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Bobcat E50

245dlc

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Mar 16, 2010
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1,228
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Canada
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Heavy Equipment Operator
Sorry to hear that, this was the only machine I ever encountered where this technique worked.
 

Anthonycecil

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Joined
Jun 16, 2012
Messages
66
Location
Chase s c
Well on the 50 I tried to connect the hoses from the aux and had the same problem, in that the bleeding did not work...Any other way to release the pressure, other than disconnecting the line at the disconnect??

If I have to loosen the coupling, what do I expect? how much fluid do I loose, and do I need to do both of the lines ? Thanks Tony
 

TomG

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May 31, 2010
Messages
237
Location
New Hampshire
What you have to do is shut the machine off, then turn the key one click so the machine beeps but doesn't start. Then hit the aux-hydraulics button and either pull the trigger on the joystick or toggle the thumb switch back and forth.(the ones that run the attachment) I use the thumb stick. Holding it in both directions for about 20-30 seconds. This works almost all the time. If it doesn't... Get a screw driver and push in on the inside ring on the male ended hydraulic couplings and the hydraulic fluid will drain out. Not a lot just a little that's in the lines and that works all the time. Just watch out if its under a lot of pressure the fluid will explode out! So try my first suggestion first, because that at least will relieve some of the pressure.
 

Anthonycecil

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Jun 16, 2012
Messages
66
Location
Chase s c
I did just as you said, but did not hold for twenty or more seconds in both directions....I also tried to push the on the inside ring, but that is like a brick wall..It didn`t budge...On the John Deere tractor of old, it had a ball bearing with the quarter moon of the bearing sticking out, and I could always get the pressure off by pushing it on the implement and of course getting a bit of oil sprayed on myself.....I`l try your program tomorrow , and surely hope it will work Thanks Tony
 

Permafrost-ed

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May 28, 2012
Messages
54
Location
Yukon/B.C. Canada
What you have to do is shut the machine off, then turn the key one click so the machine beeps but doesn't start. Then hit the aux-hydraulics button and either pull the trigger on the joystick or toggle the thumb switch back and forth.(the ones that run the attachment) I use the thumb stick. Holding it in both directions for about 20-30 seconds. This works almost all the time. If it doesn't... Get a screw driver and push in on the inside ring on the male ended hydraulic couplings and the hydraulic fluid will drain out. Not a lot just a little that's in the lines and that works all the time. Just watch out if its under a lot of pressure the fluid will explode out! So try my first suggestion first, because that at least will relieve some of the pressure.

Yes ^^^

-ignition on
-lockout down (so everything works)
-eng off
-aux hyd in in gauged (push button)
Then activate the thumb circuit back and forth to relieve pressure in that system loop. Youll see the flex lines (rubber hoses) move around a bit as fluid drains. Then detach. Kinda a PITA process.
 

Anthonycecil

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Joined
Jun 16, 2012
Messages
66
Location
Chase s c
What you have to do is shut the machine off, then turn the key one click so the machine beeps but doesn't start. Then hit the aux-hydraulics button and either pull the trigger on the joystick or toggle the thumb switch back and forth.(the ones that run the attachment) I use the thumb stick. Holding it in both directions for about 20-30 seconds. This works almost all the time. If it doesn't... Get a screw driver and push in on the inside ring on the male ended hydraulic couplings and the hydraulic fluid will drain out. Not a lot just a little that's in the lines and that works all the time. Just watch out if its under a lot of pressure the fluid will explode out! So try my first suggestion first, because that at least will relieve some of the pressure.

Thanks Tom----The holding the switch for twenty seconds did the trick......I also wiggled all the other controls, but I already did that so the twenty seconds is the key.....Again thanks as this was turning out to be a bad situation, as I sure didn`t want to have to get help everytime I changed things :) Tony
 

TomG

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May 31, 2010
Messages
237
Location
New Hampshire
Thanks Tom----The holding the switch for twenty seconds did the trick......I also wiggled all the other controls, but I already did that so the twenty seconds is the key.....Again thanks as this was turning out to be a bad situation, as I sure didn`t want to have to get help everytime I changed things :) Tony

No problem. Glad I could help!
 

245dlc

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Canada
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Heavy Equipment Operator
So this trick works on all the new Bobcat excavators like the 'E' series machines too?
 

TomG

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May 31, 2010
Messages
237
Location
New Hampshire
So this trick works on all the new Bobcat excavators like the 'E' series machines too?

Yes as far as I know. It works on my 2011 bobcat E50 and even on my 2001 bobcat 331. So I'd say it works on every bobcat excavator.
 

bigshow

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
467
Location
Somewhere.
Works on every Cat machine too, also helps to do it prior to unhooking to alleviate any pressure in the tool. I've found that hooking hoses to themselves when uncoupled from machine helps in re-hooking later, also try storing tool out of direct sunlight if possible, the oil won't heat and expand making future hookups easier.
 

245dlc

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Canada
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Heavy Equipment Operator
Good to know if I buy a Bobcat brand machine or a Cat I guess. I know I've tried this trick with other brands but it didnt seem to work.
 

bigshow

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Jul 17, 2011
Messages
467
Location
Somewhere.
I haven't been around anything but Cats in quite a few years but I can remember doing this with Volvo loaders, an EW170,(Samsung/Volvo) some older Hitachis, older Deeres, a Terex, and a Shaeff hoe.
 

abaco

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2012
Messages
11
Location
Midwest
Hey, My first post here! I just purchased a bobcat 435 and will be looking for an aftermarket thumb for it. Does anyone know the length of hydraulic hose I will need for a thumb.Hope this is not off topic to this post.Thanks and I sure enjoy reading this forum.
 

Anthonycecil

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Joined
Jun 16, 2012
Messages
66
Location
Chase s c
Hi Tom
Yesterday I had the first chance to test out my dealer....The piston that tightens the track was leaking the grease out, and of course the track came off.....it apparently is behind the grease fitting, so may be a defective seal--- anyway they are picking the machine up tomorrow to fix it.....For me this is one of the important things before buying...Dealer Support....Tony
 

Jim15

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Joined
Jun 28, 2011
Messages
104
Location
MA
Hi Tom
Yesterday I had the first chance to test out my dealer....The piston that tightens the track was leaking the grease out, and of course the track came off.....it apparently is behind the grease fitting, so may be a defective seal--- anyway they are picking the machine up tomorrow to fix it.....For me this is one of the important things before buying...Dealer Support....Tony

Was talking with our Bobcat salesman back in June when we purchased a T590. He saw the E42 and asked how it was. I said its been a great machine except for the tracks, we've had a track fall off probably 4 or 5 times in the 2 years we've had it. Luckily they have not fallen completely off, and we have gotten them back on in usually under 10 minutes. It's not just one side either, both tracks have fallen off. We had 2 334s one for 5 years and the other one for 6 years and lost a track maybe twice in 11 years, usually because we had been using the blade a lot and the tracks hadn't been greased in a while so mostly our fault.

Salesman then mentioned that their is a service bulletin out that I guess in early E series excavator models they had a problem with the seals or grease fittings on the track tensioners that the grease fitting leaks out the back and after awhile enough grease escapes and the tensioner loosens up causing the track to fall off. We haven't had the time to lose the machine for a day but it is scheduled to go in to have the tensioners looked at, so FYI I would mention that to your service department if they did charge you to fix that. What wound up being the problem?
 

Anthonycecil

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Jun 16, 2012
Messages
66
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Chase s c
It was a broken zerk that let the grease back out --very sneakily--behind where you couldn`t see it...There was no charge, but in my case it is not a ten minute deal to get the track back on.....No other problems since that happened- twice in quick succession..:) I think tomorrow I will check the tension and make sure after being used the last few months, that it hasn`t just adjusted itself a little.....A very good digger and mower and the dealer is fine ....Tony
 

Jim15

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Jun 28, 2011
Messages
104
Location
MA
Nice. Even though our E42 is 2 years old Bobcat said there still won't be any charge since it is unfortunately a known issue which they have acknowledged exists and is stepping up to make it right. Would expect nothing less, and I agree, Bobcat M-series machines are well worth their price and then some.
 

Wobbly

New Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2016
Messages
1
Location
Vassalboro, ME
Depressurize thumb hydrailic circuit

Yes ^^^

-ignition on
-lockout down (so everything works)
-eng off
-aux hyd in in gauged (push button)
Then activate the thumb circuit back and forth to relieve pressure in that system loop. Youll see the flex lines (rubber hoses) move around a bit as fluid drains. Then detach. Kinda a PITA process.

Permafrost-ed and TomG, thanks for bailing me out. Back in early 2013 you provided the solution to depressurizing hydraulics on a Bobcat E50. I needed to reconnect a line that had popped loose after brushing against a tree branch. -Working in the woods in rather tight quarters. Much to my relief, your instruction worked perfectly. -And that's especially good when you're using a borrowed excavator.
 

Jim15

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2011
Messages
104
Location
MA
Permafrost-ed and TomG, thanks for bailing me out. Back in early 2013 you provided the solution to depressurizing hydraulics on a Bobcat E50. I needed to reconnect a line that had popped loose after brushing against a tree branch. -Working in the woods in rather tight quarters. Much to my relief, your instruction worked perfectly. -And that's especially good when you're using a borrowed excavator.

Yup, we've done that since our 334s since they don't have the relief fittings like the skids do. That's why we got secondary hydraulics on our E42 so you don't have to worry about disconnecting the thumb every time we put on the hammer. It's still a good practice to relieve the pressure everytime before removing and recoupling the hammer or another hydraulic attachment.

If a hose falls off under pressure, or is taken off under pressure, before recoupling it's a good idea to relieve the pressure with the above method, and crack the female attachment side fitting to release some oil. Make sure you put a rag over the fitting so you don't get sprayed with hydraulic fluid.
 
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