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Bobcat 743 fair price?

G

Georgia088

Member
A friend of mine has a 743 bobcat that I am interested in. Hes had it for years and it has been a good one. Ive borrowed and used it a few times. He now says it won’t start. He thinks the starter isnt turning the motor over fast enough to crank but doesnt want to fool with fixing it. Cosmetically it looks awful. But I ain’t wanting it for looks. (I know he has used ether on it more than a couple of occasions to start.
He’s asking $1500. I havent fooled with it but know it very possible it could need a ring/piston/sleeve job. Is it worth this gamble? I mean surely if its just the starter then yes? Would it be worth it if I have to rebuild it?
Thanks for your input!
 
I'm NOT a Bobcat expert, but I'm gonna guess that one is a diesel, probably a 'bota.

Not to say it couldn't happen, but it would be RARE to encounter a diesel engine that has been running/working at least well enough to get by, but simply won't start one day 'cause it needs a "overhaul/ring/piston/sleeve job".

LOTS of other things that can cause a "no start".
 
My personal opinion is to jump on it! Even if the engine were ripped out and thrown away, you'd still have over $1500 in value there.

Some people want equipment/vehicles UNTIL they have problems, then they dump them like a hot potato....even if the problem is small. That's a good thing for some lucky soul who happens to find a diamond in the rough. Is this such a machine? You tell us. :wink:
 
The price is dirt cheap, if you know everything else works right. The engine should be a Kubota V1702 engine. The Kubota engines are very hard to start when the glow plugs are dead, and starting fluid shouldn't be used on the Bota engine since its a idi diesel engine. The rings, pistons, and bores are toast since it won't run, the V1702 if you do most of the rebuild yourself it will be around $2000 or so to rebuild it. The injectors, and the injector pump should either be rebuilt, or reman as well.

Some people will swap in a good used more powerful V1902, or V2203 engine from a refer trailer, but the flywheel, and the mid plate have to be machined to fit the V1902, or V2203. The V2203 is too powerful, and can burn the pumps up because of the extra power the V2203 has.
 
I feel the price for a non running skid steer needs to
be based on more than just if it starts and runs. The
tires for a skid can run $250.00 each. A hydraulic
pump can easy run up near a $1,000 .00 . And
does it come with attachments, or just a bucket ?
And is the bucket worn out? $500.00 just to replace
the bucket. Many things to look at and many
unknowns, if you can afford the $1,500.00 risk, hey
could be a good deal .
 
I have a 943, which has a perkins diesel in it, a friend of mine has a 743, pretty sure that one is a perkins as well, the vintage of these models make it likely a perkins, I could be wrong....
 
Wish mine had a Perkins instead of the Kubota V1702, it can be 100 degrees outside, and you still have to use the glow plugs when you first start it. Good machine for its size, Bobcat just chose a junky engine to put in it.
 

Assuming you don't need it to work right away or that $1500 isn't going to take away significantly from your right now operation then I say go for it! I bought a backhoe last year for $2500. Motor literally blew up on my way home. I'll still be in it right when I get a new motor, but now it's parked till I have the money/need to get it running. Not the end of the world, glad I bought it, didn't need it right away, would have been nice if it didn't blow a rod on the way home too. Oh well.
 
Well I have had 4 Bobcat 743 skid steer loaders. Good smaller machines. Contrary to what some have posted on here I thought the Kubota motor was a plus in them. The first two I had both lasted over 10,000 hours on the original motors. One thing is to keep the glow plugs in good working order or they will not start very well. IF he has been using either to start it then the rings/pistons are more than likely toast in it.

The third 743 I got had a bad motor in it when I bought it. I bought a complete new motor for right at $3500. That was about 4-5 years ago. I just looked up engine rebuild kits. You can get an OEM/Kubota kit for around $1200.

For $1500 I would jump on it
 
pt, you've got more issues than a KUBOTA engine, ours starts at 42 degrees F with NO glow plugs. Don't slam a descent product because of YOUR experience/possible lack of
maintenance!
 
(quoted from post at 18:10:04 06/07/18) pt, you've got more issues than a KUBOTA engine, ours starts at 42 degrees F with NO glow plugs. Don't slam a descent product because of YOUR experience/possible lack of
maintenance!
Click to expand...



I call baloney if you claim that a V1702 will start at 42 degrees without using glow plugs.
 
wow! Thanks for all the responses!
I haven’t seen it in a couple of years but using it is not my livelihood. I am wanting it for the many projects I have. As far as money goes, $1500 won’t break the bank, but I don’t wanna throw $ at something that I could buy one in working order that is cheaper than I could fix this one. I think the tires are in pretty decent shape.
Does anyone know how difficult rebuilding it would be? I’m pretty sure it’s the v1702 engine. My dad and I rebuilt our mf 30 industrial backhoe a couple years ago and love it!
Thanks again for all the opinions and advice.
 
You could probably part it out for more money it if turns out to cost more money to fix than what you could get a working one for. For a working 743 (or any other skid steer) around where I live your looking at $7000 + for one. Despite the Kubota engine its still a pretty handy piece of equipment to have.
 
Well I got it. I started a new post on the adventure that it will be to get it going. Here’s the link if you want to help!!!
http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/ttforum/viewtopic.php?t=1358219&sid=783b54d188d3c5761c133fed0e54f2ca
 
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