Howdy, bbse
Boy am I glad I found this community and this thread. I, too, purchased a CT230 last summer and experiencing the very same problems that you are concerning slippage in the HST. This ain't an HP problem. The CT230 engine produces way more power than the size and weight of the tractor can hold back. The problem is with getting the power reliabley to the wheels.
Yes, I am having the same issues in high range and some in middle range. The HST just cavitates and groans with the RV popping under normal use on moderate grades with very little load at the three point hitch. The tractor will barely pull itself empty in HIGH range when the implements are not touching the ground. Moving snow during the blizzard last winter was a low-range experience from ****.
I live near Kansas City and purchased my tractor from KC Bobcat. KC Bobcat has had my tractor for 3 weeks now and gave me the same sad story that I see others have been told in this thread-- 'there is nothing wrong with your tractor. everything is at or above spec.'
Sounds like the Bobcat corporation is getting some of its strategy from the Toyota game book. It's starting to look like denial and stalling is the game plan hoping the customer will go away. Yes, I agree with a previous post suggesting that these rebadged-Kioti tractors are fairly new to the Bobcat service departments and they don't have a handle around issues that are becoming apparent such as weak HST's. (Last summer when I was in the market, I now realize why I saw more than one CTxxx tractor forsale on Craigslist with very low hours with some vague reason why they were selling the tractor. It was likely due to poor HST performance.)
It is gonna take lots of customers like us complaining loudly back up the chain to get them to accept that there just might be a problem. I am definitely going to share my reviews of what may be turning out to be a lemon design so at least others will avoid dropping a load of money on a product that doesn't live up to the Bobcat reputation and hopefully, cause a little pain back on the Doosan Group who is hearding this cow these days.
In all fairness, I have managed to schedule a meeting with district Bobcat department managers at my ranch to demonstate the weeknesses of the CT HST. They are supposed to be out in two weeks. (I get the impression nothing is very urgent with these guys.) Anyway, I'm fixin' to write a review on this tractor for TRACTORBYNET. I do have some good things to say, but they are all overshadowed by the HST problems which nearly renders the tractor useless to me.
