skid steer opinions.

need to get a used skid steer to put a tree shear on to clean pastures.

what are the pros and cons and service records of used skid steers...

What do I want to stay away from?

Stay with one of the major brands. Of course Bobcat, has been one of the leaders for years but now their are some bobcats out there with engines that they no longer support. A few of the perkins and I am thinking Isussu (sp). Used case probably my second choice . New Holland is also OK. Just something that you can get parts and support for.

I have had a Bobcat S250 for ten years and love it. It is the most used equipment on the farm. I put more hours on it than any tractor I have. It has been pretty much trouble free.

Stay away from Cat. They wanted $930.00 dollars for a service manual today and the machine is loaded with electronics. Said it could cost 2500 - 3500 $ to diagnose it.

I have seen this question come up many times on the Heavy Equipment forum skid steer page. Two of the most highly recommended older units with a long history of reliability and performance are the 1840 and 1845C Case skid steers. Even owners of competetive units seem to be in agreement.

I would go with a Bobcat myself. They have proven over time they hold up pretty well.

You did not say how big. A pretty hard machine to beat is a 1700 LBS machine is a 773. IF you need bigger a 873 is great. 2400 LBS machine.

I've never owned a skidsteer, but have run Deere, Case, and
Gehl. You DON'T want a Gehl. A mechanic told me a couple
years ago that you also don't want a Cat.

(quoted from post at 18:45:04 12/12/14) need to get a used skid steer to put a tree shear on to clean pastures.

what are the pros and cons and service records of used skid steers...

What do I want to stay away from?

Click to expand...

I've run Bobcat 742 and Case 1845 rentals before I bought my JD 7775 (New Holland 775). The JD doesn't get to rocking like the others....a bit harder to steer on hard surfaces, but I'll take the more stable ride with the longer wheel base. Seems that is what you will want running pastures...

I would only have tracks!! I have a ASV70. Its quite
the machine, but it has its limitations. The viability
isn't the greatest. I have gotten to the point where I
can do most anything with it.

I have a Bobcat S300. Very good machine.If you plan to do alot of digging in hard dirt, I'd get one with tracks.Better traction.

I've worked on just about all of them. Stay away from the CATS. I think the others have pretty much covered all the problems associated with those. On the Gehl's they have a few odd things that can make them extremely expensive to repair, especially in the drive train. Nice enough machines otherwise, but I'd steer clear of them if possible. I have a couple of customers with NH and JD machines and they love them. I rarely get called to work on them, and when I do it's usually something minor. On the Bobcats, I know a lot of guys have the newer machines, but if it was me I'd stick with the older stuff as they are a lot easier, and cheaper to work on. The original ASV's are a dream to work on. In my experience, the track system is the weakest point on them, and new rubber tracks are more EXPENSIVE, but last less time, as compared to similar tracks on the other brands.

On the subject of cheaper to work on, I'll say this. The fewer electronics on the machine, the better off you are. I can honestly say that at least 75 percent of the repairs I get called to do on skid steers, or all types, tend to be related to the electrical system in some way. On the Bobcats it's usually the safety interlock system that gives trouble. Best I can remember, on the older ones, all the major components, including the main BICS module (the brain) can be replaced for around $500 or less.

I have a New Holland LX465 with 10,780 hours.


Yes... 10,000 hours...

I was a Ford New Holland tech. My dad, a Ford New Holland service manager and salesman.


Engine has had some work. hydro had some tweaking. Basic machine had new pins twice over.

Just be sure that if you buy used, you look at the machine. If you buy new, be prepared to have troubles with electronics.


New Holland reinvented the skidsteer. They hold value and are good machines.

I will second the Case 1840/1845. Very reliable machines.
Cummins 3.9, minimal electronics and hand controls. The
older New Hollands are good too.

I bought a foot control Bobcat T-250 several years ago and have been extremely pleased with both the machine's reliability and the dealer. I went with a track machine as I use mine in the mud a lot and also use it for clearing locust trees and brush - no flat tires.

I use a root-rake/grapple on it most of the time and also have a Marshall tree saw on it for clearing brush and trees. If you are going to use a machine in the brush very much, be sure to check where engine and hydraulic fluid cooling radiators are located on on the machines you are considering - don't need something poking a hole through them when you are backing up. Also compare the size of the pins used on the loader arms etc. between brands and for visibility over the quick attach if using tools other than a bucket.

Bobcat made it's 1 millionth machine this year and, from what I understand, is more than all of the other brands combined.

Stay away from the Case 1835. It use a three cylinder case engine that must be run wide open or absolutely no lugging at all.

The 1840 and 1845 I have used are great.

I currently have a Bobcat773G. It works as designed and is reliable. Lots of people like it.
Me not so much. Compared to the case it is slow and clumsy in my opinion.

Example: I cant shake the bucket on the 773. Who can rock there ankle like that?

Skid steer can be a ruff ride. with a case you can jamb your feet down to control your body.
With Bobcat that is part of the controls.

I'm sold on new holland. I've had a 170 for 6 years and almost
3000 hours, it's cost me a starter, seat and battery I believe.
I'm looking to update here soon and will be looking for the
same with low hours, maybe a 175 and two speed. Hard to
beat. And I've had some real yahoo's put most of the hours on
this one!

I like the new Holland before the fiat buyout good
machines and easy to service . Now days the case
and new Holland are the same

If that series NH has black arms on it stay away.
They had a habit of breaking out around the pins in
heavy use. Heavier replacements were grey.

If it was a little farther from the shed the day we
had to weld down by your elbows on the 465 we bad we
would have let it burn.

Found out a put the replacement booms by accident
grandpa drove around back of a different dealer one
day and they had a stack of the bad ones.

I can. And I believe everyone has hand controls available now.

Only trouble with the 1845 Case is they didn't come
with tracks. Over the tire tracks don't add much
flotation. Factory tracked machines have a longer
track frame than the equivalent wheeled machine has
wheelbase. Makes them more stable fore and aft. The
bottom rollers also make them more stable side to
side than over the tire tracks.

The 1845 with wheel spacers will cross a 45 degree
slope sideways if it is smooth.

The new Case machines are rebadged NH.

LX465 was a small frame machine built for light duty use. If you use it like a bulldozer or for ripping out trees, you will have problems.

Mine gets used everyday. I ripped one spot on the boom, but that was using a grapple bucket, carrying a 25 foot long tree as heavy as the machine could pick up; and I hit the end of the tree off another tree. That machine is not designed to do that. I knew better.

I need to knock on wood now. I shouldn't brag about the reliability when I need to use it today. That is when problems happen. LOL

I see some old machines mentioned here. The neighbor had bought one, he could not get parts for it and it was impossible to work on. He got rid of it as soon as he could.

Just consider these things.

Paul.