Shop Talk Blog

The Official Blog for Texas Final Drive

Why Is My Skid Steer Acting Up?

by Dr McCaslin | Aug 22, 2025 |

Skid Steers, Skid-Steer Loaders, Troubleshooting

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0 Comments

You’re on the job, deadlines are already tight, and suddenly your skid steer doesn’t sound or feel right. Every hour of downtime costs not just time but money. 

That’s why we’ve put together this Shop Talk Blog post to help you learn the early warning signs of a final drive that’s about to fail. That way, you can catch these problems before they become catastrophic-- and more expensive.

Loss of Power

If your machine suddenly feels weak, maybe struggling to climb like it used to, or is sluggish when it has to move with a load, then here are some possibilities as to what is wrong with it:

  • A blocked case drain filter
  • Internal wear in the final drive
  • Weak charge pump
  • Final drive brakes are not releasing
  • Other hydraulic issues

If power loss is only on one side, or the machine tries to curve to the side, that’s a big clue it’s a final drive issue.

Electric Compact Equipment: What Does it Mean?

When you see a headline about an electric excavator or skid steer loader, what does it mean?


Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might enjoy:

Basics of Skid Steer Loaders

Here's some basic information about skid steers, including how they are categorized, operating costs, maintenance, and -- of course -- final drive motors.

World's Largest Skid Steer Loader

by Jim Strong | Mar 03, 2022 |

Skid Steers, Skid-Steer Loaders, SSL

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3 Comments

Have you ever wondered who makes the largest skid steer loader?

 


Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find interesting:

Staying Safe on a Skid Steer: Preventing Backovers

Skid steer loader backover accidents are scary for all involved -- and often fatal for the victim. Learn what they are, how they happen, and what you can do to prevent them.

Compact Equipment & Dinosaurs

What kind of compact equipment would a dinosaur park need? And no, we don't mean animatronics! Or Earl Sinclair the construction worker from Dinosaurs! We mean an honest-to-goodness park full of live dinosaurs ...


Here are some additional Shop Talk blog posts you might find helpful or interesting:

Finding the Right Final Drive for Your Skid Steer or Compact Track Loader

You've reached the point that the final drive on your skid steer loader or compact track loader just has to be replaced. So what do you need to know before you order one?


Here are a few other Shop Talk blog posts that you might be interested in:

Kioti Enters the SSL and CTL Market

Kioti is best known for their compact tractor, but in the next few years they will be manufacturing their own skid steers and compact track loaders: the TL750 and SL750.

 


Here are a few other blog posts you might find interesting:

3 Tips for Troubleshooting Hydraulic Problems on Compact Equipment

Your skid steer loader can't seem to make it up inclines like it used to, or the bucket controls on your mini excavator have suddenly become sluggish. How do you go about finding out what's wrong?


Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find of interest:

Zombies and Remote-Controlled CTLs and SSLs

by Dr McCaslin | Oct 29, 2020 |

Compact Track Loader, Skid-Steer Loaders, CTL, SSL

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0 Comments

One of the justifications for having a remote-controlled skid steer loader or track loader is the ability to perform dangerous tasks from a distance -- and that sounds like a good reason to have one on hand for a zombie apocalypse.

 


Here are some other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find interesting ...

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