new to me ls180: drive motor or pump problem? please read

[dondiesel444]

I recently pickup up an '04 ls180 with just shy of 4000 hours, really clean and runs good. when it's cold and I first start the machine, then try to move it wants to stall, like a heavy load on the engine. but once it warms up a bit, it runs fine. just needs to warm up...? here's the issue. when I move the levers the machine wants to quickly lunge forward (or back). it's hard to control it or do anything precise. like the drive motors engage too fast?? I am scarred to get too close to anything b/c it jumps so fast. once moving in forward or revers it's fine, i, no bucking, slipping, anything strange, it's just that initial push where it almost takes off too fast. sometimes seems to be less jerky if I try and take off with the right side than the left, it's still takes off fast. also if I let go of the levers while moving the machine doesn't want to stop, especially the left side. I kinda need to physically pull back on the lever to return it to neutral. very little creep at idle, I expect there to be some with a machine with these hours. the creeping isn't bad at all compared to other machines I've run. when the machine has been run for a while, the left side (which seems to be more problematic than the right) seems to be weak, doesn't even always want to move unless I return the lever to neutral and then go forward again. but on the flip side I remember the other day while digging in a pile of dirt the left side would keep spinning and even stalled the motor b/c like I said before all I did was let go of the lever and not actually pull it back to neutral. so maybe once it's hot it gets worse? also seems to not have as much power in forward, reverse seems fine. I haven't a whole lot of time on this machine, but I have a lot of dirt to move with it in the next few weeks. I want it running 100%, I know I'm not used to it being new to me, but something just doesn't seem right about it. I've run skid steers all my life I used to have a L785 and a LX865 10+ years ago. This machine just has a strange feel to it. again the engine runs great. again i understand it's old and has a lot of hours on it, and it's not gonna run like a new one. any help is appreciated, before it goes to the dealer for a big repair bill... or I just need to live with it...

 

[dondiesel444]

sorry for the long post, I tried to break it down into shorter paragraphs but when I posted it all went to one big paragraph. thanks again in advance

 

[antfarmer2]

sorry for the long post, I tried to break it down into shorter paragraphs but when I posted it all went to one big paragraph. thanks again in advance

Have you changed your hydro filter?

 

[antfarmer2]

Have you changed your hydro filter?

Make sure your aux hydro is not stuck on

 

[jerry]

Not sure if it is set up like the 665 but if so the creep is very easy to adjust out. Lift the seat and look for loose or broken parts on the linkage, seems like another member had similar problems and found a bolt missing in the centering mechanism.

 

[jerry]

Not sure if it is set up like the 665 but if so the creep is very easy to adjust out. Lift the seat and look for loose or broken parts on the linkage, seems like another member had similar problems and found a bolt missing in the centering mechanism.

search this forum for "creep" , it comes up with a lot of posts and possible causes. You may have to hit search twice , I always have to for some reason, before the right results come up.

 

[Mike10]

An operators manual will walk you through the steering linkage adjustments and should eliminate your problems as far as neutral adjustments and the fact you need to pull the levers back manually. If the unit continues to move forward when you manually pull the levers back then you have other issues. In cold weather it is normal for the engine to pull down some when first started and the steering levers are stroked. If it kills the engine then there may be a different issue. Not sure what the cause of the left side not always moving. I have seen this problem but have never dug into it much. It may be caused by low charge pressure. What I have seen of this problem is it happens more when the engine is running slow.

 

[dondiesel444]

An operators manual will walk you through the steering linkage adjustments and should eliminate your problems as far as neutral adjustments and the fact you need to pull the levers back manually. If the unit continues to move forward when you manually pull the levers back then you have other issues. In cold weather it is normal for the engine to pull down some when first started and the steering levers are stroked. If it kills the engine then there may be a different issue. Not sure what the cause of the left side not always moving. I have seen this problem but have never dug into it much. It may be caused by low charge pressure. What I have seen of this problem is it happens more when the engine is running slow.

this machine is a single speed and the aux hyd. are definaty not on. the machine didn't come with an owners manual, I guess I need to pick one up somewhere. The engine won't die when it's cold, just really bog down, but once it warms up it runs great so I don't think there is a real issue there. so I guess the first step would be to get everything adjusted correctly. I looked under the seat and all the linkages appear in tact and no excessive play. the machine doesn't continue to move forward when I pull the levers back, just mostly the left side will still continue to go forward if I let go of the lever, I usually need to physically return the sticks back to neutral. I'm thinking it's a pump/pressure problem? but whats strange is the quick take off would lead me to think the pressure is too high, but the lack of power when warm would make me think the pressure is too low. I think this problem is way over my head. I may have to just deal with it for now...