Bobcat CT230 and Kioti CK30 side-by-side comparo

[dfkrug]

Just received my new CT230. I still can hardly believe the price....
Under $12.5K for tractor, including bobtach 7TL FEL, AG tires, and
single AUX remote valve. Delivered, including 9% sales tax. That is
considerably less than I paid for my 2005 CK30 with more expensive
R4 tires and no QA FEL bkt.

There are some very interesting differences here....some are better on
the Bobcat, some are better on the Kioti.

> The CT comes with 8-ply AG front tires, so they can be pumped up
to 48 psi. The CK has only 6-ply, and my older Kubotas only came with
4-ply AGs.

> The 7TL FEL comes with a massive 68" bucket with a reinforced upper
lip and a cutting edge that is pre-drilled. Kioti says 60" is the widest
bkt you should mount.

> CT has a horn and CK does not

> CK protects the starter switch from water; CT's switch is fully exposed
to rain and wash water. My new CT has water in the switch already.

> You can turn on the CT's lights without the key....not good, IMO

> The CT's engine speed lever works backward (pull toward you for
higher speed)...what's up with that?

> CT has more safety interlocks, incl a seat switch that will kill the engine
if you try to run the PTO off the tractor, as with a mixer, generator, or
chipper. That has to go.

> The CT's front axle has only one fill cap, down from Kioti's 2.

> CT has gone to a Chinese plastic/aluminum radiator vs. Kioti's
all-brass unit from Samsung

> CT uses a dual element air filter, but it has exactly the same
Donaldson outer filter and housing as the CK. You can use the Bobcat
inner filter with the CK if you want.

> The CT's FEL has very exposed hoses....more so than the CK. Some
protection is needed.

More on the 7TL vs. the KL130 loaders coming up......

 

[t600]

Funny thing is I have a 235 and there are some differences to your 230.
I CAN run pto while not on tractor. Parking brake must be set.
I cant turn on headlights without key on.
Interesting.

 

[vpnwiz]

Funny thing is I have a 235 and there are some differences to your 230.
I CAN run pto while not on tractor. Parking brake must be set.
I cant turn on headlights without key on.
Interesting.

Same experience here with my 235.

 

[dfkrug]

I CAN run pto while not on tractor. Parking brake must be set.

I will play around with the parking brake to see if that makes a diff on use
of the PTO. Does your engine speed lever work backwards?

My CK30 is now more than 4y old, so it is possible and likely that the
newest CKs have changed some things....

BTW, the big Operation and Maintenance Manual that came with my
tractor has the wrong loader info in it. It seems to have specs from the
8TL and not the 7TL.

 

[t600]

I dont know about backwards, you pull toward you for increase, same as my bosses ck30. Same as kubotas also.

 

[dfkrug]

...you pull toward you for increase, same as my bosses ck30. Same as kubotas also.

My CK30's speed control lever needed to be pushed away from you to
increase engine speed. It did have the turtle/rabbit label reversed, however.
I have since moved the CK's speed control to right of the seat. My old
Kubotas and JDs all increased speed by pushing the lever away from you.

 

[gumshu]

Same experience here with my 235.

Same with me.

 

[chazzy]

I dont know about backwards, you pull toward you for increase, same as my bosses ck30. Same as kubotas also.

Same here.
My 1973 Ford tractor (model 2000 3-cyl diesel) increases the engine speed by pulling the hand lever toward the driver. So, I am used to my new CT230's setup.

 

[gumshu]

My CK30's speed control lever needed to be pushed away from you to
increase engine speed. It did have the turtle/rabbit label reversed, however.
I have since moved the CK's speed control to right of the seat. My old
Kubotas and JDs all increased speed by pushing the lever away from you.

The throttle control on my CT235 and Kubota are the same... I pull them towards me to increase speed. I was used to the Kubota when I bought the CT235, so it seemed natural.

 

[dfkrug]

Here is the new cowl. The horn is a great addition....the switch is in
the same place as my custom switch on my CK. Bad news about the starter
switch....no protection from water as with the Kioti. Bobcat changed the
keys and switch from the DaeDong original which has an additional ACC
position.