New Bobcat E27z mini digger

[Komatsu]

Unless you haven't had it serviced by them, then they'll probably wash their hands of it

All the dealers who I’ve delt with/spoken to about warranties etc have all said that as long as I buy everything (filters oil etc) through them and send the oils off to be be sampled by them, said they would stand by everything.

 

[GazCro]

All the dealers who I’ve delt with/spoken to about warranties etc have all said that as long as I buy everything (filters oil etc) through them and send the oils off to be be sampled by them, said they would stand by everything.

But outside of the warranty even if only just leaves it up to the dealer/manufacturer as to whether it costs you regardless. I'd like to think if it was such low hours and only just outside warranty they would stand it, but if not could you stand the machine being down while arguing over who has to pay for it.

 

[Komatsu]

But outside of the warranty even if only just leaves it up to the dealer/manufacturer as to whether it costs you regardless. I'd like to think if it was such low hours and only just outside warranty they would stand it, but if not could you stand the machine being down while arguing over who has to pay for it.

Personally, if it’s just an “O” ring I’d sort that myself, but, would make them aware of what’s happened, pictures etc, stuff like that has happened to me in the past and I have always been seen right by them next time I see someone. Sometimes the down time cost out ways them coming out and they can’t always get someone to you straight away, so if I can get it sorted within a hour or so, that’s what I do, I see it very much as swings and round abouts, and if the chips are down, that’s when I expect them to step up to the mark, which again, they have done for me on a number of occasions

 

[DaveDCB]

All the dealers who I’ve delt with/spoken to about warranties etc have all said that as long as I buy everything (filters oil etc) through them and send the oils off to be be sampled by them, said they would stand by everything.

Always service my machines myself after the first initial service, take extra time and make sure everything is spanking clean with no cross contamination ,always use genuine oil and filters by the book. The time I did have a engine go (big end bearing went)even out of warrenty, I got a FOC hire machine and full short block replacement and all transport/labour paid for. It did take afew phone calls to certain people high up in the yellow building but still it was sorted with no fuss.

 

[JD450A]

It did take a few phone calls to certain people high up in the yellow building but still it was sorted with no fuss.

I have been told by a few people that the yellow ones engine's are generally stood by up to 5000hrs (sometimes longer on the larger machines) if serviced correctly, even out of warranty!

 

[Gunners]

The time I did have a engine go (big end bearing went)even out of warrenty, I got a FOC hire machine and full short block replacement and all transport/labour paid for. It did take afew phone calls to certain people high up in the yellow building but still it was sorted with no fuss.

I have been told by a few people that the yellow ones engine's are generally stood by up to 5000hrs (sometimes longer on the larger machines) if serviced correctly, even out of warranty!

You were the poster boy for their owner operator campaign though Dave! I'm sure like anything its who you know but I've also found JCB to be pretty good on sorting issues within a reasonable timeframe.
This Bobcat thread isnt getting any better though is it And I'd have considered one as a potential replacement for the 8026 one day. But I think backup is one of the most important things to consider when buying a machine. You can have the fanciest machine in the world but if its broke down - theres no point owning it.

 

[Andy Gaffer]

I bought a new Takeuchi 2150r at the end of 2018, had a issue with the feel and controllability of slew function when using the stick at the same time, after a lot of emails, talks and 2 site visits with the engineers from Japan they gave me a full refund and took the machine back, the dealer I can't fault as they did as much as they were allowed to do under the guidance from the factory, Takeuchi themselves were a bit trickier to deal with but the agreed to refund me my money which that I can't fault.
I do believe that that model is a good machine but Takeuchi did not want to replace it with a new one, I tried a 2019 machine, with around 20hrs on it, which was fantastic to drive, I did suggest to them that I'd except that as a replacement but they declined my suggestion.

 

[DaveDCB]

You were the poster boy for their owner operator campaign though Dave! I'm sure like anything its who you know but I've also found JCB to be pretty good on sorting issues within a reasonable timeframe.
This Bobcat thread isnt getting any better though is it And I'd have considered one as a potential replacement for the 8026 one day. But I think backup is one of the most important things to consider when buying a machine. You can have the fanciest machine in the world but if its broke down - theres no point owning it.

Well yeah I did call the man who at the time ran the whole operation in India... it was then a simple case of ‘here’s this guys number, call him and it will be sorted’ thankfully I haven’t had to go that high up with anything since, everything has been sorted with no fuss, same goes with finning when I had afew minor problems with the cats I owned.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

One other thing I’ve had with this E27 is an occasional pulsing through the levers (quite a noticeable jolt in your hand) - I can’t make it do it and it doesn’t seem to affect any functions but it is odd and doesn’t feel right. Anyone know what this might be?

 

[Simon edwards]

Had a brand new cat mini about 4 years ago,10 hours in and the hydraulic tank split.The dealers response was as good as you could expect really ,after I refusedthe offer of having it repaired as it was a major strip down,cab off etc.a demonstrator was loaned until a replacement machine arrived a month later,they offered a slightly lower specced alternative which was available a bit sooner if I did’nt want to wait.I would happily return for another machine in the future on the back of their customer service.

 

[Regy53]

I bought a new Takeuchi 2150r at the end of 2018, had a issue with the feel and controllability of slew function when using the stick at the same time, after a lot of emails, talks and 2 site visits with the engineers from Japan they gave me a full refund and took the machine back, the dealer I can't fault as they did as much as they were allowed to do under the guidance from the factory, Takeuchi themselves were a bit trickier to deal with but the agreed to refund me my money which that I can't fault.
I do believe that that model is a good machine but Takeuchi did not want to replace it with a new one, I tried a 2019 machine, with around 20hrs on it, which was fantastic to drive, I did suggest to them that I'd except that as a replacement but they declined my suggestion.

I’m pleased they took it back in the end that’s a good story

 

[AusDave]

Where are the Bobcats in question on this thread made? Are they a direct import from Korea, or are various parts sourced from various countries and assembled in another one?

 

[Furniss]

Not great reading the Bobcat thread - I asked our local dealers 3 times for a quote for a new 2.7t and they have never got back to me - sounds like I got away with that one

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Where are the Bobcats in question on this thread made? Are they a direct import from Korea, or are various parts sourced from various countries and assembled in another one?

Czech Republic.
I don’t think the machine is as bad as it probably sounds here, just a combination of little issues and poor dealer communication.

 

[Jonnycars]

I have just taken delivery of a new E27z, I must admit I was a bit worried by this thread but so far I haven’t had any problems. Machine seems as it should, my one came with a hyd thumb, hyd quick hitch from Geith and Whites buckets. My only little issue is the geometry of the buckets and hitch combo. The ditching bucket will not go back far enough to straighten of the back edge of the hole in certain positions.

 

[Brendan]

I have just taken delivery of a new E27z, I must admit I was a bit worried by this thread but so far I haven’t had any problems. Machine seems as it should, my one came with a hyd thumb, hyd quick hitch from Geith and Whites buckets. My only little issue is the geometry of the buckets and hitch combo. The ditching bucket will not go back far enough to straighten of the back edge of the hole in certain positions.

Problem with majority of hitches and bucket setups. The whites hitch and buckets in my E10 has very poor vertical dig positions

 

[GazCro]

Problem with majority of hitches and bucket setups. The whites hitch and buckets in my E10 has very poor vertical dig positions

Can't just blame hitch and buckets though machines in this weight class are trying to achieve enough height to load wagons (even if on a small heap) so its often a compromise between crowd and dump angles or losing breakout force.

 

[Jonnycars]

Yeah I’d like to look at the problem a bit more once the machine comes off this job, I don’t know if it would be worth changing the buckets for a different make, cut off the mounting bracket and re-position or maybe it’s the hitch that is the issue! Pretty sure it would be better if it was directly pinned on but you can’t beat the speed and convenience of the hyd hitch 95% of the time!

 

[doobin]

Yeah I’d like to look at the problem a bit more once the machine comes off this job, I don’t know if it would be worth changing the buckets for a different make, cut off the mounting bracket and re-position or maybe it’s the hitch that is the issue! Pretty sure it would be better if it was directly pinned on but you can’t beat the speed and convenience of the hyd hitch 95% of the time!

Welcome mate, where are you based?

I have an E27 with Whites hydraulic hitch and buckets, to be fair the geometry seems OK, but as Gaz says it's always gonna be a compromise. How much did you pay for the E27z and how long were you waiting for it?

As regards angles, I can't really think of any machine I've driven where you didn't have to be in a certain position to chop down the back of the hole. I always just assumed it was part of good operating, make sure you've finished the back off before you dig futher and snooker yourself as it were.

I would never go back to a manual hitch, even on the E19!

My E27 is up to 900 hours now. Mine also had the fuel filter plumbed in backwards, as others had on this thread. I was constantly changing filters at silly low hours as the machine would start to bog. Studied the lines carefully, and yes, plumbed in reverse! I think there's a slight oil leak from the back of the hydraulic tank too. Oh, and it dropped all the oil from the tank due to a s**t hose clip- right next to a stream, a real brown pants moment. Again, a 'known problem' according to the mechanic- but the factory haven't issued a specific fix. So I now have two hose clips on there instead, and he kept my very technical 'two inch stick cut at an angle' that I chainsawed on site to brace the hose against the gusset- guess he doesn't have any faith in it either!

I'm sure there's been loads of other niggles I've forgotten about, but on the plus side despite a lot of the worst kind of work (grapple and rotator, riddle bucket, pecker), the pins and bushes at the dipper end are pretty good. There's a bit of wobble but I shim it regularly, and when I pulled the pins to inspect I could only measure around 0.03mm of wear at the worst.


@Monkeybusiness - how is yours holding up mate? What hours are you on?

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Welcome mate, where are you based?

I have an E27 with Whites hydraulic hitch and buckets, to be fair the geometry seems OK, but as Gaz says it's always gonna be a compromise. How much did you pay for the E27z and how long were you waiting for it?

As regards angles, I can't really think of any machine I've driven where you didn't have to be in a certain position to chop down the back of the hole. I always just assumed it was part of good operating, make sure you've finished the back off before you dig futher and snooker yourself as it were.

I would never go back to a manual hitch, even on the E19!

My E27 is up to 900 hours now. Mine also had the fuel filter plumbed in backwards, as others had on this thread. I was constantly changing filters at silly low hours as the machine would start to bog. Studied the lines carefully, and yes, plumbed in reverse! I think there's a slight oil leak from the back of the hydraulic tank too. Oh, and it dropped all the oil from the tank due to a s**t hose clip- right next to a stream, a real brown pants moment. Again, a 'known problem' according to the mechanic- but the factory haven't issued a specific fix. So I now have two hose clips on there instead, and he kept my very technical 'two inch stick cut at an angle' that I chainsawed on site to brace the hose against the gusset- guess he doesn't have any faith in it either!

I'm sure there's been loads of other niggles I've forgotten about, but on the plus side despite a lot of the worst kind of work (grapple and rotator, riddle bucket, pecker), the pins and bushes at the dipper end are pretty good. There's a bit of wobble but I shim it regularly, and when I pulled the pins to inspect I could only measure around 0.03mm of wear at the worst.


@Monkeybusiness - how is yours holding up mate? What hours are you on?

It’s only done 300ish hours - when we use it I do really like it but I’m still not blown away by the build quality. The paint is peeling off the bonnet where it has fouled on the counterweight, there is an oil leak coming from somewhere in the vicinity of the rotary union that looks a total nightmare to trace (so is being ignored for now…) and it generally feels a bit cheap in places.
However, it is fitted with a tilty that is in reality designed for a larger machine and it is predominantly used for heavy lifting/dragging etc, and I am constantly impressed in the power and stability it offers for its size. I wouldn’t be without it and would be interested to have some time on a competitor machine to see how they compare in terms of overall stability and power.