For operation of remote hydraulic tool such as a hydraulic jackhammer or in my case a flush cutting hydraulic concrete saw, how best to set up the machine? The aux hydraulic on the ASV compact track loader appears to only operate if the safety bar is down (plus maybe a person is in the seat, eg could be a sandbag). In this mode, the machine is quite ready to drive around. Seems kind of squirrely, like a setup for a FAIL video. Sitting in the seat and then by lowering the seat bar down, the aux hydraulic is enabled by either pushing one of two momentary buttons on the joystick or operating a two position switch on the console. Could push the bucket down to lift the front of the track but would need a jack to place cribbing under the back axle to immobilize the machine. FYI For those wondering about the ASV, I purchased it because it was narrow (48") and we can get in the five foot side yard setbacks with it - and yes, as mentioned on these forums, indeed the suspension on the tracks took some fairly serious effort maintenance work and it only had 800 hours on it .... but that is another subject.
Well the answer is simple- machines like that are made to use tools that require an operator in the cab and aren’t made to be stationary power packs. That’s a use the machine designers/manufacturers never intended for the machine
Back in 2018 a national magazine for compact equipment wrote an article about using hand operated hydraulic tools with example machines being a skid steer, and my Case backhoe literature from the early 90s shows such usage. Am asking the question here to learn how others experience using these tools on the aux hydraulic ports.
Reckon a well setup power pack would have a lot more uses than just driving tools. Could also be used for moving dead machines that have hydrostatic drive.
Doesn't your ASV have a park brake? Can you leave it running to warm up in the winter?
The bar that one lowers when in the seat is a de facto park brake since if the bar is raised all functions are prevented, when the bar is lowered the functions are enabled
Stopping control movement is not the same as a parking brake. My skid steer has seat bar to lock control movement but it won't stop creeping. It has a seperate park brake with disc brakes in both chain cases.
Ask ASV dealer about remote pendant control for aux circuit—lets you operate hydraulics from outside cab with drive disabled. Some aftermarket systems add aux-only mode that disables drive functions
Status report. The idea to disable the drive hydraulics to preclude inadvertent movement of the machine was further investigated and tested: this machine is all pilot hydraulics with no electrically or manually controlled valving (other than the safety bar n seat feature). Backstory: The pilot pressure to the Drive Joystick distributes, upon command by movement of the joystick, the metered pressure to the drive motor servos - therefore disconnected and capped the pilot pressure line to the Drive Joystick and also capped the port on the pilot valve (cap on said valve may not be needed but precludes dripping and ensuing mess) - and shu nuff with the present arrangement, the Drive Joystick is completely disabled. Note: The hose capping could be a revised w some sophistication by adding and inserting a full port manual valve making these setups more expeditious - such a valve, quasi concealed, could be a form of anti theft (bonus). I figure as to machines that have the electric over hydraulic components: I could see where this could more readily enable 'power beyond'....but alas this tractor isn't "e over h" and I have tried the late model cat CTLs and vmuch prefer the pilot (olde skool). ******************** Many thanks for the suggestions; these smallish CTL/skid steer machines are so handy that to not be able to run a powder puff tamper, or maybe a fence post push puller, or in my situation a concrete saw - (unless paying someone to sit on the seat, or, hauling a power pack around with the same machine) - are all solutions but was aiming to only utilize this machine w the one person for the task at hand. Will update as progress continues. Many Thanks! Tones: the concept about moving dead machines is a notable one because I keep that thought in the mind: in this case this machine utilizes mechanical disconnection of the drives to the track sprockets and allows for towing, other machines require a portable hand hydraulic pump and some trick fittings to put oil into a specific place to allow the 'spring brake' to be overridden. Waiting for the breakdown is one category of a problem and will be worse if the tools to release the brake aren't even thought of until it happens. All this latter discussion is off the thread - but for an exercise, momentarily think about lowering a reach lift boom with a dead engine that was mfg with welded in velocity checks. BHD indeed.
I probably wouldn't do this on my cat but my new Holland ls 170 was owned by a cattle rancher before me and much like my Grandpa he ran toggle switch for the seat safety and the seat belt safety. I can raise and lower the boom or drive it around from outside the cab, it is very handy
The early 2000s 300 series Deere have a bypass switch you hold while you have the hydraulics on and remove your seatbelt to keep aux hydraulics while out of the machine. Not as common anymore but the mounted backhoes needed that.