Hi all I am new here and I freakin love this site. Ok I am test driving a 743 over the weekend and it seems to be running hot. I ckecked debris under radiator and yes it was full, so I flushed everything with garden hose reinstalled panels and still warm. Now I noticed the thermostat housing had new bolts and gasket. I also noticed sending unit looked new and water pump had new looking silicone around edges., Im thinking someone else had problems and traded it in. I havent bought it yet . I am not afraid of working on it but is there anything that cold be major wrong such as engine?? This thing is very clean and mechanically in good shape. I just dont want to buy someone elses headache. If anyone can tell me more info please do, before monday ha ha
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What is making you think its hot? Gauge? Flames? Temp probe? Unless some of the others have some specifics I am with you thinking that someone else was throwing parts at it to solve the problem. Unless its cheap enough to make it worth a new/rebuilt motor I may be tempted to keep looking.
oh yah, the gauge is showing this. It takes about an hour to really get it near the ''H'' on the gauge and when you shut it off it doesnt really seem like its steaming hot , No antifreeze or steam blowing out. the gauge looks in good shape dont know if it works like it looks though. How much trouble would it be to throw a new gauge at it temporarily to try, will any gauge work???? Thanks a bunch
nobull1
Well-known member
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- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 196
I think you hit the nail on the head. It appears that someone had a heating problem that wasn't resolved and traded it. I would be real cautious about this one. IMO too many machines around to take a chance, unless the seller will fix the problem to your satisfaction.
Brian
Im back, I just couldnt take it. I pulled the thermostat out and ran it for an hour spreading gravel, not really working it real hard 3/4 throttle and the temp went up to the ''L'' on normal and stayed there for about 25 minutes without really getting any hotter. After inspecting the water pump more maybe it isnt as new as I thought but someone has deffanatly been in there before. Could this water pump just have broken fins or something not letting it circulate enough??? I really hope this thing will work out for me because its clean and in my price range. Luckily the dealer let me try it out so this means alot in my book,not very often guys will let you do that these days. Thanks alot for reading and sorry about the abundance of posts, Just trying to get opinions before I have to take it back, I'm sure the guy will want me to crap or get off the pot. Thanks again
I would seriously doubt the fins have been eaten off the pump, they are cast iron, not pressed metal. I personally would suspect the radiator is plugged up, its a pain in the neck to remove as its quite heavy but can be done. You said you used a garden hose to clear the fins, just how clear are they? i have always needed a pressure washer to clear ones that i have gotten that were plugged up.
As you removed the thermostat there is no reason other than the radiator for it getting hot now.
If its really cheap i'd grab it and get the radiator cleaned. If you are really worried you can change the water pump too, they are like $100. I would give it a real good dose maybe two of engine flush to ensure the cooling system is clean.
Thanks alot for help. I did more checking on this matter. I put a cheap gauge and sending unit on this thing, and with no thermostat it ran for 2hrs moving dirt at 3/4 + throttle and stayed about 175 degrees the whole time. I assume this should be ok. Next can I buy replacement sending unit and thermostat from anywhere except bobcat??? Maybe alittle cheaper elsewhere. Thanks aagain
175 degrees should be fine, my 1988 743 will run at 210 degrees on a hot 90-95 degree day. I have both the standard gauge, and a new temp probe I added myself, just to keep an eye on the temp
A New gauge and sender will be cheap. The gauge is about $30 USD and the sender is about $10 USD.
If you want to install an aftermarket one, thats easy enough too.
