Burned up my skid steer - Help

[searcyfarms]

Hi all, my first post - a scary event has brought me here as I burned up my Volvo MC110 - love them or hate them, basically rebranded Scat Track for my generation. Simple, built like a tank and absolutely LOVED the perkins power!!!! True grunt of an engine and great on fuel. I had a Scat Trak 1700C before this MC110. Anyway I believe a hydraulic line burst and sprayed oil on the engine causing the fire, it was scary and I had to bust through the front window to get out, arms were up enough to prevent door from opening and the smoke filled the cabin due to the side windows being open and just swirled inside and I couldn't see. Praise the lord I didn't get burned by fire or oil. Bumps and bruises from piling thru the front window out onto the brush cutter mower deck - it burned to the ground basically nothing left. My dilemma is now I am in the market for a replacement. I am a small acerage owner personally and when I have it here at home I use it for feeding hay, ( bar tracks over tires in winter mud ) digging trees, hauling logs for firewood, digging up rocks and grading holes on the farm. Take it to my folks and buddies place to help them with things like clearing with a cutter that will grind up 10" trees but mainly small saplings like 2 to 5 inches. That is what I was doing when I burned it up. Hauling wet dirt/manure. I love the 86hp Volvo - cant find one......I only put on 550 hours in 15 yrs on my scat - I had my Volvo just a year and only put about 60 on it - I see the 465 case, it looks descent, I see the Gehl 5640 and 6640 and VR270 I think it is, are they ok? I liked the hydraulic assist sticks in the MC110 vs the old manual sticks in the scat, they would wear me out in a day working it hard. I do not want a sissy machine that bogs down when you are lifting/backing/turning. that is absolutely a peeve of mine to stall one and deal with that annoyance. I do not believe I can afford a Cat and want to stay with a wheeled loader. I cannot get enough leverage in the mud with one of the track machines. I have a cousin that has an ASV and he gets stuck or cant work in the mud like I can. My bar tracks over tires are GREAT for that stuff. I also plow snow in the winter on our road and am the neighbor that does EVERYONEs driveway when it hits in our subdivision. I like the ease of pilots and might be able to go that direction with a newer machine - I am looking at spending around 20K - what is a good solid brute of a machine that I don't have to mess with repairs? I appreciate your feedback in advance, just trying to figure out what to do. I wish I wasn't in this predicament I really loved my MC110. Blessings to all, Robert

 

[searcyfarms]

oh one other thing, I have concerns with the Deere and the way their counter weights bolt onto the rear, I am sure I would back into a tree and those would get ripped off pretty quick so might need to stay away from those larger machines unless they make some that do not have those back there, I think I saw some of the new Holland that have them as well. I like a good sized cab, I am 5'10 and 250lbs so farm boy sized. I saw a 465 case, those look interesting - im thinking I don't like the looks of the 450 case with those funky arms for tilt either - might tear those up with logs/rocks ? How about a mustang? they ok? I see they run yanmar engines I have on of those in my deere mini compact tractor they seem ok - I know cat runs the perkins/perkapillar - I would post pix but not sure how to do that here. I put a post on the heavy equipment forum but not getting much feedback on there, I think those guys are mostly BIG stuff and not a lot of skid steer guys. I have a neighbor that has a Cat 262C and has a lot of costly repairs on it and its got less than 1K hours - its a 2015 model so that kind of scares me, he uses it for landscaping and loading/lifting pallets.

 

[farmshop]

oh one other thing, I have concerns with the Deere and the way their counter weights bolt onto the rear, I am sure I would back into a tree and those would get ripped off pretty quick so might need to stay away from those larger machines unless they make some that do not have those back there, I think I saw some of the new Holland that have them as well. I like a good sized cab, I am 5'10 and 250lbs so farm boy sized. I saw a 465 case, those look interesting - im thinking I don't like the looks of the 450 case with those funky arms for tilt either - might tear those up with logs/rocks ? How about a mustang? they ok? I see they run yanmar engines I have on of those in my deere mini compact tractor they seem ok - I know cat runs the perkins/perkapillar - I would post pix but not sure how to do that here. I put a post on the heavy equipment forum but not getting much feedback on there, I think those guys are mostly BIG stuff and not a lot of skid steer guys. I have a neighbor that has a Cat 262C and has a lot of costly repairs on it and its got less than 1K hours - its a 2015 model so that kind of scares me, he uses it for landscaping and loading/lifting pallets.

The gehl and mustang loaders are good basic loaders. I would buy whatever you have the best dealer support for. We like our bobcats not sure the size of your previous machine. You would probably like joystick controls as they are very effortless. Your concerns about the weight brackets are real. We had a older 250 and we broke ours off

 

[searcyfarms]

The gehl and mustang loaders are good basic loaders. I would buy whatever you have the best dealer support for. We like our bobcats not sure the size of your previous machine. You would probably like joystick controls as they are very effortless. Your concerns about the weight brackets are real. We had a older 250 and we broke ours off

thanks for the info on the deere weights - the machine I was using was radial lift and it was 2400lb lift/86hp perkins - very strong !!! basic levers with assist not sure how they worked but my scat trak pushed back against you - the Volvo here the tall sticks but didn't push back, they almost felt like they were hydraulically assisted somehow

 

[SkidRoe]

thanks for the info on the deere weights - the machine I was using was radial lift and it was 2400lb lift/86hp perkins - very strong !!! basic levers with assist not sure how they worked but my scat trak pushed back against you - the Volvo here the tall sticks but didn't push back, they almost felt like they were hydraulically assisted somehow

I echo Farmshop's comment. Good dealer is something that I would put a priority on. Again, I am a Bobcat guy, but I prefer the older, simpler machines. And my local dealer has been great to work with.
Also, sounds like you have had good luck / experience with your Scattrack / Volvo machines. Why change brands? Go with what you know.
Just my $0.02 - SR

 

[searcyfarms]

I echo Farmshop's comment. Good dealer is something that I would put a priority on. Again, I am a Bobcat guy, but I prefer the older, simpler machines. And my local dealer has been great to work with.
Also, sounds like you have had good luck / experience with your Scattrack / Volvo machines. Why change brands? Go with what you know.
Just my $0.02 - SR

I would actually like another Volvo with the perkins however they are terribly hard to find - I have a great dealer for the Volvo support - the scat is getting hard to get parts for from my Volvo dealer that is why I switched when I tore up the hubs in mine. So.......I am kind of in a pickle in that regard. that is why I am gathering info/thoughts pros/cons to see what direction I might need to go. There is something to be said for simple for sure however as I get older and the heat/dust/things that make it harder on an older guy will only get worse as I age. No more than I use one this will likely be the last one I ever buy too.

 

[Tazza]

I would actually like another Volvo with the perkins however they are terribly hard to find - I have a great dealer for the Volvo support - the scat is getting hard to get parts for from my Volvo dealer that is why I switched when I tore up the hubs in mine. So.......I am kind of in a pickle in that regard. that is why I am gathering info/thoughts pros/cons to see what direction I might need to go. There is something to be said for simple for sure however as I get older and the heat/dust/things that make it harder on an older guy will only get worse as I age. No more than I use one this will likely be the last one I ever buy too.

Wow, glad you got out in time! Hot oil spraying on the exhaust or turbo i can see being a potential ignition source.
I'm partial to Bobcat, they have great dealer support, but as with all dealers, the prices are not awlays great. The only issue with Bobcat is, if you wanted hand controls, i have heard so many bad things with them failing. I'm sure most work without any issues, you only hear about the ones with problems.

 

[farmshop]

Wow, glad you got out in time! Hot oil spraying on the exhaust or turbo i can see being a potential ignition source.
I'm partial to Bobcat, they have great dealer support, but as with all dealers, the prices are not awlays great. The only issue with Bobcat is, if you wanted hand controls, i have heard so many bad things with them failing. I'm sure most work without any issues, you only hear about the ones with problems.

We burnt a s175 when oil cooler line blew. We run a s590 which is 2100# lift a s 650 would be a nice fit. Can your dealer track down a loader for you at another dealer? Many dealers will find machines if they don’t have one

 

[searcyfarms]

We burnt a s175 when oil cooler line blew. We run a s590 which is 2100# lift a s 650 would be a nice fit. Can your dealer track down a loader for you at another dealer? Many dealers will find machines if they don’t have one

id probably lean more towards a 300 or 750 don't want to stall the motors - ive ran an 853, 753, 775, 185, 205 and stall the motors or close to it when trying to work them like I am used to with my scat/Volvo - I realize they are smaller most of those units but its a peeve of mine to be underpowered and killing the units and having to restart or slow down and not be able to work like I need to when I do, u add tracks, foam tires or solid rubber and it even drags them down more then add mud and oh yea, u need some engine to work in that around the farm - that is my biggest issue with needing a bigger stout machine - kind of leaning toward the case 440/465 and wanting to stick with radial lift as well - b/c are more $$ and I just haven't been that impressed with any I have used but then again never been on a 750 or 250 or 300 maybe they are brutes

 

[farmshop]

id probably lean more towards a 300 or 750 don't want to stall the motors - ive ran an 853, 753, 775, 185, 205 and stall the motors or close to it when trying to work them like I am used to with my scat/Volvo - I realize they are smaller most of those units but its a peeve of mine to be underpowered and killing the units and having to restart or slow down and not be able to work like I need to when I do, u add tracks, foam tires or solid rubber and it even drags them down more then add mud and oh yea, u need some engine to work in that around the farm - that is my biggest issue with needing a bigger stout machine - kind of leaning toward the case 440/465 and wanting to stick with radial lift as well - b/c are more $$ and I just haven't been that impressed with any I have used but then again never been on a 750 or 250 or 300 maybe they are brutes

If you want a brute a 300 or a 330 is a beast 95 hp I think the 750 is over a 100hp. Agreed the 773 and others are under powered to really work them but they are only 60 hp machines. I don’t know much about the case machines as we don’t have a strong dealer presence here. The bigger mustangs are good also. The 2109 was a real monster

 

[searcyfarms]

If you want a brute a 300 or a 330 is a beast 95 hp I think the 750 is over a 100hp. Agreed the 773 and others are under powered to really work them but they are only 60 hp machines. I don’t know much about the case machines as we don’t have a strong dealer presence here. The bigger mustangs are good also. The 2109 was a real monster

are those vertical lift machines, would I notice a big difference in reach out on a flatbed picking up things or letting them down? also for digging a ditch for drainage or a hole from a stump and digging a stump out? good leverage or ? Not sure how much I would lost from a vertical to radial which is all I have owned.

 

[farmshop]

are those vertical lift machines, would I notice a big difference in reach out on a flatbed picking up things or letting them down? also for digging a ditch for drainage or a hole from a stump and digging a stump out? good leverage or ? Not sure how much I would lost from a vertical to radial which is all I have owned.

Reach is better on a vertical lift. Radial lifts are simpler supposed to be stronger but we have never had a problem. Other than reach there is probably no other advantage to a vertical over radial. I believe it’s around 12” more reach on a vertical machine