843 Rebuild or ?

TROLLCARVER · Aug 12, 2013

My 1984 843 with Perkins engine started burning oil this winter. Diagnosis is bad rings. Really do not know how many hours are truthfully on this engine (bought used) as you can run it without counter on and you can run it with only the counter on which I did and added 150 hours till battery dyed. Counter is at 2400 hours. Seems to be o.k. otherwise. Major non engine issue is Bob-Tach. Trying to get idea of value. Googleing finds prices from 6k up to 10 K but I only paid about that over 10 years ago. Need Idea of engine rebuild and replacement costs and cash price as is so I can decide to sell as is(price), or rebuild(Good re-builders are?) and then sell as I do not really need. Thanks

donald73d · Aug 12, 2013

I think the 843 is a great workhorse. Mine has a Isuzu engine. I assume the Perkins is a diesel? I paid a little under $6K 2 or 3 years ago in upstate NY and my Bobcat only needed a new seat. Everything else works and I think it has over 4400 hours. I am not sure how much it would cost to just re-ring the engine. And of course when you pull the head it could be more than just rings. I reman engine is not going to be cheap either. I would sell it as is to someone who can handle the oil burning (oil is cheap) or can do the work himself. I do not believe you will get your money back if you do any engine work as long as the engine runs OK. You checked the obvious like too thin an oil or too much oil? Burning oil can be worn bearings spraying too much oil on the cylinders (it should spray some) and the oil ring cannot scrape it all off. Compression test?

tndigger · Aug 13, 2013

donald73d said:
I think the 843 is a great workhorse. Mine has a Isuzu engine. I assume the Perkins is a diesel? I paid a little under $6K 2 or 3 years ago in upstate NY and my Bobcat only needed a new seat. Everything else works and I think it has over 4400 hours. I am not sure how much it would cost to just re-ring the engine. And of course when you pull the head it could be more than just rings. I reman engine is not going to be cheap either. I would sell it as is to someone who can handle the oil burning (oil is cheap) or can do the work himself. I do not believe you will get your money back if you do any engine work as long as the engine runs OK. You checked the obvious like too thin an oil or too much oil? Burning oil can be worn bearings spraying too much oil on the cylinders (it should spray some) and the oil ring cannot scrape it all off. Compression test?

I own 2 843s with perkins diesel engines. About 5 years at approx 9500 hours one of the machines got hard to start. A leakdown test confirmed that the rings were leaking compression. The engine also leaked some engine oil. You can still purchase reman engines but they are expensive imo. Around $6k plus shipping then you ship your used engine to them for them to determine if you get any $ for your core. I found a machine shop/mechanic to rebuild mine and it has held up very well. I spent about $5k for parts and labor. When you put that kind of money into an engine there are lots of you might as well expenses: radiator cleaning, injection pump servicing, injectors, water pump, exhaust, fluids, hoses etc. Parts are getting harder to find for these engines and for some reason are more expensive than other 4 cylinder diesel engines. As far as the value of your machine I would guess $4-7k depending on condition.

Tazza · Aug 14, 2013

tndigger said:
I own 2 843s with perkins diesel engines. About 5 years at approx 9500 hours one of the machines got hard to start. A leakdown test confirmed that the rings were leaking compression. The engine also leaked some engine oil. You can still purchase reman engines but they are expensive imo. Around $6k plus shipping then you ship your used engine to them for them to determine if you get any $ for your core. I found a machine shop/mechanic to rebuild mine and it has held up very well. I spent about $5k for parts and labor. When you put that kind of money into an engine there are lots of you might as well expenses: radiator cleaning, injection pump servicing, injectors, water pump, exhaust, fluids, hoses etc. Parts are getting harder to find for these engines and for some reason are more expensive than other 4 cylinder diesel engines. As far as the value of your machine I would guess $4-7k depending on condition.

I guess as long as you know it's using a bit of oil, that if you keep an eye on it, you can just top it off every time you go to use the machine. If it starts well and doesn't billow out smoke, i'd say keep topping it up.
I like my machines to run rite, no leaks and no water or oil usage but some times you can't control that without spending thousands on it. If it's just home use it really doesn't matter, if you rely on it for a business, you need to spend the money so you can depend on it.

Mikefromcny · Aug 15, 2013

Tazza said:
I guess as long as you know it's using a bit of oil, that if you keep an eye on it, you can just top it off every time you go to use the machine. If it starts well and doesn't billow out smoke, i'd say keep topping it up.
I like my machines to run rite, no leaks and no water or oil usage but some times you can't control that without spending thousands on it. If it's just home use it really doesn't matter, if you rely on it for a business, you need to spend the money so you can depend on it.

Hows the oil? not possible its diluted with fuel is it? Seems hard to believe the rings would be shot after 2400 hours.