Bobcat not turning over

[petbob]

Hello, I'm working on an older skid steer bobcat that I'm trying to start. I believe its a 700 series diesel. It's been sitting for about a year and the battery is completely dead. We hooked up battery cables to it and it did turn over but there was a grinding sound coming from the back and it jerked sideways a bit. Also the left stick was vibrating when this happened. It then refuses to turn over. There is a clicking sound when this happens and it sounds like it's coming from the engine compartment throttle. It goes in and out as if someone is pumping the throttle. I guess it does this when starting??? If I keep turning the key I sometimes get lucky and it kicks over wanting to start but then just stops kicking over like it has a bad battery. Trying again and the same clicking noise but the starter doesn't turn over. It almost seems like it's stuck in gear or something is holding the starter from turning over. I also notice that one joy stick is a little more forward than the other. Not sure if this is normal?? Sometimes at the end of the starting sequence I get 3 beeps. Not sure what they mean. Also is there anyway to disconnect the hydraulics to the tires so I can move it easily. Thanks

 

[wbecker]

There is no "easy" way to disconnect the hydraulics to move the machine. We need more information as to what model it is. Does the engine sit sideways, or front to back? Is there a metal tag with the model info on it? In any case you need to start with a good fully charged battery, with out jumper cables. Bill B

 

[petbob]

There is no "easy" way to disconnect the hydraulics to move the machine. We need more information as to what model it is. Does the engine sit sideways, or front to back? Is there a metal tag with the model info on it? In any case you need to start with a good fully charged battery, with out jumper cables. Bill B

It's a diesel engine and sits sideways. on the left side where the starter is there is a cover held on with clips. There is a belt under that cover which I think drives the pump??? I haven't noticed a tag on the engine but will have another look and see. Is there a way to turn over the engine by hand to see if the engine is good on a diesel engine?

 

[reaperman]

It's a diesel engine and sits sideways. on the left side where the starter is there is a cover held on with clips. There is a belt under that cover which I think drives the pump??? I haven't noticed a tag on the engine but will have another look and see. Is there a way to turn over the engine by hand to see if the engine is good on a diesel engine?

Look on the top of the valve cover, there is suppose to be a metal tag giving the engine model. Also on one side of the bobcat there should be a serial # tag with the model number. If your hearing beeps, the bobcat should be sending a service code to the LED display that also displays the engine hours. But with a dead battery that window may not be displaying anything. Do yourself a favor and put a good battery in machine or if your planning on getting it running, buy a new one. A decent car battery will be enough for the machine. You could disconnect that drive belt you found that is driven by the flywheel and turn the flywheel to check the engine like you mentioned. Keep us posted

 

[petbob]

Look on the top of the valve cover, there is suppose to be a metal tag giving the engine model. Also on one side of the bobcat there should be a serial # tag with the model number. If your hearing beeps, the bobcat should be sending a service code to the LED display that also displays the engine hours. But with a dead battery that window may not be displaying anything. Do yourself a favor and put a good battery in machine or if your planning on getting it running, buy a new one. A decent car battery will be enough for the machine. You could disconnect that drive belt you found that is driven by the flywheel and turn the flywheel to check the engine like you mentioned. Keep us posted

I will try and remove the belt and see if it turns over. I don't see any error codes when it does the 3 beeps. It just displays the hours but I will check to be certain. I'm thinking that the hydraulics are stuck on or not set to the neutral position and that's why it wont turn over. My biggest concern is moving it. It's hard to believe that there is no hydraulic disconnect so these things can be towed. Will keep you posted.

 

[Tazza]

I will try and remove the belt and see if it turns over. I don't see any error codes when it does the 3 beeps. It just displays the hours but I will check to be certain. I'm thinking that the hydraulics are stuck on or not set to the neutral position and that's why it wont turn over. My biggest concern is moving it. It's hard to believe that there is no hydraulic disconnect so these things can be towed. Will keep you posted.

Sounds like a newer 7 series machine.
If you lift it so all 4 wheels are off the ground, you can disengage the brake and the wheels will be free to turn if it's out of neutral. There should be a brake dedal on the floor or a button on the cab that says traction lock. You should be able to hit this and there will be a click under the seat.
Removing the belt will help get the engine going without a load, not a bad place to start.

 

[petbob]

Sounds like a newer 7 series machine.
If you lift it so all 4 wheels are off the ground, you can disengage the brake and the wheels will be free to turn if it's out of neutral. There should be a brake dedal on the floor or a button on the cab that says traction lock. You should be able to hit this and there will be a click under the seat.
Removing the belt will help get the engine going without a load, not a bad place to start.

I was working on it again today. I removed the belt cover and turned the flywheel by hand and the motor turned over. It was a little stiff but it moved. I then pumped the primer ball and turned the key. It starts but only runs on the primed fuel. I also noticed a fuel leak coming from under the engine. It happens when I pump the primer ball. I can see fuel coming down the left side of the engine compartment where the battery is. There is a step there and it leaks down from there. I'm hoping its a fuel line and not the tank but not sure how to get to the fuel line. Does the engine need to come out??? I finally did get it to start without priming but the joy sticks make this awful chattering sound and move to the forward position on there own and then the engine just stalls. When this happens the loader try's to move forward. It wont start again until I fiddle with the joy sticks and get them in the correct neutral position. Once it starts it does the same joy stick moving on its own thing. I also noticed there is no fuel cap. The owner doesn't know what happened to it as its been sitting for a long time. Does the fuel tank need to be pressurized for the bobcat to run properly? Any ideas on why the joy stick chattering and moving forward on their own? The engine is a kabota diesel. The tag said ev or v or something like that. I wrote it down but left it behind.

 

[Tazza]

I was working on it again today. I removed the belt cover and turned the flywheel by hand and the motor turned over. It was a little stiff but it moved. I then pumped the primer ball and turned the key. It starts but only runs on the primed fuel. I also noticed a fuel leak coming from under the engine. It happens when I pump the primer ball. I can see fuel coming down the left side of the engine compartment where the battery is. There is a step there and it leaks down from there. I'm hoping its a fuel line and not the tank but not sure how to get to the fuel line. Does the engine need to come out??? I finally did get it to start without priming but the joy sticks make this awful chattering sound and move to the forward position on there own and then the engine just stalls. When this happens the loader try's to move forward. It wont start again until I fiddle with the joy sticks and get them in the correct neutral position. Once it starts it does the same joy stick moving on its own thing. I also noticed there is no fuel cap. The owner doesn't know what happened to it as its been sitting for a long time. Does the fuel tank need to be pressurized for the bobcat to run properly? Any ideas on why the joy stick chattering and moving forward on their own? The engine is a kabota diesel. The tag said ev or v or something like that. I wrote it down but left it behind.

Get the machine blocked and brake off, the sticks will not throw themselves forward and stall the machine.
The fuel could be the tap off line. There will be one hose through the filter/lift pump to the injector pump, there will be another from the injectors back to the fuel tank, this is the line thay could be leaking.
Ensure the belld screw is tightened after you have the air out. If not, it will not stay running.
The tank doesn't need pressure, it has a lift pump to suck it out. As the cab has been off for a while, there may be rubbish in there, but the filter will catch it. Worst case, the screen will plug up.
This tank is under the engine? if so yes, you will need to pull the engine if you want to clean the tank right out. There is a plug under the belly that you can get a lot of crud out of, especially water if you don't need to give it a real good clean out.

 

[petbob]

Get the machine blocked and brake off, the sticks will not throw themselves forward and stall the machine.
The fuel could be the tap off line. There will be one hose through the filter/lift pump to the injector pump, there will be another from the injectors back to the fuel tank, this is the line thay could be leaking.
Ensure the belld screw is tightened after you have the air out. If not, it will not stay running.
The tank doesn't need pressure, it has a lift pump to suck it out. As the cab has been off for a while, there may be rubbish in there, but the filter will catch it. Worst case, the screen will plug up.
This tank is under the engine? if so yes, you will need to pull the engine if you want to clean the tank right out. There is a plug under the belly that you can get a lot of crud out of, especially water if you don't need to give it a real good clean out.

By "blocked" do you mean something in front of the tires? and "brake off" is the red parking brake switch? The tank is under the engine and I really don't want to remove the engine if it can be avoided. Would I be able to get to the tank fuel lines if I lift the cab off? Sorry for all the questions but I'm new to this skid steer stuff.

 

[Tazza]

By "blocked" do you mean something in front of the tires? and "brake off" is the red parking brake switch? The tank is under the engine and I really don't want to remove the engine if it can be avoided. Would I be able to get to the tank fuel lines if I lift the cab off? Sorry for all the questions but I'm new to this skid steer stuff.

By blocked, I mean car sands under the axle tubes to get the tyres off the ground so they can move without the machine moving too.
The red switch should be the brake.
The cab off won't help with the fuel lines, they go from the fuel tank up to the filter/lift pump then back down to the tank.
No worries about questions, we all need to learn somehow.

 

[petbob]

By blocked, I mean car sands under the axle tubes to get the tyres off the ground so they can move without the machine moving too.
The red switch should be the brake.
The cab off won't help with the fuel lines, they go from the fuel tank up to the filter/lift pump then back down to the tank.
No worries about questions, we all need to learn somehow.

I had another look at it and raised it off the ground. I went to start it and it wont turn over long enough to start due to the left joystick which has a mind of it's own. When I crank the engine the joystick goes forward on its own. Just now with it raised it doesn't jerk. If I play with the joy stick and find the sweet spot I can start it but as soon as I let go of the stick it throws itself forward and the engine stalls. can this be a bad hydro pump or does anyone know what's causing this? It's a 2000 773 turbo

 

[Tazza]

I had another look at it and raised it off the ground. I went to start it and it wont turn over long enough to start due to the left joystick which has a mind of it's own. When I crank the engine the joystick goes forward on its own. Just now with it raised it doesn't jerk. If I play with the joy stick and find the sweet spot I can start it but as soon as I let go of the stick it throws itself forward and the engine stalls. can this be a bad hydro pump or does anyone know what's causing this? It's a 2000 773 turbo

The steering linkages are our of adjustment, that's all. There is a centering spring and blocks that set neutral. Over time, the stops wear, the neutral is out so the drive motors fight against the brake then stall the machine.
With it blocked, press the button to disengage the park brake, even if the steering lever moves forward, the wheels will turn allowing the engine to keep running. I assume it moves forwarn then stalls as the brake is on?

 

[wbecker]

The steering linkages are our of adjustment, that's all. There is a centering spring and blocks that set neutral. Over time, the stops wear, the neutral is out so the drive motors fight against the brake then stall the machine.
With it blocked, press the button to disengage the park brake, even if the steering lever moves forward, the wheels will turn allowing the engine to keep running. I assume it moves forwarn then stalls as the brake is on?

Maybe you have a brake release problem? As well as the steering problem that Tazza talked about.