Standard controls or joystick

Brandon327 · Oct 13, 2012

Which one to get? I am looking for a machine by not sue what to get. I have been looking for joystick but they seem hard to find. I will be using it with a brush cutter and using it to push and load chicken litter. I was thinking a joystick would be easier to operate since I am use to a tractor loader. This will be my first skid steer.

Bobcatdan · Oct 14, 2012

Only you can answer this, drive them both. For most, std controls are easier to drive. SJC takes sometime to get use. I'm warming up to SJC more everyday, I use to really hate it. The foot throttle on the SJC is nice and so is the speed manganment when using attchments. SJC is a pretty reliable system, but can be spendy to repair if it does act up.

SkidRoe · Oct 14, 2012

Dan's right, you have to experience the machine to see what you like. But if you are new to skidsteers/CTL's, it will take more than a test drive. I would rent a prospective machine for a couple of days to really get a feel for it. And there are more differences than just the control configurations; some machine models are just 'smoother' than others. For me, I would not own anything but standard controls. It is what I am used to (after 27 years), and I like mechanical connections to what I am operating.

Fishfiles · Nov 10, 2012

If you are set on Bobcat then I would go foot control , Bobcat's JSC fly by wire system is very expensive to buy parts for and there are so many extra parts that are not even needed with a foot controll or a low over high pressure joystick system , and chances are good it will require shop time or field repair in it's life and leave you without a machine when you really need it , if you live far away from a dealer I would stay away from the JSC , around here warranty doesn't cover mobile service calls and when you can't move it to load it up and bring it in for repairs you will have to eat the bill , if you do go JSC be sure to buy the maximum extention of warranty you can get ---------- in the mean time test the Kubota and the Takeuchi , a much better joystick system , both machines are built simpler and heavier duty all the way around , they Takeuchi , which is the pioneer of the track loader , last longer and spends less time in the shop then the Bobcats getting software flashes , sensors and wiring harness problems , the Kubota isn't out long enough to really say on the longevity of life , but from I have seen so far it is a very well built machine like everything that Kubota builds

Bobcatdan · Nov 11, 2012

Fishfiles said:
If you are set on Bobcat then I would go foot control , Bobcat's JSC fly by wire system is very expensive to buy parts for and there are so many extra parts that are not even needed with a foot controll or a low over high pressure joystick system , and chances are good it will require shop time or field repair in it's life and leave you without a machine when you really need it , if you live far away from a dealer I would stay away from the JSC , around here warranty doesn't cover mobile service calls and when you can't move it to load it up and bring it in for repairs you will have to eat the bill , if you do go JSC be sure to buy the maximum extention of warranty you can get ---------- in the mean time test the Kubota and the Takeuchi , a much better joystick system , both machines are built simpler and heavier duty all the way around , they Takeuchi , which is the pioneer of the track loader , last longer and spends less time in the shop then the Bobcats getting software flashes , sensors and wiring harness problems , the Kubota isn't out long enough to really say on the longevity of life , but from I have seen so far it is a very well built machine like everything that Kubota builds

Bobcat SJC has proven very reliable. I fix more manual steering linkage then SJC. I would classify modern SJC pretty much bulletproof. Early systems had some issuse, but overall it does not deserve a unreliable reputation.

Fishfiles · Nov 11, 2012

Bobcatdan said:
Bobcat SJC has proven very reliable. I fix more manual steering linkage then SJC. I would classify modern SJC pretty much bulletproof. Early systems had some issuse, but overall it does not deserve a unreliable reputation.

I really think the other end of the spectrum of wired up JSC , Bobcat lost the edge it had over other brands , early models were reliable , priced right and owner maintance freindly , the new models don't compete on cost of initial purchase , require more costly repairs and it seems to me they must skimp on structual quailty cause the pins , bushings , rollers , idlers doesn't hold up as well , I see a lot of broken booms and bobtack plates ---------- if you have to replace a bushing in your steering pintle or fine tune a neutral travel problem it is cost effient and something an owner /operator can do on his own , a new JSC monitor will alert you a code for a steering actuator problem , changing it no problem but calibrating it with the home owner method seldom works out and a trip to the dealer to calibrate it on the laptop is needed , but wait you can't load it up cause the bucket won't get off the ground

bobcat_ron · Dec 5, 2012

Fishfiles said:
I really think the other end of the spectrum of wired up JSC , Bobcat lost the edge it had over other brands , early models were reliable , priced right and owner maintance freindly , the new models don't compete on cost of initial purchase , require more costly repairs and it seems to me they must skimp on structual quailty cause the pins , bushings , rollers , idlers doesn't hold up as well , I see a lot of broken booms and bobtack plates ---------- if you have to replace a bushing in your steering pintle or fine tune a neutral travel problem it is cost effient and something an owner /operator can do on his own , a new JSC monitor will alert you a code for a steering actuator problem , changing it no problem but calibrating it with the home owner method seldom works out and a trip to the dealer to calibrate it on the laptop is needed , but wait you can't load it up cause the bucket won't get off the ground

Stick with a Cat skid steer, proven pilot controls for 12+ years. I'm using a rental S185 and absolutley HATE it, my hands, knuckles, knees, ankles, arms and feet are sore from the stone age control system.

mahans7 · Dec 5, 2012

bobcat_ron said:
Stick with a Cat skid steer, proven pilot controls for 12+ years. I'm using a rental S185 and absolutley HATE it, my hands, knuckles, knees, ankles, arms and feet are sore from the stone age control system.

Boy if an S185 is stone age then what doing with my prehisotric 743. The Cats must really be nice.

7LBSSMALLIE · Jan 11, 2013

mahans7 said:
Boy if an S185 is stone age then what doing with my prehisotric 743. The Cats must really be nice.

loving it and usining it. yea not very fancy but by god it will still pick up dirt, and move it, with proper maint, these old ones still live, now if this youre office things may look a little different. heat a/c and radio are nice things to have. a 743 is tool not a busnisses

rnbuck01 · Feb 20, 2013

7LBSSMALLIE said:
loving it and usining it. yea not very fancy but by god it will still pick up dirt, and move it, with proper maint, these old ones still live, now if this youre office things may look a little different. heat a/c and radio are nice things to have. a 743 is tool not a busnisses

Its just your preference. Its very seldom that you would have problems. if your using it to make money, spending money to maintain and fix it just comes with it when you buy it.

Tman0001 · Feb 24, 2013

I would recommend you take some time to visit some dealers and test drive a few machines with differrent types of controls. Which feels better for you. I personally enjoy the ACS type contriols as they seem (to me) to be more intuitive to work than joy stick or foot/hand controls type machines.

Standard controls or joystick

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