Clinking

B

Baggy

New member
Hello and thanks in advance, just bought a bobcat 320, and the guy doing the inspection has noted some clinking.
Any ideas what it could be?
I don't have the machine just yet so can't tell where it is coming from
 
M

Monkeybusiness

Well-known member
Welcome!
Clinking is a bit of a loose term, you need to be a lot more specific. (It could simply be the person you bought it off celebrating with a round of drinks in the background)...
 
B

Baggy

New member
Well I don't know what kind of champagne glass you use but this clinking, I'm told, is a metallic sound! When driving forward and backwards. So far I have been unable to locate any poss causes and optimistically thought someone on here may have an idea of what possible mechanical issues it could be.
 
M

Monkeybusiness

Well-known member
Didn’t the guy doing the inspection give you any ideas?
It could be worn tracks/loose sprockets/knackered idlers, or may just be something loose elsewhere on the machine that vibrates when you track. Do both tracks operate correctly? Isolate which track causes the noise and start from there would be a starting point. Get someone else to operate it whilst you look - don’t get run over (diggers are heavy).
 
B

Baggy

New member
Thanks for the information, and you would have thought that but no, just that it works! (it does). Heavy, no, doesn't everyone bench press 1.5t hahahaha
 
craig

craig

Well-known member
Welcome
If I had to hazard a guess, I would say a bottom roller, difficult to say with out seeing the machine.
On a side note , I`ld be wary of someone doing an inspection, but not knowing what they are looking at.
If suspecting a bottom roller, lift the machine up on the blade and bucket, so the slack in the tracks is at the bottom, and give the rollers a good shake and push around by hand, with out going under the machine, ideally blocking it up so it doesn't come down. try running the tracks forward and back in this position to see if the noise has gone.
 
Regy53

Regy53

I like cake
Yes afraid need some more to go on, as long as its not the engine bearings or hydraulic pump it cant be to complicated, as above like a roller or even a dry idler wheel will make a noise when tracking
 
B

Baggy

New member
Welcome
If I had to hazard a guess, I would say a bottom roller, difficult to say with out seeing the machine.
On a side note , I`ld be wary of someone doing an inspection, but not knowing what they are looking at.
If suspecting a bottom roller, lift the machine up on the blade and bucket, so the slack in the tracks is at the bottom, and give the rollers a good shake and push around by hand, with out going under the machine, ideally blocking it up so it doesn't come down. try running the tracks forward and back in this position to see if the noise has gone.
Thanks Craig, the auction site only test for machines working or not. I have to wait for it to get here, then I will find out. I was asking in case there was a known issue with this model. Thanks
 
B

Baggy

New member
T
Yes afraid need some more to go on, as long as its not the engine bearings or hydraulic pump it cant be to complicated, as above like a roller or even a dry idler wheel will make a noise when tracking
Thanks for your help, I have to wait for it to arrive, then I will find out, I thought I would ask, in case there was a known issue. Thanks
 
craig

craig

Well-known member
Thanks Craig, the auction site only test for machines working or not. I have to wait for it to get here, then I will find out. I was asking in case there was a known issue with this model. Thanks
Sorry, I assumed you had paid someone to go and do an inspection for you.
When you get it home, film it making the noise, I`m sure someone on here will point you in the right direction.
One thing (unrelated), I`ve seen before on these bobcat 320`s is the oil cooler corroding and leaking.
 
B

Baggy

New member
Thanks for the advice guys, it's been picked up now and they tell me that it's fine but the slew is slow, I've looked it up, and most things point to a blocked return mesh. Does anyone know how to clean it?
 
JD450A

JD450A

Feral as Fk 🐾
Thanks for the advice guys, it's been picked up now and they tell me that it's fine but the slew is slow, I've looked it up, and most things point to a blocked return mesh. Does anyone know how to clean it?
If it's the return filter it'll be either a large cassette type Oil filter on a line returning to the tank, or a cartridge type filter built into the tank. See photos.

Those older machines tend to have alot slower slew speed than modern gear anyway.
 

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B

Baggy

New member
If it's the return filter it'll be either a large cassette type Oil filter on a line returning to the tank, or a cartridge type filter built into the tank. See photos.

Those older machines tend to have alot slower slew speed than modern gear anyway.
Thanks for the information, I appreciate your help
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
Might well be the slew motor getting tired, it was on my old shaeff. Does it drift round if you leave it so the cab is sideways on a slope?
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
Might well be the slew motor getting tired, it was on my old shaeff. Does it drift round if you leave it so the cab is sideways on a slope?
he ain't got it off the lorry yet Doob .... :giggle::giggle:
 
B

Baggy

New member
Well it's arrived, the clinking is the sprocket on the concrete, tracks ain't so good. Wouldn't you know it, second day here and the slew has packed in, it was working, but would wander and I could turn it by hand a little bit. I'm thinking it might be the slew pump, either worn parts or blown seal. Any idea's
 
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Brendan

Well-known member
Well it's arrived, the clinking is the sprocket on the concrete, tracks ain't so good. Wouldn't you know it, second day here and the slew has packed in, it was working, but would wander and I could turn it by hand a little bit. I'm thinking it might be the slew pump, either worn parts or blown seal. Any idea's
When you say turn it by hand a little bit, do you mean a couple of degrees or 1/4 turn, all machines will have a little bit of play
 
B

Baggy

New member
Not far off a qtr turn, definitely more than just play. Also when it worked, it would go on turning after I stopped the turn with the actuator
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
Sounds like slew motor f***ed. Hope you didn’t pay too much for it.
 
B

Baggy

New member
That's what I thought, I don't get any grinding or mechanical noises, so I am going for a complete seal replacement as the first option
 
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