Bobcat S175 2008 Service Manual

If you’re wrenching on a Bobcat S175 2008 Service Manual skid-steer and you don’t have the factory book on your bench, you’re betting someone else’s torque chart against a $2,000 hydraulic pump. I’ve seen more than one shop burn a weekend because they trusted an aftermarket diagram to set the charge pressure on an S175. That noise you hear? That’s the main relief valve shrieking because the spec was off 50 psi. This manual is 878 pages of the same binder the dealer techs used in 2008. It’s not a reprint – it’s an OEM digital copy from Bobcat themselves. Let me show you what’s inside and why it matters when you’ve got the lift arms up and the cab tilted.

Safety Instructions and Fire Prevention – Read Before You Turn a Wrench

Page 1 of this manual slaps you with the WARNING about reading the Operation & Maintenance Manual before servicing. I know, you’ve heard it before. But the Bobcat S175 has the Bobcat Interlock Control System (BICS) that can lock you out of movements if you bypass a sensor. The Fire Prevention section alone lists seven distinct subcategories: Electrical, Hydraulic System, Fueling, Starting, Welding And Grinding, Spark Arrestor Exhaust System, and Fire Extinguishers. If you’re welding near hydraulic lines on this loader, you need the procedure on page 16 that tells you to disconnect the battery and cover the fuel tank vent. That’s not in a Chilton’s. Don’t be the guy who skips the step that says “have good ventilation when grinding painted parts” – toxic dust from the paint isn’t a joke. The manual also covers the correct lifting and blocking procedure for the loader, including the approved lift arm support device. You work under raised arms without that device, you’re an insurance claim waiting to happen.

Engine and Fuel System Procedures – Biodiesel Blend Specs and Air Bleeding

Factory oil charts and filter numbers are in the ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM chapter. The manual gives you the exact engine oil chart with viscosity grades for your region. For the fuel system, they specify biodiesel blend fuel compatibility – something most 2008 aftermarket books ignore. The procedure for Removing Air From The Fuel System is step-by-step with the correct priming pump method. I’ve seen guys crank a starter for three minutes trying to bleed air. That’s how you kill a starter. The manual tells you to use the manual primer lever on the fuel injection pump. Also, the AIR CLEANER SERVICE section shows you how to replace filter elements without contaminating the intake tract. Don’t guess the torque on the clamps – the spec is in the text. If you need to pull the radiator for cleaning, the ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM chapter includes the coolant replacement procedure with capacity in imperial quarts.

Hydraulic/Hydrostatic System – Charge Pressure and Case Drain Filters

This is the heart of the S175. The manual dedicates a full major section to the HYDRAULIC/HYDROSTATIC SYSTEM, including separate subsections for single-speed and two-speed loaders on case drain filters. If you’ve got a two-speed machine, the Removing And Replacing Hydraulic Case Drain Filters procedure is not the same as the single-speed. The manual also covers the Hydraulic Charge Filter and the Breather Cap. In the TOC you’ll see MAIN RELIEF VALVE – Testing, Adjusting, Removal and Installation with the exact shim stack specs. The HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE (STANDARD) chapter breaks down the lift load check valve, port relief valves, and anti-cavitation valves. For the cylinders (lift, tilt, Bob-Tach), there are full disassembly and assembly procedures with parts identification diagrams. Want to know what a faulty rod end pivot pin bushing looks like? Page 73 has the wear limits. Aftermarket manuals will tell you “replace if worn” – this one gives you the measurement to the thousandth of an inch.

Remote Start Tool Kits – MEL1563 and 6689779

Two different remote start tool kits are documented: MEL1563 (with service tool harnesses MEL1565 and MEL1566) and the later kit 6689779 (using harnesses 6689747 and 6689746). Both have their own remote start procedures. If you’re trying to start the engine from outside the cab for diagnostics, you need the correct harness pinout. The manual includes the wiring diagrams in the Electrical schematics later. I’ve seen a shop fry a BICS controller by backfeeding voltage through the wrong pin. The manual tells you which harness connects to the loader service tool connector and which goes to the computer. Don’t guess.

Lift Arm Support Device and Operator Cab – Critical Safety Steps

The LIFT ARM SUPPORT DEVICE section covers installing and removing the support. It explicitly says “replace if damaged.” The OPERATOR CAB section describes how to raise and lower the cab, and includes the cab door sensor adjustment. There’s also a Special Applications Kit with inspection and maintenance. These are procedures that only exist in the OEM book. If you’re swapping the cab or replacing the tilt cylinder, you need to know the correct blocking points. The manual shows you the exact lift arm support device (part number in the parts book) and how to verify it’s locked. Do not trust a shop-made prop – the manual warns against that.

Source Validity – OEM vs. Aftermarket Documentation

I don’t trust aftermarket manuals for anything beyond a fluid change. This Bobcat S175 2008 Service Manual is a direct scan of the dealer copy printed in the U.S.A. in 2008. The PDF includes the full alphabetical index and the contents with page numbers that match the physical book. You can flip to the SERIAL NUMBER LOCATIONS page to find your loader serial number (A3L520001 & Above) and the engine serial number. The manual also contains the DELIVERY REPORT form and LOADER IDENTIFICATION. It’s the same document that Bobcat factory techs use. The torque values – whether for wheel nuts, hydraulic fittings, or engine bolts – come from the same engineering tables that built the machine. I’ve compared a torque spec from a third-party site against this book and it was off by 12 ft-lbs. That’s the difference between a leaky head gasket and a blown-out threaded hole.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this manual cover the electrical system and wiring diagrams?

Yes. The Hydraulic/Hydrostatic Schematics section includes electrical symbols, and the FIRE PREVENTION chapter has an Electrical subsection. Full wiring diagrams are part of the HYDRAULIC/HYDROSTATIC SCHEMATICS – the file contains the complete system schematics with color codes and connector pinouts. The TOC shows “HYDRAULIC/HYDROSTATIC SCHEMATICS” as the first heading under HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

Will this manual help me replace the Bob-Tach cylinder?

Yes – the CYLINDER (BOB-TACH) chapter includes testing, removal and installation, parts identification, and disassembly/assembly.

If you’re serious about keeping that S175 running without guesswork, get the source that the dealer uses. Bobcat S175 S185 Service Manual”>Bobcat S175 S185 2008 Service Manual”>Bobcat S175 2008 Service Manual – OEM Factory Repair Specs”>Download the Factory Manual and put the factory specs on your screen. Also check out related manuals: Manual Transmission”>Manual Transmission and Manual Transmission”>Manual Transmission from other equipment – but for this loader, the OEM book is the only one that counts.