BobCat T190 travel speed - lockup problem

steveskidsteer · Jun 29, 2014

Son just bought a 2006 Bobcat T190. First week ran 8 hours a day. Now runs great for about an hour, then all of a sudden the tracks lockup. Travel levers are hard to push. Will drag motor rpm down and stall out if you push hard on the levers. If he jerks the levers around back and forth, something seems to pop loose, then he is ok to go again... might last 5 seconds or 5 minutes then do it again. Seems to run o.k. for the first hour. I don't have a manual yet, trying to figure out if this is solenoid (electrical), solenoid spool, hydraulic spool, or other. We did change the hydraulic oil after this happened, and it still occurred the next time he ran it.. Other than that, its a great machine.

SSdoxie · Jun 30, 2014

My best guess, suspicion is the outer bearing on drive motor(s) locking up. The outer bearing has its own lubrication, not lubed by the hydraulic fluid passing through the motor. This is a special synthetic blend oil developed by Rexroth and available only through a Bobcat that I am aware of. Recommended oil change interval in 500 hr.

Raise the cap and look for the 2 silver canister case drain filters (1 for each motor). Follow the small case drain hose from motor back to reservoir to locate the filter. The filter can be taken apart and cleaned but note the flow direction and internal spring direction when removing. If the case drain flow is restricted it could cause brake malfunction. Try replacing or cleaning these filters first then test drive. If the problem is resolved then remove tracks and sprockets and change the outer bearing oil in motors.