New Member, New Tractor CT225

[pwright]

Hi all! Recently picked up a Bobcat CT225 to use on some property we purchased out in some mountains here in NM. The roads leading to it are dirt as are our own private roads so a tractor seemed like a handy thing to have. Bought the tractor with Bobtach for the front loader, bucket, pallet forks, box blade and an augur.

Not a lot of experience with tractors in general and what I do have was from many years ago but I'm pretty pleased with it so far. I've used it to clean up some pads roughed out with a bulldozer, dig some post holes and load the bed of my Polaris Ranger with gravel from an arroyo.

One thing I'm having trouble with is using the front bucket to scoop up gravel. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out when I have the bucket at the correct angle. I'm guessing the bottom of the bucket should be flat against the surface or tilted down a little in order to dig a bit. About 1/3 of the time I end up with little or nothing in the bucket, a 1/3 of the time it digs in way too much and 1/3 of the time I get what I want. Tips or pointers would be appreciated.

 

[broe]

Do you have a level indicator bar on the right arm of the loader? It is a steel bar that slides through a black tube. When the end of the steel bar is equal with the end of the black tube your bucket is level.

 

[pwright]

I wondered if that was what it was for. I'm pretty sure that mine still had like half the rod sticking out when the bucket was level so I wasn't sure what its purpose was.

The tractor is out on the property so I'll have to check again this weekend. Maybe it isn't setup correctly. Wouldn't surprise me if the dealer just bolted it on and never set it up.

Thanks for the help!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just using it and paying attention to where the bucket is at angle wise will help you out a lot. Pay attention to where the bottom of the back of the bucket is. It it flat on the surface, or is it just a little bit up off the ground? Looking at these points will make a big difference with how the loader performs.

Good luck.

 

[pwright]

Just using it and paying attention to where the bucket is at angle wise will help you out a lot.

I'm sure that over time I'll get a feel for it but in the near-time I would like to stop having to jump off the tractor to run around to the front to see if the bucket is level.

Pay attention to where the bottom of the back of the bucket is.

There's the rub as it were. The back is rounded and from the seat I can't see the rearmost edge of the flat part of the bottom. I'm sure I'll get it worked out sooner or later.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Set the bucket where it works the best for you. Make a mark of some kind on the bucket level indicator rod at the top of the tube that you can see from the seat. Then you will no longer need to get off of the tractor to know how the bucket is setting.

Good luck and practice, practice, practice.

 

[94BULLITT]

When I had my ct235 I watched the two triangular pieces with the large holes that were welded to the back of the bucket on both sides. I had the 68'' bucket. If you choose to use the level indicator be sure it is adjusted properly mine was too long and need cut off but I never messed with it. Mainly it takes practice. Once you get good you can tell by the seat of your pants what you are doing. Like you said for scooping gravel you want it level or curled out a bit. If you have too much down pressure you will not have much weight on the front end and the tires will spin. Once you get a full bucket curl it back and pick up. Never run the fel any higher than necessary. When you are using the fel with the bucket or forks you should have your box blade on for a ballast. Good luck with the new tractor.

 

[pwright]

Thanks Brian/Roger. Good advice all. I do keep the box blade on it when I'm not using the auger.

Lots of learning to do still.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

It will take some patience & practice, but before long you'll scoop a full bucket. Right after I bought my CUT I had to move 200 ton of fill. I found the level indicator to come I handy & raise & curl as I'm filling.
Also, do you have a tooth bar installed?

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNeto

 

[pwright]

I don't have a tooth bar installed. I'm assuming that is a bar that goes across the front of the bucket, yes? I noticed the bucket has a "lip" there with some holes that I am guessing is for putting a replaceable cutting edge and/or a tooth bar?

Was thinking about that the last time I was using it and wondering if I shouldn't get something on there before I do some damage to the bucket.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

Yes, the lower edge is where the tooth bar bolts on. It's amazing how much those teeth help when going into a pile of dirt or gravel.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNeto

 

[pwright]

My tractor:

 

[joshuabardwell]

Do you have a level indicator bar on the right arm of the loader? It is a steel bar that slides through a black tube. When the end of the steel bar is equal with the end of the black tube your bucket is level.

I also have a CT225, and it has a level indicator.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I don't have a tooth bar installed. I'm assuming that is a bar that goes across the front of the bucket, yes? I noticed the bucket has a "lip" there with some holes that I am guessing is for putting a replaceable cutting edge and/or a tooth bar? Was thinking about that the last time I was using it and wondering if I shouldn't get something on there before I do some damage to the bucket.

IIRC, my dealer said those holes are for bolt-on teeth, not a cutting edge--although I'm sure you could also use them to bolt on a cutting edge. The bucket is designed to work as-is. A tooth bar can help the bucket be more aggressive in hard-packed material, or when digging, but it's not required.

 

[pwright]

I adjusted the level indicator on Saturday and it looks like that will be a big help now that it will actually indicate something. It was too dang hot to do much else though so I didn't experiment much with it.

I'll have to think about getting a tooth bar for the bucket.

 

[jrpat]

I don't know if the ct225 bucket is different than my ct235 bucket, but my 235 has a bolt on cutting edge. I have the 68 inch bucket and ordered the cutting edge from my dealer. I had to go out and count the bolt holes in the bucket because the partsman said that there were 2 different blades. My bucket has 8 bolt holes. Bobcat bolts for the blade are expensive. I went down to my local farm dealer and bought plow bolts and they worked just great. For all of you guys that have concerns about being too far from your dealer, I am 4hrs away from mine. My dealer is in Salina, Ks (central Ks.) and I live 15 miles from Colorado. The last time my tractor was at the dealer was when I purchased it. It's almost 3yrs old and just turned 200hrs on it today.

 

[pwright]

Interesting. Mine is a 68" bucket as well. I'll have to look into what is available.

 

[94BULLITT]

I think there were a 3 buckets available a 62" a 66" and a 68."

 

[ss4010]

I too have the 68" QA bucket and purchased the bolt on cutting edge from the dealer for $151.64 in 2009. It included the bolts to attach it to the bucket.

 

[pwright]

Thanks. Will have to check in at the dealer.