willie59
Administrator
A very common repair task with Bobcat skid machines is problems with fuel pick up tube inside fuel tank. This has been talked about at various posts on the forum, so I decided to start a thread to discuss working on the pick up tube on various Bobcat models. I'm hoping as time passes that other members will add more info about the different configurations and locations of pick up tubes on the different Bobcat models as they're not all the same.
On early machines they used a flexible tubing with a strainer screen and check ball at the end of the pick up tube. On the later models Bobcat has started using a more rigid plastic tubing with no strainer or check ball. On the models that use flexible tubing, it may look like clear vinyl tubing, but it's not, vinyl tubing is not an acceptable replacement, you should get a length of tubing from Bobcat as it's not terribly expensive and works far better than clear vinyl tubing. Also, whenever your working on fuel pick up tube, always use a new seal grommet.
The first thing I want to discuss is the easy way to assemble the flexible style pick up tube to get it ready for installation (as if the word "easy" can even be used when discussing Bobcat).
First, use a pair of snap ring pliers to gently spread compression clamp and work it onto pick up tubing.
Once you get the compression clamp on tubing, use a small screwdriver to work it onto tubing leaving appx 1/16" of tubing outside of the clamp.
Lightly coat the inside of tubing with petroleum jelly using screw driver tip.
Lightly coat hose barb on strainer screen with petroleum jelly, gently press hose barb into tubing until fully seated on hose barb.
On early machines they used a flexible tubing with a strainer screen and check ball at the end of the pick up tube. On the later models Bobcat has started using a more rigid plastic tubing with no strainer or check ball. On the models that use flexible tubing, it may look like clear vinyl tubing, but it's not, vinyl tubing is not an acceptable replacement, you should get a length of tubing from Bobcat as it's not terribly expensive and works far better than clear vinyl tubing. Also, whenever your working on fuel pick up tube, always use a new seal grommet.
The first thing I want to discuss is the easy way to assemble the flexible style pick up tube to get it ready for installation (as if the word "easy" can even be used when discussing Bobcat).
First, use a pair of snap ring pliers to gently spread compression clamp and work it onto pick up tubing.
Once you get the compression clamp on tubing, use a small screwdriver to work it onto tubing leaving appx 1/16" of tubing outside of the clamp.
Lightly coat the inside of tubing with petroleum jelly using screw driver tip.
Lightly coat hose barb on strainer screen with petroleum jelly, gently press hose barb into tubing until fully seated on hose barb.