743 steering update

[RH222]

I tackled the steering problem today. After careful inspection and studying the procedures provided by Tazza, I found why the right handle would not return to neutral and why the centralzing spring would not engage when the lever was pulled back. The pintle lever had only the upper lobe (or cam) in place. The lower lobe was completley missing. I tried to find the missing lobe by digging through the "goo" that has been collecting over the years in the bottom of the unit. I pulled out a lot of stuff but do not think I found the lobe. I may have to dig through the mess I pulled out and/or continue tomorrow to dig out the remaing stuff. In any case I feel I must install a proper pintle prior to making any attempt for adjustment. It appears that I need to remove the entire steering linkage before I can remove the pintle. -Richard

 

[Bobcatdan]

The way I go about steering. Pull it apart and figure out what is worn and needs to be replaced. Nothing is sold as an assemby, it is all pieces out. Once you have an idea what you need, go side down with a parts guy and get wath you need. I would even bring your old parts. Important: HAVE YOUR SERIAL NUMBER. I sure not everything has to be repaced, but if it has wear, it needs too. There steering is hard to set and keep set if there are worn parts.

 

[Tazza]

The way I go about steering. Pull it apart and figure out what is worn and needs to be replaced. Nothing is sold as an assemby, it is all pieces out. Once you have an idea what you need, go side down with a parts guy and get wath you need. I would even bring your old parts. Important: HAVE YOUR SERIAL NUMBER. I sure not everything has to be repaced, but if it has wear, it needs too. There steering is hard to set and keep set if there are worn parts.

I think they call them steering pucks. If there are flat spots, they are meant to be replaced. You can also flip the flat stops over, if they have not already been done. This will provide a nice flat surface for you to work with.

 

[RH222]

I think they call them steering pucks. If there are flat spots, they are meant to be replaced. You can also flip the flat stops over, if they have not already been done. This will provide a nice flat surface for you to work with.

OK, today I took out all of steering parts. Everything is very worn out. I will take all of pulled parts off to my local? (1/2 hour) bobcat dealer and see if thy have reasonable prices. I intend to replace all the lobes and the nylon rings that have serious grooves in them. When I am done I hope to have steering lingage with no slop. Nice and tight as a new bobcat. If the parts are unreasonble I may consider to make my own. At one time I had more time than money but now I am going the other way. I also go the bucket off the "bob-tach" which took quite some time as the lower wedges were rusted, and concreted in place. It took a while to realize that. All the work was done while the 743 was off the ground. It still is off the ground until I get all the steering parts and get it adjusted. -Richard

 

[Tazza]

OK, today I took out all of steering parts. Everything is very worn out. I will take all of pulled parts off to my local? (1/2 hour) bobcat dealer and see if thy have reasonable prices. I intend to replace all the lobes and the nylon rings that have serious grooves in them. When I am done I hope to have steering lingage with no slop. Nice and tight as a new bobcat. If the parts are unreasonble I may consider to make my own. At one time I had more time than money but now I am going the other way. I also go the bucket off the "bob-tach" which took quite some time as the lower wedges were rusted, and concreted in place. It took a while to realize that. All the work was done while the 743 was off the ground. It still is off the ground until I get all the steering parts and get it adjusted. -Richard

The nylon guides should be reasonably loose, you don't want them binding, but you don't want them so worn that they cut through and into the metal part in the middle of them.
To make the steering tight, you need to check all the other pivot points too. The rubber and metal bushings at the linkages do wear. There should be 4 of them. 2 at the pump and 2 at the steering levers. Also the bearings on the side of the frame that the steering levers pivot on.
There are a few points, but all can be brought back to pretty close to new.
I have done this on my 743, it was a fair bit of work, but i got it just right. I made the picks from 4140 and had it heat treated. I ground and welded up the stops with hard facing. They have not started to wear yet.