Hello

[Bonez]

Hello everyone, Im new to the forum. I am mechanically inclined and will be acquiring a FORD skid steer from my Father in Law that he bought at an auction a few years back. At the time he said it ran on 1 cylinder and has sat in the field for a few years now since he has a new tracked Bobcat now.
I dont know anything about the machine yet and he doesnt as well, so I am hoping to learn as I go from everyone here as well as help others where I can. I will know more in a few weeks when I get down there to drag it out and back up to my property. Im hoping I can get it to run otherwise we will be pulling it with either a tractor or the bobcat if we have to take it over there, my neighbor has an excavator to help unload it here if needed. Anyways enough of that for now, excited to get this as it will help out greatly with grading my gravel drive and putting in a larger garden on my 6 acres. I look forwards to meeting the great people here for help and share our knowledge on fixing these machines.
Im not new to operating them as I worked operating heavy equipment doing Main lays and repairs before all the fancy controls and my cousin had an old Mustang with the T handle control.... crazy thing Bucked if you pushed it too hard and I am somewhat experienced with Hydraulic system from working in a Machine shop on various hydraulic machinery. Im almost betting the machine needs rewired sitting in the field as Im sure mice got to it but electrical is no issue as I built street rods for several years as a hobby in my garage... just a new adventure for me with the skid steer to make work around the homestead easier.
Thanks for having me and Hopefully soon ill be tearing up some stuff.

 

[mrbb]

welcome to the site and best of luck getting your new to you machine up and running

 

[skidsteerforum]

Hello everyone, Im new to the forum. I am mechanically inclined and will be acquiring a FORD skid steer from my Father in Law that he bought at an auction a few years back. At the time he said it ran on 1 cylinder and has sat in the field for a few years now since he has a new tracked Bobcat now. I dont know anything about the machine yet and he doesnt as well, so I am hoping to learn as I go from everyone here as well as help others where I can. I will know more in a few weeks when I get down t...

Best of luck with your acquisition. I hope it won't need a lot of mods and repairs. But do share with us when you get it and have done your diagnosis.

 

[Bonez]

Bets of luck with your acquisition. I hope it won't need a lot of mods and repairs. But do share with us when you get it and have done your diagnosis.

Thanks and I will. Once I get down there and get looking at it ( find out what battery and fuel I need ) and get pictures of the tags and info so I can research it better. I really hope it wont take much to at least get it started as it ran before barely... probly drain the fuel and prime with new, looking for a spare battery or Ill buy a jump box to use out in the field? The only big concern is getting it on the gooseneck trailer and hauling it 2 hours home on a 2 lane curvy backroad highway... unless I go out of the way to hit the main highway which would make it a 3+ hour drive home.... Ill see omce loaded how it feels. FIL has a Diesel F350 and I have a 1500 Ram but his trailer is a gooseneck.... If we cant get the trailer fixed then I may have to borrow my neighbors trailer that will fit my Hitch 20ft with brakes. If worst case I may have to call a rollback which I dont want to do $$$$ as Gas and Diesel is high enough already. Wish me luck LOL And Thank you all for the warm welcome.

 

[skidsteerforum]

Best of lluck then. If you have questions along the way, just post them.

 

[Bonez]

Best of lluck then. If you have questions along the way, just post them.

Thank you, Im sure Ill have many once I get it. I went today and bought a jumpbox, carb cleaner and starting fluid. Ill take my big gas can along as Im sure it needs drained and fresh fuel as well. Grabing a bunch of test tools as well as tools to wrench on it before dragging it out and onto the trailer ( just hoping to make it easier under its own power ) Looking like the first part of june will be my trip down there to bring it back.

 

[skidsteerforum]

That's a good start.

 

[Bonez]

That's a good start.

Also snagged a battery today as well, should help with getting power to everything hopefully. Im dragging my tools along as I dont think my FIL has much, just so we are not spending more time digging than working. Is there anything I should take besides the basics ( test meter and light, sockets, wrenches, pilers, screw drivers, carb cleaner/starting fluid, battery charger/jump box and battery, fuel pump to remove fuel from machine, tow chain ) and small air compressor/extension cord to air tires.

 

[skidsteerforum]

Not that I can think of. Given your background, I think you can handle bringing this machine back to life. Best of luck on the retrieval trip this June!

 

[Bonez]

Not that I can think of. Given your background, I think you can handle bringing this machine back to life. Best of luck on the retrieval trip this June!

Thamk you

 

[SkidTracks]

Is there anything I should take besides the basics ( test meter and light, sockets, wrenches, pilers, screw drivers, carb cleaner/starting fluid, battery charger/jump box and battery, fuel pump to remove fuel from machine, tow chain ) and small air compressor/extension cord to air tires.

Sorry this is probably to late.

I would take a 15,000 pound winch and a snatch block to double the pulling power. May be only way to get skid steer loaded on a trailer.
Might even require a push from behind to get skid steer up the ramps to flat part, with winch doubled up.

Best of luck.

 

[Bonez]

Sorry this is probably to late.

I would take a 15,000 pound winch and a snatch block to double the pulling power. May be only way to get skid steer loaded on a trailer.
Might even require a push from behind to get skid steer up the ramps to flat part, with winch doubled up.

Best of luck.

FIL has a winch on his gooseneck and snatch blocks, he also has a large tractor and a big Bobcat he will bring over if needed to load/pull out of the field.... Im really optimistic that I can get it fired up under its own power but no telling what the field did to it in the past few years of sitting. I should take a first aid kit too LOL

 

[MX727]

If it won't start, you will have to loosen the lines to the drive motors to remove the hydraulic pressure and allow the drive motors to turn. Otherwise you will be dragging it and that is no fun and makes for a very hard pull.

 

[Bonez]

If it won't start, you will have to loosen the lines to the drive motors to remove the hydraulic pressure and allow the drive motors to turn. Otherwise you will be dragging it and that is no fun and makes for a very hard pull.

Thank you for that info. I seen on youtube people dragging them with locked up wheels and wondered why they didnt roll.

 

[Bonez]

If it won't start, you will have to loosen the lines to the drive motors to remove the hydraulic pressure and allow the drive motors to turn. Otherwise you will be dragging it and that is no fun and makes for a very hard pull.

Just to clarify as Im trying to find details, I am assuming they are flexible lines (2) on each side going to rear wheels? or do I loosen the lines at the pumps ( I dont know which would be easier ) not worried about any messes as it will need to be cleaned up anyways and Ill probly drain the tanks for fresh fluids as well.

 

[MX727]

I'm not positive on this machine. I've also seen reports of some old Gehl machines freewheeling. Evidentially those machines have drum brakes. I guess the first thing I'd do is give it a pull and see if the wheels turn. Otherwise, there should be some lines at the drive motors.

Maybe disconnecting at the pump would work. Since it would probably be easier, it is worth a try. Be aware that when you do that all cylinders could also be free to move, so watch out if the arms are up or bucket is curled.

Take some pictures for us also.

 

[Bonez]

I'm not positive on this machine. I've also seen reports of some old Gehl machines freewheeling. Evidentially those machines have drum brakes. I guess the first thing I'd do is give it a pull and see if the wheels turn. Otherwise, there should be some lines at the drive motors.

Maybe disconnecting at the pump would work. Since it would probably be easier, it is worth a try. Be aware that when you do that all cylinders could also be free to move, so watch out if the arms are up or bucket is curled.

Take some pictures for us also.

Thank you , Im sure the arms are down and all but yes I will consider all safety issues before we start climbing around on it and wrenching. I really hope we can get it to fire and run under its own power and limp out. He says its a 2 cylinder but all my research finds is 4 cylinders, FIL is old and his memory isnt the greatest although he bought it at auction he should have known a little more details but again he hasnt seen the machine since picking it up and taken it to his old property 5 years ago. Im just happy to get a machine so I can get stuff done around here eventually ( Grade my gravel drive ) and who knows what else maybe clean up the dump area and bury it ( old scrap lumber, limbs ) and if strong enough push over a few dead trees around the house.

Ive seen a few metal tracks pop up on Marketplace between $300-$500 close to me and debated snagging them.... I have a wet weather pond that will fill up in heavy rains but drains down about a foot a day, and is usually dry in the summer. over the past 6 years it has been filling with gravel from washouts of the neighbors uphill from me as I think they would work better than tires alone in there to get the gravel out ? What are the thoughts on the metal tracks?

 

[Bonez]

Well, doesnt look like this is going to happen this week sadly....mother nature making a mess of things lol

 

[Maddogsmotorsports]

Just curious what engine does is have in it?

 

[Bonez]

Just curious what engine does is have in it?

No idea until I get down there to see it. FIL says its a 2 cylinder but everything I find doing a blind search points to 4 cylinder engine. He is old and I assume he just glanced and seen part of the engine as he bought if from auction, dragged it home and parked it in the field. he said it did run on 1 cylinder so it was able to drive onto and off the trailer but boom struggled a bit to lift due to lack of engine power and that was 5 years ago.