Attacking that power problem CT225

[bbse]

Bought a new CT225 back in August, ever since I have had it it has been very weak. I did not want to go off half cocked so I have waited until spring and 50 hours to give it a chance to Break in. At 47 hours it is still without power so I took her into the dealer.

BTW, the power issue is just no torque and stalling. One of the other guys here with a larger machine had a similar problem and I think it was just a hydraulic adjustment. We shall see. But I can put it against a tree stump in my grass covered field, low range, wide open and I can't spin a tire! I can't climb hills in mid range even with no implements......It will just stall out. I still have my Kioti LK3054 thank goodness, it is a little bull dozier, it will not only climb those same hills with implements, it will accelerate in even in 5th gear.

I will let you know what happens.

 

[CT230 Fan]

That doesn't sound right for sure. My CT230 seems to have plenty of power for it's size. I have never stalled it!, when I'm working it real hard, the RPM' will take a bit of a dip, but the second I let up on the pedal a bit, it shoots right back up to it's set range. I can lift the front end off the ground w. my front end loader without any problem. The hydraulics were stong enough to lift an overfilled bucket of lime that actually raised one of my back tires off the ground. I have plowed snow in High gear, and it will do very well until I am going up hill, then the rpms drop. The only time I find it necessary to put her in low gear is when I am digging with the front end loader, the rest of the time Mid has plenty of power.
Sounds to me like either your reliefs are set too low, and you are going into relief and dumping back to the tank, or the pump is very weak. Either way, I'd be on the dealer to make it right or replace it with a new one. I'd make the dealer operate the machine while you are there, and make him go through the same type of tests: use the bucket to lift the tractor, run uphill in high, push against something, dig into a pile, ect.

Good luck.

 

[bbse]

I never had a problem with the FEL lifting the tractor. It can do that. But I could only brush cut up inclines, even shallow ones, in low range and even then I have to lift off the pedal a lot. If I stop on a hill in mid range I cannot take back off. So all my work so far has been done in low. In High range I cannot get past 2500 rpm even on flat road. and I cannot do any inclines at all. So I hope they can figure something out or I want a different tractor. I am not taking this one home until I do test it out.

 

[dfkrug]

I never had a problem with the FEL lifting the tractor.

That means your implement pump relief is prob not set at too low of a
pressure. But still get it checked....Bobcat has not been checking RV
settings.

As for the HST, I am not surprised that you can not go up any significant
slope in Mid range. I can't get up a slope of over about 20% in M in my
CK30 with 5 more hp. H is useless, except for driving down a level road.

As for the tires spinning when you put the loader up against a tree and the
HST RV stops you: I would expect that if your tractor has excellent
traction (good ballast and AG tires, for example). I don't really like that,
but I don't have that problem too often. If you think your HST RV is not
working right (it is not adustable at about 5000psi), try the same exercise in
reverse. Reverse uses an identical RV set at the same pressure.

 

[captin_insano]

This is one thing I didnt like about the ct235 loaner I have right now. It seems quite anemic but I relate it to the weight. Its quite heavy for its size.

 

[bbse]

This is one thing I didnt like about the ct235 loaner I have right now. It seems quite anemic but I relate it to the weight. Its quite heavy for its size.

Imagine it with 8 less HP.

 

[gumshu]

This is one thing I didnt like about the ct235 loaner I have right now. It seems quite anemic but I relate it to the weight. Its quite heavy for its size.

Seems like there are some problems with that loaner. I climb 30 degree slopes with mine with out a problem; in low gear of course. Mine has adequate power and traction.

 

[captin_insano]

It would go up anything in low range of course but it feels like it could use more get up and go. I run the kubota in high for anything but dirt work and it would move along without effort. Brush cutting, finish mowing or plowing snow it would do in high range with power to spare or it would spin the tires trying. But it weighs 1/2 as much so I think thats the whole difference. The bobcat is heavy and only 5 more hp which I think is what makes it feel underpowered. The weight is nice at times though. Even though it wouldnt push the snow in high range, in mid range it pushed easily 2x as much as I can with the 7800. Its a give and take thing. :thumbsup:

 

[tinman955]

Ive been done this road before and I will tell you what I found out, these bobcat tractors are way underpowered!! My 440 cant get out of its own way most of the time and wont do the work of smaller tractors ive run or owned. I have run CT335 and 235's and they arent any better when it comes to transfering the power to the ground. I even talked to Bobcat engineering with no satisfaction, my relief factory setting was 2100psi and I took it to 2800 and it helped some but 100 hrs later its still half the tractor I need most of the time. I used alot this winter moving snow with box blade and loader along with some other brands and I hate to say my 440 power wise was the worst. I got out worked by a 30hp bota and deere on a couple of jobs

I think the problem is several things, hydro system very inefficent, engine lacks torque, and gearing is to high. Solving the problem is buy another brand of tractor

Good luck and keep us posted on yr results but be prepared to be disappointed

 

[DK35vince]

The problem is those power sucking hydros.
Get the shuttle shift gear model and your power problems will disappear..

 

[Gittyup]

Yep. I went with gear for that very reason. Don't feel mine lacks in power at all. If I were going HST, I'd go with the highest hp per frame size due to the weight of these tractors.

They are heavy tractors. So, obviously this will subtract from their nimbleness.... especially in the HST. I find it's really noticable with the backhoe on. When I take that off, it feels like a sportscar.... well in a relative sorta way.

 

[bbse]

Most of you guys know Bobcat doesn't offer this model in gear, only HST. I will do more test driving next time before I buy anything. Called the dealer today and so far I am getting the "there is nothing wrong with the tractor, you can't work in high range" answer. I never tried to work in high range, heck, this thing can barely move in high range. I have a call into the service manager for the morning. We are fixin to have a serious talk. They were bragging how strong there CT225's were when I was out there dropping mine off, we are going to do some comparing if I have to drive out there. I'm not mad-mad yet but I am on my way. This could get ugly, I will let you know.

 

[bbse]

The problem is those power sucking hydros.
Get the shuttle shift gear model and your power problems will disappear..

BTW Vince, my LK3054 Kioti is gear drive and it is a little tank. I have a good mind to load it up and take it over to the Bobcat lot and start taking bets...

 

[DavidNPro]

This is interesting reading as I am waiting on my new Kioti. I opted to go with a DK45 same as the CT445 I believe. But, in my journey many dealers and other owners I talked with said that the DK40 (Bobcat CT440) would be plenty and the 5 HP (actually only 4 based on the specs) wouldnt be needed.

Just kinda wondering if this is an across the board problem with these tractors. I know the HST does rob some of the power, but is this an issue with all Kioti/Bobcat tractors?

 

[DK35vince]

This is interesting reading as I am waiting on my new Kioti. I opted to go with a DK45 same as the CT445 I believe. But, in my journey many dealers and other owners I talked with said that the DK40 (Bobcat CT440) would be plenty and the 5 HP (actually only 4 based on the specs) wouldnt be needed.

Just kinda wondering if this is an across the board problem with these tractors. I know the HST does rob some of the power, but is this an issue with all Kioti/Bobcat tractors?

Not with the gear models. The gear models seem to have plenty of power.
My DK 35 shuttle shift gear model is strong.
Seems like I read a fair amount of complains on the hydro units though.

 

[CT230 Fan]

I can't complain about my CT230's power. I think there is a give and take with the Hydrostat Vs. Gear. With the hydrostat, I can mow without pause. I can speed up, slow down, come to a complete stop, go into reverse with nothing more than the movement of my right foot. This makes mowing, brush hogging, loader work, ect. much easier and faster. You obviously loose some of the HP to the hydrostat, but again, a trade off for improved funtionality. My tractor runs very well, High Range should be called road gear. That is basically all it is good for, but that is why it is there. Mid range is good for most work. I do all of my mowing and brush hogging along with blading and disking. I do most of my loader work in Mid as well. Low is really best for digging w. the loader. That is the only thing I have found I can't do in Mid, and that would probably improve if I had teeth on my bucket.

 

[Grand_Pooba]

I can't complain about my CT230's power. I think there is a give and take with the Hydrostat Vs. Gear. With the hydrostat, I can mow without pause. I can speed up, slow down, come to a complete stop, go into reverse with nothing more than the movement of my right foot. This makes mowing, brush hogging, loader work, ect. much easier and faster. You obviously loose some of the HP to the hydrostat, but again, a trade off for improved funtionality. My tractor runs very well, High Range should be called road gear. That is basically all it is good for, but that is why it is there. Mid range is good for most work. I do all of my mowing and brush hogging along with blading and disking. I do most of my loader work in Mid as well. Low is really best for digging w. the loader. That is the only thing I have found I can't do in Mid, and that would probably improve if I had teeth on my bucket.

I have to agree withCT230 Fan. I have had no power issues with my CT230. I can 90% of my work in mid range with no problems. I plowed a lot of snow this winter and never needed Low. I did do some of the lighter (2-3 inches)stuff in high gear. I can go up steep hills in high range and have never stalled it. I plan on getting a finish mower for the 3 pt this spring, hopfully I don't change my opinion after I try it out.

 

[bbse]

In response to the CT230 owners, I envy you. In high range I can barely go up a slight incline on a paved road. I cannot get it past 2500 rpm in high range with the throttle wide open on flat road.

I spoke with Bobcat today, not a lot of progress. According to them everything is "in Spec". The service manager is going to test the engine HP on his own, says the warranty doesn't cover this. I am not holding out a lot of hope. They don't seem to really want to attack this as a real problem. Anybody have any idea what a like new CT225 would sell for used with 50 hrs on it. I got a felling this one may wind up on the market.

 

[galaxie428]

I don't have much issue with my 230 either. As said before, I do most of my work in M. Very seldon am i ever down in L unless I am digging into the dirt. I was moving some around last night and used L just because it was heavy and a little wet so I needed the extra power to get a full scoop full. A lot of my mowing I do in H but my ground is mostly flat. I have a 72" 3 point finish mower.

I have a three story barn with a ramp up to the 2nd floor, my guess is that the ramp is around 30 degrees or so. I don't have any issues getting up in in M but I don't know that I have ever tried it in H. I will do that tonight just to see.

I have not owned any other tractors so I have nothing to compare it to but overall, I am very happy with my 230. There are times I wish it had a little more lift to it but most jobs I have used it for, it has plenty.

 

[qed-cat225]

thought about getting rid of my 225 cause it cannot go up a slight incline in mid range when running the belly mower and on High you all are correct, its a highway gear only but I do need to run at 2500 rpm to get her to go