Clearing snow is tiring..

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2011

Spent 8 hours straight in the skid steer digging hard packed snow down to the pavement. The management company had another guy come with a big Bobcat(S 250)to load an end dump to haul the old piles away to make room for the new piles. They hauled 11 28yd loads away but I piled about 10 loads back up. They will have to come back to make room again. That's a lot of 1/2yd.+ buckets of snow to dig and move. I have foot pedals for the boom and bucket and my legs are going to be aching tomorrow. My hands get kind of stiff too. Anyone that thinks it's fun running a skid steer should clear packed snow with one for hours on end. The novelty wears off pretty quick but they can do a better job than just about anything else. Dave

Fawteen · Jan 17, 2011

Coupla jobs back, I worked for a rental place.

We used the skidsteers to wing back the snow. We had a Bobcat (with foot controls) and a Cat (with joystick).

I'd rather use a steel shovel than that stinkin' Bobcat, but the Cat was sweet! Just had to be a little careful about stopping too hard with a bucket of wet snow up in the air...

larry@stinescorner · Jan 17, 2011

I ran one for a friend of mine for several years during some big snowstorms, I remember snow getting ice or snow under the pedals and it would freeze under there so the pedals had to be kept clean , His was an 843 with a kubota motor, He had it a long time and did a lot of work with it, I ran it from 12 at night until 8 am and he ran it from 8 till 12 One bad storm it ran 47 hours straight through

Blackhole49 · Jan 17, 2011

Anyone who would take a steel shovel over a Bobcat has probably never run a steel shovel for 8 hours.

Jim in Ma. · Jan 17, 2011

I hate to run skid steers - I'll take a Cat 928 w/4 yard bucket. In the last storm I did 30.5 hours, only stopped to eat a couple of times but no nap.
It's a nice machine - good heat,music and visibility sitting up high.

brian(MN) · Jan 17, 2011

....and expensive!
Brian(MN)

rrlund · Jan 17, 2011

My brother said he tried one of those joystick Cats. Said even though they were the same controls as his dozer,he just couldn't get the hang of it. I just had his Bobcat here for the past two weeks,with the foot controls. I could get used to it,but I had problems if I got in a panic. Can't say that I'd really want one.
He said next one he gets is gonna have hand controls like a Case.

rrlund · Jan 17, 2011

So far this winter I've been well rested when it comes to moving snow. Had a couple of drifts in front of the barn one morning. Pushed them out of the way and that's been the extent of it.

DeltaRed · Jan 17, 2011

I ran a skidster once,thought it was a major P.i.t.A.!

Fawteen · Jan 17, 2011

Um...I exaggerated to make a point.

Fawteen · Jan 17, 2011

My new job (part time, on call, but a job...) involves running a 4 yard JD loader. Joystick on that with the forward/reverse shuttle switch on the stick.

Took about 10 seconds to get used to that! Beats the heck out of that antique Michigan I used to run!

Boss also has a brand new Volvo that includes joystick steering! That might take a little getting used to, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity.

rrlund · Jan 17, 2011

His Komatsu has a joystick for the loader,but the shuttle is on the steering column on that one.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2011

I tried a cat skid steer a few years ago. I don't know if the newer ones are better but on the one I used you needed the foot throttle because you couldn't ease up to things at full throttle and have fast hyd. function. When you're moving a mountain of snow and there's a curb behind it, you want fast hyd's. and full control of speed. When you smoke something solid with a skid steer, it hurts. With the Cat(at least the one I used)you didn't have precise control at full throttle when working around objects or in close quarters. Dave

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2011

Did you purchase the 928 loader? I'd prefer a big loader too but they cost considerably more than a skid steer and can't go where a skid steer can. Dave

JDseller · Jan 18, 2011

I grew up on Bobcat skid steers. I am used to the foot controls. I sold my first 743 when it had 17000 hours on it, Yes that is right. I used to spend a lot on time in a skid steer each and everyday. I had 1500 steers on feed for more than twenty years.

I also have carpel tunnel very bad in my wrists. So I not only dislike hand controls they make my wrist hurt. I had a John Deere experimental out here for a few days. It had the two joysticks. One for the travel and steering. The other controlled the bucket and boom. I did not care for it. I noticed that you did not have good control with the engine at high rpm.

NEBeef · Jan 18, 2011

My brother has a Bobcat A300 that I use from time to time. All controls are on the joysticks 'cept a foot throttle. I'd not say I've progressed to being a expert efficient operator, but I find it real easy to run, quite intuitive. Only thing that messes with your head is switching from skid steer mode to all wheel steer mode.

Clearing snow is tiring..

Anonymous-0

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Fawteen

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larry@stinescorner

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Blackhole49

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Jim in Ma.

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brian(MN)

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rrlund

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rrlund

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DeltaRed

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Fawteen

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Fawteen

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rrlund

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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JDseller

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NEBeef

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