853 Engine Removal

[HMILLER]

I have two reasons for removing the engine from my 853 bobcat. First is a fuel tank leak and second is a phantom hydraulic leak that I have been unable to trace, even using a bore scope type camera. The hyd leak is in the area between the rear of the pump and the engine. The hyd fluid is dripping on the fuel tank and out the rear drain plug access ports for the fuel tank and chain case. Both the fuel tank and chain case plugs and grommets have been replaced, that is not the problem. I’ve also drained the fuel tank completely to measure the hyd fluid leak without any fuel leak contamination. The forward bay area and its drain ports are dry, so the leak is most likely in the rearward area. I’m losing about 3 oz. per day when idle, but not much more than that during operation. I’ve checked both the hyd tank and the inlet tube and can’t find any leakage on either. I’m looking for a way to leave the hyd system intact in the bay for two reasons: 1, Disconnecting all the necessary hyd lines will certainly cause some spillage and make discovery of the true leak more difficult. 2, If I can leave the hyd pump in place and full of fluid, the leak may identify itself after everything from the motor removal is cleaned up. Additionally, the engine has to come out to fix the fuel tank. From the info I that I've obtained on this model, removing the engine without the pump is all but impossible as the pump pulley needs to be pulled and the two bolts behind the pulley that attach the guard to the pump must be removed before there’s any chance whatsoever of separating the pump from the engine/pump frame. I’m thinking that cutting an 8” diameter service access hole in the side body would give me complete access to the pulley. There appears to be plenty of room on that side panel above the rear axle to do this and I can replace the steel into the hole and weld and refinish the frame side panel when the job is complete. There are only two other larger bolts holding the pump to the engine/pump frame that I know of (they appear to be accessible) and even though the short pump shaft is sticking through the guard hole I’m thinking that the engine would pull right out after all the other necessary disconnections were made. I have access to the correct engine removal brackets and equipment. Anyone try this before or any comments on this would be appreciated.