753? 743? Instrument cluster

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Dieseltech

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Dec 11, 2014
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Hey guys! I'm a brand new member of this forum. A few years ago, I bought a used machine which had a fresh paint job and no serial number tag. This is the first piece of equipment I've ever owned and I absolutely love it. It has served me perfectly for the 3 or so years Ive owned it. The guy I bought it from said its a 743 or 753. I never cared much as it has been extremely reliable for me. He seemed to think it was from the mid 90's. Well, I've reached my first problem with the ol' girl. The instrument panel is in the top right corner of the cab and the ignition/light switches are in the top left. When I went to start it, I got nothing. No been, no glow plug relay click, no screen backlighting. It had been sitting for a while, so I hooked up my jump box thinking the battery was stone dead. I was wrong. It was fully charged and the jump box didn't change my symptom at all. The only thing that worked were the work lights. I got to tinkering around and when I removed the instrument panel and turned it over to check for corrosion while still plugged in (with the key still on) it came back to life. She beeeeeped and the glow plugs lit up. I started it up and it ran perfectly for about 2 mins. I was setting up the ramps to get her on the trailer and I heard that beep again and she shut down. I tapped the cluster again and it came back to life.... Same thing. Tapped and wiggled one more time and I got nothing. The backlighting bulb was not fully seated in the back of the cluster and it allowed water to come in and ruin the board. I've called my local dealer and they want over $500 for a new one and can't guarantee it'll be the right one. I e also been cruising online for days looking for a used one or a cheaper used one. I can't even find a pic that remotely resembles the one I have in my machine which leads me to believe that it may not be a 743 or 753. Is there a way to find a serial number from my engine serial number? Sorry for the super long post. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
 
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Dieseltech

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Dec 11, 2014
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I have a 743 does not sound like one can you post a pic so we can figure it out
Hey antfarmer2. Thanks for the reply. I'm not close to the machine right now. Should be heading over there this weekend. I'll post some pics as soon as I can. Lemme look thru my phone. Maybe I have something there. The cluster is a simple rectangle screen that sits in the top right corner of be cab. When its working normally, I turn the key (in the left hand top corner) to the "on" position and it lets out a long beep. If its cold out, the wait time for the glow I plugs is displayed. It also has fuel level, engine temp and oil pressure if I remember correctly. It's just a simple orange colored screen with horizontal bars that lift up for the levels and temps. It has a 4cyl kubota diesel (non turbo). It has auxiliary hydraulic hook ups in the front. Thanks for your time and attention.
 

reaperman

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Dec 18, 2011
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Hey antfarmer2. Thanks for the reply. I'm not close to the machine right now. Should be heading over there this weekend. I'll post some pics as soon as I can. Lemme look thru my phone. Maybe I have something there. The cluster is a simple rectangle screen that sits in the top right corner of be cab. When its working normally, I turn the key (in the left hand top corner) to the "on" position and it lets out a long beep. If its cold out, the wait time for the glow I plugs is displayed. It also has fuel level, engine temp and oil pressure if I remember correctly. It's just a simple orange colored screen with horizontal bars that lift up for the levels and temps. It has a 4cyl kubota diesel (non turbo). It has auxiliary hydraulic hook ups in the front. Thanks for your time and attention.
You can possibly tell by identifying the engine type. A 743 should have a kubota 1703, and the 753 sports a kubota 2203. There should be a tag on top if the valve cover with a engine info.
 

wbecker

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Oct 21, 2013
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131
You can possibly tell by identifying the engine type. A 743 should have a kubota 1703, and the 753 sports a kubota 2203. There should be a tag on top if the valve cover with a engine info.
743 and 743B have round head lights and the engine is in line with the machine, (not sideways).
 
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Dieseltech

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Dec 11, 2014
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You can possibly tell by identifying the engine type. A 743 should have a kubota 1703, and the 753 sports a kubota 2203. There should be a tag on top if the valve cover with a engine info.
Reaperman, thanks for the info. I'll get a look at it when I head over there this weekend and update the post. I appreciate your response.
 

Tazza

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Dec 7, 2004
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if it beeps when you start the machine its definetly not a 743
I second that. The 743 machines never beep.
Is the dash triangular with rectangular lights? If so, that is a newer machine, 753.
The other way to check is the engine direction, inline it would be a 743, if it is east/west with a belt that drives the pumps it is the newer style.
With that out of the way, check that the main fuse is not blown, even check the battery connections. Don't rule out the battery too.
Run a short jumper between the large +be terminal on the starter to the smaller terminal with a wire running to it. This should make the engine crank, if it doesn't, the fuse, battery or cables could be at fault.
Start with the easy stuff first.
 
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Dieseltech

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Dec 11, 2014
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I second that. The 743 machines never beep.
Is the dash triangular with rectangular lights? If so, that is a newer machine, 753.
The other way to check is the engine direction, inline it would be a 743, if it is east/west with a belt that drives the pumps it is the newer style.
With that out of the way, check that the main fuse is not blown, even check the battery connections. Don't rule out the battery too.
Run a short jumper between the large +be terminal on the starter to the smaller terminal with a wire running to it. This should make the engine crank, if it doesn't, the fuse, battery or cables could be at fault.
Start with the easy stuff first.
Hey Tazza. Sorry to keep you guys hanging. I've been trying to post, but it keeps coming up with an error message when I hit post. Anyhow, I did check the battery and connections. I also jumped the terminals on the starter and it does crank. I took the cluster apart and there was water in it from the backlighting bulb being popped out. I took a bunch of pics, but I can't get them to attach to the post. It does have a kubota V2203. It's a 4-cyl, naturally aspirated. I'm going to try to plug the cluster back in after being dried out and hope I can get it on the trailer and back to my house. I'll keep trying to post some pics too. Thanks for all of your help!
 

antfarmer2

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Oct 28, 2013
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Hey Tazza. Sorry to keep you guys hanging. I've been trying to post, but it keeps coming up with an error message when I hit post. Anyhow, I did check the battery and connections. I also jumped the terminals on the starter and it does crank. I took the cluster apart and there was water in it from the backlighting bulb being popped out. I took a bunch of pics, but I can't get them to attach to the post. It does have a kubota V2203. It's a 4-cyl, naturally aspirated. I'm going to try to plug the cluster back in after being dried out and hope I can get it on the trailer and back to my house. I'll keep trying to post some pics too. Thanks for all of your help!
You have to use photo bucket or something like it to post pics put it in there then link pics
 

Tazza

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Thanks antfarmer2. Will do.
I got the pictures, it is an earlier model 753/763 as it has the old style cab and an east/west facing engine.
Try starting it with the jumper, see if it spins over. It will not start if you don't hold the fuel cut solenoid in, but if it cranks it means your battery is good.
 
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Dieseltech

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Dec 11, 2014
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I got the pictures, it is an earlier model 753/763 as it has the old style cab and an east/west facing engine.
Try starting it with the jumper, see if it spins over. It will not start if you don't hold the fuel cut solenoid in, but if it cranks it means your battery is good.
Hey Tazza. I must have accidentally deleted that email you sent me. Who did you away to ask for a manual for my bobcat? I have a friend who offered to help me get my machine to my house so I can dig in to it and figure it out. I want to check the main fuse and some other things just to make sure I'm not wasting my time with the cluster.
 

Tazza

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Hey Tazza. I must have accidentally deleted that email you sent me. Who did you away to ask for a manual for my bobcat? I have a friend who offered to help me get my machine to my house so I can dig in to it and figure it out. I want to check the main fuse and some other things just to make sure I'm not wasting my time with the cluster.
Look up OldMachinist, he is the keeper of the manuals.
 
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