Bobcat Compact Track Loaders
The Compact Equipment Innovator Offers
Five Compact Track Loader Choices
History
At first, the Melroe Mfg. Co. only produced and sold farm implements — harvesting attachments and spring-tooth harrows. But an important meeting in 1957 with Cyril and Louis Keller would change the company’s course from farm equipment to construction machinery. The Keller brothers had engineered a three-wheeled, self-propelled loader, a tough utility machine that was great for cleaning out barns and stables. The Melroe management saw the potential immediately. They bought the rights to the product, re-engineered it with four wheels and 4-wheel drive, and introduced the model M-400 in 1960, which was the first true skid steer loader.
For nearly 50 years, Bobcat has been manufacturing skid steers and other innovative compact equipment for the worldwide market. Today, Bobcat has more than 900 Bobcat dealers in 75 countries.
From its North Dakota base, Bobcat continues to be a leader in the compact equipment industry with one of the widest compact product lines around, including skid steer loaders, compact excavators, compact backhoe loaders, compact utility loaders, telescopic tool handlers, utility vehicles, Toolcat utility work machines and the biggest attachment line on the market. In 1995, Melroe and its parent Clark organization were acquired by Ingersoll-Rand Co. — a leading manufacturer of construction equipment and industrial machinery with more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
Products
Bobcat entered the compact track loader market in 1999. For decades, Bobcat skid steer loaders had been equipped with over-the-tire tracks from third-party sources when working on muddy or sandy jobsites. But Bobcat designers wanted a better alternative, so they developed a loader with a dedicated track undercarriage, aimed at extending working seasons while offering superior tractive effort, low ground pressure and great flotation. Today, Bobcat manufactures five compact track loaders — the T140, T180, T190, T250 and the T300. Each of these units offers unique performance features.
T140
The T140 is the latest compact track loader introduced by Bobcat. It made its debut at the 2005 World of Concrete and CONEXPO-CON/AGG shows in Las Vegas, attracting a lot of interest from many different markets. The small dimensional size of the T140 allows it to get into tighter work areas than larger machines. Yet with a 1,400-lb rated operating capacity and 46-hp engine, this machine has the ability to lift and move significant amounts of materials.
T180
With its 1,800-lb rated operating capacity and a 61-hp Kubota diesel engine, the T180 provides superior digging and lifting performance while still offering low ground pressure — just 5 psi in a compact frame (only 76 in. high, 66 in. wide and 130 in. long). A 16.9-gpm pump at 3,300 psi generate excellent hydraulic breakout, as well as power for running attachments.
T250
With the power of an 81-hp engine, coupled with 18-in. rubber tracks that exert just 4.1 psi of ground pressure, the T250 is a popular attachment carrier and work machine. The radius lift path loader has a 2,500-lb rated operating capacity (at 35 percent of tipping load) with 21.2 gpm of auxiliary hydraulic flow, making the loader compatible with more than 40 Bobcat-approved attachments.
T190 and T300
The vertical lift capability of the T190 and T300 compact track loaders makes them popular for loading dirt and other building materials into high locations, such as reaching the middle of a truck. The vertical lift path is designed to provide extra reach at full lift height without any decrease in performance. The vertical-lift path loader provides plenty of power, lift and reach, making it easy to clear high-sided truck boxes and hoppers. It is also ideal for placing pallets of brick, block or sod.
The undercarriage of each of these Bobcat compact track loaders is what makes these machines so successful in mud, sand and other loose material. The undercarriage is driven by two powerful direct-drive hydrostatic motors — this
feature minimizes moving parts and eliminates axles and chains, say Bobcat officials. The two motors include internal tapered roller bearings to help carry heavy load
stresses. The undercarriage rollers and idlers are designed to ensure smooth track operation. Triple-flange rollers guide both sides of the track lugs to maximize contact between the rollers and tracks and to help minimize any detracking. The rollers are permanently lubricated and require no
periodic maintenance. The only daily or weekly maintenance required is to remove debris in the undercarriage to prevent packing.
Each undercarriage is designed and manufactured with an individual size rubber track. The “C” pattern of the rubber tracks is designed to reduce vibration, which enhances the ride of the loader and improves operator comfort.
The “C” pattern track also has a thick rubber wear surface for increased life.
Aside from its unique undercarriage design, Bobcat’s compact track loaders are also designed with ease of maintenance in mind. Key engine items are easily accessible by opening the rear swing-out tailgate, including engine oil and fuel filters, engine oil dipstick, drain and fill, air cleaner, battery, fuel injection pump, starter and alternator. Because the engine is mounted transversely, regular maintenance can be performed on most major components of the track loader fairly easily.
Advice to Buyers:
“Decide whether a compact track loader is the best machine for your jobsite. Look at the existing ground
conditions, applications, local weather conditions, trends and budget,” says Mike Fitzgerald, loader product
representative at Bobcat. “For example, working on a demolition site with a track loader may wear out the tracks quickly. We’ve learned that a skid steer loader with tires may be a more cost-effective choice for this application because of the amount of debris on a demolition jobsite.”
Contact Info:
Bobcat Co.
250 E. Beaton Dr.
West Fargo, ND 58078-6000
Ph: (701) 241-8700
Fax: (701) 280-7845
E-mail: infocenter@bobcat.com
Web: www.bobcat.com
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