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Skid steer loaders, just as a result of their design catch a lot of debris down around the engine, and in a farm situation much of it quite flamable. Sticks, tree twigs limbs, straw, manure, etc. Because that compartment is quite small, with almost as much power train down in there as most 40-50 hp tractors, that debris soon piles against the engine. Even without oil it gets very dry, and very easily ignighted. Add oil to that factor and you can have a fire hard to put out. It is a must that you keep the debris cleaned out of the engine and hydraulic compartment. I used my two skid loaders for cleaning out barns and feeding silage. I found that combination of manure and silage to be as dangerous as anything. It will acumulate in layers of 1/2" each day and the engine-hydraulic heat dries it out very quickly. My machines had holes in the corners of the stump pan. I found between those 4 holes and back door, using a garden hoe, I could keep it cleaned out usually weekly. Some times that was more often than necessary, but I've also had a big clump of corn silage fall off back of bucket, and you cleaned it out right away. Volume of debris is never the same, just don't let it build up beyond top of oil pan.
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