643 questions

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sorry to be posting so much. bought a 1985 643, needed a battery so i replaced it tonight. starts and runs great. the heat works. there is a black square knob in the top right corner, what does this do? there are two fuses at the top left. when i push on them the lights and wipers work. when i let it go they dont work. the lights are on all the time...is there a switch for them? i need to find a service manual somewhere if anyones got one.

 

[Tazza]

The Square knob may be the light switch. I know it is on my 743.
I don't know what your wiring is, or if someone hacked into it. It should be very simple. The fuse holders seem to corrode over time, you may need to replace the holders and fuses.

 

[lfutrell]

the knob you are talking about is the light switch, it is multi position so you can have the lights on without the rear one, I think it also has a dim position, as for the fuses the holders are just dirty give them a good cleaning.

 

[[email protected]]

the knob you are talking about is the light switch, it is multi position so you can have the lights on without the rear one, I think it also has a dim position, as for the fuses the holders are just dirty give them a good cleaning.

the lights seem to stay on no matter what position i put the knob. hmmm. i bought this with no manual or anything. these older machines seem to be a little more tricky than the newer ones.

 

[Tazza]

the lights seem to stay on no matter what position i put the knob. hmmm. i bought this with no manual or anything. these older machines seem to be a little more tricky than the newer ones.

The good thing is the older ones are more simple, you can iron the bugs out so much easier.
I wonder if it was re-wired to keep the lights on, that or something in the light switch has broken to keep them on.

 

[[email protected]]

The good thing is the older ones are more simple, you can iron the bugs out so much easier.
I wonder if it was re-wired to keep the lights on, that or something in the light switch has broken to keep them on.

i'm excited to play with it, it has such low hours. the backhoe attachment that came with it (907) has been sitting out for a long time, i hope it still works. it i wanted to add a beacon light, could i just tap into the light wire(s)?

 

[Tazza]

i'm excited to play with it, it has such low hours. the backhoe attachment that came with it (907) has been sitting out for a long time, i hope it still works. it i wanted to add a beacon light, could i just tap into the light wire(s)?

You can tap into the head lights, or even add another switch to the front panel. Heaps of room there.

 

[[email protected]]

You can tap into the head lights, or even add another switch to the front panel. Heaps of room there.

how hard would it be to change the seals on the backhoe assuming they are no good? i'm not sure they are, i havent even picked it up from the last owners yet.

 

[Tazza]

how hard would it be to change the seals on the backhoe assuming they are no good? i'm not sure they are, i havent even picked it up from the last owners yet.

They shouldn't be too hard, the hardest part is getting the rams apart.

 

[[email protected]]

They shouldn't be too hard, the hardest part is getting the rams apart.

i'm sure i'll figure it out. i noticed the coolant fill is empty. what kind of anti freeze should this take? i let it run for an hour today. it never overheated. i can't believe it is empty.

 

[Grampa]

In my 632 it is the light switch

 

[Tazza]

In my 632 it is the light switch

It really depends on what is in there now, you can't mix types. If you have never replaced it, its not a bad time to do so. Drop the bottom hose and let it drain out. Fill with water and run it to temperature. Drain the water to try and get all the old coolant out. Refill with your desired coolant and you are good to go.
Just a note on that, don't re-fill a hot machine with coolant. You don't want to run cold water into a hot engine, this is how heads crack. Let it cool and re-fill. Better for it to take a little longer than for it to be damaged.

 

[[email protected]]

It really depends on what is in there now, you can't mix types. If you have never replaced it, its not a bad time to do so. Drop the bottom hose and let it drain out. Fill with water and run it to temperature. Drain the water to try and get all the old coolant out. Refill with your desired coolant and you are good to go.
Just a note on that, don't re-fill a hot machine with coolant. You don't want to run cold water into a hot engine, this is how heads crack. Let it cool and re-fill. Better for it to take a little longer than for it to be damaged.

you know your stuff hahaha, thank you so much my uncle restores cars, he has his own spray booth and stuff. he offered to repaint it for me. does anyone have any idea what paint codes to get? i am unsure what brand he prefers for paint (ppg, sherwin williams) but if anyone had any insight to what they have used

 

[Tazza]

you know your stuff hahaha, thank you so much my uncle restores cars, he has his own spray booth and stuff. he offered to repaint it for me. does anyone have any idea what paint codes to get? i am unsure what brand he prefers for paint (ppg, sherwin williams) but if anyone had any insight to what they have used

Wish mine would do it too. I am in the process of doing my 753. I just use standard black and white, i got the orange colour matched. It makes it look a whole lot better, but the prep and over spray is murder.... Its slowly getting there. Make sure you take before and after pictures

 

[[email protected]]

Wish mine would do it too. I am in the process of doing my 753. I just use standard black and white, i got the orange colour matched. It makes it look a whole lot better, but the prep and over spray is murder.... Its slowly getting there. Make sure you take before and after pictures

i will definetly do that . i just went to try and take the snow bucket off that i believe has been on it for a few years, and it wouldn't budge. once the rain stops i will go try again. the levers move fine. i hope this is not a problem.

 

[Tazza]

i will definetly do that . i just went to try and take the snow bucket off that i believe has been on it for a few years, and it wouldn't budge. once the rain stops i will go try again. the levers move fine. i hope this is not a problem.

The levers move, but are they pulling up the wedge in the bobtach? Ensure they are moving, if not, you will have to try and knock them up and out of the bucket mounting holes. They can get rather tight....

 

[[email protected]]

The levers move, but are they pulling up the wedge in the bobtach? Ensure they are moving, if not, you will have to try and knock them up and out of the bucket mounting holes. They can get rather tight....

i havent had a chance to check yet. i'm sure i'll get it off

 

[[email protected]]

i havent had a chance to check yet. i'm sure i'll get it off

i got the bucket off is it possible to install rear stabilizers on an older 643? i don't think it has the aux hydraulics to run it, but it would be nice.

 

[lfutrell]

i got the bucket off is it possible to install rear stabilizers on an older 643? i don't think it has the aux hydraulics to run it, but it would be nice.

Look at your valve body. My 643 has 4 spools, one for lift, one for tilt, one for aux, and one that has no linkage hooked to it however it is already piped to the rear of the machine, it stops in the engine compartment with plugs on the lines, I think the stabilizer kit comes with all of the linkage to hook to the spool, Be sure to check the valve body because they put several different ones on the 643 and all of them don't have the extra spool.