743B Radiator cover

[HK1837]

Hi all, new member I am in Australia and have a 1996 743B. We just had a big storm and a big 8" limb off a 25m+ Ironbark tree broke off and speared through the radiator cover and through the radiator. I can buy a new radiator here or get it re-cored but it is over $AUS1000 for the cover and it simply isn't worth that much. Does anyone know of a Bobcat wrecker in Australia or have any other suggestions? The hole in the cover is massive, and once the limb went through it fell and tore the cover open like a tin can. This is a really low hour machine in original condition - I can leave it with the big hole but it looks really bad!

 

[[email protected]]

you don't want to leave it with the hole, it will get filled with debris non stop. don't really know anything in australia but up here in america you can get junked ones pretty easy.

 

[Tazza]

you don't want to leave it with the hole, it will get filled with debris non stop. don't really know anything in australia but up here in america you can get junked ones pretty easy.

I assume you got caught up in the storm in Sydney?
I had a machine that didn't have a cover, i got some punched mesh and made a frame from angle iron. Welded teh punched mesh to the angle iron with a few pieces to add strength so the mesh didn't flex, worked well.
Finding used parts in .au is hard, if not impossible....

 

[HK1837]

I assume you got caught up in the storm in Sydney?
I had a machine that didn't have a cover, i got some punched mesh and made a frame from angle iron. Welded teh punched mesh to the angle iron with a few pieces to add strength so the mesh didn't flex, worked well.
Finding used parts in .au is hard, if not impossible....

Thanks guys. I'm in Lake Macquarie about 1.5 hours north of Sydney. I'll have a look at some perforated stainless mesh and see what I can do. I should be able to do a temporary patch on the existing one with heavy wire mesh but it'll look really bad!

 

[Peterc]

Thanks guys. I'm in Lake Macquarie about 1.5 hours north of Sydney. I'll have a look at some perforated stainless mesh and see what I can do. I should be able to do a temporary patch on the existing one with heavy wire mesh but it'll look really bad!

Hi all Im new aswell, Im from Brisbane Australia. I just bought a 743 and i am after a mesh guard that goes over radiator too. Ive also have some questions for the bobcat pros...... Today I replaced glow plugs, battery, all filters and oil except for chain oil. Wanted to make sure i started off on right foot, 743 starts fine now (old owner used to use aerostart n jumper leads to start!) Issues i have, no gauges work in cab, i have to hold in fuse to start it, so gonna start by getting 2 new fuse holders and trying to get gauges and glow plug button going. But biggest issue, which it was doing when i bought it, the wheels want to walk when you start it or at low idle, unless you increase revs to 1/4 way then the 743 doesnt crawl at all but if you put idle down low it will start moving the wheels again and stall. The control levers are a bit loose (fair bit of play) so if you dont hold the levers in a certain position when starting, the bobcat will stall out. Im hoping its just a couple springs that need replacing or something. Also handbrake doesnt work, havnt looked at that yet. (Handbrake plate just flops around, no weight on it) Cheers for the help, the forum has been great help already servicing the 743. Thanks Pete

 

[[email protected]]

Hi all Im new aswell, Im from Brisbane Australia. I just bought a 743 and i am after a mesh guard that goes over radiator too. Ive also have some questions for the bobcat pros...... Today I replaced glow plugs, battery, all filters and oil except for chain oil. Wanted to make sure i started off on right foot, 743 starts fine now (old owner used to use aerostart n jumper leads to start!) Issues i have, no gauges work in cab, i have to hold in fuse to start it, so gonna start by getting 2 new fuse holders and trying to get gauges and glow plug button going. But biggest issue, which it was doing when i bought it, the wheels want to walk when you start it or at low idle, unless you increase revs to 1/4 way then the 743 doesnt crawl at all but if you put idle down low it will start moving the wheels again and stall. The control levers are a bit loose (fair bit of play) so if you dont hold the levers in a certain position when starting, the bobcat will stall out. Im hoping its just a couple springs that need replacing or something. Also handbrake doesnt work, havnt looked at that yet. (Handbrake plate just flops around, no weight on it) Cheers for the help, the forum has been great help already servicing the 743. Thanks Pete

the gauges probably don't work because of the fuse holders. mine were broken on mine as well. get two new ones and they should get voltage again. the crawling is the centering springs on the levers. flip up the cab and you'll see the adjustment in the linkage. you need to put it up on blocks to get it perfect.

 

[Tazza]

the gauges probably don't work because of the fuse holders. mine were broken on mine as well. get two new ones and they should get voltage again. the crawling is the centering springs on the levers. flip up the cab and you'll see the adjustment in the linkage. you need to put it up on blocks to get it perfect.

You don't really need stainless mesh, just mild steel will work, it's cheaper than SS too. Shame i don't have a picture of what i did. Essentially 3 pieses of angle, one along the back of the cab, two down the sides, flat near the rear door. Drill the required holes so you have a frame. Weld the mesh to this frame with a few stiffeners to prevent it sagging too much. You can also leave a spot open above the radiator cap to make filling easier.
Start with the fuse holders, but the connector behind the cab corrode. See how the fuese go, if it still doesn't work, look at that connector and jump what you need to.
As for the creeping:

http://users.tpg.com.au/tazza_/Steering Adjustment.jpg

 

[Peterc]

You don't really need stainless mesh, just mild steel will work, it's cheaper than SS too. Shame i don't have a picture of what i did. Essentially 3 pieses of angle, one along the back of the cab, two down the sides, flat near the rear door. Drill the required holes so you have a frame. Weld the mesh to this frame with a few stiffeners to prevent it sagging too much. You can also leave a spot open above the radiator cap to make filling easier.
Start with the fuse holders, but the connector behind the cab corrode. See how the fuese go, if it still doesn't work, look at that connector and jump what you need to.
As for the creeping:

http://users.tpg.com.au/tazza_/Steering%20Adjustment.jpg

Thanks Tazza. Wont have a chance to work on 743until monday, but got the fuses and holders today also bought a battery isolator to install. Also going to buy a breathable hyd tank cap, so it doesnt force the oil past the thread. Ive filled it up to sight glass but did notice abit on tank after used 743 yesterday, must of been from a bounce i accidentally did yesterday! Taz Thanks for diagram, my manual doesnt have that page, do u have a more indepth one?? I got my manual off the forum here. Ive gone from a jd400 backhoe to the 743, and am very happy with it atm!! Just need a backhoe attachment ü Cheers Peter

 

[HK1837]

Thanks Tazza. Wont have a chance to work on 743until monday, but got the fuses and holders today also bought a battery isolator to install. Also going to buy a breathable hyd tank cap, so it doesnt force the oil past the thread. Ive filled it up to sight glass but did notice abit on tank after used 743 yesterday, must of been from a bounce i accidentally did yesterday! Taz Thanks for diagram, my manual doesnt have that page, do u have a more indepth one?? I got my manual off the forum here. Ive gone from a jd400 backhoe to the 743, and am very happy with it atm!! Just need a backhoe attachment ü Cheers Peter

Peter I have a backhoe attachment that I want to sell. Needs some minor work, looks ugly but does the job. It is a 942 from memory.

 

[Peterc]

Peter I have a backhoe attachment that I want to sell. Needs some minor work, looks ugly but does the job. It is a 942 from memory.

Hi HK Have you git any pictures of the backhoe attachment? N how much do u would u want for it? Peter

 

[Tazza]

Hi HK Have you git any pictures of the backhoe attachment? N how much do u would u want for it? Peter

The service manual should have had that in it...
Look up my profile and send me an email, see what i can dig up for you.

 

[HK1837]

Hi HK Have you git any pictures of the backhoe attachment? N how much do u would u want for it? Peter

It is tucked away in a corner of the shed, covered in cr@p. I'll see what sort of pictures I can get. It is a 902 I think, has 2 x 300mm buckets (1 x new) and a 450mm bucket. It'd come with the bolt on attachments for a 734/743B. I bought it and the machine when I was building the house, I did the sewer/power/water trench with it (about 65m). It worked fine then but since has had on of the sideways cylinders leak (needs a seal). I'd intended to stick it on Ebay with a buy it now around $AUS2500 or so. Will be a mission to get it out of where it is too! I need the 743B up and running first to lift it out.

 

[Peterc]

It is tucked away in a corner of the shed, covered in cr@p. I'll see what sort of pictures I can get. It is a 902 I think, has 2 x 300mm buckets (1 x new) and a 450mm bucket. It'd come with the bolt on attachments for a 734/743B. I bought it and the machine when I was building the house, I did the sewer/power/water trench with it (about 65m). It worked fine then but since has had on of the sideways cylinders leak (needs a seal). I'd intended to stick it on Ebay with a buy it now around $AUS2500 or so. Will be a mission to get it out of where it is too! I need the 743B up and running first to lift it out.

Hi mate Have you got an email address i can respond to?? Also for taz n fellas. Ive tried fuses n helps start 743 better but didnt fix gauges so gonne buy a temp gauge n see what happens. Also wheres the hyd oil cooler, i cant see it, is it behind the panel above the engine?? The directly below the radiator?? Thanks Peter

 

[Tazza]

Hi mate Have you got an email address i can respond to?? Also for taz n fellas. Ive tried fuses n helps start 743 better but didnt fix gauges so gonne buy a temp gauge n see what happens. Also wheres the hyd oil cooler, i cant see it, is it behind the panel above the engine?? The directly below the radiator?? Thanks Peter

The oil cooler is under the radiator, you remove the panels above the engine to see it.
The gauges, they may be bad, but you can check that. There will be 3 wires on the back, +12 ground and sense. Check that there is 12V going to them before you buy a new gauge. The temp gauge is matched to the sender in the thermostat housing.

 

[Peterc]

The oil cooler is under the radiator, you remove the panels above the engine to see it.
The gauges, they may be bad, but you can check that. There will be 3 wires on the back, +12 ground and sense. Check that there is 12V going to them before you buy a new gauge. The temp gauge is matched to the sender in the thermostat housing.

Just an update. Have looked at adjusting hydraulics but think its more the bushes that are worn badly so ive ordered in new bishes for the sterring part of it (generaly where the steering componants meet the bushes are really bad. In the mean time im in process of fixing auxilary valve, sits at the bottom of the spool bank under seat and diesel tank. I cant get parts in australia, Was hoping you guys would know of a cheap parts plave in the U.S. Or elsewhere? The valve was leaking alot of oil so decided to pull it out to get it fixed, the front side of the spool is a pain to get at the back is easy tho.

 

[Tazza]

Just an update. Have looked at adjusting hydraulics but think its more the bushes that are worn badly so ive ordered in new bishes for the sterring part of it (generaly where the steering componants meet the bushes are really bad. In the mean time im in process of fixing auxilary valve, sits at the bottom of the spool bank under seat and diesel tank. I cant get parts in australia, Was hoping you guys would know of a cheap parts plave in the U.S. Or elsewhere? The valve was leaking alot of oil so decided to pull it out to get it fixed, the front side of the spool is a pain to get at the back is easy tho.

What parts do you need? They are all available over here... for a price

 

[Peterc]

What parts do you need? They are all available over here... for a price

Just to update you all. I fixed steering by replacing a few bushes in the steering. Also replaced the indent valve seals and fixed oil problem, bit now cant open 4n1 bucket can only close it...?

 

[Tazza]

Just to update you all. I fixed steering by replacing a few bushes in the steering. Also replaced the indent valve seals and fixed oil problem, bit now cant open 4n1 bucket can only close it...?

Has to be something simple, did you try changing the length of the rod that connects the steering lever and control block?
Is the steering lever bottoming out on any part of the frame or the hole the arm comes out of?
I was thinking it *may* be the detent balls