Filling Chain Case

[2leo]

Recent owner of a Bobcat 853, The idiot light for the chain case fluid is on and not sure how to fill. Checked all the other fluid levels, they are fine. Any help would be appreciated. Also where to get a cheap service manual. Thanks

 

[mrfixitpaul]

Check the chaincase oil be removing the plug in the front of the chaincase with 1/2" ratchet. should be able to touch it with your finger when parked level. However, there is no idiot light for the chaincase. Just for the engine or the hydraulics/hydrostats. Check the hyd oil with the dipstick just behind the cab up high, can't remember which side. Again there is no idiot light to let you know the hyd oil level is low either, just sensors for temperature, pressure, and plugged filters.

 

[Tazza]

Check the chaincase oil be removing the plug in the front of the chaincase with 1/2" ratchet. should be able to touch it with your finger when parked level. However, there is no idiot light for the chaincase. Just for the engine or the hydraulics/hydrostats. Check the hyd oil with the dipstick just behind the cab up high, can't remember which side. Again there is no idiot light to let you know the hyd oil level is low either, just sensors for temperature, pressure, and plugged filters.

To fill the chain case you can fill through the plug at the front used to check oil level or you can remove the plate on the top of the chain case that you can see when sitting in the seat. If you disturb this cover, you must ensure its sealed when you put it back on to prevent water getting in there.
I have filled through the plug before, its a slow process but did work. I used a 20l drum with a tap and hose attached. Ran the hose through the plug and waited..... It eventually got there, saved me pulling the cover off.

 

[2leo]

Engine oil seemed fine according to dipstick. It is the idiot light that has a drop of oil surrounded by a sprocket or wheel. Thanks for the speedy replies.

 

[mrfixitpaul]

Engine oil seemed fine according to dipstick. It is the idiot light that has a drop of oil surrounded by a sprocket or wheel. Thanks for the speedy replies.

That would be the light for the Hyds. Have you checked the Hyd oil level?

 

[skidsteer.ca]

That would be the light for the Hyds. Have you checked the Hyd oil level?

That light can indicate a plugged hydraulic filter, low or no charge pressure.
If you have no chagre pressure the machine will not move.
Does the machine still operate? or have you shut it down because the light is on?
If its a filter problem sometime the light is off at a idle but comes on when the engine speed is increased. This light can also be on if the main drive belt to the pumps broke or is slipping, which results in no drive of the pumps and hence no charge pressure.
There are no idiot lights for any fluid level on a 853.
Ken

 

[Tazza]

That light can indicate a plugged hydraulic filter, low or no charge pressure.
If you have no chagre pressure the machine will not move.
Does the machine still operate? or have you shut it down because the light is on?
If its a filter problem sometime the light is off at a idle but comes on when the engine speed is increased. This light can also be on if the main drive belt to the pumps broke or is slipping, which results in no drive of the pumps and hence no charge pressure.
There are no idiot lights for any fluid level on a 853.
Ken

Could even be a bad sender.
I find that some times with my 743 the charge pressure light will come on when the machine is warm and i drop the arms too fast and move. You can feel the sticks sort of bite, its not smooth like normal operation, its like the levers are fighting you and its rougher because the rotating groups in the pump are smacking against the swash plate. Hard to describe, but if its doing this, its BAD. If it does it a lot it will cause damage, rotating groups are not cheap!
Also, when the machine is cold, it can do this when the oil is a little thick, let it warm up a bit before use or go easy on it.

 

[2leo]

That would be the light for the Hyds. Have you checked the Hyd oil level?

I checked the hydro fluid when the light first came on and it was good. In the winter months when I used machine to plow with occasionally the Hydro light would go on at start up but would go off within minutes. Hadent used machine before yesterday for better part of a month. The light went off for a few minutes when I was first using machine, but turned back on after I restarted and never turned back off. The machine seems to be running just fine, no lack of power that I can tell. I guess from what you all are telling me I should replace filter and hopefully that is it???

 

[mrfixitpaul]

I checked the hydro fluid when the light first came on and it was good. In the winter months when I used machine to plow with occasionally the Hydro light would go on at start up but would go off within minutes. Hadent used machine before yesterday for better part of a month. The light went off for a few minutes when I was first using machine, but turned back on after I restarted and never turned back off. The machine seems to be running just fine, no lack of power that I can tell. I guess from what you all are telling me I should replace filter and hopefully that is it???

That's a good place to start. There are 2 spin on filters under the cab, a little tough to get at. Be warned...one of the filters will dump a LOT of oil when removed....may be less messy to drain the hyd tank before removing the filter, or at least pinch off the supply hose from the tank.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

That's a good place to start. There are 2 spin on filters under the cab, a little tough to get at. Be warned...one of the filters will dump a LOT of oil when removed....may be less messy to drain the hyd tank before removing the filter, or at least pinch off the supply hose from the tank.

It could be as simple as a wire that has wore through and is grounding against the frame turning the light on.
Look for a sender at the filters, turn the key on, (don't start engine) light should be on, then unhook wire from sender, light should go out as it gets a ground from the sendor when there is no pressure, if it stays on you have a bare spot in the wire grounding it and giving you a false light.
If the light goes out when you unhook the sender, then try a new sender or srew a 200 psi guage in place of the sender and check you charge pressure.
Ken