Starting a Bobcat S595, do you have to do this???

[Oil Pig]

I went to the Bobcat dealership on Monday to look at a 2018 BOBCAT S595. I told the salesman I wanted to operated it around the lot before I went further. It was probably about 40-45 degrees F outside and the Bobcat hadn't been started yet. Instead of letting me get into it to start it, the salesman jumped in to start it. Once started, he said you have to let it warm up for about a minute before it will let you operate it. On my 1998 753 I had, once I started it, I was rolling out of the garage (but it was heated). Do the newer Bobcats make you wait a bit before you can operate them when they are cold?

 

[foton]

quite possible,as my 2017 wacker neuson sw-20 when cold will reduce the amount of power (I think to 66 percent) it will let you use until a sensor warms,then it will automatically unrestrict power to (100 percent). It does not take long at all though,coupla minuites.

 

[mrbb]

just my 2 cents, I do not know if there are any programs in new equipment that actually STOP a machine from being moved or being used, , But I logically think no one really should be just starting and moving/working a cold machine, all the more so in colder temps

as fluids in the machine are also cold, and will not flow properly , nor will they protect like fluids are supposed too
so, just jumping in a cold machine and working it, is sort of hard on the equipment and causing unneeded wear and tear!

your experience with your older machine, is what it is due to you kept it in a heated garage and that also means its fluids were already rather warm and working

but older equipment left outside in cold temps, will be more prone to trouble just starting in cold temps, and more prone to wear and tear if you just start and get going!

this is why most all machines have temp gauges, there not just meant for checking for HIGH temps

an example, my one skid steer is kept in an unheated building, last week it snowed, was 19 degree's outside temp
oil temp on it read 22 degrees at start up! and had to run for about 10+ minutes to get them to about 70 degrees! which is still low, but IMO Ok to start lightly using machine till up to normal operating temps!

that oil is very thick at that temp and not doing a lot to protect moving parts, as it would be at say 70 degree or 100+ degrees, , yes its still adding some protection, but its not flowing as well as once warmed up oils do
and then this also applies to your hydraulic fluids(lots of the older stuff used basic oil for them too)

its then causing your pumps to work harder to push fluids thru things and again, that is adding extra wear and tear to things

SO< honestly, in COLD or colder weather, its always good to let things warm up to basic operating temps before working a machine,

and something else for anyone living in cold area's where below freezing happens,
almost ALL machines end up with SOME Water in there hydraulic system, and even there motor oil, from condensation and so on, and in cold area's water turns to ICE, which can also block, slow flow down in the system, or worse! pending how much water is in things,
so allowing some time for fluids to heat up before moving machine and forcing ice into places by doing so, , allowing it to warm up can melt any say ICE CUBES in the fluids and allow them to flow,
I know we all change fluids and such, but again it still can and does happen, non on can stop condensation at times, yes small amounts can and do burn off, but parking a HOT machine in COLD weather, it happens from that alone !


but to answer your question on NEW machines,
well some of the newer machines may even have safety programing in them that doesn't allow them to move or be used till they hit a certain temp too,
but this I cannot confirm, as I don't personally own any or used any that did, but I really wouldn;t be surprised if they did!
I'm sure a safety over ride like one would cut down on warranty claims, or help one get past warranty, so customer can start paying once its gone, HAHA!
so, I'd consider one a good thing over a bad if they did now a days!
hope this helps!

 

[ward]

I doubt that it has anything like that, it maybe more of a this is the way we treat equipment in our posspossession and they don't want someone just jumping in it and starting it and going wide open from cold while they (the seller) own/ have possession of it.
I myself never want to move a piece of equipment until the engine is happy sounding just above idle then I gently start moving the functions, on a skidsteer that is the bucket and loader, the reason being the gear pump which runs the loader bucke system does not warm the oil just pushing it through the system, however it will move cold hydraulic oil just fine, after having tested the loader controls I creep forward and backwards.
What I can tell you is we had between 25 to 35 skid steers in the the rental fleet (at the stores I worked at around the greater Washington Dc area) and never had issues and our customer seemed to let them warm up in cold weather when I was on their job sites I think we had about 20 to 25 back hoes and 4 to 5 larger excavators I don't remember how many mini excavators 7 to 10 I would guess and a couple of about 18,000 lb dozers.

 

[laurencen]

I never try to work a cold machine sittinf below zero outside, the S590 takes a few mins to warm up, the Toolcat will show cold on display and until it warms has reduced power

 

[reaperman]

The newer machines will not allow you to move it until the computer turns off the word "cold" on the consul. It's always good to let things warm up, it's cheap insurance.

 

[Oil Pig]

So I bought the skidsteer, as Reaperman stated, If it's cold outside the new Bobcats won't let you operate them at more than 10% until the engine temp warms up.