I’m looking at a 235 case and a 235 linkbelt X3 (2015 & 2013) in the auction. They both seem like decent machines, but when you try and lift the machine off the ground with the boom it only lifts up about a foot or less and stays at that height, until you use a second motion at the same time (eg. curl your bucket slightly or move the stick) and then it shoots up no problem and lifts the machine as high as you want. I thought this had to be something wrong with the machine the first time I tried it in the link belt, but then the case did the identical thing. Is this normal for link belt/case excavators that they need a second motion engaged to lift themselves? Is this annoying while digging or maneuvering the machine around? Most of my time has been in a komatsu and it definitely doesn’t do this. thanks.
Good day Your experience is pretty normal and not a fault, a question of geometry stalling the hydraulics. If you install a pressure gauge to the boom lower line and operate the boom in isolation, you will see full hydraulic pressure and little will happen. If you operate the arm in combination to the boom, the pressure will be less and the machine will raise the tracks from the ground. Kind regards Uffex