Looking at Bobcat 864 TL

[dozer]

I am looking at moving from a skidsteer to a track loader for my buisness of cleaning barns. Some barns in the spring are no more than pits and the extra flotation from the tracks would I feel be helpful. That brings me to my primary question. I have a local dealer selling a 864 bobcat with cab and heat. The bucket is in good shape and the tracks seem to have most of their tread left. What I would like to know is 1. I believe this was Bobcats first attempt at a tracked skidsteer and how did it go? 2. What things should I look for whil test driving a used Track Loader. It has 2500 hours and was previously owned by a landscaping company. thanks Dozer

 

[Fishfiles]

Yes the 864 was the prototype or guinne pig if you will , I'd look at driv train , idlers , rollers ans sprockets , that's where the money can go , check the drive motors and see if they have been upgraded , you can tell by the sprocket , if the off set from the flat face of the sprocket to the face of the hub is 2 inches it's the old style and I'd stay away from the machine , if the off set is 4 inches it's the newer style , I doubt a 864 with 2500 hours still has the original travel motors but you never know

 

[Iowa Dave]

You've already been warned about the early drive motors-heed that advice. I would really question buying a tracked loader for cleaning barns-- 1)you will spend TONS of time trying to wash out all the crap (literally) from up in behind the undercarriage 2) MAYBE--I still wouldn't for your application-- if you are keeping your SSL, but if you are trading/selling your wheeled machine, you will really regret having a tracked loader as your only machine 3) You better have a heated parking spot in the winter. Otherwise a tracked machine will be frozen and immobile unless you spend LOTS and LOTS of time cleaning it any time you get in mud/manure. 4) Spinning around loading spreaders will tear up the tracks PRONTO. You must operate a CTL different than a SSL--more ""round" turns, and stay off concrete, or $4-5 K for new tracks. It took a while to get the tracked machines fairly dependable, and an 864 isn't in that camp. If its only soupy for while in the spring, why not rent a CTL for a month each spring??

 

[dozer]

So you feel it would be wise for me to invest in some steel tracks for that particular season then? I also do some work for people in town landscaping, removing rock and such. I imagine the steel tracks must destroy grass, sidewalks, and driveways? what do you think? And although I have read dang near every post in the CTL threads. If you wouldn't want a CTL for working in soupy manure. Which is as soft as anything I have ever worked in. What would you want it for. Is all the 90 and 180 degree turns you do in a barn that hard on the machines? I guess that would bring me to my next question. If all the pinpoint turns are that hard on a CTL how hard are they on a SS with steel tracks? thanks for all the help so far. ANd sorry about all the questions I am just trying to get some ideas. Although on that 864G there will be one dissapointed Bobcat salesman. thanks Dozer

 

[Fishfiles]

So you feel it would be wise for me to invest in some steel tracks for that particular season then? I also do some work for people in town landscaping, removing rock and such. I imagine the steel tracks must destroy grass, sidewalks, and driveways? what do you think? And although I have read dang near every post in the CTL threads. If you wouldn't want a CTL for working in soupy manure. Which is as soft as anything I have ever worked in. What would you want it for. Is all the 90 and 180 degree turns you do in a barn that hard on the machines? I guess that would bring me to my next question. If all the pinpoint turns are that hard on a CTL how hard are they on a SS with steel tracks? thanks for all the help so far. ANd sorry about all the questions I am just trying to get some ideas. Although on that 864G there will be one dissapointed Bobcat salesman. thanks Dozer

There are situations where either or would do the job , sometimes one better than the other , but in the end it's a trade off and the one that had the least problems and cost would be the best , go with the machine that suits your need the biggest percentage of the time ------ from what it sound to me you want to achieve I'd say stay away from the 864 especially or any tracked loader and use tracks over the tires , the long term maintance / repairs cost is going to be a lot less , they are expensive but steel tracks with rubber inserts are nice to work on pavement jobs where damage is required to a minimal but where out fast , compared up keep on a T series machine especially used and the amount it sounds you need it , wheels and ott tracks -------yeah , steel tracks do a number on lawns

 

[bobcat_ron]

There are situations where either or would do the job , sometimes one better than the other , but in the end it's a trade off and the one that had the least problems and cost would be the best , go with the machine that suits your need the biggest percentage of the time ------ from what it sound to me you want to achieve I'd say stay away from the 864 especially or any tracked loader and use tracks over the tires , the long term maintance / repairs cost is going to be a lot less , they are expensive but steel tracks with rubber inserts are nice to work on pavement jobs where damage is required to a minimal but where out fast , compared up keep on a T series machine especially used and the amount it sounds you need it , wheels and ott tracks -------yeah , steel tracks do a number on lawns

Don't do it, a CTL will have issues with the drive motors when packed with manure, even my Cat MTL I am nervous and I pressure wash the entire undercarriage immediately after.
My recommendation is steel OTT tracks with rubber pads, that way your drive motors are inside and better protected.