Question about a runaway skid steer in a tight spot

Had a 2018 Bobcat S650 decide it was done with me last Tuesday at the old Johnson farm. I was swapping a hydraulic line when the throttle linkage jammed wide open, and it took off across the field with me hanging off the side. Managed to kill it by yanking the fuel shutoff cable after it plowed through about 30 feet of a corn row. Anyone ever had a machine just decide to go for a joyride on its own?

4 comments

4 Comments

river_dixon2mo ago

Holy cow that's a new nightmare unlocked. NathanKim's right about the parking brake, but honestly I'm stuck on how a throttle linkage even jams like that on a machine that new. Makes me wonder if there's a service bulletin or something about debris getting in the linkage box. You should definitely check for rodent damage around the pedal assembly, those farm mice love to build nests in the worst spots.

cole_murphy12d ago

That bit about farm mice nesting in the pedal assembly really got me thinking. Have you actually seen rodent damage cause a throttle linkage to stick open before, or is that more of a general farm equipment thing? I'm just trying to picture how a nest small enough to fit in there wouldn't get crushed or chewed up the second you hit the pedal. Seems like it would take a pretty big chunk of debris to actually jam a modern linkage box solid, not just some nesting material.

nathankim2mo ago

Glad you got it stopped, man. Honestly though, that's the parking brake failing, not the throttle. Should always set it before working on any machine.

jenkins.elizabeth2mo ago

Had a combine do that once. The return spring on the pedal assembly snapped and the throttle plate just stuck wide open. Check the spring tension when you get a chance, it's a five minute look.