Just picked up a brand new Kubota SVL65-2 this week. Never owned one before but I do have many hours of seat time running wheeled skid steers and dozers. I currently also own a Case 1845c skid steer and Case 450c wide track dozer. The new CTL will augment the line up and do most of the skid steer work where a track machine is more appropriate. Dozer will still be used for finish grading, slope work and larger dirt jobs.
With all that being said, I have several questions for the guys that run these every day. I've searched on here and while some of this has been covered, many of the threads were close to 10yrs old and these machines were in their infancy back then. So here are my question regarding operation and maintenance:
1. How often do you shovel out the tracks when working in muddy conditions? The undercarriage seems to load up with mud a lot quicker than on my dozer. I've been cleaning it out 2-3 times a day but maybe that's excessive?
2. What do you do for compaction when doing small flat work or pads? I used to just use my wheeled skid steer with a full bucket of dirt, and shallow lifts, to get the compaction I needed on small jobs (that weren't big enough to justify a sheepsfoot.) With only 4.1psi ground pressure compaction is next to nothing with this CTL.
3. What is the advantage of a long bottom vs short bottom bucket? All of my current buckets are standard length, short bottom buckets. I can see the cutting edge fine and they seem to provide the greatest breakout force. What am I missing about a long bottom bucket?
4. What is the accelerator pedal for? I usually just set the throttle and go (normally wide open), can't see much need to be constantly varying the throttle on a hydrostatic machine.
5. Tips for good track life? I pretty much figure it's the same as for a dozer, don't pivot turn unless needed, don't side hill unless needed, don't twist them up on off camber, avoid big rocks, etc. Is it ok to go fast in reverse or is that not a problem for rubber track machines?
I'm sure I'll have more questions coming up but that's a start. Thanks in advance.
Pic of the new machine:
With all that being said, I have several questions for the guys that run these every day. I've searched on here and while some of this has been covered, many of the threads were close to 10yrs old and these machines were in their infancy back then. So here are my question regarding operation and maintenance:
1. How often do you shovel out the tracks when working in muddy conditions? The undercarriage seems to load up with mud a lot quicker than on my dozer. I've been cleaning it out 2-3 times a day but maybe that's excessive?
2. What do you do for compaction when doing small flat work or pads? I used to just use my wheeled skid steer with a full bucket of dirt, and shallow lifts, to get the compaction I needed on small jobs (that weren't big enough to justify a sheepsfoot.) With only 4.1psi ground pressure compaction is next to nothing with this CTL.
3. What is the advantage of a long bottom vs short bottom bucket? All of my current buckets are standard length, short bottom buckets. I can see the cutting edge fine and they seem to provide the greatest breakout force. What am I missing about a long bottom bucket?
4. What is the accelerator pedal for? I usually just set the throttle and go (normally wide open), can't see much need to be constantly varying the throttle on a hydrostatic machine.
5. Tips for good track life? I pretty much figure it's the same as for a dozer, don't pivot turn unless needed, don't side hill unless needed, don't twist them up on off camber, avoid big rocks, etc. Is it ok to go fast in reverse or is that not a problem for rubber track machines?
I'm sure I'll have more questions coming up but that's a start. Thanks in advance.
Pic of the new machine: