JD440B Skidder

[JJWorker]

Hello, I am new here and just bought got a 440b Skidder. When I first start it up it flinchs the steering cylinders a bit. Not a lot (few inches) could this come from the steering wheel being moved when it is not running? Also at times my brake pedal bounces sometimes. If I shut it down on a hill the hydraulics seem to take a few minutes to react properly?? Any thoughts???

[Satamax]

Hydraulic oil level low?  ;D

[KyLogger]

Welcome to the 440B.... Mine did the same.

[mike_belben]

My nasco forklift will bounce the brake pedal back up at you a while before it builds up brake pressure.  

You have a leak in the system letting it bleed down over night and take in air.

[CX3]

My 440 did the same thing. Never gave me any issues. 

[snowstorm]

they all did it

[teakwood]

The 540 does that also, its normal.

I would never shut down these skidders in a hill! They loose brakes and steering if the motor isn't running, it's dangerous.  does your brake accumulator work?? Shut the machine off on brake a few times, you should be able to brake like ten times, then you loose brake pressure and the pedal goes soft.  I find that accumulator to be the most important piece on the machine, a lifesaver!

[Cub]

440A did the same thing. Start it and soon as there was hydro pressure the steering flinched a little bit and the brake pedal bouncing was a common thing also. 

[KyLogger]

The 540 does that also, its normal.

I would never shut down these skidders in a hill! They loose brakes and steering if the motor isn't running, it's dangerous.  does your brake accumulator work?? Shut the machine off on brake a few times, you should be able to brake like ten times, then you loose brake pressure and the pedal goes soft.  I find that accumulator to be the most important piece on the machine, a lifesaver!

Yeah! We work steep ground and my accumulator didn't work. All you could do when you lost hydraulics was grab the e-brake lever and pray! We always would back close to a tree when setting up to winch on a hillside, and the choker setter never got behind the machine until it was.