Ford CL65 Skid Steer

I picked up a Ford CL65 skid steer this weekend. The engine starts and runs fine. The pump and all hydraulics work fine. It moves forward and reverse fine. However it's very old and hasn't had a lot done on it so I'm looking for advise.

1. I have no manual or service info. I can't seem to find anything online either.
2. There doesn't seem to be hardly any info online for this unit so I'm worried I will not be able to find parts.
3. It leaks hydraulic. It's coming from directly under the middle so I'm thinking it's the pump, but I'm not sure.
4. The hydraulic hoses are very worn. The outer rubber jacket is cracked and peeling off all of them. Where do you get hoses? Are they universal or tailored specifically to the unit? Are they expensive?
5. It's hard to start when cold. The guy I bought it from used a puff of starter fluid. It has glow plugs but the guy didn't know how to turn them on (or what they were for).
6. There's some off modifications to this unit. The start switch is in an outdoor electrical box that obviously wasn't original. The engine radiator has been installed on the roof above the engine with a 12V always on fan. It blocks the line of site when backing up. I'm thinking this needs to move.

So basically I'd like to get some information on the unit and some general advise regarding what I should look and and what almost certainly needs to be done.

Welcome,

“I have no manual or service info. I can't seem to find anything online either.“ There seems to be plenty of info available on the internet. Do a search for Ford CL65 Skid steer service and operator manuals and various sources show up. There are a number of manuals on eBay as well. It is very doubtful you are going to find much detail info, like manuals, for free if that is what you were looking for. You almost always have to purchase those.

Ford is now a part of the New Holland Family (which is part of Case New Holland). You can get access to a parts catalog for your skid steer at New Holland On Line Parts Catalog. Click on Parts Catalog then on the next screen Find by Model. Enter CL 65 in the model box when asked and you should reach the parts catalog.

You can order hoses from a New Holland dealer by the part number and they should fit the location ordered for. Common practice is to get hoses made locally, which may or may not be the New Holland dealer. Most equipment dealers, hydraulic shops, and parts stores (like NAPA) make hoses. If you don’t know what the fittings are and the sizes, you take the old hose in and they duplicate it. Depending on your definition of expensive and the hose size/fittings; yes, they might be considered expensive.

The first and a basic thing is to find and use your machine’s serial number. There are sometimes changes made during production and tracked by a serial number range. When you ask questions the more detailed info and descriptions of issues you provide in the beginning, the better and more relevant help you usually get. Posting photos is often a plus as well.

Good luck as you go forward on this adventure.

Thanks for your help. The skid steer spent its life in Yuma, AZ, so that likely explains why it's still around and has basically no rust on it. Probably also why all the hoses are beat to hell. They guy I bought it from told me "I never take the throttle above idle because that's how the previous owner told me to drive a skid steer". Hmmm, I guess if you want the thing to move at 1/2MPH. However that's likely also part of the reason it's still running.

I just ordered the full service manual. Hopefully that'll get me started. I tried the New Holland site but I could only find a handful of parts that they still sold (mainly things like glow-plugs and batteries that are pretty generic anyway). Probably explains why the last guy ended up jury-rigging stuff.

The last guy told me that one of the lift cylinders leaked last year and he took it off, brought it to a tractor shop and they rebuilt the whole thing for $100. Not sure I believe him now because I don't know where he would have gotten the seals.

Anyway, I'm sure this will be a labor of futility, but I got the thing really cheap and I don't really need it to run, so I guess this is my pet project for a while.

It sounds like Thomas Equipment built these for Ford and the CL65 is the same, or very similar, to the Thomas T233 model with the exception of the engines. Some discussions on line indicate people have had success getting parts through Thomas dealers. Search Thomas equipment, their site has a dealer locator on it. There are a few Thomas dealers in Arizona, if that is where you are. Sometimes just because an on line catalog doesn't show a part available, doesn't mean you shouldn't check with the dealer, they often have other ways to check for old stock.

Seals for hydraulic pumps, motors, and cylinders can normal be matched up by "real" hydraulic shops and "good" equipment shops, meaning ones that have people that can do more than just get and change the parts shown in a catalog. So the previous owner's story on the cylinder rebuild is most likely true. An operator's manual should give you info on normal maintenance and operation of the machine, so you should get one of those as well as the service manual. Skid steers usually operate better well above idle, but you have to be smooth on the controls.

Hi, be careful when you get hoses because there are different
types of ends. I don't mean just threads etc. I mean some
fittings are longer or bulkier than original. They may not have
room or won't bend around where you want. Take the old one to a
hydraulic shop and get a copy made. I think it would be far
cheaper than from a dealer. By the way, I wouldn't get one until
it leaks. Ed Will

(quoted from post at 10:26:39 01/23/19) By the way, I wouldn't get one until it leaks. Ed Will

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Thanks. Figured I'd upload a photo of the hoses to see if it changes anyone's mind. They're not leaking and the braid seems intact, but boy do they look bad.