Reliability: Please check in with hours and problems

[hardhat]

I went and played with an open cab 5600 at the bobcat dealership. Amazing machine. I love the turning radius, the top speed, the ease of use. My wife was able to hop right in and drive it which is something she would not be able to do on a tractor. I am strongly considering purchase of a new 5610. Would everyone please check in with number of hours on machine and reliability overall. I have some concerns about long term durability and wondering if I should opt for extended warranty.

Thanks,

larry

 

[tmarch]

A lot will depend on your dealer and service department. I had my dealer do all the service for the first 2 years and there was some minor stuff that came up + a broken cv joint that was handled under warranty. Not sure if Bobcat warrantied the fix or the dealer. Expensive to have them service it, but worth it in the long run. My machine now has 700+ hours and is over 3 years old so will be doing the services myself.
And BTW my wife uses it with ease.
I'm looking at a CT440 or 450 for some heavier lifting capacity. Nice to be able to use the same attachments for both.

 

[radman1]

I have a 5610 with about 400 hours. Under warranty I had 2 issues. First, I had a slow leak in the tilt valve near 100 hours. It was fine until I put on a larger lift cylinder and tried to lift a 36" ball of dirt in a heavy tree spade. The tilt cylinder extended on its own when I lifted the main cylinder. It was probably my fault. After that it would not hold a moderate load without slowly leaking extending the tilt cylinder. Dealer replaced the section of the control valve to the tilt cylinder under warranty. I have subsequently put on a larger tilt cylinder and the stress/pressure on the valve is probably less than with the normal lift and tilt cylinders. PS, I have not repeated the experience with the tree spade. Just too heavy for the TC.

I had a occassional clunk sound in the rear only on one side and if on a hillside, in rough terrain and with something on the 3 pt. I always thought a bolt or fitting was loose. Dealer could not find a problem and on second return replaced the shock, and spring. It has never returned.

 

[Tigger]

Radman1 you might want them to check the mount bolts for your rear transaxle. I guess they can work loose. I had 8 of 10 missing on mine and apparently they torque out on their own. That's what the dealer told me. That clunk might be caused by that. Just a thought.

 

[Bobcatman]

The newer tc are pretty good, but the older ones in 07,08 had hyd pump problems, caused by driving down a very steep hill and the machine outrunning the hydraulics, the new pumps have steel wearplates, whereas the old had brass wear plates.