Description

Bobcat S185 2008 Service Manual – What You Get on the Workbench

I’ve been turning wrenches since before some of you were born, and I’ve seen what happens when a tech tries to rebuild a hydraulic control valve using a generic internet snippet. Lost time, blown seals, and a loader that won’t lift. That’s why I don’t touch a Bobcat S185 2008 Service Manual from AutoRepairManuals without treating it like the shop bible. This isn’t a reprint of a third-party summary – it’s the original OEM factory document, 998 pages thick, printed by Bobcat Company in 2008. If you’re working on a skid-steer with S/N A3L911001 and above, this is the only source you should trust for torque values, hydraulic schematics, and safety lockout procedures.

Hydraulic System Schematics: Factory Data You Can Trust

Page 73 lists the charge pressure test procedure for the hydrostatic system. You’ll find the exact relief valve adjustment steps for the main relief valve under the HYDRAULIC SYSTEM section. The manual dedicates over 150 pages to hydraulic/hydrostatic schematics, cylinder disassembly, and valve body rebuilds – including the Bob-Tach cylinder. I’ve used these diagrams to trace a dead aux circuit on an S185 in under an hour. Compare that to the time you waste guessing with an aftermarket CD.

Fire Prevention in the Shop – Not a Suggestion

The SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS chapter covers FIRE PREVENTION across six sub-sections: Maintenance, Operation, Electrical, Hydraulic System, Fueling, Starting, and Spark Arrestor Exhaust. The manual tells you to keep a fire extinguisher within reach and to never grind near hydraulic lines. I’ve personally seen a shop fire start from a spark hitting a puddle of diesel. The OEM manual gives you the warning in plain language – not liability-cover legalese. Manual Transmission safety isn’t covered here, but the same attitude applies: follow the book or pay the price.

Remote Start Tool Kit: MEL1563 Procedure

One of the handiest sections for diagnostics is the REMOTE START TOOL KIT-MEL1563. You get the exact pinout for the service harness control (MEL1565) and communicator (MEL1566). I’ve used this to crank an engine without sitting in the cab – saves your back when you’re chasing a no-start under the rear door. The manual walks you through the remote start procedure step by step, including the warning to keep the lift arms lowered. Don’t skip that part.

Engine Lubrication System: Oil Change Intervals

The ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM chapter gives you the oil chart with viscosity grades and capacities in quarts (US measure). It also spells out the filter removal and replacement procedure – including torque for the filter housing. You’ll find the same level of detail for the ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, and AIR CLEANER SERVICE. If you’re a home garage guy doing your first oil change on a Bobcat, this section will keep you from overfilling or stripping a drain plug. Manual Transmission fluid checks are a different machine, but the principle of using factory specs is the same.

Safety Instructions: Lifting and Blocking the Loader

Before you even think about crawling under the lift arms, read the LIFTING AND BLOCKING THE LOADER procedure. The manual shows you where to place the jack stands and how to install the LIFT ARM SUPPORT DEVICE. I’ve had to tell apprentices that a cinder block is not a support device – the manual clarifies what’s approved and what’s not. There’s even a section on the OPERATOR CAB – raising and lowering it safely, plus the cab door sensor adjustment.

Electrical Schematics and BICS™ System

The ELECTRICAL section covers the Bobcat Interlock Control System (BICS™), which ties the cab door sensor, seat switch, and parking brake into one circuit. If you’re getting a no-crank condition and the dash is dead, this manual gives you the wiring diagram pin-by-pin. The SERVICE SCHEDULE chart tells you when to replace the hydraulic case drain filters (single-speed vs two-speed). Page 216 (approximately) lists the electrical connector locations – I’ve used it to bypass a faulty sensor during a field repair (temporarily, of course).

Does this manual cover the fuel system for biodiesel blends?

Yes. The FUEL SYSTEM chapter includes a subsection on Biodiesel Blend Fuel specifications and the procedure for removing air from the fuel system after filter replacement.

How many pages are dedicated to the hydraulic system?

Over 150 pages. It starts with HYDRAULIC/HYDROSTATIC SCHEMATICS, then moves to cylinder testing, removal, disassembly, and assembly for lift, tilt, and Bob-Tach cylinders. It also covers the main relief valve and the hydraulic control valve (standard) with port relief and anti-cavitation valve removal. If you’re rebuilding a valve bank, this is the only reference you need – I’ve used it to avoid mixing up shim stacks on a Saturday rush job. Without it, you’d be ordering parts blind.

I’ve owned a shop for 22 years. When a Bobcat S185 comes in with a hydro issue or a no-start, I pull this manual off the shelf before I even touch a wrench. The torque specs for the wheel nuts? Page 41. The charge filter replacement interval? Page 57. This isn’t a generic guide – it’s the same binder that dealers use. Access the Factory Manual from AutoRepairManuals today and keep it on your bench next to your torque wrench. You’ll thank me when the job goes fast and the loader leaves on its own power.

Related manuals: Bobcat S175 S185 Service Manual, Bobcat S175 S185 2008 Service Manual, Bobcat S175 Skid-Steer Loader Service Manual