New-to-me CT235, minor issue with losing power, fuel related

[Jenners]

Hello all. Pleeeease be patient but I'm probably going to be the most ignorant new tractor owner ever. Mostly because I am not mechanically inclined in the least, so sometimes even the lingo is going to leave me with a blank stare. BUT! I try hard :laughing:.

So I'm building a small horse operation. I've been a land owner of a small farmette before, but made do with just a rider and no actual tractor; I've used tractors before (Kubota) for stuff like pulling manure spreaders but that is the limit. This is double the land. Where I'm currently boarding my horses had a Bobcat CT235, I've used it a few times over the years for pulling t-posts out and dragging the arena. I never had an issue. The landowners are an older couple, and they said it kept "quitting" or "dying" on them (but she isn't sure if it ever actually died-died...), so they got a new one and offered me this one with full disclosure at a deal. I contacted the service shop they just had it at, and was told that the old owners pulled the machine before it could get a full work up, and all they did was change out fuel filters. He did state that it was a fuel issue, possibly with the fuel delivery system (partially clogged pickup hose?) or even the fuel pump itself. He said the tractor would "fall on its face" as in lose power, then come back. He said the machine did repeat the behavior after they changed the filters.

So I don't know what year it is, just that it has 1120 hours. I can't find the data plate, and neither could the old owner. Honestly...it's ok to laugh, but I don't even know how to open the, um, hood? to see if it's screwed to something inside there?? Do they call them hoods? I found the ones on the ROPS and the arms for the FEL, but no where else. I started reading the manual and touching/moving everything as I came to it in the manual while it was running because that's how I do things; the box blade made the whole tractor start bucking when I lifted it a few inches because I do need to move it somewhere else and detach it, so I put it back down. A friend's husband works for John Deere as a mechanic, and I asked if he could come walk me through some basics...

My questions are: thoughts on the fuel issue, and where the **** is the data plate? :laughing:

 

[murphy1244]

For the data plate, try front right side of frame near the grill. The hood pull release should be there too. The Bobcat and the Kioti are made by Daedong so they share a lot.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder. Don't be embarrassed about being new to tractor stuff (or admitting so) as we've all 'been there' at one point or another.

From your description, the previous owners did nothing but fill the tractor up with diesel and no other maintenance other than change out the fuel filter... probably to attempt to solve the 'running' problem. So, you're at 1120 hours and no maintenance has been performed at the recommended intervals listed in the Owners Manual. (Thank goodness you've got that manual, so many second-hand tractors have 'lost' theirs)

You are going to have to change & replace ALL of your fluids & filters before you can truly hunt down any other operating faults. Yes, that means the hydraulic fluid and filter. In addition to purchasing the filters & recommended fluids, you will need filter wrenches (I say wrenches because, at least on my tractor, I require two different sizes; a small one for the fuel filter and a large one for the oil filter and hydraulic filter cap), funnels for the different fluids and containers for the fluids that you'll be draining. Inexpensive storage bins (I believe you call them 'totes') work well for collecting the fluids.

If the "friend's husband" is coming over to help, this will be a perfect opportunity to change out all of the fluids/filters. He'll be able to guide and assist you & you'll know for the future.

I suspect that once you've replaced the hydraulic fluid & filter, your 'bucking' fault will go away.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

TractorData.com Bobcat CT235 tractor information

 

[Lockport]

Welcome. The hood release is is on the underside of the frame along the right side of the hood near the front. Crouch down and you'll see it. Pull it down (spring loaded) while lifting upwards ppb the hood. Once open, you'll note that the lower side panels still in place can be removed for better access. The tractor identification badge should be along the right side of the frame as well.

As Wagtail noted, and I would agree, that tractor has probably been neglected and a full change of fluids and filters, as well as every thing else listed in the maintenance section of the manual will only work towards your benefit. Could be anything as serious as a failing fuel pump to something as simple as debris in the fuel tank itself prohibiting flow. That's quite a few hours do anything odd possible. Luckily your friend's husband will probably nail it down pretty quickly.

Best of luck!

 

[Wagtail]

Also... When you go into town/dealership to get all of the things I've mentioned you'll need to pick up a few other things to basically maintain your tractor (which is a major investment on your behalf):

1) Get a good torque wrench. Plus a set of sockets that will fit all of the nuts on your tractor (rear wheel lug-nuts are typically the largest size). Your manual will give you the torque settings. You will need to torque every nut, especially the wheels. 1120 hours of vibration may have worked some of them loose. The same goes for the nuts holding your FEL onto the tractor body.

2) Get a good grease gun + at least two canisters of grease for it. You will need to pump every grease nipple (zerk) on the tractor, the Front End Loader (FEL) and the 3 Point Hitch (3PH). Pump until you see some grease start to come out. If grease won't go in, you'll need to replace the nipple. You'll be surprised where a lot of the nipples are 'hidden'. :laughing: And

3) Get a large spray can of lanolin based lubricant (Fluid Film type stuff) or WD40. Generously spray anything that mechanical moves but doesn't have a grease nipple (within reason, of course).

You've got your work cut out for you, Mate. :thumbsup:

 

[Jenners]

Thanks so much guys! I should mention the tractor was a rental, so it was serviced by them and they were the ones who continued the servicing. The couple I bought it from would have kept up on the servicing, so I'm not horribly concerned about that; I think they were just fed up and wanted/needed something reliable.

HOWEVER! I will take all these into account and start gathering tools etc. And yes, my "friend's husband" can help with this, and we can discuss this while the three of us are at dinner later. It is still entirely possible for a single woman to have friends who loan their husbands when we need help, ya weirdos!! :laughing:

 

[winston1]

IPC Illustration

Bobcat is kind enough to give us on line parts manuals. Here is your hood latch. Go here to access your manual. Bobcat Parts - Bobcat Company

 

[Jenners]

The link for the hood latch didn't work, but thank you for the manual

 

[winston1]

The link for the hood latch didn't work, but thank you for the manual

Interesting, it comes up for me.

IPC Illustration

Just trying again.

 

[murphy1244]

Interesting, it comes up for me.

blank screen here.