Anyone have any experience good or bad with ASV skid loaders? I'm interested in something like the 4810, 2810, 4500, MD70 or similar that have the long track on the ground with low ground pressure. I have a lot of soft ground on my property and I think these look to be ideal for my situation. They appear to have the ability to crawl through stuff that no other tracked skid loader can match. Thanks for any info.
Buying Advice ASV Posi-Track
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RobertN
Super Member
I have rented the smaller RC-30 in the past. It was an amazing machine. It was in wet conditions. Not sure on the bigger.
Robert, thanks for the feedback. I was at my local dealer today. He says the RC-30 is selling like hot cakes. People really like that machine. I think all the ASV's have ground pressure figures lower than any others. I need something bigger than the RC-30 and unfortunately the older machines that aren't made anymore have the most track on ground. I looked at a 4810 and a 2810. They are choice machines around here for any logging work when wet ground is involved and the power line companies use them for the same reason. That makes used ones hard to find because they get scooped up quick. I'm going to keep looking for one but I'd really like to know more about reliability and longevity.
HHR
Platinum Member
I have had experience with an RC-50 and that thing had problems. Both tilt cylinders failed at 500 hours and the undercarriage is not tough enough for hard excavation chores. Parts were very expensive ($670 alternator) and the design and engineering of the machine is poor. It did work well for moving snow or driving over soft surfaces, but does not hold up to real world abuse. If you are looking at a tracked machine, the Mustang would be my first choice.
RobertN
Super Member
Interesting; I have rented CAT's(262 I think) and they used the ASV undercarriage. I had not heard issues with them. I talked with the rental guys; they had held up well for them and the abuse rental stuff gets.
HHR
Platinum Member
The drive sprockets for the track like to loosen up and take out the hydraulic drive motor shaft. Keeping them tight is critical.
The cab lights use household halogen housings that do not hold up to vibration. The connectors fall off leaving you with one rear light to work by. Don't get me started on the vulnerable radiator or the poorly designed water pump.
Terex recently bought out ASV and moved most operations out east.
The cab lights use household halogen housings that do not hold up to vibration. The connectors fall off leaving you with one rear light to work by. Don't get me started on the vulnerable radiator or the poorly designed water pump.
Terex recently bought out ASV and moved most operations out east.
tlbuser
Veteran Member
I had a 60 and moved up to a 100. Both of them have worked well for our application; clearing, excavation, toting stuff, landscape, etc. From my experience, three point turns and track rotation are the best way to add longevity to the undercarriage and what I've read, adding a mulcher is a bad thing. One of my competitors runs a 4810 (still using it), he was the reason I decided ASV was the way to go. After running his for a couple hours, I had to have one and still glad I did.
It's always interesting to see the range of comments on machines. I'm not sure how to sort out the bad experiences from the good. I suppose with any machine there are lemons to be had, and there are users who work them harder than most, and their are uses that some just can't handle. I have heard a number of comments about undercarriage parts not holding up. The comment about high parts cost is interesting since most I've talked to claim the parts cost are the lowest of any machine. My local CAT dealer says many of his customers buy undercarriage parts from the ASV dealer because they are much cheaper than from CAT. For something like an alternator I would think you could buy that at many places since the engine isn't made by ASV anyway. I have John Deere and Mustang equipment and even for those I can buy things like alternators and starters from NAPA if I have to. I appreciate any input.
I just looked at an RC100 with about 1200 hours that had been used to mow powerline right of ways. The tracks are kind of beat up and missing a couple of internal drive lugs. The seller says you can buy bolt-on drive lugs to fix that easily. He also says he routinely buys used tracks because there are so much cheaper. He also says you can buy bolt-on cleats for the tracks to provide more traction. Anyone ever heard of these bolt-on drive lugs or cleats? He says that in his business there is no other machine he'd ever own since the others just don't hold up. Interesting. He has 3 of these machines including a brand new one he paid $70K for. Should I be intrested in a machine that has had what sounds like pretty heavy industrial service even though only 1200 hours?
David Devuono
Platinum Member
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While doing research on one of my projects, I think I have watched every video on the internet. In my opinion, if you are interested in operating in mud, look for a special track for mud. Watching one work at a local park last summer, to operator had trouble scooping dirt in the mud with what I will call the "standard track", no traction. Of course a 4 wheel skid steer would have also had issues.
HHR
Platinum Member
I have seen the bolt on cleats for bobcat T190-T250 machines, but I have not heard any reports on the effectiveness of them. I would think that they would put a large amount of stress on the track and could tear the track in severe conditions.
tlbuser
Veteran Member
Yea, part of the problem I've heard and seen. 1200 hours and the tracks are close to shot. Probably alot of zero turns and pungi stick type debris. Idlers and drives warrant real close inspection. Improving traction is not something I would consider. That's usually a good way to break something, the slip that was designed in is taken away and next thing you know something expensive gets broken. All track loaders I know of, come without cleats. Everyone I've seen with a welded or broken lift arm had cleats installed.
As for the drive lugs http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/land-clearing/168100-asv-track-drive-lug-issues.html
Well I just bought an ASV HD4500. This machine has 80 hp John Deere Power Tech 4045engine and weights about 8500 lbs. I hope I made a good choice. I bought it because it is one of the ASV machines that has less ground pressure and more ground clearance than any tracked skid loader out there. I feel I got a good deal. This machine has 1800 hours and is very well kept but needs new tracks. Anyone know a good place where I can possible find used tracks. I don't put many hours on my machines since they are just farm use so I just need serviceable tracks. Thanks.
davygp38
Gold Member
If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up paying?
I don't mind davygp38, I paid $10,000. Every machine I've looked at around here in this class that had useable tracks had asking prices from $16K to $20K so I think I got it cheap enough to cover my track replacement. Especially when you consider that for $16K those machines had tracks that were pretty beat up and what I would call barely useable. And, all the other machines I looked at were total rust buckets, very weathered, I would say 75% paint left. This machine looks like new, no rust to find anywhere and very clean. I hope I made the right choise. Of course there are many things internal that can be wrong that you'll never find with just a test drive so when buying used you're going on a wing and a prayer. I have found places throuhout the country that advertise used and factory blem tracks. Haven't got any prices yet.
20 20
Elite Member
I like the ASV's seem to be one of the best{if not the best} tracked SS's made.
davygp38
Gold Member
I am thinking that was a very good deal.
Yes davygp38, I've got this machine home now and it's really in excellent shape and they took very good care of it. I spent time today looking the machine over very carefully and playing around with it. I'm not finding any surprises like miscellaneous broken things you find on most used stuff. The tracks are pretty worn out but useable for a while I think. I was surprised when I picked it up they filled the tank and gave me about $2500 in spare parts they had collected in case they needed them but never used. They are also going to send me a shop manual as soon as there mechanic gets back from a couple days off. I'm happy so far. Now I'm going to sell my small JD350 dozer that I'm pretty much done with. It will help defray the cost of this ASV.
Found a new set of tracks for the ASV 4500. They are expensive but I found a place willing to deal and apparently hungry for sales. They are selling me an OEM set for $3800. The cheapest I've found these elsewhere is $4400. The cheapest I've found a good set of aftermaket tracks is $3750. So I think I found a good price on OEM. I will probably start working on the track replacement next week. I have found 3 surprises with my used machine. Two of the axles have an oil seal leaking and one planetary has a seal leaking. Anyone have experience working on these?
