My 2003 S185 creeps ahead on the right side. The steering levers won't centre properly. Any adjustment I make only makes it worse. There is no apparent wear on the linkages, only wear on the linkage stop blocks on top of the hydrostatic pump. My dealer tells me that this a complicated procedure that requires it to be brought to their shop. I am a fairly accomplished mechanic and do all my own repairs so I should be able to handle this. Any thoughts, tips, pointers?
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Its all adjusted on the pump with the blocks. If they are worn, you can flip them over and use the back (if that hasn't been done already). It could also be a bad shock absorber that you will see attached to the levers pulling it in one direction.
It can be fiddly to get right, but it can be done. You need to start from the end furtherest from the spring on the centering plate. There should be no play between the round pucks and flat steel stopper on BOTH sides. If there is movement/slack, its not adjusted correctly.
It can be fiddly to get right, but it can be done. You need to start from the end furtherest from the spring on the centering plate. There should be no play between the round pucks and flat steel stopper on BOTH sides. If there is movement/slack, its not adjusted correctly.
I am not really in tune to years that it was on machines but think you maybe have a different type of pintle arms on that 185 , do you see allen headed screws horizonal on top the pump facing towards the front of the machine and two plastic plugs right on the back side the steering levers in the steering console , it adjust differently than if it has the older set up , they quite using the allen headed arms and went back to the older style a few years back
I think I have it figured out. I downloaded some pages from a decent service manual and it looks pretty simple but certainly fiddly. The manual says: If you don't get it right, do it again.
It never ceases to amaze me how mickey mouse the Bobcat steering adjustment is, the old ones were just as bad, just different.So , do you have the style with the allen headed adjustment bolt from the front and the lock bolt from the top thru a access hole in the pintle plate or the old style that has resurfaced to be the latest sytle again --I think I have it figured out. I downloaded some pages from a decent service manual and it looks pretty simple but certainly fiddly. The manual says: If you don't get it right, do it again.
Could you put a link to where those pages are?I think I have it figured out. I downloaded some pages from a decent service manual and it looks pretty simple but certainly fiddly. The manual says: If you don't get it right, do it again.
Please post some photos of left steering arrangement (pintle arm, centering block, top plate, bushings) in the neutral position. I'm just not getting it.
mrdeere1959
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- Nov 1, 2011
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you need to have newer pics yours is different then the old style you have here.
Mine is a 2002. The manual in the post above is the same. The manual shows clearance between the top plate and the stops on the left. My top plate is pushed all the way to the drivers left so there is not enough clearance between the centering block and pintle arm. I can't adjust it. If someone can post a photo I might get it.
This is by far the best tutorial on adjusting Bobcat steering that I have found. I never did get it right until I found this. I finally replaced every part in the steering that looked the least worn out and the problem went away. http://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?19690-Repairing-creeping-Bobcat
I second that tutorial, it really was well done. Especially capturing the spring, i know i'm going to do it that way now.
A year or so back I bought what BC called an up-graded Centering Spring for my 742. It is larger in diameter and uses a cup much like a valve spring retainer to center the spring. It is of such a free length that there is room to just start the nut on the stud. I would bet money the same spring/cup will fit most BCs. The bigger OD spring eliminates the loss of centering force that comes w/ binding from dirt, rust & old grease I used to see. <$10 -Dick
siduramaxde
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- Nov 15, 2005
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Its funny how this topic came up. I just had to do seals on my pumps and had to go through the process of centering the steering. I read all this (and the "how to" on the other site) after I finished mine up. I scrached my head for about 15 minutes trying to figure out how to compress the spring and I came up with the same solution as the "how to". The zip ties work great.
Sadly i was not so smart, i spent about fifteen minutes trying to get it to start, without success that is. I harassed my GF to come assist, she was not so happy about being in such close proximity to grease but she did agree, about another 10 minutes of her swinging on a pry bar to compress the spring i managed to get the nut on. Lesson learnt.