case sv185 huge dissapointment

recently upgraded to latest sv185 eh machine very similar to new holland l220 have been in industry 18 years owning many skidsteers including several bobcats and 7 or 8 new holland 160 170 175's
this unit is a huge dissapointment patetic ground clearence terrible rear visability THE EH CONTROLS ARE A JOKE DEALER HAS DONE ALL UPDATES AND STILL MASSIVE LAG IN RESPONSE NO FEEL AND TOTAL LACK OF PRECISION CONTROL trying to turn machine on asphalt is near impossible and working unit on soft soil or sand just bogs in terrible alternator bracket broke off unit at 46 hours and the selling point of tilting cab is a joke that might let you acess a few hydraulic lines but any work on or around motor is near impossible digging ability is poor WONDERING OTHER OWNERS THINK

aussie bobcat said:

recently upgraded to latest sv185 eh machine very similar to new holland l220 have been in industry 18 years owning many skidsteers including several bobcats and 7 or 8 new holland 160 170 175's
this unit is a huge dissapointment patetic ground clearence terrible rear visability THE EH CONTROLS ARE A JOKE DEALER HAS DONE ALL UPDATES AND STILL MASSIVE LAG IN RESPONSE NO FEEL AND TOTAL LACK OF PRECISION CONTROL trying to turn machine on asphalt is near impossible and working unit on soft soil or sand just bogs in terrible alternator bracket broke off unit at 46 hours and the selling point of tilting cab is a joke that might let you acess a few hydraulic lines but any work on or around motor is near impossible digging ability is poor WONDERING OTHER OWNERS THINK

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Why did you buy the machine if you think the way you do about them? Did you not do a demo?
Strange, I have heard nothing but good about that machine around this end of town.

I have heard from several that case really screwed up a good thing with these new ones. To top it off the nh clones are supposedly worse then the pos they replaced. The cabs are nice, really give the m series a run for their money.

Wow , did you not look at the machine or demo one before you purchased it? Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Most people i have talked with have loved the new alpha series. As for the previous new holland machines being "pos" i own 3 2010 L175 machines and a c175. Our machines are used in some of the harshest environments and i have yet to have a single issue. Sure they arent the best machines in class , but for the price they cant be beat.

I am not sure how there can be a lag in response. They can be adjusted to the point of looking at the machine will cause it to move. Does yours have the latest EH updates that allow the machine to be adjusted by the operator? I dont have that machine but I am happy with my TR320 although its a tracked machine, I am happy with EH system. Its very responsive. Power is certainly not an issue. Is your dealer trying to help you out? If not get on the CASE website and send them an Email, they will respond to you.

I have had a lot CASE skid steers and I really like the latest series. There are some things that could be improved but overall I am happy with it.

case sv 185 dissapointment

AlloaExcavating said:

Wow , did you not look at the machine or demo one before you purchased it? Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Most people i have talked with have loved the new alpha series. As for the previous new holland machines being "pos" i own 3 2010 L175 machines and a c175. Our machines are used in some of the harshest environments and i have yet to have a single issue. Sure they arent the best machines in class , but for the price they cant be beat.

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i never said the previous new holland machines were pos i have owned 7 or 8 of them just a pity they stopped them and bought out these pathetic replacements unfortunately unlike in the us and north america where a dealer will bring a machine out for you to demo on site in real conditions usually in australia a demo consists of a few minutes in the dealers yard and if your lucky a pile of dirt to play with i have bought over a dozen new skidsteers and excavators and only ever had one site demo and then only for a few minutes

KSSS said:

I am not sure how there can be a lag in response. They can be adjusted to the point of looking at the machine will cause it to move. Does yours have the latest EH updates that allow the machine to be adjusted by the operator? I dont have that machine but I am happy with my TR320 although its a tracked machine, I am happy with EH system. Its very responsive. Power is certainly not an issue. Is your dealer trying to help you out? If not get on the CASE website and send them an Email, they will respond to you.

I have had a lot CASE skid steers and I really like the latest series. There are some things that could be improved but overall I am happy with it.

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my unit has the latest updates it is the latest model and i have watched case install the updates yes it has the in cab adjustment however the machine is absolutely terrible to use massive lag and then when its sped up no precise control and nothing in between many experienced operators have tried to do precise final trim with this unit and all have said its the worst unit they have used
as for backup weeks go by without response or follow up from dealer and when i finally spoke to some one at case australia they basically said thats how it is and thats it so much for product support i still think they should bring back the l170 new holland they were a great unit
the eh controls ar not the only problem the machine can hardly turn on asphalt and just bogs in terrible in soft ground or sand ground clearence is a joke visability out back with that huge a--e end shocking maintainence axcess is impossible digging performance is a joke i have a ls170 with over 5000 hrs on it that will out dig unit and is far nicer to use

take it back to the workshop tell them to fix it and that u will not be picking it up until the problems are sorted out
best way to get it done fast as most dealers hate clogging up the workshop with long projects that are meant to be short

The Learner said:

take it back to the workshop tell them to fix it and that u will not be picking it up until the problems are sorted out
best way to get it done fast as most dealers hate clogging up the workshop with long projects that are meant to be short

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the dealer has done all they can one of their mechanics even said he doubts if they will ever get the eh control system right
i know case are having a lot of issues with the eh controls it does not seem right that they can put these units out there knowing the faults the terrible lack of response and communication from case over this unit is terribly dissapointing

aussie bobcat said:

the dealer has done all they can one of their mechanics even said he doubts if they will ever get the eh control system right
i know case are having a lot of issues with the eh controls it does not seem right that they can put these units out there knowing the faults the terrible lack of response and communication from case over this unit is terribly dissapointing

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If you know how bad case is and that there haveing a lot of issues with there eh controls
Why did you buy one?
Your whole thread sounds kinda fishy to me, LOL 10/4

lol

Danny Steel said:

Your whole thread sounds kinda fishy to me, LOL 10/4

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How did you come to that conclusion on Mr Bobcat's thread?

Danny Steel said:

If you know how bad case is and that there haveing a lot of issues with there eh controls
Why did you buy one?
Your whole thread sounds kinda fishy to me, LOL 10/4

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1- Had i known of these problems before purchasing machine i would not have bought it when the unit was purchased last september i was unaware of these issues
2- Your reference to the thread being fishy I am simply sharing my experience as it has happened using this public forum so that others may be aware of my experience and hopefully get a resolution to it
3-i am not trying to change your opinion obviously you have found great support with what you do however my experience with this unit has been very dissapointing
4- Have a nice day

I'm not sure of your EH control issues, but there is something to be said for the lack of bucket/boom power. Depending on what serial number range you fall in, you may have a smaller diameter lift cylinder than the most recent machines. Because of the near-horizontal starting position of the boom lift cylinders, there have been complaints of poor boom lift performance at ground level. The original machines were fitted with a 2.25" diameter rod, with the newer machines being fitted with a larger 2.5" (I think these are close figures.....I can't remember the exact measurements...let's just say "bigger") diameter rod. We had a customer trade in a 40XT, and after running the SV185 for a few days, wanted his old machine back (Case guys will know that this is absurd, as 40XT's weren't exactly known to be brute-force machines). It doesn't have EH, just mechanical H-pattern controls. I haven't heard from him since we made the swap to the larger cylinders, so maybe we made some headway for him. Hope this helps.

I will admit in a wheeled machine the E/H controls are not right, even when 'tuning' them. The loader functions are great but the travel just doesn't have a 'center' if that makes sense? I would hope CNH is doing everything possible to get it right ASAP but also know others haven't had smooth sailing with the E/H. I have heard what JCBiron said about the lifting and it solved the problem. I do wonder why CNH doesn't have a smaller engine that can go in the small machines?

I will say that back when the XT's came out I made fun of them and thought they were no good compared to the 1845's, once I ran one I never wanted to go back to a 1840/1845. The XT's did have some glitches and know the Alphas will have some as well but the rest of the machine is awesome, my gripe is more with the Tier 4 stuff.

stuvecorp said:

I will admit in a wheeled machine the E/H controls are not right, even when 'tuning' them. The loader functions are great but the travel just doesn't have a 'center' if that makes sense? I would hope CNH is doing everything possible to get it right ASAP but also know others haven't had smooth sailing with the E/H. I have heard what JCBiron said about the lifting and it solved the problem. I do wonder why CNH doesn't have a smaller engine that can go in the small machines?

I will say that back when the XT's came out I made fun of them and thought they were no good compared to the 1845's, once I ran one I never wanted to go back to a 1840/1845. The XT's did have some glitches and know the Alphas will have some as well but the rest of the machine is awesome, my gripe is more with the Tier 4 stuff.

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hi stuvecorp and jcbiron thanks for your comments
my unit has had the rams checked and measured and they are definately the larger type however the performane is still dissapointing if the unit is worked alongside our old ls170 new holland in identical conditions the old 170 outperforms it hands down

Having recently bought a new New Holland L220 w/ OTT I can't let the negative comments go about the Case & NH machines. Granted, I'm not a contractor, just a retired Civil Engineer who uses equipment on my property, including woods, so production is not a big issue, but before buying a I did a rigorous spec comparison & demo of a variety of machines. I chose the NH L220 as the best for me & as being the best in the 60 Hp medium-size class. Besides the NH 220, I considered a Case SV185, John Deere 318D, Cat 226B Series 3 & the CTL's JCB T150, Cat 247B Series 3, Terex/ASV PT-60, & Bobcat T550.

For cab comfort/visibility & ease of access, the single boom, side-access JCB is way out in front, but JCB put a hold on production of the medium-size machines during my search to fix some unspecified problem. Of the rest, the NH L220 had the best cab, access & visibility by far. Since the Case SV185 is almost identical to the L220 (they are made in the same plant), it was my next choice, but the NH has better boom & bucket breakout specs due to bigger cylinders than the Case. The JD was third best in the cab area, but its specs were weak & I did not like the removable engine side panels. The Cat cabs were bare bones & tight & specs were not as good. The Terex/ASV cab is even worse. The Bobcat was OK, but I couldn't find one to demo, & the dealer couldn't take any orders for them yet.

As for clearance, they all have about 7" to 8" clearance, except the Terex/ASV, where the clearance is about 12". You can help the clearance issue a little by opting for the larger 12x16.5 tires, or by putting on over-the-tire tracks. Since I work on wet ground, grass, snow & ice, I considered various over-the-tire tracks as well some tracked machines. If traction was the only issue, & grass wasn't involved, I would have gone for some steel OTT, like McLaren or equal. But since flotation & minimal damage was my issue I opted for rubber Trackmaster tread OTT's by Solideal/Camoplast.

I'm quite happy with my NH L220 w/ rubber OTT. I can go where a wheeled skid steer wouldn't dare, I have reasonable traction on snow & ice, & ground damage is not too bad owing to the tread pattern & the resulting about 5 psi ground pressure. I've left my EH controls with their default sensitivity settings, & I don't have a problem. In the woods the machine is particularly maneuverable. I have found that the machine will tip before the hydraulics begin to give up.

So, given your EH control & hydraulic complaints, I can only conclude that something is very wrong with your specific machine....or your expectations/requirements exceed the size of the machine you have.

Just for your comparison, my NH L220 configuration is:
- 2 speed, E-H controls
- cab w/ heat, AC, radio, shoulder belt, keyless start
- Air suspension fabric seat w/ heat
- block heater
- high flow hydraulics w/ on-off self leveling & glide ride
- turn signals/hazard lights
- inside rear view mirror kit
- outside rear view mirrors (own design)
- side light kit
- 4-pt lift kit (to get front tie downs/rings)

Does the dealer have another 185 that you can run to compare? Some guys have a harder time adjusting to the EH. There are many CAT C series owners that would prefer to have their pilot controls back from the B series. I dont have that opinion of the CASE EH, some guys are not liking it however. However the lack of power must speak to other issues. I ran that machine in AZ before they released and pushed a fair amount of dirt with it and did not have any power issues (it was mechanical controls). If you cant counter rotate with the machine without it dogging out, it has an issue of some sort. This size machine is the industry best seller (Bobcat S185) CNH is serious I think about putting a machine in this class that can dominate its segment. You need to get your hands on another 185 and run it and see if that machine runs any better. My dealer has one in EH, I will run it tomorrow.

KSSS said:

Does the dealer have another 185 that you can run to compare? Some guys have a harder time adjusting to the EH. There are many CAT C series owners that would prefer to have their pilot controls back from the B series. I dont have that opinion of the CASE EH, some guys are not liking it however. However the lack of power must speak to other issues. I ran that machine in AZ before they released and pushed a fair amount of dirt with it and did not have any power issues (it was mechanical controls). If you cant counter rotate with the machine without it dogging out, it has an issue of some sort. This size machine is the industry best seller (Bobcat S185) CNH is serious I think about putting a machine in this class that can dominate its segment. You need to get your hands on another 185 and run it and see if that machine runs any better. My dealer has one in EH, I will run it tomorrow.

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I totally agree with that. We own two Cat skids, a B series and a C series. I prefer to run the B series hands down. The EH controls just dont have the fine touch of the older style. It is annoying as crap trying to work around a building or in tight quarters with the EH machine. I think most have found that after a few days in the seat it does get better but not perfect. Im just guessing but it sounds like maybe you bought a little on the smaller side of the spec sheet or you have an isolated machine that has a ton of problems. As i have always heard from other guys, if there is a problem with a Case machine they will make it right. I would stay on top of them until they do. Nobody needs any bad press these days!

barklee said:

I totally agree with that. We own two Cat skids, a B series and a C series. I prefer to run the B series hands down. The EH controls just dont have the fine touch of the older style. It is annoying as crap trying to work around a building or in tight quarters with the EH machine. I think most have found that after a few days in the seat it does get better but not perfect. Im just guessing but it sounds like maybe you bought a little on the smaller side of the spec sheet or you have an isolated machine that has a ton of problems. As i have always heard from other guys, if there is a problem with a Case machine they will make it right. I would stay on top of them until they do. Nobody needs any bad press these days!

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the size of the machine is the class we require a ls 170 new holoand is a similar size or if anything slightly smaller yet this unit will do anything we ask of it yet the case working in same conditions will not
it seems that case in the us seem to care about customer support yet when i emailed case head office australia on monday all they did is refer it back to the dealer again my dealer is extremely frustrated over whole issue as well as me the lack of support or interest and the fact this has been going on since september last year since i bougt the unit new is the dissapointing thing i had hoped with a major name like case the support would be there but in my situation it has not been forthcoming

Has the dealer stopped trying to help you? Its the dealers responsibility to work toward a solution. If the dealer is saying were not going to do anything with it, it runs fine then in my view CASE needs to get involved and figure out a solution for the disconnect. I am sure CASE has product support people in Australia like they do here. That is who should be getting involved, but the dealer needs to start this process. Your post suggests that the dealer agrees with you?

Does the dealer agree that the machines EH controls are not working right?

Does the dealer agree that the machine bogs down easily suggesting there are other mechanical issues?

Again I will ask, have you ran another 185 to compare?