bobcat 743b

dirtyb115 · May 7, 2012

Hi all. So decided the case machine i bought was going to take to long to fix up so ended up selling it and just purchased a 743b. Does anyone have any experience with this model? Looks to be well taken care of, pins are tight, paint looks good, bearings seem good, no leaks etc.. I did noticed that the machine does not turn off when you turn the key to the off position. I assume it should? Currently you have to pull the choke knob? to turn it off. Is it a choke knob? Other than that didn't notice any issues. Has 2200 hours, and got it for 6300 which i think was a fair price? Any advice on anything regarding this model would be appreciated. Thanks so much! Dave

OldMachinist · May 7, 2012

That's the fuel shut off knob and that's the way you shut down that machine.

dirtyb115 · May 7, 2012

OldMachinist said:
That's the fuel shut off knob and that's the way you shut down that machine.

Great, thanks for the info OldMachinist!

dirtyb115 · May 8, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
Great, thanks for the info OldMachinist!

Okay, so already have a question. Don't know how I did not see this when i went to look at it but there is a line that is capped off and not hooked up. Looks like it should be but the machine runs as it should. Can anyone tell me what this line is? In the picture below you can see the rubber line coming from the bottom of the engine that is capped. Then there is a steel line on the left that is just not hooked up to anything.

flyerdan · May 8, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
Okay, so already have a question. Don't know how I did not see this when i went to look at it but there is a line that is capped off and not hooked up. Looks like it should be but the machine runs as it should. Can anyone tell me what this line is? In the picture below you can see the rubber line coming from the bottom of the engine that is capped. Then there is a steel line on the left that is just not hooked up to anything.

The capped line coming from under the engine is the engine oil drain. Lets you position it right over a pan or jug before opening saving a lot of mess. Plus it would be inaccessible to get to the pan plug otherwise.

OldMachinist · May 8, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
Okay, so already have a question. Don't know how I did not see this when i went to look at it but there is a line that is capped off and not hooked up. Looks like it should be but the machine runs as it should. Can anyone tell me what this line is? In the picture below you can see the rubber line coming from the bottom of the engine that is capped. Then there is a steel line on the left that is just not hooked up to anything.

Rubber line is engine oil drain. Steel line likely rusted out behind engine and a rubber hydraulic line was installed in its place.

dirtyb115 · May 8, 2012

OldMachinist said:
Rubber line is engine oil drain. Steel line likely rusted out behind engine and a rubber hydraulic line was installed in its place.

hehe, feel a little stupid on the drain line.

Okay, thanks again for the info guys. One more quick question if you don't mind. Is there a list of non-oem fuel filters / hydro filters that will fit this machine?

OldMachinist · May 8, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
hehe, feel a little stupid on the drain line. Okay, thanks again for the info guys. One more quick question if you don't mind. Is there a list of non-oem fuel filters / hydro filters that will fit this machine?

http://catalog.baldwinfilter.com/

dirtyb115 · May 9, 2012

OldMachinist said:
http://catalog.baldwinfilter.com/

Thank you once again. I am wanting to put some metal tracks on this machine. I used to have a 763 and it seems to remember way more clearance between the wheels and the arms. I am worried tracks may hit the arms. Are the 743 and the 743B the same? I found a set of tracks from a 743 that i am hoping would work. Here is a pic of the 743b I have, does it look like clearance could be an issue?

OldMachinist · May 9, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
Thank you once again. I am wanting to put some metal tracks on this machine. I used to have a 763 and it seems to remember way more clearance between the wheels and the arms. I am worried tracks may hit the arms. Are the 743 and the 743B the same? I found a set of tracks from a 743 that i am hoping would work. Here is a pic of the 743b I have, does it look like clearance could be an issue?

The 743B had some improvements over the 743 one of which was the change to a two piece axle which allows you to change the axle seal without removing the axle.
If you put tracks on yours you'll need a spacer to bolt on the arm stop to prevent the tracks from rubbing the arms.

7LBSSMALLIE · May 9, 2012

OldMachinist said:
The 743B had some improvements over the 743 one of which was the change to a two piece axle which allows you to change the axle seal without removing the axle.
If you put tracks on yours you'll need a spacer to bolt on the arm stop to prevent the tracks from rubbing the arms.

old m never dissapoints. paint on that unit looks too good a 743b wont die unless you kill it. you might have found a diamond

dirtyb115 · May 10, 2012

7LBSSMALLIE said:
old m never dissapoints. paint on that unit looks too good a 743b wont die unless you kill it. you might have found a diamond

Yeah, I love this forum, hopefully one day ill be answering some questions instead of asking a million

. So... another question. I have searched and have been unsuccessful. Does anyone know the NGK or similar part numbers for the glow plugs in this motor? Its a little cold natured so thought i would go ahead and replace them.

OldMachinist · May 10, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
Yeah, I love this forum, hopefully one day ill be answering some questions instead of asking a million . So... another question. I have searched and have been unsuccessful. Does anyone know the NGK or similar part numbers for the glow plugs in this motor? Its a little cold natured so thought i would go ahead and replace them.

I believe the HGK number is Y103K but you can go to Napa or some other real parts place and have them look up the glow plugs for a Kubota V1702 engine.

Bobcatdan · May 10, 2012

OldMachinist said:
I believe the HGK number is Y103K but you can go to Napa or some other real parts place and have them look up the glow plugs for a Kubota V1702 engine.

How cold blooded is it? What is the outside temp by you right now? Here in WI it is holding in the 60's durning the day and a kubota should fire right up, the older actully start better then the newer ones. I wouldn't rule out glow plugs, but I don't change many. Kubotas are great engines, we do very little engine work. Two things with kubotas, they don't take overheating one bit, maybe once, after that it is head gasket or cracked head. The other is guys starting them in the dead of winter and no more have they're hand of the key and that baby is full throttle. They will score the center cylinders, oil doesn't get up there fast enough. Does it smoke at all or loose coolant? Other then a black puff on start up, kubotas don't smoke.

dirtyb115 · May 10, 2012

Bobcatdan said:
How cold blooded is it? What is the outside temp by you right now? Here in WI it is holding in the 60's durning the day and a kubota should fire right up, the older actully start better then the newer ones. I wouldn't rule out glow plugs, but I don't change many. Kubotas are great engines, we do very little engine work. Two things with kubotas, they don't take overheating one bit, maybe once, after that it is head gasket or cracked head. The other is guys starting them in the dead of winter and no more have they're hand of the key and that baby is full throttle. They will score the center cylinders, oil doesn't get up there fast enough. Does it smoke at all or loose coolant? Other then a black puff on start up, kubotas don't smoke.

High 60's here now. (ohio.) Sometimes it will fire right up, some times it has to crank for a little while. (Keep in mind i have had it like 2 days now and have only started it a handful of times.) It puts out some black smoke then pretty much goes away once its running about 15 seconds or so. It will smoke a bit when you increase throttle or under heavy load but again quickly goes away. As far as coolant, there are no external leaks but i have not had it long enough to see if it is using any, it is full right now.

Bobcatdan · May 10, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
High 60's here now. (ohio.) Sometimes it will fire right up, some times it has to crank for a little while. (Keep in mind i have had it like 2 days now and have only started it a handful of times.) It puts out some black smoke then pretty much goes away once its running about 15 seconds or so. It will smoke a bit when you increase throttle or under heavy load but again quickly goes away. As far as coolant, there are no external leaks but i have not had it long enough to see if it is using any, it is full right now.

The fuel make be leaking down a bit. Possibly a small pinhole in the return lines. Another thing is to check is pull the dash down and check the connections. The wiring is not really sealed at all and the terminals on the switchs corroid off. You could easilly have just a bad connction. Sometimes it will glow and sometime it won't.

dirtyb115 · May 10, 2012

Bobcatdan said:
The fuel make be leaking down a bit. Possibly a small pinhole in the return lines. Another thing is to check is pull the dash down and check the connections. The wiring is not really sealed at all and the terminals on the switchs corroid off. You could easilly have just a bad connction. Sometimes it will glow and sometime it won't.

I wondered about a fuel problem,, any easy way to check if there are holes? I also just noticed the valve that you can use to bleed the system, the cap is broken off. Who knows maybe it is not even closed right now? I know the switch is working, i can hear the solenoid click when i turn the key left. I have not checked voltages yet, but hopefully this weekend.

Bobcatdan · May 10, 2012

dirtyb115 said:
I wondered about a fuel problem,, any easy way to check if there are holes? I also just noticed the valve that you can use to bleed the system, the cap is broken off. Who knows maybe it is not even closed right now? I know the switch is working, i can hear the solenoid click when i turn the key left. I have not checked voltages yet, but hopefully this weekend.

Those knob are broke off half the the time. Cheap simple part to change. I have never notice if it was left open made a difference, the other half with the knob, half of those are open Never had a running complaint fixed by shutting it.

dirtyb115 · May 13, 2012

Bobcatdan said:
Those knob are broke off half the the time. Cheap simple part to change. I have never notice if it was left open made a difference, the other half with the knob, half of those are open Never had a running complaint fixed by shutting it.

Well, finally had a chance to check the glow plugs. First i made sure they were getting 12 Volts, which they were. Then i took the rear one out. Put the ohmmeter on it and it was open. Took the next one out, open, the third out, open. Then had to take the fuel lines off to get to the last one, and it was also open. Has anyone ever seen all 4 plugs go bad??? I guess it makes sense though, since i have had it, it will only start when it is warm. If it sits for more than 6 or so hours it takes for ever to start. Found some new ones for 6 bucks each from spark plugs .com Ill update if that fixes the problem. There is a good youtube video for showing how to get these out if anyone else has to do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8N1PTQ_HJc

bobcat 743b

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