What do you guys think of the Bobcat tractors?

galaxie428 · Oct 5, 2009

I have a ct230 and this has been my first tractor so I don't really have anything to compare it to but I am very happy with it. I use it to mow with a 6' 3 point finish mower. I mowed some pretty tall grass yesterday in high gear and didn't have any problems. My ground is mostly flat though (some people have complained of lack of power in mid/hi on hills). The tractor is heavy which is good for loader work but it mashes my grass down so when I mow it doesn't get the grass in the tire tracks cut as well.

I have used it for loader work, dirt, rock & mulch and I am impressed though with a full load of dirt or rock, you need a ballast of some sort in the back or you will be riding on two wheels (the front). It has sure save me a lot of back pain from shoveling.

I have the teeth added to my bucket for digging and while I suppose it depends on your soil type, mine is a little rocky/sandy, I was able to dig a 7' deep hole and trench for a little project of mine. It did take a while though.

At the time I bought mine, bobcat was running some fantastic deals and I just could not pass it up. I could not find any other tractors that were comparable in size for the price I got this one. That is the reason I went with Bobcat.

chazzy · Oct 5, 2009

I racked up 20 hrs on my new CT230 and here is my impression:

> Fit & Finish - It's like typical Huyndai cars (if you owned one you would know what I mean). Satisfactory but not the greatest. But you didn't pay for the greatest either.
> Features - Again, like Hyundai cars, you get more than what you paid for.
> Hydrostatic transmission is awesome for what I use - cleaning up dead tress/brushes, moving dirts around, etc.
> Engine - Smooth, reliable (so far!), nice layout under the hood, economical, etc. I was very impressed with the air-intake system. Twin-filter snorkel like system using GENUINE Donaldson filters! BUT the 30-hp rating was not as powerful as I expected (maybe I would have felt more power if it was a gear-driven)... For example, it can barely move itself in Hi gear even on level ground with no load at all. If it's an uphill, forget it. I think Hi gear is for Highway-use and for downhill only. If I would be using a box scraper or loader to push around the dirts, I have to use LO gear. For cruising and light work, I use Mid gear.
> Would I buy again? For what I paid, **** ya!
> Does anyone have any idea why the exhaust tail pipe is not at the tail, instead it is pointing toward the front?

kraazie8 · Oct 5, 2009

my 230 is a great tractor, i have a 5' woods bb60x and it works great, medium gear is fine for flat mowing and slight inclines, but if you have some steep hills as i do, you do need to use low gear. for loader work it has been great as well, again low for heavy work and med. for light work. you have to remember that it is a 30hp cut, its not a D9, and its not gonna push or dig like one. but it does a great job for what work it is designed to do.

YotaBota · Oct 21, 2009

A collegue of mine has a Bobcat. Tractor didn't run right from the git go. Dealer ended up doing a valve job on at about 30 hours. Slow delivery time for implements as well from manufacturer. Runs great now, my question is for how long. Usually you can't compare manufacturer assembled and in the field assembled. He's happy, and I'm happy with my new Kubota though.

YotaBota · Oct 21, 2009

Just checking with him again, he 's got a C225, with a 5' tiller, and 6' finishing mower, FEL and backhoe. + 100 hours, rotovator works most excellent, and the mower came from the factory and supplier with the blades not properly torqued to 600 pound, so he shearred off a couple shear pins, and had to buy a torque wrench to the tune of about $600 to remedy the blade problem. Like I said before, he's a happy camper now that a few problems have been worked out.

CT230 Fan · Oct 21, 2009

I have about 35 hours on my CT230. I really cannont complain about anything. As I said in the past, I had a leak where the QD's for the loader connect to the valave. My dealer fixed it the same day I called about it. That involved nearly a 90 mile one way service call.
I fell like my unit has ample power. Runs my 5' brush hog, 6' finish mower great. I bought an old 9' pull type disk, and the tractor has handled it well in the limited use I have had a chane to use it.
The loader is very strong. I have had the bucket heaping full w. Lime, and it didn't even hesitate.
I'm very pleased with mine.

Bama67 · Oct 23, 2009

Well, so far I have put 20 hours on my CT440 clearing out several acres of woods. It has done great, especially considering i have been doing things with it, that no one should be doing on a 40hp tractor, bulldozing and pushing down some 6''-8" trees, which if you work it just right, can push down and pull up. I was under the impression that the paint is low quality, but after having tons of limbs hit the tractor, and drag across the hood, I have yet to knock any paint off the thing. So far I feel like I got a whole lot of tractor for my money. And am looking for a grapple now, to continue clearing the woods.