[AT] Off-topic: Bobcat hydraulic fluid

[Spencer Yost]

I had forgotten that I needed to pick up a part I had ordered at Napa, so I got my oil there instead of tractor supply - got their house brand oil. My parts guy(Tom at Old Town if David. Bruce is listening) said he sells a lot for use in Bobcats.

When the dealer replaced the hydraulic line, they left the tank a bit low. But since they charged by the quart I didn't care much. After operating 10 hours, air pockets and small seep I have in the bucket tilt cylinder, lowered the level to the point I need to put some in. Getting the fluid level up to where they had it took 1 quart.   getting it up to the mid point on the stick took another two.   Glad I bought a gallon jug.  

Neighbor who borrows the bobcat a  every month or two called to offer to get the hydraulic  fluid for me. He called as I was pulling out of the Napa parking lot. I think he was watching me :-)

The Bobcat got an engine oil change today too.

Antique tractor reference: the part I needed to pick up at Napa was the 6V solenoid for the Massey Harris pacer. 

Spencer Yost

> On Aug 26, 2017, at 10:24 PM, David Myers <walking_tractor at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Spencer,  if I may weigh in here,  I had my oil supplier test a sample of new Bobcat oil.
> They (a major company that only refines US oil for commercial use) said there are some additive packages in use in the Bobcat oil they couldn't be sure of.  They highly recommended using the OEM oil instead of their close equivalent.  This message was straight from their labs.  I have taken their advice.  
> My experience only and yes, this is the only example of this in our fleet.   Everything else is running a top quality, 'generic', oil.
> David
> 
> 
> Dave Myers
> Shop Foreman
> (269) 720-2387
> 
> 
> 32673 E. Red Arrow Hwy.
> Paw Paw, MI 49079
> 
> (269) 657-4446
> (269) 657-4884 fax
> www.LounsburyExcavating.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Aug 26, 2017, at 2:16 PM, charlie hill <charliehill at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Absolutely,  Bobcat doesn't make their own oil.
>> They buy it somewhere.  In fact they don't make the
>> hydraulic pump on the machine.  Just find out what
>> type and weight oil it is and use a good quality oil that
>> matches up.  Some hydraulic systems are partial to mineral oil.
>> I don't have a clue about Bobcat but there is nothing magic about
>> their oil.
>> 
>> Charlie
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: Spencer Yost
>> Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 9:08 PM
>> To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> Subject: [AT] Off-topic: Bobcat hydraulic fluid
>> 
>> I have a mid-1990s bobcat model 753. I need to top off the hydraulic fluid. 
>> The current fluid is recent fluid change and is a bobcat brand, because 
>> there was a main hydraulic line that had to be replaced so they completely 
>> redid the oil when they did the line. Can I get something from tractor 
>> supply to top it off? Or should I use bobcat brand only? I've hit up The 
>> construction forums but there seems to be a bunch of guys whose use their 
>> equipment for commercial use, and they just simply don't want to risk 
>> offbrand oil's. So not much help.   They just say use Bobcat.  But for my 
>> little farm I don't mind risking it. I run it 30 hours a year.   Not 30 
>> hours a week.
>> 
>> What type/weight would you get?
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> Spencer Yost
>> 
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