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The skid steer thread

72Pstroke said:
I am here to pick the collective brain on skid steers.
I have been thinking about buying one for a while, and I am not 100% sure what I need.
The major use for it will be snowblowing, so high flow will be just about mandatory, as will an enclosed cab.
The general consensus that I hear is that CTL's suck in the snow, so a machine with tires.
I want something old enough to be mechanically injected, and would prefer a machine with no computer on it.
Is there anything out there that meets all this criteria?
Click to expand...

You just planning on clearing snow around your place or possibly using it elsewhere?

I've been out 4 or 5 times clearing snow now and the tracks work fine. There are ways to help them out even more also.

My buddy sent me this, it's his old boss who clears snow all year in a very steep area. Said it works great.

IMG_20221209_182218.jpg


There is also these if you really need grip :smokin:

IMG_20221209_182334.jpg



I heard someone say to buy the machine you need for summer and make it work for winter. If you don't plan on heavy dirt work in the summer, or crawling around the woods, tires are probably fine.
 
My last job had a cheaper Gehl wheeled machine and I hated it. Super jumpy hydro controls made it hard to finesse.

I agree with buy for summer and make it work for winter.

Tracks/tires and snow matter more on the terrain than the snow itself. Doing snow removal we had both wheeled and tracked machines that worked fine, but there are no hills here. If I was doing hilly gravel driveways, I'd want steel on the ground. Either chains on tires or one of the above track additions. Skids suck on ice covered slopes no matter what, I'd prefer a tractor with blower over a skid for that.
 
PAToyota said:
That'd be a pass for me unless it was an exceptional deal - and then it would be a matter of using it to determine how much use it would be to me and looking to upgrade it - and hopefully sell it for enough more to make the trouble worthwhile.
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It was at Dealer Cost, before freight. Its been on the lot in their rack for two years and they are wanting it gone. I decided to pass on it for now and will keep my eye open for something that needs a little love. I don't need it since I already own a smooth grading bucket, tooth bucket, and dedicated grapple. The clamshell feature for picking up little piles was the main thing.
 
That they've had it for two years means that you'd likely have difficulty getting rid too of it if something else came up. A T190 is fairly average dimensions, so this sounds like an odd width that nobody wants.
 
I'll add my take on skid steers.

The snow fleet I kept rolling had a variety of Deere 324g, 330g, 332g, and a 333e. Okay machines, only big issues were hose replacements in the belly of the 333e and a hydraulic filter base crack that took Deere forever to warranty fix on a 332g. I had a good parts guy at Deere and an awesome field tech we'd request by name for anything that was above my capabilities (had a dozen 544/624 size loaders as well). Shop guys and the mobile techs for that skid were hit and miss, mostly miss. Boss was Deere or nothing, so there was never an option to switch. The controls were decent, electronic over hydro took a little adjustment from pilot controls, and all hand controls was nice.

I hate working on skids, everything is just jammed in there and a pain in the ass. Loaders I can walk up and fix, sit on the tire and work on the engine, etc. That, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry claim they can run a skid and proceed to beat the hell out of them, hit shit, rip hoses off attachments, run out of fuel at -20°F, etc.

With that said, I have a personal skid I picked up this summer. 2000ish Daewoo 1760XL. It was relatively cheap for it's size: $10k, 7000lbs/62hp & 1000 hrs. Other than clean up, a new hydraulic line or two, and a new battery it's been a good machine. I did have to remove a leather opossum carcass when cleaning the hull out. Machine had sat for a few years, guessing the critter had been dead for 5 years or more, completely white with no meat left and no smell/insect activity.

I'm happy that despite being made in Korea, it has a mechical Perkins, all Parker lines with JIC & SAE fittings, and pretty standard pumps/motors. So despite being an orphan I can fix it. Plan is to sell it after building my new garage, but it'll probably stick around for pushing snow and stuff.

Edit: We had CAT 277Cs in the USMC. Ran nicely and I liked them. Just went through idlers like candy while in the 'Stan. Probably not helped by adding the weight of an armored cab.
 
Those single arm JCB's are junk. I have a customer that purchased 3 brand new last year and in one form or another they are always broken. They have had hell with the extending arm tearing hoses and wiring out. Dealer fixes it under warranty but it always fails again in short order so they ended up redesigning the setup so it wouldn't eat itself every time dirt of gravel got up in there.

It's a good idea but unfortunately JCB sucked at designing it.
 
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, i have been out moving snow.
As far as tracks vs tires, it looks like there are solutions for tracks in the snow.
Most of my use will be with a snowblower. I suspect that in the future I will be the lucky volunteer that keeps our 1 mile road open.
I don't plan on hiring myself out. It will just be general use around the property and maintaining the road. I think we will also be building in the next few years, so grading and landscaping.
I am leaning toward a bigger machine, towards the 10k lb area.
Does anyone have any experience with the ASV machines? There is an SR80 for sale not too far away that checks most of the boxes.
 
SLOWPOKE693 said:
Those single arm JCB's are junk. I have a customer that purchased 3 brand new last year and in one form or another they are always broken. They have had hell with the extending arm tearing hoses and wiring out. Dealer fixes it under warranty but it always fails again in short order so they ended up redesigning the setup so it wouldn't eat itself every time dirt of gravel got up in there.

It's a good idea but unfortunately JCB sucked at designing it.
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Now that I've had a few days in it, I'm not sure I'm sold on it. The viability is nice for moving snow, especially in public. But the rear mirror sucks, so you have to turn around to really see. Plus on the boom side it's just as blind as any skid with the bucket up ~1-2'.

The teliboom is cool, if you really have a use for it, but it's definitely not worth buying a machine that isn't as good unless you really need it. I'd probably just opt for a small gradall that takes skid steer buckets if you absolutely need the teliboom.

The controls are shit. Steering is twitchy and can be scetchy when trying to get close to stuff.

I think I'd still say to just buy a cat for a contractor or maybe a kubota for home owner.

72Pstroke said:
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, i have been out moving snow.
As far as tracks vs tires, it looks like there are solutions for tracks in the snow.
Most of my use will be with a snowblower. I suspect that in the future I will be the lucky volunteer that keeps our 1 mile road open.
I don't plan on hiring myself out. It will just be general use around the property and maintaining the road. I think we will also be building in the next few years, so grading and landscaping.
I am leaning toward a bigger machine, towards the 10k lb area.
Does anyone have any experience with the ASV machines? There is an SR80 for sale not too far away that checks most of the boxes.
Click to expand...

No worries, just got done with 330am-330pm :homer:

I've heard lots of good about asv. I've seen a lot of brush clearing guys run them. I've never ran one that was somewhat modern.

They claim to be the king of snow skid steers.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Now that I've had a few days in it, I'm not sure I'm sold on it. The viability is nice for moving snow, especially in public. But the rear mirror sucks, so you have to turn around to really see. Plus on the boom side it's just as blind as any skid with the bucket up ~1-2'.

The teliboom is cool, if you really have a use for it, but it's definitely not worth buying a machine that isn't as good unless you really need it. I'd probably just opt for a small gradall that takes skid steer buckets if you absolutely need the teliboom.

The controls are shit. Steering is twitchy and can be scetchy when trying to get close to stuff.

I think I'd still say to just buy a cat for a contractor or maybe a kubota for home owner.



No worries, just got done with 330am-330pm :homer:

I've heard lots of good about asv. I've seen a lot of brush clearing guys run them. I've never ran one that was somewhat modern.

They claim to be the king of snow skid steers.
Click to expand...

Lots of contractors here run Kubota skidsteers, I've never operated one personally but they sure look like they are built decently. Takahashi, or however the fuck you spell it, also seem to be really popular on jobsites I go to, big and small. It seems like the Cats, JDs and the other big name brands are mostly in the hands of very large construction companies who own like 20 of every skidsteer and mini-ex made by whatever brand they favor.
 
SLOWPOKE693 said:
Lots of contractors here run Kubota skidsteers, I've never operated one personally but they sure look like they are built decently. Takahashi, or however the fuck you spell it, also seem to be really popular on jobsites I go to, big and small. It seems like the Cats, JDs and the other big name brands are mostly in the hands of very large construction companies who own like 20 of every skidsteer and mini-ex made by whatever brand they favor.
Click to expand...

We run kubota mini's with great luck. Most jobs we do, productivity isn't the highest priority. I like the Kubota, but I think a cat, deere or any "real" equipment brand would eat it up in speed and power. I'm assuming the skid steers are the same.

The biggest thing I wonder about tak, jcb, kubota and a few others with a 100% rigid undercarriage is how long will it take to rattle apart? My first boss always was looking for production numbers, but even he would say "if it's too rough for you, it's too rough for the machine"

I have a buddy back home who picked up a kubota track machine right before I left. He like to drink beer and ram manzanita bushes out of ground, so I'm sure if anyone can break it, it would be him :laughing:

Just texted him, said "I love it, would buy another over a cat or anything" :beer:
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Now that I've had a few days in it, I'm not sure I'm sold on it. The viability is nice for moving snow, especially in public. But the rear mirror sucks, so you have to turn around to really see. Plus on the boom side it's just as blind as any skid with the bucket up ~1-2'.
Click to expand...
Ya know what has great visibility?














































:flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2:
$_59.JPG
 
So, experts on here.

I want to cut the side yard that leads to my shop for at least gravel, maybe concrete also. Considering renting a skidsteer and DIY, then have a gravel guy I've used fill it. About 30 ft long, plus the tie. Need to remove up to 8" of hill.

How long should I plan on renting the machine. I've not run a skidsteer. Did some decent work with my old kubota BX and ran a ton of scissor and boom lifts at work. Is it doable in a day?
 
Rent it over the weekend and you get it in your possession for longer, just have to keep it under 8 hours to only pay for 1 day.

Should be doable in a day, just keep drainage in mind, hard to picture exactly what you mean.
 
Yeah, 30' with 8" removal is an afternoon, but getting it for the weekend sounds like a good idea if you're not sure.

Put down geotextile fabric before the gravel.
 
kf4zht said:
So, experts on here.

I want to cut the side yard that leads to my shop for at least gravel, maybe concrete also. Considering renting a skidsteer and DIY, then have a gravel guy I've used fill it. About 30 ft long, plus the tie. Need to remove up to 8" of hill.

How long should I plan on renting the machine. I've not run a skidsteer. Did some decent work with my old kubota BX and ran a ton of scissor and boom lifts at work. Is it doable in a day?
Click to expand...
Do you have a home depot near you? They dont put an 8hr/day limit like most yards and thier weekly rate is cheaper then 2 days anywhere else.
 
Just make sure you can get your rock delivered over the weekend. Unless you're OK with the truck spreading it and raking it out the rest of the way by hand.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Rent it over the weekend and you get it in your possession for longer, just have to keep it under 8 hours to only pay for 1 day.

Should be doable in a day, just keep drainage in mind, hard to picture exactly what you mean.
Click to expand...

Here are some pics - the black line is approx the edge I want to create. Pretty sure its going to need a small retaining wall

1670941238626.png


1670941247248.png

PAToyota said:
Yeah, 30' with 8" removal is an afternoon, but getting it for the weekend sounds like a good idea if you're not sure.

Put down geotextile fabric before the gravel.
Click to expand...

If I use fabric and later want to have it concreted will that cause any issues? Rough plan was to put down gravel, let it get compacted in for a year or 5, then get someone to go over it with concrete once its got a good base

YotaAtieToo said:
Just make sure you can get your rock delivered over the weekend. Unless you're OK with the truck spreading it and raking it out the rest of the way by hand.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I would rather just pay a little extra for a normal rental. Places not being available for gravel, etc is annoying, plus I now have unlimited PTO, going to take advantage of it
 
YotaAtieToo said:
There is more dirt to move than you think. Do you have a place to put it? That's probably a few days as a novice when you add in spreading rock.
Click to expand...
My backyard has tons of sinkholes from old tree stumps and is super uneven. Was planning on using as much as I could to level that off. If that fills up the backyard has a 15' dropoff that it can just disappear over
 
72Pstroke said:
I am here to pick the collective brain on skid steers.
I have been thinking about buying one for a while, and I am not 100% sure what I need.
The major use for it will be snowblowing, so high flow will be just about mandatory, as will an enclosed cab.
The general consensus that I hear is that CTL's suck in the snow, so a machine with tires.
I want something old enough to be mechanically injected, and would prefer a machine with no computer on it.
Is there anything out there that meets all this criteria?
Click to expand...
All CATS will have computers.

On A/B models it just runs the "interlock/safety" system. They will have a second ECM for the auxiliary hydraulics but the machine is really just pilot hydraulics.
B2/3 get complicated depending on exact model but are a more modernized version with single ECM's and electronics. These are generally nicer machines but still old architecture.

C models are electric over hydraulic work tool and drive, that changes to one ECM for the machine with all functions, 2 electric joysticks and 4 solenoids BUT with mechanical injection on the Mitsubishi/CAT engine. This is engine is TOP SHIT in my book, like small block chevy good.

D models are electric over hydraulic work tool and drive and also electrical engines with emissions on a Kubota engine. This engine (both sizes) is a piece of shit. I hate say that bit its true.
 
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YotaAtieToo said:
There is more dirt to move than you think. Do you have a place to put it? That's probably a few days as a novice when you add in spreading rock.
Click to expand...
Agreed, this is more than 8 hours on a machine with a learning curve, even with an ISO Joystick machine that is fairly novice friendly to move, but cutting grade, back dragging, and knowing when to float or dig.

Add in any rocks or roots in the dirt, adjusting grades or slopes for drainage, and then spreading stone without huge piles... yea, rent a machine if you have a friend who runs one often and can run it for you and will allow you some seat time on the rental.

Don't forget to call 811... digging up Rainbow worm is not a good way to stay friends with your neighbors.
 
kf4zht said:
My backyard has tons of sinkholes from old tree stumps and is super uneven. Was planning on using as much as I could to level that off. If that fills up the backyard has a 15' dropoff that it can just disappear over
Click to expand...

How far is it from the place you want to cut down?

Unless it's really close, Back and forth will eat up a lot of time, if you can get a small dump truck or even a dump trailer, you'll save a lot of time and fuel in the machine.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
How far is it from the place you want to cut down?

Unless it's really close, Back and forth will eat up a lot of time, if you can get a small dump truck or even a dump trailer, you'll save a lot of time and fuel in the machine.
Click to expand...
The whole lot is like a 1/2 acre or less, so it can't be that far.

I'll probably dump it on a tarp - there is a gate between the garage and shop corner, drag it over the patio. Then spread it if I have time

I moved 2 tandems worth of mulch to the backyard by hand before, I don't let dumb get in my way
 
AlxJ64 said:
Agreed, this is more than 8 hours on a machine with a learning curve, even with an ISO Joystick machine that is fairly novice friendly to move, but cutting grade, back dragging, and knowing when to float or dig.

Add in any rocks or roots in the dirt, adjusting grades or slopes for drainage, and then spreading stone without huge piles... yea, rent a machine if you have a friend who runs one often and can run it for you and will allow you some seat time on the rental.

Don't forget to call 811... digging up Rainbow worm is not a good way to stay friends with your neighbors.
Click to expand...
All of our utilties except water and gas are delivered overhead. In fact if I ever bother to replace my water line I'm also going to trench a conduit for the comcast and try and bribe the local guy into pulling through there.
 
Bump. Shopping for an SS for personal use. Brush clearing, moving gravel/dirt, and some driveway maintenance mostly. Not trying to spend much over 10k but that doesn't look to go far in this world. Looking at tractors too but the prices on those are just as bonkers.

About to message a guy with a Bobcat 773 that looks like it was parked under a lean-to as the front 1/3 has no paint left. They have it for $7900 with 68xx hours

Messaged another guy about a New Holland LS170 @ 11k, he said the one he had listed is sold but has another with high flow aux. and over the tire tracks on it for a bit more. Are those type of tracks worth a shit?

Anything to really pay attention to when looking these over beyond smoking, leaks, and loose pivot points?
 
Gots_a_sol said:
Bump. Shopping for an SS for personal use. Brush clearing, moving gravel/dirt, and some driveway maintenance mostly. Not trying to spend much over 10k but that doesn't look to go far in this world. Looking at tractors too but the prices on those are just as bonkers.

About to message a guy with a Bobcat 773 that looks like it was parked under a lean-to as the front 1/3 has no paint left. They have it for $7900 with 68xx hours

Messaged another guy about a New Holland LS170 @ 11k, he said the one he had listed is sold but has another with high flow aux. and over the tire tracks on it for a bit more. Are those type of tracks worth a shit?

Anything to really pay attention to when looking these over beyond smoking, leaks, and loose pivot points?
Click to expand...
After the 753 I recently had and noe belongs to Projectjunkie I am a huge fan. Minimal electronics, modern enough, seems fairly simple to work on, and only 5500ish lbs.
6800hrs is a lot no matter how well it was taken care of. Id hold back for a clean looking machine under 3k hours

As far as things to look for... make sure it cold starts easy, no excessive smoke, and no major leaks from the important looking bits under the seat.

Keep an eye out on what these guys have. Accasionally they have stuff in the 10k range and usually have actually nice machines for $15k. They also have a financing hookup

www.bestusedskidsteers.com

Wheel Skid Steers For Sale in PENNSYLVANIA - 22 Listings | www.bestusedskidsteers.com

Browse a wide selection of new and used Wheel Skid Steers for sale near you at www.bestusedskidsteers.com. Find Wheel Skid Steers from BOBCAT, CASE, and CATERPILLAR, and more, for sale in PENNSYLVANIA
www.bestusedskidsteers.com www.bestusedskidsteers.com
 
<-- Lives in PA and did not know about that site.

Fuck you for giving me another way to spend my money... :flipoff2:

Not to mention that earlier this week I was just revisiting my common thought of upgrading to a CTL and that place turns out to only be an hour away from me.
 
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