CT 235 Likes and Dislikes

[leveller]

I started this thread to find out what others think of their Bobcat tractors, now that a lot of us have put some hours on our new machines.



I have just over 20 hours on my tractor now, and would like to know if any other tractor owners are haveing the same issues as I am. I am happy with my tractor for the most part, but I find it is very difficult to shift between low, medium, and high range. I have to really force the lever to get it to move. Is this normal? Is there an adjustment for this? The tractor I demo'ed at the dealer seemed to shift much better. The second problem is with my forward and reverse pedal. If I am driving forward and release the pedal, the pedal comes back very slowly, allowing the tractor to keep moving a few feet before it comes to a stop. I almost hit my garage the first time I drove it. On my John Deere I used to use, releasing the forward pedal was like applying the brakes, tractor stopped right away. Maybe I just need to get used to it. The third thing that annoys me is the rear hydraulic levers. I find they are way too short, making it difficult to reach and because of the short throw, hard to move in small increments. I lengthened my lever by about 6 inches, and this helped a lot. Other problem I find is that the lever goes into detent position very easily, and if you are not careful, will stick in detent.
I am just wondering if others are having these same issues, or are these just things I need to get used to? I would like to hear your opinions, good or bad, on these tractors.

 

[aviationben]

regarding the high/med/low, I have the same issue with my ct230. There can't be any load on the drive line when changing ranges. The manual instructs to rock the fwd/rev pedal lightly to take tension off the gears, you have to do this without the clutch pushed in. If your on a hill, make sure to set the parking brake or you'll free wheel if you hit neutral (scared the %&@! out of me).

-ben

 

[Skinnyman]

I have 28 hrs. on mine. So far no problems. When I let off the forward or reverse pedal it stops immediately. Sometimes I have problems shifting back and forth between med. and low range but nothing I would consider a major problem. Usually, just a tap to the fwd. or rev. pedal and it will shift on into the range I am selecting. Cannot comment on the rear hydraulics. My three pt. seems to work real well. I hope I can afford a QA pretty soon. Sometimes its a problem changing from std. bucket to open bottom grapple (particularly when working alone).
Maybe I can afford to change over later into 2010.

 

[archerm3]

If im on hill that lets me roll when I put in the clutch and the range shifter is binding, letting it roll a tick will free everything up. otherwise I normal just heel/toe rock the rocker pedal before I shift ranges, works like a champ to unbind the transfer case.

I guess the moral of the hill story is that (i think according to the manual) is that your foot should be on the brakes any time you put the clutch in.

I noticed the same on the rear hydralic lever, but it didn't bother me, anything I need to run there is either full on, or momentary bumps (disk gauge wheels) never bothered me to get the action I wanted.

Ive had my rocker pedal not completely stop in the forward position when I slowly let up the pedal a couple of times when in Low range, but if I brought my foot off quickly it snaps to center perfectly. Maybe some dirt gets in there sticking the pedal?

 

[FlyingMN]

Mine is slow to stop as well when I release from full forward. Almost got me into trouble at first too. My cub tractor would stop on a dime when I let off the pedal. Shifting takes a little getting used to but I never force it, just work with it a little.

 

[dfkrug]

Mine is slow to stop as well when I release from full forward. Almost got me into trouble at first too. My cub tractor would stop on a dime when I let off the pedal. Shifting takes a little getting used to but I never force it, just work with it a little.

My GO pedal sometimes is slow to return also. I have oiled up everything
and I hope this gets better as the tractor gets a few hours on it. My
Kioti with 215hr on it is much better and never had this problem. The
CT is just undergoing break-in, I hope.

Lots has been written about the hard-to-shift-ranges issue. The best
solution (learned on TBN just a year ago) is to use the brakes when
stopping, just before a shift. That way, rolling forces are de-coupled
from the internal drive gears of the tractor. It works!

Always beware of the range shifter not being fully engaged, causing
the free-wheeling problem. On hillsides, it is sometimes safer not to shift.

 

[duck]

My HST transmission seems a little weak. Even in low range in 4WD when it's pulling hard it just wines and does not move. Has anybody else experienced this?

 

[leveller]

My HST transmission seems a little weak. Even in low range in 4WD when it's pulling hard it just wines and does not move. Has anybody else experienced this?

Never had that problem. Have you checked your oil level? If that is full, I would say you definatly have a problem of some kind

 

[MESSMAKER]

My HST transmission seems a little weak. Even in low range in 4WD when it's pulling hard it just wines and does not move. Has anybody else experienced this?

Mine will break traction or pull down the RPMs till it stalls. I think you may have a problem of some sort.