lift/tilt problems

i have an 873 f series with ahc, and 1400 hrs. the problem started over a year ago. i'll be operating the machine an the lift tilt will lock up. i'll usually have to let it sit a while, start it back up and everything will work again. the lights on the ahc joy stick will blink five times. so last spring i brought it to my bobcat dealer and they put 2 new actuators in it. this summer it ran flawless and then late fall it started to act up again. now it is doing it all the time, i run it for about 5 minutes and then the lift tilt/ locks up.i have checked every electrical connection and looked for rub spots on wires.also, it mostly seems to happen when i lower the lift arms.any help would be greatly appreciated.

I've got an 863F with AHC that has a similar problem. do you know what caused the actuators to fail? I've been told that oil leaking from spool seals can cause failure. if seals are leaking make sure to replace them before replacing actuators. seems to be what has caused my tilt actuator to fail.

Axel said:

I've got an 863F with AHC that has a similar problem. do you know what caused the actuators to fail? I've been told that oil leaking from spool seals can cause failure. if seals are leaking make sure to replace them before replacing actuators. seems to be what has caused my tilt actuator to fail.

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I went by what the dealer told me. The machine was blinking 5 times, which indicated actuator problem.the machine did run flawless for 5 months after they replaced them but now I'm back where I started. Wondering if anyone has had success with the ahc update kit that replaces the computer, wire harness and controls?

Bobcat 873 said:

I went by what the dealer told me. The machine was blinking 5 times, which indicated actuator problem.the machine did run flawless for 5 months after they replaced them but now I'm back where I started. Wondering if anyone has had success with the ahc update kit that replaces the computer, wire harness and controls?

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i have complete valve body with actuators (only approx 300 hours on the had similar problem) have complete wiring harness and ahc handles. machine had less than 2700 hours on it before it was stolen stripped cut up and recovered. so now i have a pile of parts minus engine, and all of track and drive assemblies were gone. and main frame as it was chopped to bits but i do have rest of the machine cab arms cylinders etc. wiring harness is un damaged

hester911 said:

i have complete valve body with actuators (only approx 300 hours on the had similar problem) have complete wiring harness and ahc handles. machine had less than 2700 hours on it before it was stolen stripped cut up and recovered. so now i have a pile of parts minus engine, and all of track and drive assemblies were gone. and main frame as it was chopped to bits but i do have rest of the machine cab arms cylinders etc. wiring harness is un damaged

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the sad truth. my opion only. ahc is Atari type stuff, piggy bank .you will keep throwining money at it until the bank is broke. when you start to weigh the cost of controllers/ handles. harnesses etc. actuators. it aint worth the headache, nor the money you think you are spending wisely, as I did everything else this should be the last 1000 dollars I spend. ITS NOT. its gonna be 750 here 750 there. 1200 over there.

7LBSSMALLIE said:

the sad truth. my opion only. ahc is Atari type stuff, piggy bank .you will keep throwining money at it until the bank is broke. when you start to weigh the cost of controllers/ handles. harnesses etc. actuators. it aint worth the headache, nor the money you think you are spending wisely, as I did everything else this should be the last 1000 dollars I spend. ITS NOT. its gonna be 750 here 750 there. 1200 over there.

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Thanks for the advice, I have the feeling your right about it being a money pit.its just hard to , it's only got 1400 hrs, how many hrs did your machine have?

Bobcat 873 said:

Thanks for the advice, I have the feeling your right about it being a money pit.its just hard to , it's only got 1400 hrs, how many hrs did your machine have?

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I can't help much on these as I don't have much experience with them. Are you getting the same code you had before? Could it be your seat bar switch that is somehow deactivating things? I know the ACS can be troublesome but not to a point where you unload the machine. If you're in your machine right you aren't going to replace a 1400 hour large frame loader very easily or without paying a pretty hefty price in today's marked. Do you have the service manual for your machine? If not, that's the first thing I'd buy. Then start methodically going through and finding the problem. Whatever you do, don't just change parts! there are ways to test this system to determine exactly what the problem is.