542b drive problems

[kyle1!]

Hello, I asked about my problem in another thread but wanted to start my own. I loaned the machine out to my neighbor who drove it 4miles round trip and moved some dirt in between. When trying to put the machine away I got this grind in any direction; forward, reverse or side to side. A month went by and I wanted to move the machine (150ft) to the garage to work on it I didnt think I was going to make it. The more I pushed on the sticks the slower it got. Full stick forward the machine would not move. Tezza suggested that I may have a bearing that is bad but because of the way it moved I am thinking the pump. Is my grind really pump whine? I see no sign of a leak and the reservoir is full with clean fluid so I really don't know. Also I left the arm/ bucket up a little and I noticed the next morning they had fallen or returned to there normal position of rest. I'm new to skid steers so any guidance is appreciated to get me started. My dad gave me this machine and it only has 157hrs on it but it is 34yrs old (digits 84 at end of SN). I do have the service manual so I'm not completely in the dark. Sorry for the ramble Thanks K

 

[kyle1!]

Finally got the unit up in the air and ran it. When moving forward and back I have grinding in the rear mostly. When pulling back on the right stick this is where the grind is really noticeable in the rear of the unit and seems to be coming from the middle of the machine in the rear When pulling back on the left stick there is no grind and unit moves like it should. Does not seem to be any axle bearing problem. No crunch when trying to move wheel back/forth and no in/out play when tugging on the wheel. Thanks Brian

 

[Tazza]

Finally got the unit up in the air and ran it. When moving forward and back I have grinding in the rear mostly. When pulling back on the right stick this is where the grind is really noticeable in the rear of the unit and seems to be coming from the middle of the machine in the rear When pulling back on the left stick there is no grind and unit moves like it should. Does not seem to be any axle bearing problem. No crunch when trying to move wheel back/forth and no in/out play when tugging on the wheel. Thanks Brian

As there is no play in the axles, i think your axle bearings are ok.
You said the noise is coming from the middle, like where the drive motors mount? I don't know if this machine has a reduction gearbox or not that the drive motors mount to, but if so, they could have bad bearings in them too.
You mention the bucket falling, it is normal for cylinders to fall over time like this, if you notice them falling when using the machine, then that is excessive.

 

[kyle1!]

As there is no play in the axles, i think your axle bearings are ok.
You said the noise is coming from the middle, like where the drive motors mount? I don't know if this machine has a reduction gearbox or not that the drive motors mount to, but if so, they could have bad bearings in them too.
You mention the bucket falling, it is normal for cylinders to fall over time like this, if you notice them falling when using the machine, then that is excessive.

Tazza, From the bobcat parts list online there is no reduction gearbox just chain/sprockets that are driven by the drive motor. Since the axle bearings seem to be ok there is nothing left besides the drive motor going bad. That would explain why I have a grind forward/reverse/pulling back on the right side stick and nothing when the left stick is pulled back. I plan to pull the left side cover and listen to that drive motor to make sure that is the problem because those motors are expensive. I can here a metallic sound listening to the right side motor with a large piece of tubing Bobcat no longer sells the drive motor, the local dealer wants to send it to Chicago for a rebuild with a 3 to 4 week turn around. Is there a place to buy the motor online/over the phone and then send back the core? I need my machine within a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help. Brian

 

[Tazza]

Tazza, From the bobcat parts list online there is no reduction gearbox just chain/sprockets that are driven by the drive motor. Since the axle bearings seem to be ok there is nothing left besides the drive motor going bad. That would explain why I have a grind forward/reverse/pulling back on the right side stick and nothing when the left stick is pulled back. I plan to pull the left side cover and listen to that drive motor to make sure that is the problem because those motors are expensive. I can here a metallic sound listening to the right side motor with a large piece of tubing Bobcat no longer sells the drive motor, the local dealer wants to send it to Chicago for a rebuild with a 3 to 4 week turn around. Is there a place to buy the motor online/over the phone and then send back the core? I need my machine within a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help. Brian

I'm not fully convinced it's the drive motor, but with it out, you can wiggle the output shaft to see if it could be going bad or not.
Loader parts source have motors, they may be able to help.

 

[kyle1!]

I'm not fully convinced it's the drive motor, but with it out, you can wiggle the output shaft to see if it could be going bad or not.
Loader parts source have motors, they may be able to help.

I have been very lazy and have not pulled the drive motor yet. I am trying to understand how these bobcats move. When I push on the sticks to go forward both drive motors move in the same direction. The same for reverse but when I turn I have one drive motor moving forward and the other moving in reverse to make the turn. So if I have a drive motor with a bad bearing it would grind regardless if I was turning left or turning right? Thanks Brian

 

[Tazza]

I have been very lazy and have not pulled the drive motor yet. I am trying to understand how these bobcats move. When I push on the sticks to go forward both drive motors move in the same direction. The same for reverse but when I turn I have one drive motor moving forward and the other moving in reverse to make the turn. So if I have a drive motor with a bad bearing it would grind regardless if I was turning left or turning right? Thanks Brian

That is the theory, i'm wonderng of the noise is the chains or sprockets. There could be more wear in one direction than the other, so the noise could be from running in the direction that is worn?