top five ctl's

[CM1995]

Jerry I don't like the vertical lifts for fine grading and that's 95% of what this machine does for me. I don't need a lifting or loading machine, already have those.

Also with the vertical lift there are more P&B's to grease and ultimately change out.

 

[ABruso]

The number of hrs. a drive motor will last varies a lot. Mine packed it in at 1350 hours on a CT322. To make things worse is it was a bearing that went so it made a huge mess throughout the whole hydraulic system and took 1 pump with it. Some machines are more prone than others.............

When I was looking around for someone to rebuild the CT332's drive motor, I spoke with a guy in Ohio who said he could do it for 1200$ to replace the seal. He said he had 5 of these motors though sitting on his counter becuase of bad bearings. He figured out how to do the seal replacement but he could not find a replacement bearing source.

How did the bearing breaking cause issues through the whole system? Was this bearing on the motor side? if so I'd guess it sent bearing pieces through the system?

 

[Shimmy1]

Jerry I don't like the vertical lifts for fine grading and that's 95% of what this machine does for me. I don't need a lifting or loading machine, already have those.

Also with the vertical lift there are more P&B's to grease and ultimately change out.

Hmmmm, CM. Now I'm curious. I've never graded with a radial. 773, S250, TV320, 299C, and now my T770. What do you feel happens differently with a radial?

 

[Canuck Digger]

When I was looking around for someone to rebuild the CT332's drive motor, I spoke with a guy in Ohio who said he could do it for 1200$ to replace the seal. He said he had 5 of these motors though sitting on his counter becuase of bad bearings. He figured out how to do the seal replacement but he could not find a replacement bearing source.

How did the bearing breaking cause issues through the whole system? Was this bearing on the motor side? if so I'd guess it sent bearing pieces through the system?

Yes, something like that............ Looking for a used motor in decent shape in case anyone hears of one (or two) Our dealer wants a small fortune for the motor, and along with the pump and few other bits and pcs. the machine isn't worth re building unless I can find used parts....

 

[CM1995]

Hmmmm, CM. Now I'm curious. I've never graded with a radial. 773, S250, TV320, 299C, and now my T770. What do you feel happens differently with a radial?

Well I'm basing my opinion on the older Bobcat models. Had a T190 and the arms were loose, not sloppy as I bough it new but not tight like 863G I had at the same time.

The arms on the vertical machines were positioned higher which limited visibility from the cab. Also there are more P&B's to grease and ultimately wear out.

The radial machines like the T250 seem more stable to me on the bucket end without the side to side motion I'd get from the (new) T190. Like I said above a CTL for me is a fine grade, demo clean-up, silt fencing installing type of machine. I don't need to load tandems or tri's or unload materials from flatbed trucks with the machine.

 

[pafarmer]

No disrespect to anyone but grading with either my 299 or 289 CAT is simple as can be and I'll put either on them up against just about anything out there. To say the vertical lift machine can't find grade is simply not true on these newer machines....they can load a Tri axle, , lift a small house clear off its foundation and fine grade with laser precision. ....I kid you not. You can't compare these newer vertical lift CTL's to something 10 or even 5 years old...they are two totally different animals....

 

[KSSS]

The sight lines on the radial lift machines are cleaner, no way around that. Example would be working around plumbing subbed out of the ground when preparing concrete pads is much easier with the radial lift machines. Both machines do a good job, no real difference there that I notice, but there simply is less obstruction in the way with the radial machines.

 

[JDOFMEMI]

I agree that the sight lines on a vertical are worse than a radial, but neither are good, just that one is less bad than the other, in my opinion.

That is why I build brackets and mount a convex mirror on each arm. I can see beside, behind, and down to the ground right behind the track with ease. It sure makes tight quarters a breeze.
Yes, I occasionally break a mirror doing clearing or demo, and it is easy to do when the boom is high enough you can't see them anymore, but that is a small price for the gains in safety and production by being able to see where I am going.

 

[CM1995]

To say the vertical lift machine can't find grade is simply not true on these newer machines....

I never said they can't fine grade, I said I prefer the radial machines for fine grading.:cool2

Plus the visibility is better. There must be a market for the radial machines or they wouldn't make them.

 

[JGibson]

You can't go wrong with either Kubota or Cat. Takeuchi makes a great machine but not a fan of radial lift. Never ran a Bobcat skid steer so can't say anything about it. Deere makes a good unit, but I personally hate the Cabs. The only brand I would not buy is Terex, and the new Case/New Hollands

 

[apetad]

 

[ih100]

View attachment 133334

Mustang dealer by any chance?

 

[pafarmer]

I never said they can't fine grade, I said I prefer the radial machines for fine grading.:cool2

Plus the visibility is better. There must be a market for the radial machines or they wouldn't make them.

Good point CM.....I simply look at my camera.....I would agree that someone must want them or they wouldn't build them..

 

[pafarmer]

Mustang dealer by any chance?

Either a dealer out someone starting a CTL museum...

 

[KSSS]

You can't go wrong with either Kubota or Cat. Takeuchi makes a great machine but not a fan of radial lift. Never ran a Bobcat skid steer so can't say anything about it. Deere makes a good unit, but I personally hate the Cabs. The only brand I would not buy is Terex, and the new Case/New Hollands

There is nothing wrong with the new CASE machines. I have two of them. They make me money. I have not seen anything that would give me reason to change to something else.