Let's face it, maintenance isn't
something anyone likes to do. So if you
can do it faster with less effort, you'll
probably get it done and do it more
often. Bobcat loaders are designed to
make serviceability fast and efficient,
while others make it more difficult. You
can see the difference the moment you
open the tailgate. It all starts with our
transversely mounted engine, which puts
the majority of service items within
reach and easy to service. Others make it
hard even for simple maintenance checks.
On Bobcat loaders, you don't have to get
out your tools to access the maintenance
points; you simply open the tailgate.
This is full access. The radiator and
hydraulic oil cooler are mounted high
above the engine, which is turned
sideways or transversely mounted. This
allows you quick access to reach long-term
and short-term maintenance items.
You can easily get to the fuel filter,
alternator, oil filter, oil fill, dipstick,
starter, drive belt, AC compressor, and
battery. On the side, the hydraulic oil
check is in a convenient location. It's
clearly visible and easy to read. Let's
check out Caterpillars access. They've
mounted a radiator up high. However, their
engine is not transversely mounted, which
forces them to bury their maintenance
items into the dark abyss. If you remove
some bolts, you can raise the radiator up
which will give you some room to crawl
into those dark spaces. The starter is
not reachable, and the alternator is
behind this cover. The engine oil filter
is a full arm's length in, and it looks
like you'll need to use a strap wrench
to remove it. And to make some of these
other service points accessible, they had
to add a lot of additional hoses and
fittings. Now this creates the potential
for leaks. On the side of the machine, the
hydraulic oil check is a bit
difficult to see, and its location forces
you to look at it from an angle. So it's
not easy to get an accurate reading.
Caterpillar doesn't even come close to
the access of a Bobcat loader. Let's open
up the Kubota. It looks like we have a
radiator in the way. If you remove
three bolts, the radiator moves back and
tilts,but only a few inches. This allows
access to the AC compressor, fuel filter,
and alternator, but that's about it.
There's one thing to note here; if you
don't wait for the radiator to cool down,
working on this machine could be tough
not to mention dangerous. Plus, there's no
easy access to the oil filter or starter.
There is no sight glass on the side of
the machine either. It's located on the
floorboard inside the cab. And if I
wanted to add oil to the hydraulic
system, I would need a wrench to loosen
this cap. Now let's look at the Case and
New Holland machine. First, you have to
figure out how to open up the service
door. It's a to latch system, which is not
very easy or sturdy. Now, let's take a
look to see which service points we have
access to. Oh, just like the Kubota,
there's a large radiator in a way.
However, it does look like you have
access to the air filter, fuel filter, oil
fill, and dipstick. You can also get to
the hydraulic filter, but it looks like a
difficult and messy job to change it. And
if you want access to the oil filter or
battery, you'll probably need your tools
to take off the side panel. The hydraulic
oil check is difficult to find because
it's buried behind these hoses. It's a
good possibility that an operator would
miss that in their daily maintenance
checks. With Bobcat loaders, you can
service your daily, monthly, and long-term
maintenance items
because they're accessible. And you're
more likely to complete them when
they're easy to do. More uptime and a
better bottom line. Easy serviceability
is a Bobcat advantage.