Loader New Bobcat FEL

dfkrug · Oct 22, 2010

qed-cat225 said:
here are some of the new
2010 BOBCAT CT225 Less than 40 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

vs the old

BOBCAT CT230 Less than 40 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

Interesting new loader. The most significant change I see is that the
cross-tube now fully penetrates both boom arms. Structurally that is a
good thing and just what they did for the Kioti loader (newer KL130B has
full penetration cross-tube).

Do they still use the black chrome cylinder rods?

wallace · Oct 22, 2010

CHROME!:licking:

afoster · Oct 22, 2010

I was just at my dealers asking about the FEL and he showed me a Bobcat document with pictures and specs. that clearly shows the differences between the new and old loaders. So based on what I saw in this document I'm satisfied with the newer models. Strongly recommend you go to your dealer and ask to see this document if you do have concerns about the new FEL.

qed-cat225 · Oct 26, 2010

well got my CT235 with the new loader delivered yesterday, the grease points on the new design are a plus. however on the negative they have these shims welded into the lower loader arm connection points to the frame of the tractor and mine is all messed up, there is no play and you can see the thickness of the shim has been ground down and is bear metal, just something for all of you new shoppers to check. waiting on what they are proposing to do about it....

dfkrug · Oct 26, 2010

qed-cat225 said:
however on the negative they have these shims welded into the lower loader arm connection points to the frame of the tractor and mine is all messed up, there is no play and you can see the thickness of the shim has been ground down and is bear metal, just something for all of you new shoppers to check. waiting on what they are proposing to do about it....

Have any pix of that? Isn't the fact that there is no play a good thing?

qed-cat225 · Oct 26, 2010

no play is a good thing until you try to reinstall the loader and need it perfectly aligned....

Gittyup · Oct 26, 2010

About the time they get everything right on these tractors, then they have to go and mess with it! Not a huge deal as long as it lifts what it's supposed to and is reliable. Now the shims missing paint and fitting too tight? I'd ask that dealer to demonstrate that the loader comes on and goes back on with ease. Then I'd want it painted as good as new if it does install/remove acceptably. If it doesn't, then I'd want a new loader.

qed-cat225 · Oct 26, 2010

no worries, they said worst case they will get me an entire new loader mount.

qed-cat225 · Nov 1, 2010

update: new loader mount on order, timeframe tbd

SABULA FARMER · Nov 19, 2010

I have a new CT335 with the new loader, it looks good. I dont see any problems with it at all...

tcartwri · Nov 19, 2010

I just ordered a 235 and so far the only photo I've seen of the new loader that is correct is from user diydoug; It is much heavier through the tube intersection, and cross tube. I believe the max lift rating is up by about 500 lbs as well. It looks like a real bobcat skidsteer loader now.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/bobcat-tractors/168354-pricing-2010-ct235-3.html#post2139455

Canada_CT230 · Nov 19, 2010

Might be built heavier but that small bucket is gonna take you 1000 trips. I'll keep my old Rhino loader.

MtnViewRanch · Nov 19, 2010

Canada_CT230 said:
Might be built heavier but that small bucket is gonna take you 1000 trips. I'll keep my old Rhino loader.

I don"t know for sure, but I would guess that just because the new bucket is not as wide does not mean that it holds any less. My Mahindra 3215 has a 60" wide bucket and is rated to hold 9 cubic feet. Kioti's are also 60" and rated at 7 cubic feet and 9.5 cubic feet when heaped. Sorry, but I can't find any loader info for the Bobcats to have a side by side comparison. :ashamed:

dfkrug · Nov 19, 2010

MtnViewRanch said:
Sorry, but I can't find any loader info for the Bobcats to have a side by side comparison.

I don't know about the other Bobcat bkts for the CT230, but mine had
a huge 68-inch unit that was considerably larger than the one that
came with my Kioti CK30. The CK's had side reinforcement, however,
and the Bobcat's did not.

MtnViewRanch · Nov 20, 2010

dfkrug said:
I don't know about the other Bobcat bkts for the CT230, but mine had
a huge 68-inch unit that was considerably larger than the one that
came with my Kioti CK30. The CK's had side reinforcement, however,
and the Bobcat's did not.

Yes I know that the Bobcats had a 68" wide bucket, but how deep and tall are those buckets? When I had looked at them, they actually looked short and not as deep to me, but maybe that was because they were that 8" wider. So maybe the height and depth looks smaller on those buckets but is actually the same? :confused3:

lilranch2001 · Nov 20, 2010

Canada_CT230 said:
Might be built heavier but that small bucket is gonna take you 1000 trips. I'll keep my old Rhino loader.

an 8 in shorter bucket is not going to make that dramatic an effect on how much work can be done, maybe 12% or so at most?

Also it will make it easier to cut into hard soil since it will have less edge to be cutting into the soil, so that may help make up some of that 12% effect.

Also it will make it easier to get in tight spaces, and less negative force done on the FEL arms since there will be less "overhang"

Sometimes I have wished I had a 60 inch bucket rather than a 68

dfkrug · Nov 26, 2010

MtnViewRanch said:
Yes I know that the Bobcats had a 68" wide bucket, but how deep and tall are those buckets? When I had looked at them, they actually looked short and not as deep to me, but maybe that was because they were that 8" wider. So maybe the height and depth looks smaller on those buckets but is actually the same? :confused3:

I no longer have the CT, so I can not take side-by-side photos. I will
say this: The Bobcat 68 was much deeper and somewhat taller than the
Kioti 60. I would say it had maybe 30% more capacity. Quite significant.

That said, I think the larger bkt would be great for moving sand and
other loose materials around, but I prefer the Kiotis for strength. LILRANCH
has that right.

The Bobcat's was a cool QA bkt, however....

afoster · Dec 2, 2010

Received my new CT335 this week with one of the new FEL. The FEL looks fine and I see no issue with it other than this. If you order this model tractor with the new loader and with the snow blade attachment; be aware of this. The new loader takes a different front hydraulic kit than the old loader, but no where in the ordering process do they inform you of this, but they do end up sending you the old kit. The other thing is the snow blade requires wider front tires on the tractor for everything to work correctly; but no where in the ordering process do they tell you this, so they deliver the tractor with the wrong tires.
Both the dealer and myself were caught by surprise by this.

milkman636 · Dec 2, 2010

The 8tl loader that came on my 335 also looks fine. The welds are not the prettiest on the market, but it looks the loader will take anything the tractor will throw at it. They are probably not employing certified welders. The Bobcat loader appears to use heavier material than the Kioti loaders, but the Kioti loader has a much better looking fit and fininsh. The deciding factor for me was the extra $1500 that the Kioti would have cost for the same tractors.