Got to demo a Bandit 2100 2wd with the Vanguard 35HP engine today. Way faster cutting than my 252! That's with the cheap teeth/pockets that come from Bandit factory. Don't know why they don't do more for the teeth. They cut pretty well, but both stumps (24 & 30") were fairly soft plum stumps.
The hydraulic steering was nice, just be careful not to run over your feet! Ground speed is really fast too, almost have to break a stride in high mode and fast engine speed. Articulating steering axle seems nice, though not sure how much advantage it brings. Anyone know? Controls were smooth, responsive, though the forward/reverse controls are backwards from Vermeer's. Took a little getting used to. Seems very solidly built. Bearings big and wide. Engine purred right along, smooth. Machine vibration was low too. Overall, nice grinder. Here's the things I thought could be improved.
1. Guard coming out above cutting wheel sticks about 1" too far forward. Won't clear the top of stump when you get down that far. Have to back machine up a hair to keep working way down. Seems funny they missed this one. Maybe you'd get used to it, but my little 252 doesn't make me do that.
2. Hydraulic levers a bit too close together, couldn't operate with gloves on. You know how at the end of each pass it's just a quick movement for both levers, can't do it unless gripping top of lever, levers not two fingers width apart, and no, I don't have sausage fingers. Looks like you could bend them all out a little.
3. They have these round guards protecting the hydraulic motors for each of the drive wheels. I'll try to attach pic's. Really get in way of chips moving underneath machine. Could also hang up on chip pile, but that wasn't much of a problem today. Maybe the extra protection for the drive motors are worth the tradeoff?
4. Engagement handle for cutter wheel has to be pushed forward to engage, pulled backwards for dis-engage. Seems backwards to me, if you had to stop the wheel in a hurry you have to reach way up towards the wheel and pull the handle back, instead of a quick, continuous movement forward. Also, seems like handle should be mounted closer to operator station. Puts you pretty close to wheel when engaging. BTW, the engagement worked great.
5. Throttle also backwards. You push to increase engine speed, pull back to idle, should be just the reverse. I'm comparing this to my Vermeer 252, but been plenty of times I was glad to shut her down without reaching out and having to pull back, just one forward motion to shut down.
6. Seemed a little low on torque when down in the dirt, but still much better than my 25hp Kohler. They offer the big CAT 34hp diesel w/ 72 ft/lbs torque, but it looks huge and heavy, also $7000 more than the Vanguard. The vanguard is rated somewhere around 55 I think.
All in all the rep was great, good machine. Would like to demo the 4012 like Bigstumps just got, just have to figure out where I've got to fly to see one. Closest dealer 5 hours away in southern Oregon, and doesn't carry the Kubota or 4x4.
If the pictures load the white machine is the one I demo'd and the blue one is the CAT diesel 4x4, picture from Bandit.
Anyone have any comments on how this machine compares to the Carlton 4012? What do you think of my observations for improvements to Bandit?
Thanks