Howdy folks, new member here. The last few days have been very hectic and very nerve racking buying our first skid steer. We settled on a Deere at first, but right before delivery the dealership called and said that 2 of the options we wanted were not on the machine. They continued to try and force us into the machine and it took some severe talk to get them to return my down payment check. So we went to a bobcat dealer without having researched too extensively. Bad on our part. We found a machine after much searching that had everything we wanted except it had the SJC controls. We were looking for foot controls purely to save some cash. We ended up with a brand new 2009 S220 with cab, heat, air, power detach, and SJC controls. Now that I am awaiting delivery, I am getting worried reading many horror stories about SJC failures. Is there a lot of issues on the 2009 machines? Derrick
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Derrick
Get as much warranty on the sjc as you can out of them, they offer 3 years on a new machine, not sure on the 09. Also try to get a discount on parts and ask what a joystick costs and how much labour to replace and recalibrate it (which a dealer must do with their software and laptop. If you can't get warranty try to get a replacement cost in writting over a acceptable period.
I don't know that they are that failure prone, but have heard $2500 give of take to change a joystick. And when they quit, you are not going to be able to fix it yourself, you will likely be winching it on a rolloff tow truck.
Where as the std control machines don't fail and if they did any mechanic could fix you up for a few hundred. Personaly I have avoided sjc, but if thats all you can find and you need one asap, then what do you do?
The new machine have 3 years on the hand controls for a reason, and the extra cost up front is not a plus at resale time, at least not in a private sale.
Ken
Get as much warranty on the sjc as you can out of them, they offer 3 years on a new machine, not sure on the 09. Also try to get a discount on parts and ask what a joystick costs and how much labour to replace and recalibrate it (which a dealer must do with their software and laptop. If you can't get warranty try to get a replacement cost in writting over a acceptable period.
I don't know that they are that failure prone, but have heard $2500 give of take to change a joystick. And when they quit, you are not going to be able to fix it yourself, you will likely be winching it on a rolloff tow truck.
Where as the std control machines don't fail and if they did any mechanic could fix you up for a few hundred. Personaly I have avoided sjc, but if thats all you can find and you need one asap, then what do you do?
The new machine have 3 years on the hand controls for a reason, and the extra cost up front is not a plus at resale time, at least not in a private sale.
Ken
It does have the 3 year SJC warranty. We don't have to worry too much about down time as the machine will not be making any money for us. I expect to put about 50 hours a year on the machine.
Good advise from Ken. You may be one of the lucky ones and have no issues over the life of the machine. Some have had nightmares, but not all.
You will sure enjoy your new toy, it may be a good idea to trade it just before the 3 years is up too......
Good advice guys. I just got off of the phone with a contrator friend of mine that owns three Bobcats. 2 of which have SJC controls. One is an '08 and the other an '09 he has well over a thousand trouble free hours on both machines. He has been very happy with them. He was actually unaware that there were even lots of failures on the SJC's. I think we will roll the dice and pray we get a good one. We seem to do that every time we buy a brand new vehicle as well. LOL
