Eliminating the technology on an L180 to increase dependability

[mikeysp]

Howdy gents. I own a 2006 L180 with little more than a 1000 hours. When it works properly it serves me VERY well. It seems the weakness of my machine is in the electrical side. It is to a point where I do not want to take it anywhere but my own property as I worry it will shutdown elsewhere and create a much larger headache than I currently have. A couple weeks ago it screcched to a halt and the engine died. Restarted and ran a few minutes and STOP/died. Started again, 30 seconds stop dead. Now it will not start. When looking for trouble shooting, it seems I am not the first to experience electrical headaches with NH Skid. This has not been my first problem either. Why not rewire this machine to operate without the computer brain? Put in some relays and warning lights that utilize the various switches to light an LED to "inform you" rather than shut down the machine. Easy enough to keep the seat and safetybelt switches operational. I am asking this because I have not seen anyone offer this idea as a solution. I am by no means a real mechanic, so what am I missing? Thank you. -Mike

 

[Mike10]

Because the problem is probably not the instrument panel. There are relays, diodes and switches more likely to be your problem. You need to be more specific on the problem. Does the engine crank? The most common cause of the engine cranking but not starting is the auxillary hydraulics handle or foot pedal is not in the neutral position. This can also be the casue of the random shutdowns. The system is setup to shut the engine down if the aux hydraulics is engaged and the operator leaves the seat without pushing the aux over ride switch on the instrument panel. If bouncing over rough groud the operator can leave the seat momentarily and trigger the shut down. Lock the aux handle or foot pedal so you do not inadvertantly engage them. For a wiring diagram with the circuits color coded you can go to haytalk.com, forum, machinery and click on my pinned post at the top of the forum page titeled My NH Repair etc. Scroll down the first post in that thread to the skid loader section and find the link for the early L100 diagrams. You will need to join the forum to view.