Bobcat 753 Bucket Stopped Working.

[hotdogboy]

I have a Bobcat 753, I was using it today and out of the blue the bucket stopped working, it has foot controls to control the bucket and both pedals wont do anything. It starts fine and appears to want to drive. The little green button up top that you push to unlock everything that allows you to work it does its usual "CLICK" sound yet the pedals don't do anything. It does have a oil leak and while it was in use I believe the oil light came on and that's when the bucket stopped working. I let it cool down and topped of the engine oil and still nothing & the light is still on. The hydraulic fluid is also good on the dip stick, Any ideas? I don't know anything about bobcats so I'm hoping you experts can help. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tazza]

When in the seat, look at the left panel. with the machine started, lower the seat bar, does the light light up? This is when you generally press the green button then the click and you can move.
I'd suspect the seat bar sensor isn't working so it won't unlock the machine.
If you press the traction lock button, the brake should snap off, but the hydraulics will still be locked.

 

[hotdogboy]

When in the seat, look at the left panel. with the machine started, lower the seat bar, does the light light up? This is when you generally press the green button then the click and you can move.
I'd suspect the seat bar sensor isn't working so it won't unlock the machine.
If you press the traction lock button, the brake should snap off, but the hydraulics will still be locked.

Thank you!...I'll check it out first thing tomorrow morning. If that's it is it a simple fix?

 

[Tazza]

Thank you!...I'll check it out first thing tomorrow morning. If that's it is it a simple fix?

If it is, replacing the sender isn't too hard. The location does make it fiddly to do, a helper may be of assistance.
They use a haul effect sensor i think. It has 3 wires and uses a magnet to know when it's in the right position to release the safety locks. Some times the plactic locators can break off which makes the magnet not sit in just the right spot to tell the machine it's down.
If the light doesn;t come on, take the sensor out with the magnet. Plug it in and rotate the magnet with the ignition on and see if the light lights up. If it does, the sender is ok, it's all just out of alignment. If not, it's possible the sender is bad, that or a wiring issue.
Hopefully it will be easy as the sender.

 

[hotdogboy]

If it is, replacing the sender isn't too hard. The location does make it fiddly to do, a helper may be of assistance.
They use a haul effect sensor i think. It has 3 wires and uses a magnet to know when it's in the right position to release the safety locks. Some times the plactic locators can break off which makes the magnet not sit in just the right spot to tell the machine it's down.
If the light doesn;t come on, take the sensor out with the magnet. Plug it in and rotate the magnet with the ignition on and see if the light lights up. If it does, the sender is ok, it's all just out of alignment. If not, it's possible the sender is bad, that or a wiring issue.
Hopefully it will be easy as the sender.

Ok I checked the seat bar light which is fine...but I think I found the problem...it has no hydro oil in it now, I knew that it leaked motor oil but it's pretty obvious that it leaks hyrdraulic fluid too. I put 1.5 gallons in it yesterday before use because it was low. Also there a red light on up top (theres two of them the bottom one is on..it has a star like symbol on it) when started...I thought it was motor oil light but I'm guessing it's a hydro fluid light? Will the hyrdraulics stop working if it has no fluid in it?...I'm guessing so!

 

[Tazza]

Ok I checked the seat bar light which is fine...but I think I found the problem...it has no hydro oil in it now, I knew that it leaked motor oil but it's pretty obvious that it leaks hyrdraulic fluid too. I put 1.5 gallons in it yesterday before use because it was low. Also there a red light on up top (theres two of them the bottom one is on..it has a star like symbol on it) when started...I thought it was motor oil light but I'm guessing it's a hydro fluid light? Will the hyrdraulics stop working if it has no fluid in it?...I'm guessing so!

One will probably be engine oil pressure, the other is hydraulic oil.
If it was low on oil it would stop, i thought it would also shut the machine down....
Is there an external leak? if not, sounds like it's going into your chain case.

 

[hotdogboy]

One will probably be engine oil pressure, the other is hydraulic oil.
If it was low on oil it would stop, i thought it would also shut the machine down....
Is there an external leak? if not, sounds like it's going into your chain case.

Yea it's an external leak...it drips out the back of the motor compartment. But can't tell where it's coming from. Is it possible that if I fill the hydro oil back up that the bucket might start working again? The fluid isn't even registering on the dip stick it's that low. & the motor never shut down but the hydraulics went from working fine to nothing...is that like a safety so you don't do serious damage?

 

[Tazza]

Yea it's an external leak...it drips out the back of the motor compartment. But can't tell where it's coming from. Is it possible that if I fill the hydro oil back up that the bucket might start working again? The fluid isn't even registering on the dip stick it's that low. & the motor never shut down but the hydraulics went from working fine to nothing...is that like a safety so you don't do serious damage?

It's somewhere to start, top it off and see what it does.
It should have a pressure sender so when the oil pressure is low, it warns you and the computer and shuts down. That is if the sender is functional

 

[hotdogboy]

It's somewhere to start, top it off and see what it does.
It should have a pressure sender so when the oil pressure is low, it warns you and the computer and shuts down. That is if the sender is functional

Thank you for all your help!...very much appreciated! I'll give that a shot...should I just be able to fill it and give it a shot or is there any bleeding process?...also the bucket is just dragging on the ground it's not in an up position or anything.

 

[Tazza]

Thank you for all your help!...very much appreciated! I'll give that a shot...should I just be able to fill it and give it a shot or is there any bleeding process?...also the bucket is just dragging on the ground it's not in an up position or anything.

It will self bleed.
Hopefully the oil will allow you to lift the bucket.....

 

[hotdogboy]

It will self bleed.
Hopefully the oil will allow you to lift the bucket.....

Ok so I put 3.5 gallons of hydro oil in it and it still not showing on the dip stick...and now there's a small pool of oil by the right foot pedal. I also started it and obviously the light is still on & now it won't drive or do anything but start up, so I'm guessing it's shut down? So now what are my options it's obviously leaking somewhere, what are the typical problems with these symptoms? Thanks

 

[Tazza]

Ok so I put 3.5 gallons of hydro oil in it and it still not showing on the dip stick...and now there's a small pool of oil by the right foot pedal. I also started it and obviously the light is still on & now it won't drive or do anything but start up, so I'm guessing it's shut down? So now what are my options it's obviously leaking somewhere, what are the typical problems with these symptoms? Thanks

Lift the cab and look at the hoses. It could be any of them really. The high pressure one is the main suspect, but any of them can split with age and use.