need advice on buying a skid steer

[ladrhog]

I have the chance to buy a 1993 bobcat 753. Price is $2800.00 I have looked at it and it has a burnt up main wiring harness. The harness that comes around the back and over the motor. The alternator is also missing. Owner stated that it quit on a job site and was trailered to its current location. It won't currently run. It has sat for about 8 years under cover. The machine has 2700 hrs on the meter. Looks like there are no hydraulic leaks under the cab. It has 3 attachments for it. a regular smooth bucket with bolt on teeth, a home made grapple bucket, and forks. Is there a way I can hot wire the motor to confirm it runs? Does this sound like it is worth taking a chance on? I have plenty of time to get back to him but are there some other things I should look at? Thanks in advance.

 

[Hotrod1830]

When you say "burnt up harness", are you talking electrical short or fire damage? Is anything else damaged? Radiator hoses ok and full of coolant? hydraulic hoses burned? $2800 isnt a bad price if you can hear it run.
You should be able to at least power up the shut down solenoid on the injector pump and jump the starter and start it. You may need to bring a small can of diesel fuel with a small hose and supply fuel to the pump, but it should be possible. You may also need to jump the glow plugs for a couple seconds. Try and start it without glow plugs first though. If it starts without, you know the compression is OK. Do not spray anything in the intake to start it. Try to start it with the injector pump. If it starts, you know the pump and injectors are OK. if you try and spray something in the intake to start it, you may find out later that it wont run on it's own due to a fuel delivery problem.
While your trying to get it running, try and figure out why someone left a 753 parked for 8 years over a wire repair. Sounds a bit fishy to me, but maybe they where broke and couldnt afford to fix it? Just remember there may be something big($$$$) hiding in it.
As for the hydros, stop by the parts store on your way and buy a new hydro filter for it(look it up online. just in case). Take a pair of tin snips with you. Tell the owner that you are going to remove the hydro filter and cut it apart. You will have a new filter to install. Shouldnt be a problem for them. You may need to lift the cab, so bring tools. Cut it apart and take a look. You may see a few metal pieces here and there. A hydro failure will be obvious, as there will be chunks and shavings everywhere .

 

[Tazza]

When you say "burnt up harness", are you talking electrical short or fire damage? Is anything else damaged? Radiator hoses ok and full of coolant? hydraulic hoses burned? $2800 isnt a bad price if you can hear it run.
You should be able to at least power up the shut down solenoid on the injector pump and jump the starter and start it. You may need to bring a small can of diesel fuel with a small hose and supply fuel to the pump, but it should be possible. You may also need to jump the glow plugs for a couple seconds. Try and start it without glow plugs first though. If it starts without, you know the compression is OK. Do not spray anything in the intake to start it. Try to start it with the injector pump. If it starts, you know the pump and injectors are OK. if you try and spray something in the intake to start it, you may find out later that it wont run on it's own due to a fuel delivery problem.
While your trying to get it running, try and figure out why someone left a 753 parked for 8 years over a wire repair. Sounds a bit fishy to me, but maybe they where broke and couldnt afford to fix it? Just remember there may be something big($$$$) hiding in it.
As for the hydros, stop by the parts store on your way and buy a new hydro filter for it(look it up online. just in case). Take a pair of tin snips with you. Tell the owner that you are going to remove the hydro filter and cut it apart. You will have a new filter to install. Shouldnt be a problem for them. You may need to lift the cab, so bring tools. Cut it apart and take a look. You may see a few metal pieces here and there. A hydro failure will be obvious, as there will be chunks and shavings everywhere .

Good advise there.
There is no reason why you can't jump it, tie the fuel shut off solenoid so it will give fuel. Crank it by jumping the small pin in the starter. It may not start easily as the glow plugs will not work.
The price sounds right, i'd like to think you could get more than that if you parted it out.

 

[ladrhog]

Good advise there.
There is no reason why you can't jump it, tie the fuel shut off solenoid so it will give fuel. Crank it by jumping the small pin in the starter. It may not start easily as the glow plugs will not work.
The price sounds right, i'd like to think you could get more than that if you parted it out.

That is kind of what I am thinking. The melted wires were from a short in the harness. I will try to figure out how to jump it. The alternator is not even there. Apparently a mechanic started to work on it 8 yrs ago. I am pretty mechanically inclined. I am just worried about the length of time it has sat. I am going to go back and pull a sample of oil from the bottom of the crank case and hydraulic tank. The filter idea is a good one. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.