1994? I Think 743 DS weak drive very noisy

I recently traded out some work for a bobcat meldre? 743 ds it has a 4 cyl diesel engine that runs front to back (I think its a kubota) (I dont know a lot about skid steers but have been a linde forklift tech for some time) the back story unit had been sitting without starting for 3-4 years had some minor leaks and leaked out most of the hyd fluid. after a little coaxing we fired it up and runs good a little blow by but nothing major. got in to move the thing around and very noisy (cavitation sounds whining) immediately shut it down and checked hyd fluid, it was not showing on the stick added 3-4 gal and tried again. got the bucket moving and the boom up. tried to drive and vary little movement abosolutely no movement when the yanksticks are crossed up just scream. I got it on the trailer with a little pull from another truck and brought it home once home pulled off the trailer the old cat seemed a little stronger but still wont pull its weight up a grade wont push into a pile of sand. I assumed there was a lot of air in the system so i hooked up a hose to the bleeder hole on the drive pump and ran to tank ran it for about 30 mins let rest overnight and repeat i notice a little improvement but still wont move when the sticks are crossed up and very weak pushing into a pile or going up hill. I noticed hyd oil is foamy. where do i go from here. anyone have hydraulic schematic

What kind of fluid did you put in I use 15-40 others use 10-30 10-40 evan 20-50 it will self bleed with time do not run without fluid and take the brake off

antfarmer2 said:

What kind of fluid did you put in I use 15-40 others use 10-30 10-40 evan 20-50 it will self bleed with time do not run without fluid and take the brake off

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I cant find any brake i read on another forum that its right under the steering shaft on the housing behind the footpedals i checked everywhere under that shaft on both sides of the housing and never found anything. I think we put in an AW68. What does DS mean it also says melde or something like that. I feel like its a brake issue as a lot of the safety features have been disabled (combined with air in the system). I also dont see the port block that a lot of pictures on forums show. Can anyone tell me which hoses are on the suction side or where the system might suck air? Flow Chart? If this was an air problem would it make the drive weak and not be able to turn at all I just dont want to be chasing my tale looking for an air problem if its a bad drive the hour meter says 2800 hrs and looks original (same as other gauges) anyone know where/how to test the drive pressure. Sorry I know there is a lot of questions. Thanks for your help!

totaleq0111 said:

I cant find any brake i read on another forum that its right under the steering shaft on the housing behind the footpedals i checked everywhere under that shaft on both sides of the housing and never found anything. I think we put in an AW68. What does DS mean it also says melde or something like that. I feel like its a brake issue as a lot of the safety features have been disabled (combined with air in the system). I also dont see the port block that a lot of pictures on forums show. Can anyone tell me which hoses are on the suction side or where the system might suck air? Flow Chart? If this was an air problem would it make the drive weak and not be able to turn at all I just dont want to be chasing my tale looking for an air problem if its a bad drive the hour meter says 2800 hrs and looks original (same as other gauges) anyone know where/how to test the drive pressure. Sorry I know there is a lot of questions. Thanks for your help!

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On my 743 the brake pedal is right between the lift and tilt pedals forward on back off if it is not there see if there is a lever between your legs that it was conected to and pull it to the back do not like the oil you put in

antfarmer2 said:

On my 743 the brake pedal is right between the lift and tilt pedals forward on back off if it is not there see if there is a lever between your legs that it was conected to and pull it to the back do not like the oil you put in

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If the pedal and brake rod is missing you might have to pick up the cage to get to the lever

antfarmer2 said:

If the pedal and brake rod is missing you might have to pick up the cage to get to the lever

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Not sure what the ds is might be differant than my 743

antfarmer2 said:

On my 743 the brake pedal is right between the lift and tilt pedals forward on back off if it is not there see if there is a lever between your legs that it was conected to and pull it to the back do not like the oil you put in

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how does the brake work what does the linkage control on the brakes where does it hook up on the other end of the pedal would you recommend changing the oil and if so what would you recommend I see the hole for the lever to go thru but no lever and nothing within range of that hole that looks like a brake control anywhere i only put that oil in it to get it loaded and home it was all that was available. Thanks for your help

totaleq0111 said:

how does the brake work what does the linkage control on the brakes where does it hook up on the other end of the pedal would you recommend changing the oil and if so what would you recommend I see the hole for the lever to go thru but no lever and nothing within range of that hole that looks like a brake control anywhere i only put that oil in it to get it loaded and home it was all that was available. Thanks for your help

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antfarmer what usually identifies a bad drive pump? tell tale signs

totaleq0111 said:

antfarmer what usually identifies a bad drive pump? tell tale signs

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Let's not jump to the pump sounds like air in the system and a stuck brake to me......so the is no pedal can you see the two ears on top of the chain case that the pedal was?......... where do you live?

antfarmer2 said:

Let's not jump to the pump sounds like air in the system and a stuck brake to me......so the is no pedal can you see the two ears on top of the chain case that the pedal was?......... where do you live?

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Sitting in it the ear to the left will have a hole the ear to the right will be a slot

antfarmer2 said:

Sitting in it the ear to the left will have a hole the ear to the right will be a slot

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If you are where it is cold could be water in the chain case filled with ice holding you up

in the very front of unit is a plug this is the chain case check hole . fluid should be within finger reach. have drain pan ready I suspect when pull plug oil will come pourining out. if this be the case , youre carrier seals are leakining. should see axle seal leaks. and oil out the chain case breather. if this is the case report back, and we will go from there

7LBSSMALLIE said:

in the very front of unit is a plug this is the chain case check hole . fluid should be within finger reach. have drain pan ready I suspect when pull plug oil will come pourining out. if this be the case , youre carrier seals are leakining. should see axle seal leaks. and oil out the chain case breather. if this is the case report back, and we will go from there

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If it has been sitting for 4 years and is full of water and froze like I am thinking I would take the front part of the chain case cover off and see I did the plug when my drive seals went out and no way to be ready for how much came out

antfarmer2 said:

If it has been sitting for 4 years and is full of water and froze like I am thinking I would take the front part of the chain case cover off and see I did the plug when my drive seals went out and no way to be ready for how much came out

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drain down to level of plug . top hyd fluid half way in sight guage run unit a while DRIVING, does case level come up and resovoir come down?

7LBSSMALLIE said:

drain down to level of plug . top hyd fluid half way in sight guage run unit a while DRIVING, does case level come up and resovoir come down?

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We are trying to get it to drive first have not got that far yet

7LBSSMALLIE said:

in the very front of unit is a plug this is the chain case check hole . fluid should be within finger reach. have drain pan ready I suspect when pull plug oil will come pourining out. if this be the case , youre carrier seals are leakining. should see axle seal leaks. and oil out the chain case breather. if this is the case report back, and we will go from there

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Pulled the plug in the front ( in the 40 degree rain while my wife was screaming at me) nothing came out stuck finger in and couldnt feel any oil thanks for all the responses and help Im all about more info on this thing.

totaleq0111 said:

Pulled the plug in the front ( in the 40 degree rain while my wife was screaming at me) nothing came out stuck finger in and couldnt feel any oil thanks for all the responses and help Im all about more info on this thing.

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Also this thing will run and drive forward and reverse just cant handle any load if the bucket is up and theres no hill and your not steering it will go lol

totaleq0111 said:

Also this thing will run and drive forward and reverse just cant handle any load if the bucket is up and theres no hill and your not steering it will go lol

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Pull the front cover off and see what it looks like in there might be dryed up bearings

antfarmer2 said:

Pull the front cover off and see what it looks like in there might be dryed up bearings

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Have you found the brake lever yet