Bobcat 643 lapbar shock

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dendfish

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Sep 22, 2016
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The hubs is trying to replace the lapbar shock on his Bobcat 643 Skidsteer. Cannot find any help or instructions anywhere and a manual is almost inpossible to find . Needs to know welds and any and all other suggestions would be welcomed.
 

Tazza

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What work is he trying to do?
Im sure we can point him in the right direction to get things fixed cheaply.
 
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dendfish

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Sep 22, 2016
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What work is he trying to do?
Im sure we can point him in the right direction to get things fixed cheaply.
The lapbar will not stay in an upright position when he is trying to get out of the cab. He has bought a shock for one side since the 643 was not manufactured with one like the later models. Our local Bobcat dealer said it couldnt be done. We have since got the skematics so hopefully it will work. Being a smarty pant told him to use the cylinder as a prop so the bar didnt come down and hit him.
 

reaperman

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If I recall correct, there isn't a shock or spring that holds the bar up on the older machines. Either way, whatever mechanism is suppose to support the bar normally fails over time. The quick and easy fix is wrapping a bungee strap to the upper side of the roll cage through a few of the open squares. And let the other end hang down to hook the bar in place in the up position.
 

Luthor

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If I recall correct, there isn't a shock or spring that holds the bar up on the older machines. Either way, whatever mechanism is suppose to support the bar normally fails over time. The quick and easy fix is wrapping a bungee strap to the upper side of the roll cage through a few of the open squares. And let the other end hang down to hook the bar in place in the up position.
The 743 and possibly some 643's had a spring mechanism on each side to hold up the lapbar but it was not very successful, at least on my machine. I converted to a gas strut about 10 years ago and only just recently had to replace that original strut due to it not holding the bar up anymore. I will post some pictures of what I did some time in the next few days.
 
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dendfish

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Sep 22, 2016
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The 743 and possibly some 643's had a spring mechanism on each side to hold up the lapbar but it was not very successful, at least on my machine. I converted to a gas strut about 10 years ago and only just recently had to replace that original strut due to it not holding the bar up anymore. I will post some pictures of what I did some time in the next few days.
Thank you please post pics, even the place where he bought the cylinder wasn't much help.
 

Tazza

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Thank you please post pics, even the place where he bought the cylinder wasn't much help.
Sorry, i read that as labor, not lap bar....
The springs were a pain, but they did work wuite well. Parts did wear though, i had to weld parts up to take up the wear.
I used new springs as the old ones did loose tension over time.
Gas struts are a good idea, i have heard of them being used and worked very well. The struts are cheap and seem to last pretty well.
 

Luthor

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Sorry, i read that as labor, not lap bar....
The springs were a pain, but they did work wuite well. Parts did wear though, i had to weld parts up to take up the wear.
I used new springs as the old ones did loose tension over time.
Gas struts are a good idea, i have heard of them being used and worked very well. The struts are cheap and seem to last pretty well.
Some really bad pictures of how I fitted the strut to my 743.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01376_zpssayixj2h.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01377_zpsgxy6k7jv.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01381_zpsoknlclqu.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01384_zpsytpzjofd.jpg
 

melli

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Mar 25, 2012
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Some really bad pictures of how I fitted the strut to my 743.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01376_zpssayixj2h.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01377_zpsgxy6k7jv.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01381_zpsoknlclqu.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01384_zpsytpzjofd.jpg
Haha - I thought this thread was about someone getting electrocuted by their lap bar....silly me.
 

Luthor

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Some really bad pictures of how I fitted the strut to my 743.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01376_zpssayixj2h.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01377_zpsgxy6k7jv.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01381_zpsoknlclqu.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Luhtor/DSC01384_zpsytpzjofd.jpg
Can anyone actually view the photo's I posted above? I am having a problem seeing them myself.
 

Tazza

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Can anyone actually view the photo's I posted above? I am having a problem seeing them myself.
I fixed your links, work for me
DSC01376_zpssayixj2h.jpg


DSC01384_zpsytpzjofd.jpg


DSC01381_zpsoknlclqu.jpg


DSC01377_zpsgxy6k7jv.jpg
 

melli

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Mar 25, 2012
Messages
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I fixed your links, work for me
What year is this machine? Although a different model, my mini 463 (sold a while back) had the spring on both sides. I can't remember if it had a shock (don't think so). I just remember the sound of the springs when I lowered it. I also had a couple pics of interior to confirm. The springs look like they were attached to left/right front stanchion (where the hole is in your pic - looks like mine had a bracket there so it wouldn't bind on stanchion), then to a bracket on bar (probably what you have the bottom of shock attached to). Given you have a much bigger machine, they probably had both (shock and spring). My spring had a inside sleeve to hold it in place (like a MacPherson Strut). Probably doesn't help you much....
 

melli

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What year is this machine? Although a different model, my mini 463 (sold a while back) had the spring on both sides. I can't remember if it had a shock (don't think so). I just remember the sound of the springs when I lowered it. I also had a couple pics of interior to confirm. The springs look like they were attached to left/right front stanchion (where the hole is in your pic - looks like mine had a bracket there so it wouldn't bind on stanchion), then to a bracket on bar (probably what you have the bottom of shock attached to). Given you have a much bigger machine, they probably had both (shock and spring). My spring had a inside sleeve to hold it in place (like a MacPherson Strut). Probably doesn't help you much....
http://www.skidsteerforum.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=52&gallerypage=1&currentitem=0&path=463%20Bobcat%20Action! You can just make out the spring on one side.... BTW - Tazza - how did you insert pics? Did you insert html code?
 

Luthor

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http://www.skidsteerforum.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=52&gallerypage=1&currentitem=0&path=463%20Bobcat%20Action! You can just make out the spring on one side.... BTW - Tazza - how did you insert pics? Did you insert html code?
Thanks for fixing up the links Tazza, I never used to have trouble posting pictures, what am I doing wrong now?
 

Luthor

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Nov 15, 2005
Messages
179
Thanks for fixing up the links Tazza, I never used to have trouble posting pictures, what am I doing wrong now?
Melli, the machine is a 743 from the 1990's. They originally had a spring on each side of the bar that latched it in the up position, no gas strut on this model.
 

Tazza

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Melli, the machine is a 743 from the 1990's. They originally had a spring on each side of the bar that latched it in the up position, no gas strut on this model.
Melli - i right click/copy the image then right click/paste it into the post.
 
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dendfish

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Sep 22, 2016
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Melli - i right click/copy the image then right click/paste it into the post.
Ok guys I really can't see any of the pictures. I've tried several browsers, android,ect. No luck.So if anyone can email or use something else to view much appreciated. He hasn't got this lapbar thing under control yet and threw the thing across the shop.
 
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dendfish

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Sep 22, 2016
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Ok guys I really can't see any of the pictures. I've tried several browsers, android,ect. No luck.So if anyone can email or use something else to view much appreciated. He hasn't got this lapbar thing under control yet and threw the thing across the shop.
Yay, I can see them THANK YOU
 
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