Need mini skid steer mechanic

Danger_Ranger

Danger_Ranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Location
Star NC
I need the motor mounts on my mini skid steer fixed. They are bolted on but there is really no room in this thing to get to the bolts to do much. I think the holes are all stripped out, and maybe a broken bolt in one. This thing shakes and vibrates so bad the way it is now that it's starting to vibrate everything else loose. The ditch witch dealer told me the best thing to do is pull the engine to be able to fix everything. They also said it would be a few grand if they did it. It's a 2012 ditch witch sk650. I'm not really trying to spend a few grand just to fix the motor mounts. I thought about just welding them directly to the engine. I would still be able to pull the engine if I ever needed to because the motor mounts bolt through the bottom of the bell pan. Anyone here have experience with this or know somebody that does?
 
I've worked on the 650 and 800 quite a bit in the past. I would not weld the mount if it were my machine. The mount pulled out or stripped because it got loose or the isolator wore out causing metal to metal vibration. the mounts and bracketry all have torque values that should be checked periodically. The right way to repair takes time and some money but last a lot longer in the long run.
 
Just wanted to add if it's the 32hp kubota engine I've got the same one in my boxer and have had to deal with the engine mounts myself it wasn't terrible. it still shakes and vibrates just as bad as before, have to find that rpm sweet spot where it doesn't suck.
 
braxton357 said:
Just wanted to add if it's the 32hp kubota engine I've got the same one in my boxer and have had to deal with the engine mounts myself it wasn't terrible. it still shakes and vibrates just as bad as before, have to find that rpm sweet spot where it doesn't suck.
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I've used yours and you're not wrong :laughing: Pretty sure that's what broke the exhaust, even though you probably still blame me :p
 
Got it clean today. I bet we got out 50 pounds of dirt from this thing. There goes my weight kit lol.
 

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Nothing really crazy hard other than one 45min long bolt. Just a BUNCH of shit to deal with no room.
Including labeling, draining of fluids (oil takes 2 hours to drain at least), keeping the woodstove going and trying to find bolts underneath 4 inches of nastiness(and that's after pressure washing it) We had the engine and pumps sitting on a pallet in 9 hours.
Spent around 4-5 hours cleaning it and the engine yesterday, as well as getting the radiator sent off to a buddy to have all 3 of the mounts welded back on (alum). Both of us were moving a little bit slower. The teardown was fairly intensive tbh, mostly due to being bent over all day inside this thing and under it. A hydraulic table or some form of lift would make this job so much better.
I am currently standing in the shop knocking the chill off with the forced air hearer while I get the coals rustled around in the stove to light up once again. Then will be adding the extra 2 holes per side on the mounting plates since DW decided you only need 6 bolts vs the 8 mounting holes in the Kubota block. I guess it's a good thing considering there is 1 hole per side that is 90-95 percent fubared.
In the words of Stalekracker "Let's git it Dood!"
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That thing was messy. I'm sure that second machine came in handy....
 
ghost said:
That thing was messy. I'm sure that second machine came in handy....
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Man that's an understatement. Justin got it second hand about 2 years ago....pretty sure the owner before him had NEVER cleaned it. Hardcore pressure wash before I even put it in the shop, cleaned gunk and nastiness as we went. Then spent all day yesterday with pry bars, paint scapers and ice scrapers before pressure washing again.
 
redneckjeep87 said:
How clean do you keep it? Engine bay I mean. And how many hours?
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Well it's never been washed except for rain so she's a dirty girl. It's got a weird combo of spilled hydro fluids, oils and red dust. Last I checked it's at about 600 hours. Still pretty new for the issues its had but ditch witch was pretty shitty with they're routing of the harness. 2 grand for a new harness and I zip tied the shit out of it so hopefully there wont be anymore rub-throughs. Love the machine though. Needs little more ass to lift an entire pallet of pavers but it is what it is.
 
That thing on the exhaust manifold looks like a turbo...only smaller :D
 
Saw an SK3000 today. Looked about the size of a normal skidsteer but with no cab. Big ol little machine.

Edit: Just looked it up, 8000lbs and 60hp. No wonder :eek:
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At that point, I'd rather sit in a cab with AC :D
 
jeepinmatt said:
Saw an SK3000 today. Looked about the size of a normal skidsteer but with no cab. Big ol little machine.

Edit: Just looked it up, 8000lbs and 60hp. No wonder :eek:
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I have a buddy with one. I actually made the sale for the salesman.....mfer should have given me a kickback. They are absolutely beast mode
 
Croatan_Kid said:
At that point, I'd rather sit in a cab with AC :D
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Definitly depends on what you do for a living. In the landscape/jobsite world being on off a machine is much faster and easier on a mini/standup setup over a standard skid, especially cabmachine. Still a large machine, but much more nimble and an insane amount of visibility.
 
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