Bobcat is owned now by Doosan, who actually makes a huge number of pieces of equipment around the world. Doosan Is South Korean owned, don't worry Bobcat is still built in the USA. The Doosan engine is trying to compete with Kunota engines, so for obvious reasons, it's of the advantage for doosan to use their own engines, there are still kubota engines being used in some models but are being phased out over the next year or two. Doosan claimed they were going to be the only engine on the market to meet new tier 4 emissions standards WITHOUT a purifier, and it looks like they have done it. But this engine is not time tested like Kubota engines so we will see how it fares in time. Still to early to know any issues.
I personally wonder what the injector lifetime will be, one of the ways they are getting away w/o the DPF is by making more injections per cycle. Something crazy like 30 injections a cycle vs a kubota or say diesel truck engine may have 8. It creates a better fuel/air ratio w/ turbo usually.But how long is that many injections sustainable for the fuel system? They claim no problem. So we will see how it goes.
Connect the dots here, the bobcat tractor started about when doosan took over so as many know the Kioti tractor is also S. Korean, go look at a bobcat tractor and a kioti side by side. They are the same thing. The Bobcat is a rebranded Kioti. It makes sense though, it was an easy way for bobcat to get into the tractor market quick & cheap, it was a way for kioti to sell more units under the Bobcat name and many people will buy something just because It says bobcat, or because it's green, or its a ford, or you know what I mean. With that I'm not saying if you bought a kioti and you have a bobcat dealer close they can or will help you (they should try tho) the parts are the same but they are dealing with completely different part numbers, so maybe they will help you, maybe they won't.
Kioti prides themselves on on out lifting Kubota, being heavier than a Kubota (for some reason the idea of more weight is better got out but it is not always the case) so these things are great for kioti to be successful in and you will find a kioti cheaper priced than a kubota, however what I have been finding is that there are stress joints on the kiotis that can start to crack out, they are trying a little to hard and should dial back lift cap./go to a relief valve, strengthen the joints, make better welds, or all the above in order to keep that from happening. More on this later.
Next, I can't say this is true & have not verified for myself, but it looks as though the cylinder rods are also smaller in diameter on kioti than kubota. Let me know someone if you get a chance to measure before I do on comparable models. kioti has actually done a good job in making their slice in the tractor market, I'll give them credit, I'm not here to sell anyone a tractor, but this is just stuff I learned and discuss when going head to head against a prospective buyer with a paper in front of me that has a $4000 cheaper price tag on it saying "Kioti" at the top vs the price on the paper I'm about to hand them. (Side note: kubota has some instant rebates going to the end of the year that narrows the gap a lot, I won't discuss pricing here as I don't want to give or take disadvantage to any competing dealers trying to win anyone's business that may read this. I'll root for the kubota guys, but it's a free market so good luck).
Ok back about the welders, the kioti is heavier indeed, disadvantage: your fuel mileage towing the extra weight over a lifetime, the actual disadvantage: the steel used is a cheaper lower grade steel that's part how they save money, that's why there have been cracked joints or welds, but most of all its heavier because the lower quality steel means they have to use more of it especially if they want the extra lift capacity. Furthermore Kioti has about 300 dealers nationwide, a good number you think yea? Kubota has over 1100 dealers nation wide, how far does someone want to go to get service? Kioti is coming along though and I'm sure they will one day be a quality machine that's evenly priced with Kubota. I have met many kioti owners that are very happy and very pleased with it and not all of them suffer from cracking at stress joints. Kubota is very conservative and goes to relief at a lower capacity, this is what makes a kubota though, it's what gives it the longevity people know kubota for.
I know I'm blabbing on here but one last thing, next time you have a chance, notice the fit and finish on a kubota vs any other brand, notice how care is given to things like linkages, hoses, and the sort are considered by Kubota. They are tucked away neatly out of site, out of danger, yet easily accessible if needed. Take a look yourself. The $4,000 higher price...well, you can see it. Sound like a salesman yea? Lol sorry, not trying to sell just stating the facts. Thanks for the post.
