I going to be getting a 2004 331E "Monday I think"

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RS Coyote

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It has 550 hours and two buckets 24 & 36" for $30,000. Is there any thing I need to know?
It's been awhile sense I have posted here. So hello every one.
 
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RS Coyote

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Well I got it home today. Installed a thumb on it even though they told me it would not work. I had to weld a gusset for the cylinder and take some material of the stick so it would fit.
It runs great but here is my problem.... It won't pick up a 1,000lbs at the blade and the specs say it is supposed to pick up 1,200lbs at full reach with extend-a-hoe retracted. So please help if you can. I'll be calling the sales guy in the AM.
Thanks
 

Eric

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Jan 19, 2005
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Well I got it home today. Installed a thumb on it even though they told me it would not work. I had to weld a gusset for the cylinder and take some material of the stick so it would fit.
It runs great but here is my problem.... It won't pick up a 1,000lbs at the blade and the specs say it is supposed to pick up 1,200lbs at full reach with extend-a-hoe retracted. So please help if you can. I'll be calling the sales guy in the AM.
Thanks
Well maybe the new thumb is reducing lift capacity.
Is the blade on the ground acting as a stabalizer? When they say over blade that means the blade is down.
What size bucket do you have on there when your attempting this lift? I think specs state that it is with a 12 inch bucket. A larger bucket will reduce lift capacity.
Is the fuel tank full? This may help to act as a counter weight.
How do you know exactly how much weight you are trying to lift?
 
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RS Coyote

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Apr 28, 2005
Messages
84
Well maybe the new thumb is reducing lift capacity.
Is the blade on the ground acting as a stabalizer? When they say over blade that means the blade is down.
What size bucket do you have on there when your attempting this lift? I think specs state that it is with a 12 inch bucket. A larger bucket will reduce lift capacity.
Is the fuel tank full? This may help to act as a counter weight.
How do you know exactly how much weight you are trying to lift?
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-9/830706/LXQJN-100_0698.JPG
I got her home last week and dug this stump the next day for a customer. I had to cut it in 3rds to get it loaded. My 863 would have picked it up with out a second thought. But I would have made a much bigger hole & mess with the 863.
I have a 331 stick on order from my local Bobcat dealer for $1375. I figure I'll run the 5' 331 stick that digs 10' for the most part and put the 331E stick on if I need the extra reach and it digs 13'. They say the 331 will lift 1600lbs compared to the 331E stick lifts 1200lbs.
 
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RS Coyote

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http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-9/830706/LXQJN-100_0698.JPG
I got her home last week and dug this stump the next day for a customer. I had to cut it in 3rds to get it loaded. My 863 would have picked it up with out a second thought. But I would have made a much bigger hole & mess with the 863.
I have a 331 stick on order from my local Bobcat dealer for $1375. I figure I'll run the 5' 331 stick that digs 10' for the most part and put the 331E stick on if I need the extra reach and it digs 13'. They say the 331 will lift 1600lbs compared to the 331E stick lifts 1200lbs.
Also I put a Bobcat thumb on the 331E stick. If you look close you can see it in the picture. I had to relieve some metal and weld a gusset on for the cylinder. I had it installed in about 3 hours. I pined the extend-a-boom closed. With the 331E you cannot use both the thumb and the extend cylinder at the same time.
 

goodtech

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Nov 22, 2005
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112
I would send the machine back to the dealer and have the main relief checked. The owner before may have it adjusted. That unit should easily pick up a 1000lbs with out a problem
 

Kudagra

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Oct 19, 2006
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I would send the machine back to the dealer and have the main relief checked. The owner before may have it adjusted. That unit should easily pick up a 1000lbs with out a problem
Well here is a quick check on the pumps. It should take approx. 4 seconds to move a cylinder from full retract to full extend. Or full extend to full retract. Either way..about 4 seconds. I believe that machine has the tripple pump. Also it should take approx 6 seconds to make a full revolution of the house. Usually when the blade wont pick up the machine or the house swings slow its a bad pump. Its always good to check the main reliefs but those tests are free and dont require tools. Other then your brain.
 

Kudagra

Active member
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
34
I would send the machine back to the dealer and have the main relief checked. The owner before may have it adjusted. That unit should easily pick up a 1000lbs with out a problem
Well here is a quick check on the pumps. It should take approx. 4 seconds to move a cylinder from full retract to full extend. Or full extend to full retract. Either way..about 4 seconds. I believe that machine has the tripple pump. Also it should take approx 6 seconds to make a full revolution of the house. Usually when the blade wont pick up the machine or the house swings slow its a bad pump. Its always good to check the main reliefs but those tests are free and dont require tools. Other then your brain. If doing the cylinder checks only 1 is slow but the rest are ok Id have that one cylinder checked.
 

goodtech

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Nov 22, 2005
Messages
112
Well here is a quick check on the pumps. It should take approx. 4 seconds to move a cylinder from full retract to full extend. Or full extend to full retract. Either way..about 4 seconds. I believe that machine has the tripple pump. Also it should take approx 6 seconds to make a full revolution of the house. Usually when the blade wont pick up the machine or the house swings slow its a bad pump. Its always good to check the main reliefs but those tests are free and dont require tools. Other then your brain. If doing the cylinder checks only 1 is slow but the rest are ok Id have that one cylinder checked.
You are talking about pump flow not Main relief pressure. You do need a psi gauge to check your pressure, you may have a main relief or maybe even a boom relief bad
 
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