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Wanting to buy a skid loader

Welder Dave

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Oct 11, 2014
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12,257
Location
Canada
I'd guess the hook is just for the cab. That has to be a pretty heavy machine. I don't remember what model it was but the guy I bought tires from had a Case CTL and had problems with drive motors and they were expensive. He found a less expensive supplier in the US somewhere but I think he changed motors a couple times.

If you want a bigger machine mostly for moving mats and don't want to spend a lot, look for one of the larger Thomas machines like a T233HD (not older T233Plus), or newer T243, T245, T255 . Good engines, good components, very well built but not very popular in the US. Very good control in close quarters. Could probably pick one up for less than half the price of a comparable size Bobcat or other more common machine. No frills and not a lot of electronic crap to screw up. A lot of people knock them because they aren't as common or they claim parts are hard to get. The major components are name brand so may just require some deciphering to get. I have a smaller Thomas but I'd put it up against any other machine in the same capacity. I could pick up eggs at full throttle. In comparison, I tried an early Cat skid steer with the joystick control and it had terrible control for finesse work. There was a reason it had a throttle pedal. If you had to be real careful not to damage something you might as well leave it at idle or get out a hand shovel. I prefer 2 steering levers to a single joystick so I can have total control of each side but that's what I'm used to. I think some joysticks are better than others.
 

crane operator

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,274
Location
sw missouri
Thanks for the heads up on the track motors dave. I really like the idea of a heavier more stable machine, this track loader would be up there in capacity, compared to most tire machines. I'm concerned about high repair costs too, but I'm not going to be using it everyday either. Shouldn't get a lot of hours.

Handle/ Joystick pictures. Don't know if that helps. Thanks for the advice.

I like the capabilities of a 10,000lbs machine, and the stableness of the tracks, but the reality is I can buy a 95xt for 8-10,000 less money up front, and it would probably have less repair expenses. But a track wouldn't tear up someones lawn, if I used it to carry in a hot tub like a tire machine.

I know if I had it, I would find ways to use it.

00g0g_a1BPE1fl9ZM_600x450.jpg
00W0W_hgXIlDchiYy_600x450.jpg
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
Once you have a skid steer or CTL you'd use it for everything. Tires are pretty much no maintenance other than checking pressure. I've seen tire machines with extra counterweight stuck on the sides. I'm not good with electrical/electronic issues so like having as simple of machine as possible. If needing to drive on a lawn some sheets of plywood could be used. Can buy a lot of plywood for $8000. Rubber over tire tracks are also available. I'd have to drive some different machines to see how the joysticks work. Might be a good idea to price drive motors and tracks just so you know replacement costs.
 

skata

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Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
1,541
Location
midwest
Unless you're mostly on pavement, a track machine will be way more productive.
 

Welder Dave

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Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
And way more money and way more maintenance. With forks I don't know how much more productive a CTL would be. On the way to my land saw a neat little York forklift for sale that was about the same size as a skid steer. Something like that might be an option.
 

KSSS

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Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,318
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
It doesn't have the handles that I thought it would have given how loaded it is. There should a ride control button on the side of one of the handles, that I cant see. You do have the proportional aux control and two additional attachment function switches. Doesn't sound like any of that would matter to you. I would ask to spend an hour or so on it working it a bit hard, run down the road, make sure the two speed works, then feel the drives and see how hot they get and like I said, crack the oil on the drives and see what it looks like. Spend enough time in it for you to adapt to the pilots, they all have their own feel. It might take a little time to get used to if your not familiar with them. As to what is best, a SSL is less costly to run. This machine is like a D3, whether you need that I guess is for you to decide. The drives on this machine are Rexroth a common drive for that era of machine, but they are expensive as they all are. The upside is, that machine has value, it is pretty desirable. You could get the PIN off the machine and contact your local CASE dealer and they can tell you what was done through a CASE dealer to the machine.
 

crane operator

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,274
Location
sw missouri
I - being the tightwad and procrastinator that I am, haven't bought anything yet. I was actually at the rental store the other day, and they told me I could get a track kubota about whenever I want it for $250 a 1/2 day. I can do my own hauling of it. That makes it kind of hard to want to spend 20-25,000 on something I would need once a month.

But, this showed up for sale, $12,500, a Gehl CTL 60, which I think is a tak under different colors, I figured someone on here would know. Ad says only 1,500 hrs, looks like more. The 12,500 is a little more livable, considering my usage projections. Comes with bucket and forks, no other attachments. Everyone I know with a tak says they are bulletproof. That said, this isn't a very big one.
gehl ctl 60.jpg

https://springfield.craigslist.org/hvo/d/summersville-gehl-ctl-60/7024747947.html
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,274
Location
sw missouri
Just another question for the collective, I bid on a cat 289 (with the newer suspension, not the older asv style) the other day, which I was not willing to give enough money for. I was reading about them and how the track system is set up. What I was reading said they pivot on a center frame kind of like a dozer, so they don't work as well for forklift duty, because they don't have the fixed front idler. But they do better holding grade.

Any truth to this? because I would be 1/2 forklift and 1/2 spreading gravel duties.
 

dirty4fun

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Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
N. IL
After having a skid steer for 40 years, from one with foot pedals to raise and tilt the bucket to one with pilot controls. It might take you an hour or more to get used to the pilot controls, but once you do you won't go back. My first one with pilot controls I had to back onto my gooseneck trailer to haul it. I finally had to sit on my one hand so the bucket wasn't going up while backing onto the trailer. I used it a little while tearing out and moving asphalt, lots of room for mistakes and in no time knew that I would never go back. With a two stick if you get a phone call, you about have to stop and talk. I plowed snow for years and it was nice to be able to have a free hand. I have had 4-5 Case all tires, then went to a Kubota 95 on tracks. While not as fast traveling as a tired machine they are a small dozer when moving dirt or rock. The feature I like most on the Kubota is the door, it stores over head. I set trusses and use the forks a lot. A skid steer with a door means you are staying inside if you lift the boom over a couple inches. I had to remove the door all the time when setting trusses. If you pick up something and want to put a couple 2X4 under so that you can get the forks out and back under you can step out over the load and place them. With a swing out door, you can't do this unless all the way down. For what I do I will never have a door that swings again on my skid steer.
 

1693TA

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Feb 27, 2010
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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
I have a 1995 1845C since 2001 purchased as a repossession when building my shop. It is slow, loud, underpowered, and doesn't lift near as much as I'd like but I wouldn't be without it. I have fluid in the tires, counterweights on back, and those help a bunch with both lifting, and pushing. I, being the only operator don't push the machine hard and it's as dependable as the rocks in the driveway. Only problems I've ever had with it in about 1200 hours are two hydraulic hoses and a starting battery. I did replace the ignition switch too as it was getting intermittent but that problem was corroded wires.

It is getting loose due to age and use, (about 2700 hours) but I'm set up to line bore and tighten it back up with new pins, etc. Just haven't got around to it yet. I borrowed a 95XT from the Case dealer to demo out and for the way I run a machine was not able to move any more material, (dirt, sand, rock) in an hour with it than I could with my 1845C so did not make the purchase. Comfort level with the machine was a player for sure. I was wanting a different machine for the cab, air conditioning, capacity, and quiet. I could have had that machine with 1700 hours for $8500.00 and my machine but there just wasn't enough benefit to it to change for me.
 

kshansen

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Mar 11, 2012
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Central New York, USA
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Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
I too like the old 1845C's believe the one at the quarry was/is a 1989 that was bought new. It has had some problems over the years but 99% of those were cause by abuse from operators or lack of maintenance buy the same people.
In 2002 the company bought a JCB 185 with 240 hours on it to "replace" the 1845C. Well last time I was at the shop the JCB was sitting up on blocks waiting for a pump or drive motor and the 1845C was still at work!
 

jav

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Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
110
Location
MA
Many more experienced than me on here but having looked for that very series, I'm nearly certain that vintage Gehl is the Tak TL130 with some small differences. It (the Tak) was the machine I was looking for but they are scarce and when a good one comes up its either pricey or sold. I like the Tak better because it has the overhead door where the Gehl uses the swing door (when the cab is enclosed). The weight is around 7500 so it's more towable than the larger TL140 which can top 10k. You can usually find the 140 for less than the 130 here...I think because of the weight and scarcity. They are pretty well respected and have few problems but there are some I found in my reading including a relay that can act up causing problems and I've read the Valve bodies tend to need rebuilding at around 2500 hours (or after a certain age?). Still- one of the most bullet proof machine in my reading. Spartan- but simple and rugged. If that were an enclosed cab unit Tak, that price would be awesome for my area and it would have sold already. If those hours are real and the tracks and undercarriage are good, that's sill a good price if the machine needs nothing IMHO.
 

KSSS

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Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,318
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I have a 1995 1845C since 2001 purchased as a repossession when building my shop. It is slow, loud, underpowered, and doesn't lift near as much as I'd like but I wouldn't be without it. I have fluid in the tires, counterweights on back, and those help a bunch with both lifting, and pushing. I, being the only operator don't push the machine hard and it's as dependable as the rocks in the driveway. Only problems I've ever had with it in about 1200 hours are two hydraulic hoses and a starting battery. I did replace the ignition switch too as it was getting intermittent but that problem was corroded wires.

It is getting loose due to age and use, (about 2700 hours) but I'm set up to line bore and tighten it back up with new pins, etc. Just haven't got around to it yet. I borrowed a 95XT from the Case dealer to demo out and for the way I run a machine was not able to move any more material, (dirt, sand, rock) in an hour with it than I could with my 1845C so did not make the purchase. Comfort level with the machine was a player for sure. I was wanting a different machine for the cab, air conditioning, capacity, and quiet. I could have had that machine with 1700 hours for $8500.00 and my machine but there just wasn't enough benefit to it to change for me.


If you couldn't move more material with a 95XT than an 1845C we need to get you to skid steer operator school. Those machines were amazing and I think while not as comfortable to run as a newer 3K ROC machine, I don't know that a newer model could move more. Weighing in at around 10K and with those wide tires, they were very productive especially with the 84" bucket with backsplash, you could move over .75 of a yard heaped. You cant touch that ability with an 1845C. I had two 95XTs and a 465 (pretty much the same thing). Loved those machines. I will tell a quick story. Years ago they had built a Walmart and had stockpiled the topsoil. The Topsoil was free if you hauled it. I brought my side dump down with about 23 cy capacity down but didn't have anything else available to load it with other than my, at the time nearly new 95XT. I got there about the same time as another contractor with a dump truck. He had a 420 backhoe. Being a smart ass he asked if I needed a shovel. I loaded my side dump faster than the was able to load his dump truck with his 420. I did it all day long. He never said another word.
 

1693TA

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Feb 27, 2010
Messages
2,687
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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
If you couldn't move more material with a 95XT than an 1845C we need to get you to skid steer operator school. Those machines were amazing and I think while not as comfortable to run as a newer 3K ROC machine, I don't know that a newer model could move more. Weighing in at around 10K and with those wide tires, they were very productive especially with the 84" bucket with backsplash, you could move over .75 of a yard heaped. You cant touch that ability with an 1845C. I had two 95XTs and a 465 (pretty much the same thing). Loved those machines. I will tell a quick story. Years ago they had built a Walmart and had stockpiled the topsoil. The Topsoil was free if you hauled it. I brought my side dump down with about 23 cy capacity down but didn't have anything else available to load it with other than my, at the time nearly new 95XT. I got there about the same time as another contractor with a dump truck. He had a 420 backhoe. Being a smart ass he asked if I needed a shovel. I loaded my side dump faster than the was able to load his dump truck with his 420. I did it all day long. He never said another word.

In that particular instance it was true. I had a lot of tread on my tires with the fluid and extra weight along with a new cutting edge and the 95XT was sitting on bald skins, and rounded cutting edge. It was dropped off when I was at work with a note to "have fun". I agree it was a much nicer machine but had almost as much mud packed into it as would fit in the bucket. After about an hour it started overheating a bit while I was breaking open a pile which had been setting about four years from a basement dig and was solid. Wasn't going to punish the machine and I'm certainly no skilled operator, but I didn't see it as worth the extra $$$. That is however based on the use I would give it.

I know you're right about the productivity being better as I've seen them on jobsites perform very well.
 

Mark13

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
272
Location
IL
I - being the tightwad and procrastinator that I am, haven't bought anything yet. I was actually at the rental store the other day, and they told me I could get a track kubota about whenever I want it for $250 a 1/2 day. I can do my own hauling of it. That makes it kind of hard to want to spend 20-25,000 on something I would need once a month.

But, this showed up for sale, $12,500, a Gehl CTL 60, which I think is a tak under different colors, I figured someone on here would know. Ad says only 1,500 hrs, looks like more. The 12,500 is a little more livable, considering my usage projections. Comes with bucket and forks, no other attachments. Everyone I know with a tak says they are bulletproof. That said, this isn't a very big one.
View attachment 205650

https://springfield.craigslist.org/hvo/d/summersville-gehl-ctl-60/7024747947.html

Any of those older Gehl CTL (60/65/70/75/80/85), Mustang MTL (16/316/20/320/25/325), or Tak TL (130/230/140/240/150/250) machines will be about the toughest thing you can find when looking for tracks. I have a TL230 which would be the 2nd generation of the TL130 and the equivalent to a Gehl CTL65. The Tak's have a different cab with the roll up door vs the Gehl and Mustang machines with the shorter height cab and a swing out door. For being a little machine, the 130/230 size machines will do a ton of work. It's not uncommon for mine to be moving 3500-4k lb loads. It'll lift 52-5500lbs about a foot off the ground but it'll tip any higher then that.
 
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