I Bobcat has different sizes, and my goal is to dig up some fill and make a road (and also for snow removal in the winter). The 88" has the most cubic feet (24), but I'm wondering if I can handle that with my machine. In addition there is the...
I have an Echo HC-150 Trimmer with a broken handle. Does any know if the handle assembly (#7 below), which includes the gear case, can be welded or brazed?
jmf
Is it better to rent an excavator or large dozer to clear out some over growth. The area has gullies with standing hardwoods and a lot of vines and fallen trees. I talked to forestry consultants and there is not enough timber value to interest them. I need to remove the trees stumps and all. In...
No one has a flail like this one. At least not here, so I decided to try it myself. The pictures are below but they do not appear as they should. You can click here and here until they fix it.
jmf
Toddler buys earthmover in online auction
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A New Zealand mom made some online bids on toys before napping. Then her 3-year-old daughter took over and bought a bigger plaything than expected - a huge earth-moving digger for a cool $12,300.
Pipi Quinlan made the...
I have carved out a road in a side hill that has a good base but the soil disruption produced a lot of clay dust. Besides covering it with stone, is there a way to stabilize it (muddy when rainy and dusty when dry)? E.g. compaction, sun & rain.
jmf
I am considering buying a flail mower to attach to my SR80, but I am concerned about the dust. From what I am told the turbo diesels are particularly vulnerable to airborne particulates, and flail mowers produce more fine particles than rotary mowers. Has anyone here used a front attached flail...
My landscaping experience is from 30 years ago, but as I look at the attachment options for my tracksteer I'm not impressed. Considering the ground preparation tools, it still seems that my 50 year old 6 way box scraper with hydraulic teeth on my Ford 4000 is still the goto tool for grading and...
I am wondering what track systems are costing these days. I know ASV has a new approach to updating the track system and I am wondering what to expect.
jmf
While I was looking at Bobcat attachments, specifically the list of compatible machines, I noticed a designation in the track machine group for a "T630." Anybody have a clue as to what that is?
jmf
After much research I have found the best crankcase oil and grease for the various fittings on my machine. Now I am wondering what I need to know about tractor fluid. To date I have been using whatever ASV sells.
jmf
I was talking to a contractor who owns a Brushcat and a Loftness flail. He said the flail needs more maintenance and the flail action produces fine dust that clogs up the filtering system of his Bobcat T250 that necessitates daily cleaning. Has any one else had this problem with a flail mower...
I've been pushing snow around with my Posi-track and 4n1 bucket. I have plenty of room for piles and can handle them just fine, but I'm wondering how well a snow blower would manage. My initial impression is that they are slow and have a lot of moving parts, but I'm thinking maybe they only need...
I have a 4n1 bucket. While plowing snow I found that it has a tendency to mess up the grass. We all know why this happens, but what I didn't expect is a bucket design that puts the cutting edge at an angle. When the lift arms are all the way down and the bucket is flat and level the edge is...
I have an 80hp perkins and the dealer recommends their particular (re)label. I want to use John Deere's synthetic and I believe it exceeds all requirements, except the factory brand is 10-30w and John Deere is 0-40w. Is that a problem?
jmf
Reading the description, the soil conditioner sounds like you can do some leveling, but all I see is a pulverizer and no blade. Has anyone used this to level topsoil?
jmf
There are finish mowers like that made by bobcat but I they are not suggested for a track steer larger than the t190. Has anyone seen a finish mower for a CTL with more than 70hp?
jmf
It is polyurea base with some synthetic thickeners. Not soap based. It is amazing that there is not more information on the web. I've been trying many different types of grease on my CTL and so far the only differences seem to be color and how well they behave in my grease gun. I'd like to hear...
I piled up some brush in hopes of having a nice bonfire, but I couldn't get it to blaze. After stuffing it with paper and a couple of flares no luck. The brush is composed of mainly thorn trees and bushes. The good news is that it has been wet and there is little chance of starting a forest...
I'm wondering if the Bobcat 79" Flail would be the way to go for high grass and brush. I'm thinking it might do a better job on grass than rotary cutters.
jmf
I'm wondering if the Bobcat 79" Flail would be the way to go for high grass and brush. I'm thinking it might do a better job on grass than rotary cutters.
jmf
I tried this on the owner and operator forum before I realized there was a forum for lubricants: Has anyone found a good synthetic grease for construction equipment? I've tried mobile, valvoline and amsoil but they're a little pricey. Currently I am using Gulf Super Duty Synthetic EP #2 costing...
Has anyone found a good synthetic grease for construction equipment? I've tried mobile, valvoline and amsoil but they're a little pricey. Currently I am using Gulf Super Duty Synthetic EP #2 costing about $4 a tube. Besides lubrication characteristics, I look for extreme pressure and low...
I'm cutting in a driveway that abuts large mature trees on both sides. Many of the roots are shallow and must be removed. Some have a diameter of 14". Has anyone here used an attachment to cut roots? I tried a chain saw, but there are many, and the combination of dirt and woods is tough on the...
I'm also building a fence around 10 acres of land, primarily to let dogs run off leash. This is not the invisible type, but the tall and sturdy to possibly contain horses also. I would like to keep it deer friendly, economical and easily installed. I will be doing it myself and wondering what...
I'm considering building a berm rather than a fence, and would like to know what I need to consider before I construct a berm 4 foot high and 500 feet long? E.g., type of soil, plants, maintenance, etc.
jmf
After replacing the curl cylinders, I realized that the hoses may not be in the correct spot. Is it possible that someone here might have or could snap a picture of the 4 hoses coming off the two curl cylinders? What concerns me is the lower hose run beneath the cylinder and could be pinched by...
I have about 70 hours and notice that one of the pins for one of the curl cylinders is scored in about mid way. Is this something to be concerned about. I've greased it every 12 to 20 hours, so I suspect it is a defect.
jmf
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with using a 4-in-1 bucket for snow removal. I still have my Polaris Ranger with snow blade but it would be nice to use the ASV SR80 with a heated cab. My concern is the fixed and unforgiving blade on the rubber track machine causing damage. Probably okay...
It's getting colder and I know snow is on the way. My ASV SR80 has low PSI and my experience in the mud is serious lost of traction, so I'm wondering how the wide rubber tracks will perform in the snow. I am told they are useless in icy conditions, but I am hoping it can push a 9 foot snow blade...
I'm told if you use highway fuel that you better use additive. It seems that the stuff you buy at the local fuel stop is too clean (low sulfur etc.) for most diesels. My cold start switch stuck and the smoke didn't clear until it was run with some additive. What I'm hearing is that not all...
I need to carve out some lots in dense woods. The trees (up to 20") are mostly pines with some hardwood. The JD 135C is about 15 tons and seems beefy enough to knock down and dig out the the trees. I will use my compact track machine to carry the trees to the burn pile. Does this excavator sound...
My fortune with hydraulics has not been good lately. Do you think I'm asking too much? Today I drove 50 miles round trip to pick up a rebuilt cylinder and when I installed it on my box scraper, the 10" stroke was maybe a half an inch. Does anyone know what would cause this? When I call the...
I seem to be able to push open the clam of my 4-in-1 when backing up and leveling. Could this be air in the hydraulics, and what is the best way to purge it?
jmf
Has anyone figured out an easy way to clean a compact cab? The cab is small and has only one way in and out, so how do you clean it? Every time I climb in I pull in another load of crud. I tried blowing it out but there is no good angle to push the stuff up and out. Water won't work as the cab...
I initially posted this to the owner/operator category, but thought posting to this forum might be better:
The ASV SR80 is a new concept for me. (My experience is with mechanical hydraulics and drives.) The first thing I did was climb the steepest hill I could find. This thing is fearless when...
I have recently took possession of an ASV SR80. Because of some electrical problems my experience is very limited but here are some things that I realized immediately: The feel of an all hydraulic variable displacement power systems are difficult to get use to compared to mechanical drive and...
Today I took deliver of a new SR80 on a deal I've been working on for a long time. The first time it was delivered it wouldn't start, so it never made it off the truck. After replacing a seat switch and diode it was returned, it started and was unloaded. I ran it for about an hour when it shut...
I'm grubbing a large parcel and would like to pile the brush and grind it later. I am not dealing with mature trees, but I'd rather knock them down with stump intact than grind them first and dig out the stumps. Is there any down side to grinding a slash pile rather than grinding vegetation...
Another issue is whether to buy the machinery in the corporate name or as an individual? Even though I am familiar with the legal and tax consequences of both, I still cannot decide. Does anyone here have any suggestions based on experience, that was not obvious until later?
jmf
I'm considering renting my compact track machine. I have plenty to do but my schedule would allow some rental days. Does anyone here have experience renting their machines to others? I'm thinking that grinders, rotary choppers, and hammer attachments should not be allowed. Maybe even hard...
It seems new equipment coalesces suddenly without warning. With so many manufacturers it is hard to check them all for new developments. Has anyone noticed any new concepts that are becoming available? I believe the future of compact equipment are tracks and articulated tired machines. Has...
After much research and field testing, I found that Amsoil synthetic 0-40w was superior for my gas powered utv. Does anyone here have any experience or opinion regarding synthetic oil in a Perkins diesel? Specifically, I am interested in the Perkins 804c-33t.
jmf
Rather than scorched earth grinding, has anyone considered a woods grooming service? I have noticed that many governmental parks and private woods are ruined by poor drainage, tree damage and debris. What a difference could be realized by some thoughtful machine work. A little foresight could...
I normally keep my vehicles outside, and my toys inside (like the Polaris Ranger). As for the ASV, I'm thinking it might be just as well to store it outside as it is completely enclosed. Has anyone had any problems attributable to storing their skid steer or attachments outside?
jmf
COMPACT EQUIPMENT Cover Story Issue: June 2007
An Uncertain Future for Bobcat
Ingersoll Rand Considers Big Changes for Its Construction Related Businesses
The BAUMA rumor mill generated a deafening buzz early in the show last April — that Bobcat Co. had been sold. The report wasn’t true, at...
I am planning on using an ASV SR80 to clear a 40 acre site. I know this machine works well for leveling, clearing, mulching and tree cutting, but I would also like to use it to mow some high grass. So I'm wondering what I can expect from a mower attachment on a track machine. I don't expect to a...
Does hard surface road travel cause excessive wear on the rubber tracks of compact track machines? I suspect turning causes wear but I wonder if forward travel is a problem.
jmf
Well, I really thought I would be retiring the Ford tractor, but guessed wrong. My stars don't seem to be lining up, so I spent the day preparing the faithful Ford 4000 for another season. With old equipment it's like having to invent and build a machine before you actually do anything. I spent...
I guess everyone is doing chores this time of year, so the TC reports will wait for a rainy day. I'm just burning up sunshine here, no TC for me. I trust that all those with the new D-Series will share their experiences soon. We can't expect Panther1400 to do all the heavy lifting?
jmf
It is curious that equipment sales concerns, such as the Bobcat Company, are not more competent in their product presentation. The Bobcat official web site still doesn't show a picture of the D-Series or even acknowledge its existence. I have spoken to dealers and the factory and found them to...
I do hope many of us ordered the new D-Series so we can get lots of feedback. Some personal matters caused me to let the March 31st date go by, but soon I hope to join the ranks of those of us at ground level. BTW, who is expecting?
jmf
Has anyone considered forming a buyer's group for the purchase of a toolcat and accessories? There could be an advantage in making large lot purchases. Even considering the travel costs, this could produce considerable savings. As to warranty, I believe it can be handle by any dealer in the...
I hear there are many new changes:
-Spine frame
-side mounted engine
-20 gallon tank
-turbo only
-1 pump drive system (not dependent on engine rpm)
-continuous power to all wheels
-29" wheels (optional)
-6" longer
-1" narrower
-smart fan
-better radiator
-doubled capacity of oil cooler
-full...
I used a box scraper on the back of an ag type tractor and I'm wondering how the bobcat box blade compares. It would seem like the wheels would be a problem.
jmf
It seems to me that the roof sun shade and lights were an after thought and he machine would look better with it off. Has anyone tried removing this?
jmf
Is there a finish mower attachment that is powered without belts? I suspect that this would require 3 smaller hydraulic motors rather than one large one.
jmf
Anyone here experimented with tire options? I have many hawthorn thorns on my property and would like to use a tire with at least 12 plies. I don't like foam and I don't think slime will be enough.
jmf
Leaky hoses, electrical problems, rust, lack of power, etc. etc.? I currently own a Polaris Ranger, and after 3 years I have not one complaint or once taken it to the dealer for repairs. Now that I need to clear and maintain 40 acres, I was looking to upgrade to a toolcat, that is until I...