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.

Maintenance and Hazardous Energy

Crushing accidents don’t just happen when someone gets run over by equipment -- they can also occur when you’re working on your equipment and don’t take hazardous energy into account.

 


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 in the US Military

by Jim Strong | Nov 09, 2020 |

Skid Steers, Skid Loaders, CTL, SSL, Military

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0 Comments

How much do you know about compact construction equipment in the military?

Here are a few other blog posts you might enjoy:

Man Killed in Bobcat Skid Steer Loader Accident

by Dr McCaslin | Aug 11, 2019 |

Skid Steers, Skid-Steer Loaders, Skid Loaders, bobcat, SSLs

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0 Comments

You might have noticed in the news recently that there had been another fatal accident related to a Bobcat. What led to this tragic fatality?


Here are some other Shop Talk Blog posts you might be interested in ...

The Facts about Large Skid Steer Loaders

Large-frame skid steers weigh over 2,200 lbs and typically have more than 70 hp, and are accounting for more and more of US skid steer market. In this Shop Talk blog post, we are going to discuss the uses, benefits, and drawbacks of larger SSLs.

If Santa Had a Skid Steer ...

by Dr McCaslin | Dec 21, 2018 |

Skid Steers, Skid-Steer Loaders, Christmas, Winter

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0 Comments

If Santa had a skid steer, what kind of attachments do you think he would be needing? We have been fortunate enough to be in contact with a genuine elf who gave us the skinny on how Santa uses his skid steer loader. ;)

Skid Steers and Zombies

by Dr McCaslin | Oct 24, 2018 |

Skid Steers, Skid-Steer Loaders, Skid Loaders, SSL

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0 Comments

With Halloween approaching, one thing is on all our minds: zombies! If you want to be ready for the inevitable zombie apocalypse, then you might want to look into some attachments for your skid steer loader. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about how to get your skid steer loader zombie ready!


Here are a few more blog posts you might find useful (no zombies, though):

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