I think your getting your machines confused Durallymax. I cant imagine the servicability being any easier than it is on the CASE. Everything is in reach very easy to change all the fluids, they even have drip eves that dont allow you to make a mess. Now if you are talking about the older series than I would agree. Also there is no plastic on the CASE. The CASE is steel and I have yet to have anything missalign. The NH version has plastic pieces on the cowling.
Im roping the Case and NH into one machine I guess. Now that I think about it I remember the Case not having the plastic. But I still disagree on serviceability on the vertical linkage machines. maybe I need to look at the bigger ones like you are running, but the L220 we had was impossible. Tall radiator in the back, tiny top cover on top. I'm 6'2 and could reach partway down the engine but had to get up on my topside creeper to get any lower but then the boom was in the way still. No access from the sides. No access with the cab up as the muffler blocks that hole. Starter and alternator both looked like royal PITA's. Inline fuel filter was not fun to change really either. I'm happy they made the cab flip on the NH, but with it flipping forward like it does, you still need to have the boom in the air to do anything comfortably. With our CATs the entire engine is serviceable from rear. I didn't mind that with our old new hollands I had to put my long arms to good use too, but the new ones just don't give you any options. The hydraulic tank on the CAT does block access from that side but can be swung out of the way partially without draining it, unlike a muffler that is scorching hot and rusted on. My favorite part though is simply not having to worry about always having the boom in the air. If I have a choice though I still put it up but at least if one of them ever dies It's nicer to work on with it down.
Give me one of your skids for a month to give to our guys scraping barns. They'll find a way to misalign something. I can't believe they don't have this one beat up more than it is. Smashed one pin retainer bolt off but thats all so far in 650hrs. I think the plate steel that sticks out just past the door at the bottom helps. They had the NH banged up in less than 100hrs. BTW it was the metal pieces that were twisted and caused the plastic pieces to interfere with the others. The plastic was surprisingly flexible though. They had the lights smashed out right away too. poor design there. The Bobcat and Cat ones are still intact.
Servicability to me means fixing any failure the fastest. Compared to the L220 we had, both the B and C series Cat's have given me the ability to perform regular maintenance quicker in many areas and should the need arise, major repairs appear to be faster as well.
The Cat's have their troughs for everything too. technically I think our old NH170s had a form of a filter trough down there, couldn't tell though. Most new stuff has them for environmental reasons more than anything.
A year ago we were set on Bobcat's, but didn't like the lack of service to back them up or the dealers commitment to the sale. A year before that we were just going to buy every LS170 we saw and keep running them till we couldn't anymore. Couple years before that I would've told you NH build the best skid steer and never would've considered the CATs. Ended up working out for now. Who knows, maybe the next set will be different, but despite the things we all miss about the NH's (controls sometimes, visibility, reach, and most of all the boom lock), these machines have been running very well and the service has been too good to go away from especially when listening to the complaints the others have about their dealers.
