How do you repair a spool valve on a bobcat 873?

Answer 1

I downloaded the manual from the internet with schematics of everything. You should do the same so you know what to order from bobcat once you take it apart. Everything should be sprayed with cleaner so you can locate the leaking fluid and will know all of the parts required to perform this fix.

Step 1. Make sure all safety mechanisms are in place so you can open the hydraulic system (arms down, wheels chalked, etc..). Bleed the system to release any pressure. Utilize drip pans etc.

2. Lift the cab, lock it into place and disconnect the ground from the battery. The valve body containing the spools will be on your left middle.

3. Disconnect all of the linkages from both the foot and hand controls. Disconnect all hydraulic lines. Remove the bolts holding the valve body in place and lift the valve body up.

4. On the back side of the right spool you will need to disconnect the detent (float control) and caps. Everything is very straight forward until you get to the reassembly of the right side spool. Keep in mind that there is a plastic insert inside the detent screw on the back of the spool.

5. VERY IMPORTANT: You will need to make the special tool that Bobcat won't sell, lend or rent to you: take a pair of curved needle nose pliers and center punch both insides of the tips. Just barely touch the dimple you made with a 3/16 drill. You are trying to make round intents that will hold the 2 ball bearings (Float Lock) onto springs and into place as you reinsert the spool cap after replacing the seals. I used Vaseline inside the detent area with the seal and cap. Once you have everything into place, slide the cap over the ball bearings you are holding on the springs and they will slide right inside the cap (no force required). This is why you need to make sure you used bent needle nose pliers. If its your first time purchase a 2nd set of ball bearings & springs.

6. Reassembly is just the opposite of dis-assembly. There's nothing tricky about it except making sure that your arms aren't up, your machine won't roll, you don't allow dirt /debris to contaminate anything etc. I did my first one in the middle of a snow storm 2 yrs ago under a tarp. It took me about 3.5 hrs and 2 hrs to TIG the detent back onto the spool because one of my drivers forced it & broke it off. My 2nd machine I did in under 2 hours and didn't even remove the valve body. Having the valve body out gave me a lot more visibility over the detent components which fly everywhere if you let them.