Bobcat Skid Steer

[frank1]

Looking at purchasing a 2006 S250 Bobcat Skid Steer. The hour meter shows 1680. The machine comes with the Gold package,enclosed cab w/heat,A/C, Suspension seat,two speed transmission,power Bobtach,engine block heater,deluxe instrument panel (keyless start) and sound reduction option. I went out and checked out the machine this past week (a tractor dealer has it listed for sale in Harrisburg, PA.). The machine looks and drives good (for it's age), only one prevoius owner (that's what I'am told anyway). Have two concerns: one, when I went and opened up the air filter canister a bunch of dust & dirt fell to the floor. The first air filter was atleast 90% plugged, but the interior one was no where as bad (actually could see day light through it). The second concern I have is I could smell burnt antfreeze inside the engine compartment. When I told the service manager about the smell, he said that they had checked the coolant and the coolant was only good to -5 degrees, and they had removed about two gallons and replaced with two new gallons of fresh antifreeze. They may have spilled a little on the engine and that is what I was smelling. So two red flags! I asked to have both an oil and antireeze sample taken, which they did. I just had the results e-malied to me (the dealer is three hours from me).Engine oil sample says no futher action required, readings appear to be normal, normal wear metal readings. The coolant report reads "burnt odor detected, check system for over heating at localized hot spots,nitrite is low, PH is low, sample has cloudy appearance. Drain coolant, fush out system, flush with water 3-4 times and refill with 50-50 deac and distilled/deionized water and resample after corrective action has been taken". The dealer has also completed a complete engine oil and filter change,fuel filter and air filter change, also a complete engine flush and refill as recommened from the oil laboratory. I also requested that a Bobcat dealer (they are a JCB dealer) to go out and hook up a scan tool to the machine and see if any high engine temp. was ever detected or any other codes for that matter. The dealer also told me he called the orginial owner and asked if the machine had ever over- heated? His answer was no- we shall see! I could also ask to have the radiator pressurized, just wondering what you guys think.
Thanks, Frank

 

[jhenderson]

I know 2 things.1st, 2 speed is good. Especially if you use it for snow removal. 2nd, Bobcat is known for being very labor intensive for routine maintenance.

 

[mrbb]

I'm in the market for a used skid steer myself
and the past 2+ months cannot tell you how many I looked at
my take is this, its USED< you have NO idea what or HOW hard it was abused based on a salesman selling it to you
they all LIE< and want the sale!
unless there going to throw in a warranty, your on your own
and there all a gamble

buy LOW< and hope for the best
unless you KNOW the owner GOOD< its a gamble

FOR A few bucks I do know some techs at Bobcat dealerships will go for a ride with you and go over the machine
or you can ask if you can have the machine taken to a shop for a once over!

but even doing this its a gamble

far too many of skid steers are rentals, and been thru a few owners, and worse been operated by a BUNCH of employee's that DON"T care about repair costs, because THEY ain't paying for them
so again, its a gamble at best
NOT sure what part of PA your in
\ BUt I do know of a A220 one owner, garage kept for 17K
nice clean looking,

NOT what I am looking for, its in NY just across the PA line

http://binghamton.craigslist.org/for/5334632440.html

have a look if you like


and I was just at this places auction on Tuesday about 25 skid steers there , most beat pretty hard and in poor shape and sold for WAY past IMO of what they should
NOT easy finding a decent one any more
they hold a LOT of auctions with a bunch of skids(many off Ebay and area like business's)

http://mcgrewequipment.com/index.cfm?pg=tractor-farm-construction-equipment-auctions-pa

 

[frank1]

Jhenderson- Yes the machine will be used for plowing and landscaping work durning the summer. mrbb- I have been looking for the past year also. Would like a machine that could pick up 2300-2500 lbs. That's why I'am looking at either an S250 or S300 Bobat. Also, local Bobcat dealer is only 30 mintues away from my shop. The one I mention above is in Harrisburg,PA. I'am located in cental NJ. I took a ride out and looked at the machine in person this past week. The dealer had just received the machine on a trade for a new JCB. Everything seems to be tight on the machine, and the local Bobat dealer is going out this coming Monday and "scan" the on board computer to see if in deed there was an over heat condition. It's one of the nicest machines I've looked at over the past year! So far the dealer has picked up the costs, oil and antifreeze samples,changed all fluids and filters and is also paying for the Bobcat rep. on Monday.I also agree, you don't know what you are getting when your buying used.

 

[mrbb]

Jhenderson- Yes the machine will be used for plowing and landscaping work durning the summer. mrbb- I have been looking for the past year also. Would like a machine that could pick up 2300-2500 lbs. That's why I'am looking at either an S250 or S300 Bobat. Also, local Bobcat dealer is only 30 mintues away from my shop. The one I mention above is in Harrisburg,PA. I'am located in cental NJ. I took a ride out and looked at the machine in person this past week. The dealer had just received the machine on a trade for a new JCB. Everything seems to be tight on the machine, and the local Bobat dealer is going out this coming Monday and "scan" the on board computer to see if in deed there was an over heat condition. It's one of the nicest machines I've looked at over the past year! So far the dealer has picked up the costs, oil and antifreeze samples,changed all fluids and filters and is also paying for the Bobcat rep. on Monday.I also agree, you don't know what you are getting when your buying used.

I started looking in about July LOL
and and had a few close calls on some really nice one owner machine, till owners backed out and decided to keep a little longer LOl
I recall back in the late 90's how these things were all over for CHEAP prices
Crazy how the times have changed on them

but sounds like you have your bases covered on doing all you can to make sure its a winner
best of luck to you

I'm looking for an older machine for a hobby project, to try and keep prices down, that I can add OTT:S to it with a 1700-+ lift deal
as I won't be using it to make money, just cost me more , as my project grows as the mind spins !
its a late spring start deal, so have some time yet!
IF worse comes to worse will borrow a buddy's LOL
seems he's always borrowing my things, so??

 

[NIsaacs]

It sounds like a good one and has a cab, don't even consider one without. You sit right in the dirt otherwise. I have a small one and don't like it, no cab. They are all dangerous, if anything goes wrong with the load or attachment you are a sitting duck. You might consider one like this or Kubota makes one like it. Be sure and lift the cab so you can see under it. Take a good look at the hydraulic fan motor, they are prone to leak with age.

Nick

 

[Wayne M.]

Hi Frank, good luck with the machine search. It looks like they got caught red handed with the antifreeze story. The sample didn't match their claim of boosting the protection. It really cranks me up when a dealer puts a piece out for sale, and it's not presentable. I mean this thing should have been ready to GO! Greased and all. If you came with a trailer, and these things were already honestly addressed, you would have bought it on spot- right?
The air filter thing and coolant story really turned me off. However, a heavy air filter doesn't mean the engine was dusted. They can take a lot and like a fuel filter, the efficiency will go up to a point. The secondary filter was clean.
I know Bobcat went through ownership changes- now owned by Doosan. That machine may have been Ingersoll Rand. Talk to those in the know about tech support and such with the older models.
Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to look at other brands like JCB, New Holland, Gehl etc etc.

 

[frank1]

Nick, thanks for your sugguestions. This skid steer is going to be used to help clear snow at a 110 driveway condo complexe we maintain. We used our M59 Kubota (open cab!), that machine is just to long for the site (back driving driveways, turning around, etc.etc... ).I already own a 8' pushbox which would work great for the skid steer. I also did lift the cab everything seemed to be "good", no leaks, just dirity. Machine over all 8 out of 10 (compared to many other units I've looked at).
Wayne, depending on the results I get back from the Bobcat rep. tomorrow. If there are no over heat conditions listed on the computer, I will probably will end up taking my chances and buy the machine.One other option I have is I could hire Fastlane to go over the machine for me. They quoted me $97.00 per hour portal to portal, and approx. 3-4 hours estimated time for the evauation. I may consider this option as well. The dealer that has the skid steer is Stehenson Equip., Inc. They have five offices in PA, two in New York state and one in Maryland. They seem to me, to be working pretty hard for me, everything I asked for they have done and not charged me a dime. I did make an offer for the machine and only I would finalized the deal once I was comfortable with all the data. Also, I did not put a dime down, I know for a fact most companies would want some type of refundable deposit for all the work they have already completed! Wayne on a side note, I have another truck with a wet spot underneath the water pump!!!! This pump was a gates with 22,000 miles on it! I have a cummins pump on the shelf, need to switch it out cannot take any chances ... looks like a creditable snow storm heading for us this coming weeked!
Thanks again guys, Frank

 

[Wayne M.]

Frank, sounds like they are looking to satisfy you and that's good. Better get it soon as it looks like a double hit starting Friday totaling 20". Do you salt in your contract as well?

Refer back to my water pump thread. Happy with my Bosch unit.

Regards!

 

[frank1]

Thanks Wayne. Ya, looks like a good storm for this weekend (finally!).If it all pans out tomorrow, and no big warnings from when the Bobcat rep. goes out and "scans" the machine... I'll go ahead and wire out the money and I should have the machine by Wednsday or Thursday. I have a trucking company on standby, $300.00 delivered to my door. It would take me three hours each way,plus one hour loading the skid steer,paper work. I think $300.00 is well spent! I don't think I'll use the machine this storm, unless I can run it and feel comfortable with it. Yes, we do salt all of our commerical properties and a few of our residential customers, in fact we went out late this afternoon and salted all the commercial properties (about 1/2" of snow and temp. dropping). Going out tomorrow morning early, and salt wherever needed. I did check the December tread regarding water pumps and I see you recommened Bosch, who sells them around here? (central N.J.).
Thanks again and Happy New Year!

 

[Wayne M.]

Frank, this is the post with all the info-

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/246411-It-s-water-pump-time?highlight=Bosch+water+pump

My coolant source was the only NAPA store on SI is now gone lol.

Happy New Year, and be safe out there!

 

[frank1]

Wayne, thanks, for the post regarding the water pumps. I see I had made a couple of responses regarding a failed water pump myself! Well, I fianally replaced the one that had started to leak this past weekend. I thought I had a gates pump, but it actally was a Cummins pump, also replace the thermostat (190*). The old water pumps weep hole was completely filled solid! It looked like the pump had no weep hole at all! Can't id the old pump, just a few numbers and I didn't write down the manufactures name it in my trucks log book. Any way, hope this makes it past 22,000 miles! Oh yea, not the best day to change a water pump!!! 27* in my pole barn ! At least no wind chill!! Another truck ready for the storm, three more to go!

 

[Wayne M.]

Hey that's better than what I'm doing--- belts on a 6.0 POS. Times a tickin, getting that machine?

 

[frank1]

Sorry Brian freeze (literally !) Received e-mail this morning w/ copy of report. Report had 21 different catorgies listed, 15,16 & 17 had to do with: Engine coolant extremely high, engine coolant high and engine coolant in shut down. Nothing was shown next to those three categories ! The only one check it had was at 650 hours and that was for hydraulic pressure low. The machine now has 1680 hours. So I guess that was resolved a while ago. The techs. number was also listed. I gave him a call, he told me he cold not see any issues w/ the machine. So, I finally pulled the trigger! Machine will be shipped here by 12:00 p.m. Thursday, talk about close!!! Also, my prayers go out to you Wayne with the 6.0 POS!!!!!!
Stay warm, Frank