Considering a Bobcat 753

[shawnc]

I'm thinking about buying a used skid steer for my personal home/farm use. I've been planning to upgrade to a newer 4wd tractor with a loader, but since we are doing quite a bit of landscape work (pond maintenance, limestone hauling, garden and dirt work, etc.) as well as a fairly extensive house remodel (tearing off and rebuilding garage and an older addon to the house), I wonder if I might be better off just keeping my old tractor and buying a bobcat. Anyway, I've run across a 2001 model 753 which I haven't seen in person yet but the guy says it has new tires and doesn't leak anything. The only issues he mentioned is the joystick linkage is sloppy and needs to be replaced, and it has very high hours (9,000). I'll ask more about the history of this machine, but I wonder if I should even consider it due to the hours. He's asking $8,000. I appreciate whatever advice you may have to offer.

 

[Tazza]

I guess it depends if those are true hours or not. If they are true, i doubt its the original engine. If the hour meter didn't work, it could tick over registering higher hours than it really has.
If you have a look at it, see hwo it starts with a dead cold engine. It should fire right up and the smoke should clear up quite quickly. See how the power is, see if you can spin the wheels in dirt pushing up against a tree or load of dirt. Check for pivot point wear too.

 

[[email protected]]

I guess it depends if those are true hours or not. If they are true, i doubt its the original engine. If the hour meter didn't work, it could tick over registering higher hours than it really has.
If you have a look at it, see hwo it starts with a dead cold engine. It should fire right up and the smoke should clear up quite quickly. See how the power is, see if you can spin the wheels in dirt pushing up against a tree or load of dirt. Check for pivot point wear too.

i think you can do better

 

[donald73d]

i think you can do better

I think a Bobcat is handier than a tractor for many tasks. The hour meter is only powered if there is hydraulic pressure, not just having the key on. I suppose anything is possible but hard to figure how an hour meter would be too high. Thats a high price for that many hours. The hours would not scare me too much since you are not in the business and your livelihood does not depend upon it working and running properly every day. Make a low ball offer and leave your phone number.

 

[shawnc]

I think a Bobcat is handier than a tractor for many tasks. The hour meter is only powered if there is hydraulic pressure, not just having the key on. I suppose anything is possible but hard to figure how an hour meter would be too high. Thats a high price for that many hours. The hours would not scare me too much since you are not in the business and your livelihood does not depend upon it working and running properly every day. Make a low ball offer and leave your phone number.

Thanks, it seemed a little high to me also. Reading through other forum posts, it looks like maintenance costs are pretty high due to the complexity of these machines (especially compared to a tractor), so I would need to keep that in mind as well.