Attacking that power problem CT225

[tinman955]

I drove the different models that day and all I got was **** he's right I guess ill call BC again and see whats up??

So I am waiting to hear back from them,:confused2:


BTW I have done the 50hr service and just did the 100hr service completely again at my expense, no better and no more usuable power noticed. Ive one 4 seasons with this tractor and can say I deff have a problem. I can list lots of things ive done with this unit that the "Lack of power" has showed its ugly face time and time again.

So we will see, unpatiently waiting.

Also let me state I love the tractor and would be proud to continue to own it if they can fix the problem.

 

[bbse]

Thanks for the replies but some of you guys are not getting the point. To explain the truck analogy, I did not run out of HP, I ran out of traction. I was explaining the difference between a steep drive vs a hill. If I was running out of HP climbing that 18 degree hill then I would say I need a more powerful tractor. I don't run out of HP or traction with the CT225. I have the equivalent of a slipping clutch. When the relief valve pops I sit on the hill...with traction...with the engine running at full power...unable to get the power to the wheels. I am NOT stalling the engine. The engine is getting stronger. The road near my house has a long sloping climb. When I first got the 225 I tried it in high range and I could not make it up it. I can now. It is not steep enough to pop the relief valve. The road in front of my house is. On the way back home, on a paved road, when I hit that spot the relief valve pops and I have to go to mid range to get to my drive way.

So, I hope I have made myself a little clearer. It is not HP, it is power transmission to the wheels. I have been in contact with several other Bobcat owners that are experiencing the same issue. My belief is that Bobcat put a low pressure relief valve in these tractors intentionally to either 1. Protect themselves for the 3 year warranty against us negligent home owner types or 2. To protect some weakness they are aware of in the HST system. But a tractor that can't spin it's tires in low range is just not much of a tractor.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have been following this post and I would have to agree there is a relief valve or bypass issue. I have Kubota L4400HST and I can spin the tires against a load. I can also stall the motor out in mid range or high range if the load is to great. It usually requires a rollback on the HST go pedal to lower the range and let the RPMs catch up. I only post this as a reference for you. [[ I also have a BX1500 and it responds the same it either stalls out the motor or spins the wheels in low range and in High range it will stall the motor if the hill is to steep and you push down to much on the forward pedal. ]] It must be upsetting to have these kind of issues on a new machine. Sorry for your issues.

Dex, pls verify. I have never been able to stall my BX1500 with the pedal in either range. And, as you know, my trans has failed at about 1400hrs.
larry

 

[lilranch2001]

My belief is that Bobcat put a low pressure relief valve in these tractors intentionally to either 1. Protect themselves for the 3 year warranty against us negligent home owner types or 2. To protect some weakness they are aware of in the HST system. But a tractor that can't spin it's tires in low range is just not much of a tractor.

bbse I think if either of these were true, all of us would be having issues.

I used my bb all night tonight in mid range and was pulling full boxes of heavy damp clay and only had to shift down into low range a couple of times when I got caught on roots, I feel my tractor is doing pretty well, it has a whole lot more get up n go than my old 8N did, but this does have 9 more HP then the 8N, but there is no HST power loss in the 8N

 

[bbse]

bbse I think if either of these were true, all of us would be having issues.

I used my bb all night tonight in mid range and was pulling full boxes of heavy damp clay and only had to shift down into low range a couple of times when I got caught on roots, I feel my tractor is doing pretty well, it has a whole lot more get up n go than my old 8N did, but this does have 9 more HP then the 8N, but there is no HST power loss in the 8N

I have pulled a 6ft box blade also with no issue in mid range. I do not consider that a fair test. If you have some solid ground like a good dry field, put your loader against a tree, put her in low, rev her up and see if you can spin the tires. Mine can't, my dealers can't, I am curious if you a 235 can.

 

[lilranch2001]

ok.... question.... why would I want to spin the tires?

I have used it digging out my bank, getting ready for the retaining wall, and I cant say as I have spun the tires, but I have stalled the motor 6-7 times pushing to hard. That was the first night I had it, and I think I have only stalled it once since, so maybe like they say, the motor is getting stronger as it is breaking in

 

[bbse]

ok.... question.... why would I want to spin the tires?

I have used it digging out my bank, getting ready for the retaining wall, and I cant say as I have spun the tires, but I have stalled the motor 6-7 times pushing to hard. That was the first night I had it, and I think I have only stalled it once since, so maybe like they say, the motor is getting stronger as it is breaking in

The question is, are the tires going to break traction or is the relief valve going to let go first? Think of the relief valve opening in the HST and dumping the pressure, that is supposed to be used to turn the wheels, back to the reservoir tank...it is like stabbing the clutch in on a gear tractor or at least slipping it badly. Now, you do understand that you don't want to stall the engine, you want to very slowly press the pedal, kinda like you are trying to get the tractor to creep forward, this is going to be your lowest gear. If you can't spin them hear, you are not going to spin them. I couldn't, the thing I want to know is if they put a stronger relief valve in the 35 HP model. Without a stronger RV your extra HP has a lot of limitations.

 

[carpenter383]

ok.... question.... why would I want to spin the tires?

I have used it digging out my bank, getting ready for the retaining wall, and I cant say as I have spun the tires, but I have stalled the motor 6-7 times pushing to hard. That was the first night I had it, and I think I have only stalled it once since, so maybe like they say, the motor is getting stronger as it is breaking in

It's not a case of wanting or needing to spin the tires. It's just that it should have the abillity to do so if the load is too great for the tractor to pull or push.
Yes wieght helps anything gain traction, but any tractor should have more than enough power to spin the wheels under it's own weight. Especially when not even running a pto.
I'd bet if someone took a b3030 and added the 1,000 lbs or whatever it needed to weigh the same as a ct230, the b3030 would still spin the tires in low if it was chained to a tree

 

[dex3361]

Dex, pls verify. I have never been able to stall my BX1500 with the pedal in either range. And, as you know, my trans has failed at about 1400hrs.
larry

High Range I can stall it going forward up a steep enough hill but not in reverse(reverse bypasses through the relief valve).
Low range it will spin the tires or stall the engine.

 

[Loren49]

Hi all,
One of the advantages of a gear tractor - you always can find a gear to spin the tires or stall the tractor. So far with mine (about 120 hrs) power has slowed down my progress less than 5% of the time. (I was using the rototiller those times but was still able to make good progress and was probably causing less wear on the tiller) Traction is the issue limiting issue, not power.
I'm not trying to make a living with my tractor so in general I have more time than money. Bigger is not always better IMHO. I know this doesn't help with the question at hand but it may give some insight to someone trying to decide what tractor to buy.

Loren