So definitely a video for dummies, how to operate a Compact Track Loader. 😉 I have been on skid steer loaders for 50 years. I was contracting with a Bobcat before most people knew what they were. Frequently when I would go to a job and sometimes today I would get asked , how many times have I flipped over. My response today is never. One must remember a skid steer operates on the principle of weight distribution. Bucket empty, approximately 70 percent of the weight of the machine is in rear. Load the bucket and the ratio is reversed. Always remember that and you won't get in trouble. Stay safe out there.
@@ColeyCLogan Hey, on older models the float detent on the boom pedal is all the way down. Some newer models there is a trigger switch on the left handle. If you have a used machine, it could be someone rebuilt the valve incorrectly and the float detent did not work. I had that on a machine I bought. Hope this helps.
Me before watching video: :::sweating profusely::: Those things must operate like space ships. I could never handle one. Me after watching video: I've played video games with more difficult controls. I got this.
Just get in and start pushing buttons and knobs! Make sure to hit the horn a few times to ensure those around you know you don't know your way around the machine!
Really not my line of work but I've been asked to operate a bobcat for 1 day tomorrow because I occasionally do operate wheel loaders and forklifts , however, I have only operated a skid steer for like half an hour a couple of years ago, so it's great that these videos are out there, thank you so much!
Another good tip for back dragging is if you are doing the aggressive drag like you showed the second time, when you near the end of your back drag and still have material built up behind your blade, keep it in float and roll your bucket back to level while still moving back. It will smooth out the end of your grade very smoothly. Let the machine do the work!
Oh, and you can also grade a little while going forward by curling up slightly on your bucket and leaving the boom fully down. Then you can easily transition into the float back drag in reverse by engaging the float and curl your bucket down slightly to get that perfectly smooth finish!
Outstanding basic video for skid steer operation and techniques. I learned the hard way on my first time in a Bobcat on our farm in 1997 about the high bucket problem. I didn’t have it all the way up, but I hit some bumps which rocked me front to back, which in turn caused my hand on the steering to rock front and back, which exaggerated the movement on the bumps…classic oscillation, and over the front I flipped after about 3 cycles. Kind of dazed but unhurt, literally hanging from the belly bar and seat belt inside. I heard my wife outside (who had seen the whole thing) clearly imaging the worst, and then I started laughing my butt off inside the cab. Probably not the best reaction but at least my wife knew I was alive. Man, if I’d been on a job site I would have earned a nickname like Crash or Flip for life. But I learned the high center of gravity lesson the hard way, and sure wish we’d had this video back then to learn it the soft way! I also had NO CLUE you could disengage the hydraulics then, so my “floating” left something to be desired. Thanks again - outstanding video.
Great video for new/first time operators! +1 for respecting the limitations and dangers of your equipment. I happily have never rolled a skid steer in my 20+ years of operating them, but have come darn close. Here are a couple of things I would like to add as well. 1. If you ever feel like you are tipping forward with a load, lower your boom and/or dump your bucket. It's a natural reaction to want to back up, but that only puts your center of gravity farther forward and exacerbates the problem. Ending up on your nose is recoverable, but is uncomfortable to say the least. I've seen it lead to roll to the side before, especially on a slope. 2. After picking up a heavy load, your pivot point on the machine will change. Unloaded, it is somewhere between the the center of the machine and the rear wheel/sprocket. It shifts farther and farther toward the front wheel/roller the heavier the load is, and the higher you carry it. Many new operators, at some point, have run into problems with this change in pivot. "Problems" being trees, fences, etc. in tight quarters. 3. Personally, I find full throttle to be more conducive to predictability with machine response. I do quite a bit of tight quarters digging and grading and have never liked the jerkyness inherent in the foot throttle. TBH, I am an old Bobcat operator who still uses foot controls (can't stand hand controls, but use them from time to time). I never had the option for a foot throttle, but when I have tried it on other machines, didn't go great. Anyway, that's my two cents. Hope it helps anyone using any type of skid out there.
Heading up to New Jersey tomorrow for a snow storm job ill be operating a bob cat for the first time not sure if its foot controls or hand controls... but i sure am excited and this helped!
@@halofan4life1000 Good luck Daylan. Just be careful of curbs, manholes etc that may be hiding in the snow if you aren't familiar with the site. They will rock your world if you hit them at speed. Seatbelt has saved my face from the front door glass more than once.
Just want to comment on how you scoop into the pile. I see this a lot and I even do it myself when I'm not thinking about it but you don't want to just go in straight at the bottom of the pile. If you do this then you need to overcome the weight of all the material above the bucket which requires more power out of the machine then necessary. Instead you should start at the bottom and scrape up the side of the pile. This will give you a full bucket of material without needing to go above engine idle. Also to everyone reading this, don't spin your tires, it offers no benefit and all you are doing is rapidly wearing them out and costing yourself more money. As a mechanic I hate seeing this.
a couple of things that I think are pretty important to mention when you're talking about running skid steers. I am very glad you stressed how dangerous they are they are very easy to tip over especially if they are on tires. Always wear your seatbelt. With skid steers make sure you are always watching the bucket level especially if you have concrete in your bucket or something like that I have seen it come through the cab on guys before. When you're loading trucks and your arms are high like that put a berm of dirt next to the dump truck that way the machine is angled back just a little bit as you're dumping and it will increase your stability by a lot. My biggest piece of advice with any equipment but especially skid steers get as comfortable as you possibly can in the machine because if you are comfortable you are more attentive to what you are doing as well as more proficient. Great job on this video if you are new to running skid steers this is a great place to start.
Sounds like you do more construction work with them, I do more forestry work. I’m sure you’d know that moving heavy and cumbersome material like pipes (my case trees) you really gotta find the center of gravity of your load, otherwise you can’t steer to well and is very dangerous to the people working near you
That's a great piece of advice to put a little material doen to angle you back when loading. I've just recently started using a skid near daily out on a ranch and I've had to learn real quick! That bit is going to help me. Thx
This person is presenting his video very effectively. I hope more people watch this, rather than others. These machines require focussed attention, and clear thinking.
Thank you for the video. Going to operating a skid steer for the first time to clear brush from property. Besides the tips on the video is there specific tips for this type of project?
This is a very good tutorial. Really appreciate your training. My husband and I will be running one of these puppies today. We're both cherry with heavy equipment but, with this video, we'll take it slow and steady. I'm so excited! Thanks so much!
Having watched a few episodes now, I find them very informative and demystifying the equipment you demonstrate. Far more helpful in giving a general summary of various machines than some of the other videos I've watched. Thanks!
I would add that the tracked machines are way more stable than the wheeled ones Also I would say that your video production is amazing. Very well done!
Thanks for the comment. We are trying to mix it up with some training vids, some funny stuff, and others about our business. Hopefully people like the variety, but also that's why we separated content in to our playlists in case you only want one type of videos. Just let us know if there are any other types of videos you would like to see.
Really love these instructions. Bin a few years since I operated a skidsteer so I came here for a quick tune up lesson. Just wanna comment and say you don't wanna over fill the bucket because the over flow onto the tilt pins get filled with sand and its hard to grease all the muck out of the pins
Helped my boss yesterday by laying gravel in lateral field trenches for the first time as he was digging them out. Was already using your techniques. Laid nice even coatings of gravel. I feel like a pro already
Thank you for telling folks how to use and how the controls work on the skid steer. I am going to take an in-cab test today and I appreciate the clarity on this matter. You have earned my subscription. Bye for now.
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i use a skid steer to move big rocks in my yard but it uses sticks and pedals instead of joysticks, even tho this was a bit helpful for someone who is a bit skilled with the skid steer: It was very helpful though.
I have an old 80s bobcat. The bucket and boom are controlled with pedals on the floor and my left joy stick control forward and back on the left side with the right handling the right side. Its weird to see how these machines have changed.
I have run equipment for 30 years, and that was all good information. We let a customer use one of our skid steers over a weekend once, and he managed to flop it onto it's side on a perfectly level lot. I guess he had the bucket high and did a sudden sharp turn. That's all it takes.
The smallest Bobcat is the S70 which we use to get through gates and it is comparatively light weight. Of course lacks the power and brute capability of the larger machines which means finessing every task. Enjoyed your video as it gave me some useful tips on maximizing the use of our small machine. More detail on lifting and traveling techniques as well as tricks with grading and maneuvering would be most welcome.
Know your limitations and the machines limitations.If you need another attachment for the job , it is what it is. Always wear your seatbelt!!!! Keep the bucket as low as possible at all times it will "help" prevent a roll or tip. Don't smoke marijuana untill it's been established you can do so safely! I'm soooo joking 😂 stay alert stay alive
Great tips! Definitely stress using the seat belt.. When you hit a raised manhole cover while pushing snow in the middle of the night you're going to want to be belted in!
I learned quickly how to operate one when I rented it this weekend. you also get more comfortable when the first thing you have to do without knowing how to operate it is to unload it from the trailer with the use of this two thin aluminum ramps. yeah that's how you learn quickly hahaha
Good advice! For sure a more dangerous machine than a bulldozer which takes longer to react. My first time in a skid steer was at a job I had at age 18. No training just "can you run this" Sure I said. Old M610 with hand/foot pedals. The learning curve was an hour, didn't hit anything and got the job done! The old ones didn't even have rops and one mistake I made was dumping sand on myself when trying to load a truck.
That's me right now lol. 19yrs old and almost tipped myself forward with a heavy concrete load. I wasn't aware of how quick these things slowed down, its almost instant once you let off the throttle
I'm gonna be starting a job soon where my boss lied and said I knew how to drive and operate one (bad call on him for lying) so I'm actually kind of terrified of having to get in one. This video has definitely helped ease some worries, but my anxiety about it is in full force when I dwell on it too much.
Good luck with the new job. There are several other videos on skid steer training under our LEARN playlist. Just take your time, and ask questions if you don’t understand.
Great Instructional Video! This really help to layout the controls and basic functions for someone just getting into the use of one of these machines. Thank you sir!
I remember the first time I rented one. I nearly tipped it over backward, driving up a slope. There were lots of "Oh Shit!" moments that weekend! What a difference twenty years makes. Now I own one, and it feels like a glove.
Crazy from an old school operator. Lots of safety stuff now days that's unwarranted if you just pay attention to what you're doing. Hearing protection is the one thing I should have done.
What if your moving a tree or a object and falls in front of door and traps you in how do you get out? Is there a emergency exit? Or if you tip over? Can you make a video on emergency situation and how to get out safely
Today was my first time driving a bobcat didn’t do bad eventually I’ll get more comfortable, hopefully this helps me more with a better understanding of controls etc
Needing to level off the back yard from garden plots and moles, digging, redistribute, and then level. No one seems to want such a small job so looks like it will be a DIY. Your video is great, eases some of the anxiety and makes the job feel doable. I'm just wondering how hard that bobcat is on the body. I know it's not a luxury ride but does it beat you up while you're using it?
The seats have all been pretty comfy that I’ve used, but the bigger issue is open cab vs closed cab - if you’re expecting a lot of dust, it can be pretty miserable in an open cab (ditto if freezing cold).
This is a little different to see you in something besides a Komatsu. I might recommend a training vid on how to operate a backhoe, although you don't see a lot of Komatsu backhoes around. Thanks for the vids.
Yeah, we love our Komatsu's but also like to experience all equipment. Definitely want to do a backhoe video, haven't had one on our sites for a while but will see if I can get one for a training video. Thanks for the comment!
Great video, I used to operate a wheeled version on road construction sites about 20 years ago, they weren't quite as fancy as this one, it was pedals for the boom and bucket and you'd whack it up to full revs at the start of the shift and leave it there as they didn't like anything other than full power! I can remember the day I finally had one with a door too, such luxury! Very true about skid steers being one of the more dangerous bits of equipment on site, people often overlook them as a hazard as they are small, the main issue I had (other than being 'buzzed' by 40 ton articulated rock trucks) was labourers or other workers wandering into your work area, not realising that the visibility is quite poor when reversing and you tend to spend as much time going backwards as you do going forwards.
This is a great video I run or equipment rental store the one thing I can't find on the internet maybe you guys might be interested in making is a what not to do on a track skid steer video. I have a lot of inexperienced customers that get into trouble backing tracks off and rolling machines because they just don't know what not to do. And I can't find a video anywhere to show people what not to do on a machine because they're inexperienced and they think they can go anywhere and do anything this video will be great show how to run it but I really wish there was one the highlighted the easy mistakes that they can make
We'll see about doing an additional skid steer video in the future. Would be interested in hearing from all of you on "what NOT to do" along with the mistakes to avoid. Thanks!
@David C I wish that was the case here in the states. They dont have any certificate system here on heavy equipment. I'd say most if the time the customer has some knowledge about the equipment. Even experienced operators do alot of things wrong because they don't care it's not their equipment so they abuse it
What happens if you tip a Home Depot Bobcat rental? I want to rent one to grade a 1/4 acre (75x120) property 4' high from the perimeter creating a 50x60 plateau in 4' higher than property line. How difficult to do this with just a bobcat? My plan was to PUSH dirt in maybe 1 foot at a time. Is a full tank enough for 5 x 8 hour days?
Lot's to unpack from this one. First, if you tip a rental skid you could be liable for the damages so definitely check the agreement before renting. I will say that I believe skid steers are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment, mainly because they are smaller people think because they are smaller they aren't as risky. The opposite is true. Very easy to flip a 8,000lb skid steer versus a 40,000 lb bulldozer. So BE CAREFUL! Second, sounds like what you are describing is doable but I would still consult with an expert. Sometimes people think they will save money by doing it themselves and then it takes them 4x as long and still not as good as results as just hiring an expert. For fuel, really depends on the machine. I would say most skids average around 1.5-2.5 gallons per hour and I think most tanks average around 20 gallons. So you definitely wouldn't be able to go a whole week, usually every other day. Hope that helps...maybe others will give advice as well!
I drive a new holland l223 around 20 hours a week on a farm, foot throttle saves a ton of fuel. find h patten so much easier to use. Two wheels is something to be mastered (experience comes with years of use) makes the tipping point less scary and easier to control when loading big machines or heavy loads.
My friend said that where he worked at the end of the day waiting on the clock when they come over to park most of them would get in a contest of how high u would go with the bucket up and flip over. He said there was one guy that raised his all the way up and hit reverse. I think they all needed fired
I’ve operated many machines. Case,bobcat,kubota, ride on bobcat. Tracks and wheels. The best piece of equipment that should be standard on all new machines is the back up camera.
Good video, just wrong rental company. Every time you rent from United you're contributing to everybody's rental rates going up, as they're trying to become a monopoly in the industry.
Thanks. I'm about to go rent one and it's been 15 years since I have been in one so it was nice to go through everything real quick. Seems easier now without the foot controls for the bucket.
thank you very much for this. my operator quit on me 2 days before a big job, and i needed a huge refreshment aswell as learning some new things. thank you !!!!!
Thanks, very informative!. I appreciate the safety tips. I may have to operate a Bobcat in the near future and this will help me to quickly become familiar with a Bobcat. I operate a CAT 938M loader and your floating technique will help me whenever I have to fill in some of the low spots at work. Straight to the point with no fluff. Thanks again for the great video.
Yes pretty easy to handle. I myself went on a job the other week ,and the client said they had a telly handler. Upon my arrival , Found it to be a kubota skid steer on tracks. 3 mins of training and was cleared to drive. After a few hours picking sand up , changing the bucket to forks and carrying bricks , to floating and making a make shift track around tight conditions around the building. Common sense a Ways prevails
Work at a golf course and we have a tracked machine and actually it’s not good for grass. Turns are impossible without damaging the grass. I wish we still had our wheeled skidder
Not sure about that...a wheeled machine would most likely sink in to grass and do even more damage. Generally tracked machines are better on softer surfaces, just have to be better avoiding sharp turns.
Feel like I have left here with a sense of knowing how I could get some behind the wheel so to speak and be comfortable enough to do a run or two without flipping it over lol
I deleted my comment, but when I made the comment, I didn’t specify I meant to comment on somebody else’s comment about bucket flow because I did not understand how bucket float worked
I have a driveway area with probably decades of sediment, carpeted by cape weed, driven over and packed, maybe two inches. I want the driveway back as well as to get rid of the cape weed. Anyway, is a Bobcat the right machine? I've dug some places with a shovel to keep the rainwater from running directly into the house. I'm sure it wasn't designed this way. How do I sculpt or change the contours, just get down to the rocky gravel and and not scar the road? It's not my property, so I want to be extra careful, get mostly done with a machine, and then finish by hand. Thanks for the very helpful video and maybe your answer?
Yes, definitely the right machine but I think you prob should speak with a local contractor before you go digging up your driveway. It takes skill to be able to read the grade for drainage and make any corrections to the soil. Just my 2 cents
Because of course there’s lots of thinking in Landscaping and Construction 🚧 work, as well with safety gear and clothing and safety Boots and of course making sure everyone is working safely as well and we are going to be very very soon to assist safety to those Workers for whatever reason and whatever safety reason is required to move all stand where you are please and that in cases where Injuries occur we must induct Workers and call ☎️ 000 for Ambulance 🚑 and Police 👮♀️ for Harassment and of Course the ambulance 🚑 for serious Injuries. From Thomas you think again and think again in Cases like this as we all get through this Tasks in hand as well because there’s a lot of risk involve on Projects and Quality Issues as well. From Thomas.
Great request. I will see if we can make that happen at some point. Challenge is we don’t own any of those attachments so we would either need to rent them or find someone to sponsor them. But I’ll see. Thanks for the comment and support!
Nice, clear video. Good job. I've rented one of these a couple of times before and am about to rent one again to prepare some ground for a paver patio. It's been a few years since the last time though, so I came here to get a refresher before renting. Thanks for taking the time to record and post this. Good information.
@@HeavyMetalLearning Thanks. The project is going slow so far. All the local skid steers are rented out for the next few weeks so I've been going at it with a shovel. I'm wishing I was about 40 years younger. :-)
The old Bobcats were better. Left foot pedal moved the boom up/down. Right foot pedal articulated the bucket. Right hand lever moved the right wheels forward/backwards and the left lever did the opposite. No emotronic bullshit needed.
I started with a M610 40 years ago and I have owned probably 30 bobcat skid steers my favorite was the 825 and s220 the 630s had why to much electric on it for the poultry house cleaning
GREAT VIDEO!!! I truly enjoyed your basic training on how to operate a Bobcat skid steer. I'm having some work done in my backyard by some contractors and they left their skid steer over the weekend. I needed to learn how to operate a skid steer because I'm going to steal the contractor's skid steer and move a fair amount of dirt myself. Now I know how!!! YIPEE!!!
It’s about getting oriented with the controls and understanding the limitations within safe boundaries. I’ve learned to use some heavy equipment by training of the operators. Those same operators are also the same ones that say “Don’t let me find you doing *blank* after explaining certain hazards.
Plus lawn mowing has got risks as well blades spinning and long grass sometimes Bees 🐝 Snakes 🐍 and line trimming leaf blowing off Jobs clean Ups as well we all need to look at the job we do all each day we turn up to the worksite and the area as well, there will be grass flying into Peoples Shoes and work Boots 🥾 as well you need long Panys heavy duty work Boots as well, because safety has some authroised thinking and communication as well,.
Mainly because it’s tougher to see the blade tip if you keep rotation the blade in? Plus you then start getting closer to the tracks which could cause issues. I think there are times you can go up to 90 degrees when working with really uneven terrain, but generally I recommend keeping it angled.
Okay, thanks! Our skid steers have really good visibility. I have floated at about 90 degrees or even steeper several times, but especially with our backhoe or while trying to cut a tiny bit deeper in specific situations while shaping base layers. It's definitely not something I do all the time. For snow removal, a "vertical float" (is that a term?) is incredibly handy for tight areas where you need to drag out from a building but I also use the float with a flat or slightly upturned bucket moving forward for scooping snow to keep the bucket the right height without penetrating the ground beneath. Our skid steers don't have tracks so I didn't think about that proximity issue. I've wondered if it was hard on the rams before though. P.S. "Vertical floating" and other steep floating can make for a very bumpy and unpleasant ride in rocky soil. 😲
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Definitely not me watching this video after getting into a bobcat
Pouhahahqhqhha 😂😂😂😂 mee rn
lmao just started at a asphalt plant and Im in the process of learning how to use a skid this definitely helped xd
So definitely a video for dummies, how to operate a Compact Track Loader. 😉
I have been on skid steer loaders for 50 years. I was contracting with a Bobcat before most people knew what they were.
Frequently when I would go to a job and sometimes today I would get asked , how many times have I flipped over. My response today is never.
One must remember a skid steer operates on the principle of weight distribution. Bucket empty, approximately 70 percent of the weight of the machine is in rear. Load the bucket and the ratio is reversed.
Always remember that and you won't get in trouble.
Stay safe out there.
Great suggestion...thanks for the comment!
Boggs can u explain how to get to the float feature on Bobcat with bucket controled foot pedals?
@@ColeyCLogan Hey, on older models the float detent on the boom pedal is all the way down.
Some newer models there is a trigger switch on the left handle.
If you have a used machine, it could be someone rebuilt the valve incorrectly and the float detent did not work.
I had that on a machine I bought.
Hope this helps.
Me before watching video: :::sweating profusely::: Those things must operate like space ships. I could never handle one.
Me after watching video: I've played video games with more difficult controls. I got this.
Lol...I like that...there is no respawning though!
Great job! You are a good teacher
Thank you so much! This was so helpful!
Just get in and start pushing buttons and knobs! Make sure to hit the horn a few times to ensure those around you know you don't know your way around the machine!
Good call
This right here...this was me today..🤣
I was wondering if I can make the controls the same as my s185????
left trigger on a clark bobcat ;D
I did that in a mini.
Really not my line of work but I've been asked to operate a bobcat for 1 day tomorrow because I occasionally do operate wheel loaders and forklifts , however, I have only operated a skid steer for like half an hour a couple of years ago, so it's great that these videos are out there, thank you so much!
Really good instruction, just info one needs, no music, good pace. Perfect.
Thanks for the comment!
Very well explained. Great job
Another good tip for back dragging is if you are doing the aggressive drag like you showed the second time, when you near the end of your back drag and still have material built up behind your blade, keep it in float and roll your bucket back to level while still moving back. It will smooth out the end of your grade very smoothly. Let the machine do the work!
Oh, and you can also grade a little while going forward by curling up slightly on your bucket and leaving the boom fully down. Then you can easily transition into the float back drag in reverse by engaging the float and curl your bucket down slightly to get that perfectly smooth finish!
I have been running equipment for years and it seems I can always learn something from your videos.
Awesome to hear...thanks for the comment!
Outstanding basic video for skid steer operation and techniques. I learned the hard way on my first time in a Bobcat on our farm in 1997 about the high bucket problem. I didn’t have it all the way up, but I hit some bumps which rocked me front to back, which in turn caused my hand on the steering to rock front and back, which exaggerated the movement on the bumps…classic oscillation, and over the front I flipped after about 3 cycles. Kind of dazed but unhurt, literally hanging from the belly bar and seat belt inside. I heard my wife outside (who had seen the whole thing) clearly imaging the worst, and then I started laughing my butt off inside the cab. Probably not the best reaction but at least my wife knew I was alive. Man, if I’d been on a job site I would have earned a nickname like Crash or Flip for life. But I learned the high center of gravity lesson the hard way, and sure wish we’d had this video back then to learn it the soft way! I also had NO CLUE you could disengage the hydraulics then, so my “floating” left something to be desired. Thanks again - outstanding video.
Great video for new/first time operators! +1 for respecting the limitations and dangers of your equipment. I happily have never rolled a skid steer in my 20+ years of operating them, but have come darn close. Here are a couple of things I would like to add as well.
1. If you ever feel like you are tipping forward with a load, lower your boom and/or dump your bucket. It's a natural reaction to want to back up, but that only puts your center of gravity farther forward and exacerbates the problem. Ending up on your nose is recoverable, but is uncomfortable to say the least. I've seen it lead to roll to the side before, especially on a slope.
2. After picking up a heavy load, your pivot point on the machine will change. Unloaded, it is somewhere between the the center of the machine and the rear wheel/sprocket. It shifts farther and farther toward the front wheel/roller the heavier the load is, and the higher you carry it. Many new operators, at some point, have run into problems with this change in pivot. "Problems" being trees, fences, etc. in tight quarters.
3. Personally, I find full throttle to be more conducive to predictability with machine response. I do quite a bit of tight quarters digging and grading and have never liked the jerkyness inherent in the foot throttle. TBH, I am an old Bobcat operator who still uses foot controls (can't stand hand controls, but use them from time to time). I never had the option for a foot throttle, but when I have tried it on other machines, didn't go great.
Anyway, that's my two cents. Hope it helps anyone using any type of skid out there.
These are awesome tips! Thank you for sharing!
Heading up to New Jersey tomorrow for a snow storm job ill be operating a bob cat for the first time not sure if its foot controls or hand controls... but i sure am excited and this helped!
@@halofan4life1000 Good luck Daylan. Just be careful of curbs, manholes etc that may be hiding in the snow if you aren't familiar with the site. They will rock your world if you hit them at speed. Seatbelt has saved my face from the front door glass more than once.
@@bwwilson1765 thanks man! Ill keep that in mind 🤘🏼
how good r u now?
You are a natural born instructor. Very well done, sir!
Thank you very much!
Agreed, you make good clear easy to understand videos.
Just want to comment on how you scoop into the pile. I see this a lot and I even do it myself when I'm not thinking about it but you don't want to just go in straight at the bottom of the pile. If you do this then you need to overcome the weight of all the material above the bucket which requires more power out of the machine then necessary. Instead you should start at the bottom and scrape up the side of the pile. This will give you a full bucket of material without needing to go above engine idle. Also to everyone reading this, don't spin your tires, it offers no benefit and all you are doing is rapidly wearing them out and costing yourself more money. As a mechanic I hate seeing this.
Thanks for sharing!
I'll stay with my excavator!!
I'm buying my first skid steer for use on my property. I'm so excited! Thank you for this wonderful, exceedingly helpful video!
a couple of things that I think are pretty important to mention when you're talking about running skid steers. I am very glad you stressed how dangerous they are they are very easy to tip over especially if they are on tires. Always wear your seatbelt. With skid steers make sure you are always watching the bucket level especially if you have concrete in your bucket or something like that I have seen it come through the cab on guys before. When you're loading trucks and your arms are high like that put a berm of dirt next to the dump truck that way the machine is angled back just a little bit as you're dumping and it will increase your stability by a lot. My biggest piece of advice with any equipment but especially skid steers get as comfortable as you possibly can in the machine because if you are comfortable you are more attentive to what you are doing as well as more proficient. Great job on this video if you are new to running skid steers this is a great place to start.
Great tips...thanks for sharing!
Sounds like you do more construction work with them, I do more forestry work.
I’m sure you’d know that moving heavy and cumbersome material like pipes (my case trees) you really gotta find the center of gravity of your load, otherwise you can’t steer to well and is very dangerous to the people working near you
That's a great piece of advice to put a little material doen to angle you back when loading.
I've just recently started using a skid near daily out on a ranch and I've had to learn real quick! That bit is going to help me. Thx
This person is presenting his video very effectively. I hope more people watch this, rather than others. These machines require focussed attention, and clear thinking.
Thanks for the feedback and comment!
Thank you for the video. Going to operating a skid steer for the first time to clear brush from property. Besides the tips on the video is there specific tips for this type of project?
ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ ಸರ್ ಅದ್ಬುತ ❤️
This is a very good tutorial. Really appreciate your training. My husband and I will be running one of these puppies today. We're both cherry with heavy equipment but, with this video, we'll take it slow and steady. I'm so excited! Thanks so much!
How’d it go?
@@danielmejia1096 this has been months ago but, we had fun and got our job done. Thanks for asking!
Having watched a few episodes now, I find them very informative and demystifying the equipment you demonstrate. Far more helpful in giving a general summary of various machines than some of the other videos I've watched. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback and comment!
Helps refresh my mind on operating the skid steer. Much appreciated big life saver.
You're welcome...thanks for the comment!
I would add that the tracked machines are way more stable than the wheeled ones Also I would say that your video production is amazing. Very well done!
Thanks for the comment!
I waiting for you to post another training vid
Thanks for posting one👍👍
Thanks for the comment. We are trying to mix it up with some training vids, some funny stuff, and others about our business. Hopefully people like the variety, but also that's why we separated content in to our playlists in case you only want one type of videos. Just let us know if there are any other types of videos you would like to see.
I'm starting a job this monday, skid with forks. New to this, hope I do well
Good luck man! We have a Skid Steer 201 video coming out later this week so stay tuned...
David, Be sure to take your time. 90% of people would prefer the job gets done right rather than quickly.
@@mr.bender1692 100%
Howis it going, one year in?
Really love these instructions. Bin a few years since I operated a skidsteer so I came here for a quick tune up lesson. Just wanna comment and say you don't wanna over fill the bucket because the over flow onto the tilt pins get filled with sand and its hard to grease all the muck out of the pins
Good point...thanks for the comment!
@@HeavyMetalLearning your welcome. I thought it might be an interesting point to add to a video at some point.
Helped my boss yesterday by laying gravel in lateral field trenches for the first time as he was digging them out. Was already using your techniques. Laid nice even coatings of gravel. I feel like a pro already
Thank you for telling folks how to use and how the controls work on the skid steer. I am going to take an in-cab test today and I appreciate the clarity on this matter. You have earned my subscription. Bye for now.
Good luck on your test. Thanks for the comment!
After the success of our heavy equipment training videos on UA-cam, Extreme Sandbox is proud to announce the launch of Sandbox Academy, a heavy equipment operator training program. If you are interested in becoming a heavy equipment operator, check out Sandbox Academy! 👉extremesandbox.com/sandbox-academy
i use a skid steer to move big rocks in my yard but it uses sticks and pedals instead of joysticks, even tho this was a bit helpful for someone who is a bit skilled with the skid steer: It was very helpful though.
I have an old 80s bobcat. The bucket and boom are controlled with pedals on the floor and my left joy stick control forward and back on the left side with the right handling the right side.
Its weird to see how these machines have changed.
Yeah, there are several machines with those foot controls still out there. It’s all about what you learned on.
It's hard to believe this new of a skid steer doesn't come with self-leveling that can be turned on or off with a switch.
I always feel like Mr. Incredible climbing in and out of the skid steers
Lol
Haha
Been trapped inside one. Stalled out with the bucket halfway down. Battery was also dead
Great video! The guy at the rental store wouldn't even load it on his trailer for me; had to figure it out myself
Please if you can show us how to go safely down hill while loaded or uphill
We'll see if we can do a separate video on that.
I have run equipment for 30 years, and that was all good information. We let a customer use one of our skid steers over a weekend once, and he managed to flop it onto it's side on a perfectly level lot. I guess he had the bucket high and did a sudden sharp turn. That's all it takes.
Thanks for sharing
awesome video. only driven a skid steer once but after watching your video im better prepared for next time
Thanks for the comment!
This is excellent, learnt more here than the 3 full days of paid training.
lol....thanks for the comment....sorry your paid training isn't good.
Thanks. that was great. Going to lay down roadbase soon and I feel like I got a great start
WELL DONE SIR.
The smallest Bobcat is the S70 which we use to get through gates and it is comparatively light weight. Of course lacks the power and brute capability of the larger machines which means finessing every task. Enjoyed your video as it gave me some useful tips on maximizing the use of our small machine. More detail on lifting and traveling techniques as well as tricks with grading and maneuvering would be most welcome.
Great instructional video. You did a great job explaining the dangers of the machine. Very helpfull. Thankyou
Thanks for the comment!
Know your limitations and the machines limitations.If you need another attachment for the job , it is what it is. Always wear your seatbelt!!!! Keep the bucket as low as possible at all times it will "help" prevent a roll or tip. Don't smoke marijuana untill it's been established you can do so safely! I'm soooo joking 😂 stay alert stay alive
Of course a hit before I start
@@lilb5408 😂🤣🥔
Great tips! Definitely stress using the seat belt.. When you hit a raised manhole cover while pushing snow in the middle of the night you're going to want to be belted in!
Good call!
Yikes! That'd bring things to a shuddering halt!
Oh man, been there done that! Even with a seatbelt I hit my head on the front glass (I'm rather tall). Really rocks your world.
great video, thank you
I learned quickly how to operate one when I rented it this weekend. you also get more comfortable when the first thing you have to do without knowing how to operate it is to unload it from the trailer with the use of this two thin aluminum ramps. yeah that's how you learn quickly hahaha
Good advice! For sure a more dangerous machine than a bulldozer which takes longer to react. My first time in a skid steer was at a job I had at age 18. No training just "can you run this" Sure I said. Old M610 with hand/foot pedals. The learning curve was an hour, didn't hit anything and got the job done! The old ones didn't even have rops and one mistake I made was dumping sand on myself when trying to load a truck.
Thanks for the comment. It's scary how many people get thrown in to those things with little or no training.
That's me right now lol. 19yrs old and almost tipped myself forward with a heavy concrete load. I wasn't aware of how quick these things slowed down, its almost instant once you let off the throttle
I'm gonna be starting a job soon where my boss lied and said I knew how to drive and operate one (bad call on him for lying) so I'm actually kind of terrified of having to get in one. This video has definitely helped ease some worries, but my anxiety about it is in full force when I dwell on it too much.
Good luck with the new job. There are several other videos on skid steer training under our LEARN playlist. Just take your time, and ask questions if you don’t understand.
@Fear So I know it was a year ago but how did it go?
Great Instructional Video! This really help to layout the controls and basic functions for someone just getting into the use of one of these machines. Thank you sir!
You’re welcome!
It would be great if someone could do a short tutorial on operating these on a hill.
I operate them on hills. It is incredibly important to pay attention to the balance at all times . Slow and steady wins the race on uneven ground
You don't show how to change from a bucket to the fork. Thanks for the video
Yeah, we didn’t have any other accessories out but if we do we will put out another video.
It reminds me of my power wheelchair but if i can climb in i think i can do this! Im layin a patio behind my house. HANDICAPABLE
That’s awesome...love it!
I remember the first time I rented one. I nearly tipped it over backward, driving up a slope. There were lots of "Oh Shit!" moments that weekend! What a difference twenty years makes. Now I own one, and it feels like a glove.
Crazy from an old school operator. Lots of safety stuff now days that's unwarranted if you just pay attention to what you're doing. Hearing protection is the one thing I should have done.
Ok Boomer
What if your moving a tree or a object and falls in front of door and traps you in how do you get out? Is there a emergency exit? Or if you tip over? Can you make a video on emergency situation and how to get out safely
Thanks for the comment. Yes, the rear window on a skid steer is an emergency exit.
Great resource, thank you so much!
When he put the seat belt on I knew I was getting all the knowledge
Finally I know how to use the float button. Could never figure it out
Yup
I never use the float mode
with new one its so easy.... but with old bobcast with levers and pedals its a hard deal to do a job
Agreed....those are a challenge for sure!
Today was my first time driving a bobcat didn’t do bad eventually I’ll get more comfortable, hopefully this helps me more with a better understanding of controls etc
I don't know what kind of operator uses the pedal, full-throttle my guy. The hydraulics need to be run on full throttle.
Also you're gonna snap a hydraulic belt real fast scooping a pile like that.
why would you say they need to run at full throttle? Not necessary
Can we get a video on the operation buttons. Parking brake.... ignition etc.
I’ll see what we can do...thanks for the comment!
I'm about to rent one, first time. This video is perfect. Wish me luck! Thanks.
Best of luck!
You don’t operate a skid steer. You wear it. Get that figured out the rest is easy.
Well said...lol
Needing to level off the back yard from garden plots and moles, digging, redistribute, and then level. No one seems to want such a small job so looks like it will be a DIY. Your video is great, eases some of the anxiety and makes the job feel doable. I'm just wondering how hard that bobcat is on the body. I know it's not a luxury ride but does it beat you up while you're using it?
The seats have all been pretty comfy that I’ve used, but the bigger issue is open cab vs closed cab - if you’re expecting a lot of dust, it can be pretty miserable in an open cab (ditto if freezing cold).
I remember when I was a growing operator u spent countless hours on a bobcat proving myself
takes time
This is a little different to see you in something besides a Komatsu. I might recommend a training vid on how to operate a backhoe, although you don't see a lot of Komatsu backhoes around. Thanks for the vids.
Yeah, we love our Komatsu's but also like to experience all equipment. Definitely want to do a backhoe video, haven't had one on our sites for a while but will see if I can get one for a training video. Thanks for the comment!
Very well explained. Great job
Great video, I used to operate a wheeled version on road construction sites about 20 years ago, they weren't quite as fancy as this one, it was pedals for the boom and bucket and you'd whack it up to full revs at the start of the shift and leave it there as they didn't like anything other than full power! I can remember the day I finally had one with a door too, such luxury! Very true about skid steers being one of the more dangerous bits of equipment on site, people often overlook them as a hazard as they are small, the main issue I had (other than being 'buzzed' by 40 ton articulated rock trucks) was labourers or other workers wandering into your work area, not realising that the visibility is quite poor when reversing and you tend to spend as much time going backwards as you do going forwards.
Absolutely...thanks for the comment!
This is a great video I run or equipment rental store the one thing I can't find on the internet maybe you guys might be interested in making is a what not to do on a track skid steer video. I have a lot of inexperienced customers that get into trouble backing tracks off and rolling machines because they just don't know what not to do. And I can't find a video anywhere to show people what not to do on a machine because they're inexperienced and they think they can go anywhere and do anything this video will be great show how to run it but I really wish there was one the highlighted the easy mistakes that they can make
Definitely a possibility. Why don’t you email us and we can see about working together on something. Info@extremesandbox.com
We'll see about doing an additional skid steer video in the future. Would be interested in hearing from all of you on "what NOT to do" along with the mistakes to avoid. Thanks!
That would amazing feel free to contact me regarding some ideas for this topic
@David C I wish that was the case here in the states. They dont have any certificate system here on heavy equipment. I'd say most if the time the customer has some knowledge about the equipment. Even experienced operators do alot of things wrong because they don't care it's not their equipment so they abuse it
What happens if you tip a Home Depot Bobcat rental? I want to rent one to grade a 1/4 acre (75x120) property 4' high from the perimeter creating a 50x60 plateau in 4' higher than property line. How difficult to do this with just a bobcat? My plan was to PUSH dirt in maybe 1 foot at a time. Is a full tank enough for 5 x 8 hour days?
Lot's to unpack from this one. First, if you tip a rental skid you could be liable for the damages so definitely check the agreement before renting. I will say that I believe skid steers are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment, mainly because they are smaller people think because they are smaller they aren't as risky. The opposite is true. Very easy to flip a 8,000lb skid steer versus a 40,000 lb bulldozer. So BE CAREFUL!
Second, sounds like what you are describing is doable but I would still consult with an expert. Sometimes people think they will save money by doing it themselves and then it takes them 4x as long and still not as good as results as just hiring an expert. For fuel, really depends on the machine. I would say most skids average around 1.5-2.5 gallons per hour and I think most tanks average around 20 gallons. So you definitely wouldn't be able to go a whole week, usually every other day.
Hope that helps...maybe others will give advice as well!
I drive a new holland l223 around 20 hours a week on a farm, foot throttle saves a ton of fuel. find h patten so much easier to use. Two wheels is something to be mastered (experience comes with years of use) makes the tipping point less scary and easier to control when loading big machines or heavy loads.
Thanks for the comment! Good point!
My friend said that where he worked at the end of the day waiting on the clock when they come over to park most of them would get in a contest of how high u would go with the bucket up and flip over. He said there was one guy that raised his all the way up and hit reverse. I think they all needed fired
Yeah...no thank you
I’ve operated many machines. Case,bobcat,kubota, ride on bobcat. Tracks and wheels. The best piece of equipment that should be standard on all new machines is the back up camera.
Good video, just wrong rental company. Every time you rent from United you're contributing to everybody's rental rates going up, as they're trying to become a monopoly in the industry.
Thanks. I'm about to go rent one and it's been 15 years since I have been in one so it was nice to go through everything real quick. Seems easier now without the foot controls for the bucket.
thank you very much for this. my operator quit on me 2 days before a big job, and i needed a huge refreshment aswell as learning some new things. thank you !!!!!
You’re welcome...thanks for the comment!
Oh man, how'd it go. Or did u hire someone else.
@@ravi3shekh1 got 200 yards spread and the customer loved it !
Thanks, very informative!. I appreciate the safety tips. I may have to operate a Bobcat in the near future and this will help me to quickly become familiar with a Bobcat. I operate a CAT 938M loader and your floating technique will help me whenever I have to fill in some of the low spots at work. Straight to the point with no fluff. Thanks again for the great video.
Thanks for the comment
Yes pretty easy to handle. I myself went on a job the other week ,and the client said they had a telly handler. Upon my arrival ,
Found it to be a kubota skid steer on tracks. 3 mins of training and was cleared to drive. After a few hours picking sand up , changing the bucket to forks and carrying bricks , to floating and making a make shift track around tight conditions around the building. Common sense a
Ways prevails
Yeah...just takes stick time
How much is it to rent one for the day
Work at a golf course and we have a tracked machine and actually it’s not good for grass. Turns are impossible without damaging the grass. I wish we still had our wheeled skidder
Not sure about that...a wheeled machine would most likely sink in to grass and do even more damage. Generally tracked machines are better on softer surfaces, just have to be better avoiding sharp turns.
But back, dragging while floating and trying to feather out just boom down while you’re floating
Feel like I have left here with a sense of knowing how I could get some behind the wheel so to speak and be comfortable enough to do a run or two without flipping it over lol
just dont raise the arms up all the way and start doing donuts. (like the person they put in are new bobcat at work before i got a turn)
I deleted my comment, but when I made the comment, I didn’t specify I meant to comment on somebody else’s comment about bucket flow because I did not understand how bucket float worked
I have a driveway area with probably decades of sediment, carpeted by cape weed, driven over and packed, maybe two inches. I want the driveway back as well as to get rid of the cape weed. Anyway, is a Bobcat the right machine? I've dug some places with a shovel to keep the rainwater from running directly into the house. I'm sure it wasn't designed this way. How do I sculpt or change the contours, just get down to the rocky gravel and and not scar the road? It's not my property, so I want to be extra careful, get mostly done with a machine, and then finish by hand. Thanks for the very helpful video and maybe your answer?
Yes, definitely the right machine but I think you prob should speak with a local contractor before you go digging up your driveway. It takes skill to be able to read the grade for drainage and make any corrections to the soil. Just my 2 cents
Because of course there’s lots of thinking in Landscaping and Construction 🚧 work, as well with safety gear and clothing and safety Boots and of course making sure everyone is working safely as well and we are going to be very very soon to assist safety to those Workers for whatever reason and whatever safety reason is required to move all stand where you are please and that in cases where Injuries occur we must induct Workers and call ☎️ 000 for Ambulance 🚑 and Police 👮♀️ for Harassment and of Course the ambulance 🚑 for serious Injuries.
From Thomas you think again and think again in Cases like this as we all get through this Tasks in hand as well because there’s a lot of risk involve on Projects and Quality Issues as well.
From Thomas.
Can you do a how to on how to operate a grapple bucket and different attachments such as trench digger, tiller,plow
Great request. I will see if we can make that happen at some point. Challenge is we don’t own any of those attachments so we would either need to rent them or find someone to sponsor them. But I’ll see. Thanks for the comment and support!
Thank you for the training I feel more confident using this equipment, are there any instructional s on using a forestry Mulcher?
Gracias maestro saludos cordiales desde Marruecos.شكرا جزيلا يا استاذ
Nice, clear video. Good job. I've rented one of these a couple of times before and am about to rent one again to prepare some ground for a paver patio. It's been a few years since the last time though, so I came here to get a refresher before renting. Thanks for taking the time to record and post this. Good information.
Thanks for the comment. Hopefully the patio project goes well.
@@HeavyMetalLearning Thanks. The project is going slow so far. All the local skid steers are rented out for the next few weeks so I've been going at it with a shovel. I'm wishing I was about 40 years younger. :-)
Wow thank you so much. I have never driven one before and I have 1 coming in tomorrow. You really help me out I really appreciate it.
Glad I could help!
The old Bobcats were better.
Left foot pedal moved the boom up/down. Right foot pedal articulated the bucket.
Right hand lever moved the right wheels forward/backwards and the left lever did the opposite.
No emotronic bullshit needed.
I started with a M610 40 years ago and I have owned probably 30 bobcat skid steers my favorite was the 825 and s220 the 630s had why to much electric on it for the poultry house cleaning
Interesting...thanks for sharing!
GREAT VIDEO!!! I truly enjoyed your basic training on how to operate a Bobcat skid steer. I'm having some work done in my backyard by some contractors and they left their skid steer over the weekend. I needed to learn how to operate a skid steer because I'm going to steal the contractor's skid steer and move a fair amount of dirt myself. Now I know how!!! YIPEE!!!
Lol...good luck with that. Hopefully it’s not foot controls or you’ll really be screwed!
I want to learn bobcat please
Any school for it ?
I'm sure there are some in your area if you just google it.
It’s about getting oriented with the controls and understanding the limitations within safe boundaries.
I’ve learned to use some heavy equipment by training of the operators.
Those same operators are also the same ones that say “Don’t let me find you doing *blank* after explaining certain hazards.
Plus lawn mowing has got risks as well blades spinning and long grass sometimes Bees 🐝 Snakes 🐍 and line trimming leaf blowing off Jobs clean Ups as well we all need to look at the job we do all each day we turn up to the worksite and the area as well, there will be grass flying into Peoples Shoes and work Boots 🥾 as well you need long Panys heavy duty work Boots as well, because safety has some authroised thinking and communication as well,.
Why don't you ever want to float at a steeper angle than 45 degrees?
Mainly because it’s tougher to see the blade tip if you keep rotation the blade in? Plus you then start getting closer to the tracks which could cause issues. I think there are times you can go up to 90 degrees when working with really uneven terrain, but generally I recommend keeping it angled.
Okay, thanks!
Our skid steers have really good visibility. I have floated at about 90 degrees or even steeper several times, but especially with our backhoe or while trying to cut a tiny bit deeper in specific situations while shaping base layers. It's definitely not something I do all the time.
For snow removal, a "vertical float" (is that a term?) is incredibly handy for tight areas where you need to drag out from a building but I also use the float with a flat or slightly upturned bucket moving forward for scooping snow to keep the bucket the right height without penetrating the ground beneath.
Our skid steers don't have tracks so I didn't think about that proximity issue. I've wondered if it was hard on the rams before though.
P.S. "Vertical floating" and other steep floating can make for a very bumpy and unpleasant ride in rocky soil. 😲
What is the yellow button that you push in your thumb sir
On the bobcat it just activated the float function by pushing that and joystick forward.