How frequently do you grease your Toolcat?

Spudgunner · Feb 10, 2008

We've received ALOT of snow over the past six weeks. To the extent that our county has been declared a disaster area. I and the Toolcat (along with Havoc the Wonderdog in the passenger seat) have been working some extraordinary hours. Nevertheless, I've been trying to ensure that I've been hitting the hour-based maintenance items. Fortunately, the 250 hour service was done right at the beginning of our storms. Now I'm at 525 hours and I'm about to do that service.

One thing bugs me though...and that's the frequency of greasing the front gear (everything except the axle ball joints...or whatever those zerks lube). How frequently do you grease your Toolcat? ...and how frequently would you grease it during bouts of severe service?

Thanks!

timm9 · Feb 10, 2008

Spudgunner,

We have been hit hard as well. We have collectively received over 6 feet in 15 days and have been "living" in the Toolcats. At a point the snow got so deep we just parked the trucks and could only run the Toolcats.

To your question, I "try" and grease after every storm as I have been told it will greatly extend the life of the machines. I say "try" because in the last weeks we have not had the time, or enough sleep to grease often. Tomorrow all equipment will converge at "home base" for grease, fluids, chain rebuilding, and inspections for loose bolts, etc.

BTW, the three bolts that hold, and allow rotation of the blower shutes came loose and one shute actually fell off. I have replaced those nuts with nylon self locking. A few minutes and about $4.00 will save a lot of frustration while you are on your route.

Spudgunner · Feb 10, 2008

timm9 said:
Spudgunner,

We have been hit hard as well. We have collectively received over 6 feet in 15 days and have been "living" in the Toolcats. At a point the snow got so deep we just parked the trucks and could only run the Toolcats.

To your question, I "try" and grease after every storm as I have been told it will greatly extend the life of the machines. I say "try" because in the last weeks we have not had the time, or enough sleep to grease often. Tomorrow all equipment will converge at "home base" for grease, fluids, chain rebuilding, and inspections for loose bolts, etc.

BTW, the three bolts that hold, and allow rotation of the blower shutes came loose and one shute actually fell off. I have replaced those nuts with nylon self locking. A few minutes and about $4.00 will save a lot of frustration while you are on your route.

I have relatives in N. Cali between Auburn and Placerville and although they've not be getting the same snow as you, apparently, they've had wild weather. 10-4 on the disk-shaped "chute guides". I notice one of mine was flopping around and it was as loose as a goose. Good heads-up. I was lucky it was visible from the cab.

My only casualty thus far in this series of storms is that my main boom cylinder is leaking when it's at full extension. It'll leak about 1/2-3/4 cup of fluid per day when in heavy use. It doesn't leak at all when the blower is in it's normal "down" position.

ndnewbie · Mar 6, 2008

Is anyone familiar with any "Toolcat Maintenance for Dummies" type materials, that would be more illustrative than the 1/2" Toolcat manual?

Barring that, could someone tell me their greasing routine? We love our Toolcat, and want it to last.

Thanks.

Spudgunner · Mar 6, 2008

I've found that the 1/2" Toolcat manual is a great resource for location of zerks. On the D series (maybe others), the most difficult zerks to reach are the one at the lowest end of the main boom cylinder (gotta get under the TC) and the four ball joint zerks. The ball joint fittings are only "difficult" because they point in odd directions. I quote "difficult" because a flexible hose on the grease gun takes care of most issues.

The visiting Bobcat tech told me to be careful about over-greasing the ball joints. Two pumps each was all he'd do. He was more liberal with the grease on all the other zerks, I noticed.

mouse · Mar 10, 2008

Spudgunner said:
The visiting Bobcat tech told me to be careful about over-greasing the ball joints. Two pumps each was all he'd do.

care to elaborate on that spudgunner? what did he identify as the problem if you overgrease them.

my toolcat got delivered with plastic caps still on the grease nipples (which i guess you call zerks) so i kinda figured they weren't high on the list for pre-delivery. mind you the tray pins were dry too...

ndnewbie · Mar 10, 2008

Thanks. I'll look back at the manual. Btw...picture of all my toolcats from this weekend. Two barn babies and mom on right.

Spudgunner · Mar 10, 2008

mouse said:
care to elaborate on that spudgunner? what did he identify as the problem if you overgrease them.

my toolcat got delivered with plastic caps still on the grease nipples (which i guess you call zerks) so i kinda figured they weren't high on the list for pre-delivery. mind you the tray pins were dry too...

mouse,
The Bobcat tech cited a problem when grease starts oozing out of the boots. He said something along the lines of, "Then water can get in there"...or something like that. I really didn't question him about it because I figured he was the expert. This particular tech has helped me with a number of small items and his advice has always been good...so I just took it on his word.