? Labor to split a Bobcat tractor

[MESSMAKER]

My ct225 has a fluid leak that is going to require splitting the tractor to replace a seal. Bobcat quoted me 20 hours labor plus parts. At $92 per hour, I will be getting close to $2000 for the repair. I know it is a big job, but this seems like a bit much. What do you guys think?

 

[brain55]

There are a lot of variables. Cab, no cab, loader, full loader sub-frame, how much really needs to come off the tractor to split it, where does it need to split, and how much needs to come off once it is split to make the repair. I haven't split that particular tractor. But I have split many many tractors over the last 27 years. Without seeing a machine I usually start at 10-12 hours, some take much less and others take much more. I just split a New Holland 4430 to repair a broken synchro ring, I also R&R'd the fuel tank to have it flushed and sealed. I charged 18 hours.

Brian

 

[DavesTractor]

There are flat rate manuals put out by the manufacturer that the dealer will have. They are generally ridiculously stingy (like 50% of real time) as they are used by the manufacturer to reimburse dealers for warranty. But at least it gives an idea if it is 2 hours or 10 hours or 20 hours. Then there are the issues of broken or rusty bolts and other surprises. I think Brian's 10-12 hours as a starting place is reasonable for splitting and putting back together. It depends on the seal, that will take a little more time. And the clutch might be oiled and need replaced and that takes a little time to get setup correctly. I'd for sure find out if the leak is engine oil or trans fluid before splitting the tractor. Once split, sometimes the source of the leak is not totally obvious.

 

[brain55]

Yeah flat-rate in the tractor world vs flat-rate in the automotive world really messes people up. Sometimes people think there is some magic standardized bible that all tractor dealers and repair shops use when quoting repairs, like there is in the auto repair. Unfortunately there isn't, and what there is, is hardly representative of what repairs really take. In the flat-rate manuals I'm familiar with for tractor repair, I was told when they time the mechanics it is done on brand new equipment. They make the repair 3-5 times in a row and the best time is used , all the proper tools are laid out for them, and if they are splitting the tractor, the proper splitting dollies are used. I have never been in a dealership or repair shop where they had any kind of splitting dolly. It is typically done with floor jacks.

Brian