Its done. Painted 743

[Mikefromcny]

Finally finished applying stickers today. What you see are the $15 decal set from ebay...it sucks, maybe someone makes more "correct" decal set or the dealer has the right ones, they did inspire me to paint it though. When I bought it last year, the previous owner bought the decals with the intention on painting it. I wanted to paint it and to have something nice to look at in the garage this winter. Then I couldnt say no and bought the 873. I used bobcat paint as well. Any questions, comments feel free

 

[mahans7]

Mike, that is amazing. My 743 looks worse than yours used to look but I think you have inspired me to paint mine. Could you give us some details like how you prepped the surface, what equipment you used to paint it with etc. Do you have other pictures of the process. I'm dying to hear about it. It is dumbfounding what you have done! Are you sure your gong to sell it? Ed

 

[SkidRoe]

Wow, looks great, nicely done. Almost too pretty to use.... LoL. I just bought a set of $50 decals off of eBay for the 440B. If they look anything like the pictures in the listing, they should look pretty good. I bought them from a seller that goes by "discounteddecals". I didn't price the kit from the dealer, but they wanted $10 for a modern white Bobcat decal and $15 each for modern black decals. I was afraid to ask what the kit sold for.

 

[SkidRoe]

Wow, looks great, nicely done. Almost too pretty to use.... LoL. I just bought a set of $50 decals off of eBay for the 440B. If they look anything like the pictures in the listing, they should look pretty good. I bought them from a seller that goes by "discounteddecals". I didn't price the kit from the dealer, but they wanted $10 for a modern white Bobcat decal and $15 each for modern black decals. I was afraid to ask what the kit sold for.

I have started to irradicate the rust on the 440, giving it the rattle can treatment for now. I want it to look respectable, but I don't want to be afraid to use it either. For surface prep, I have been using a needle scaler, belt sander, and an orbital sander, usually in that order, feathering the edges of the original paint. I was actually pretty surprised at the results that I was able to achieve, especially considering how rusty it was from spending years on the manure pile.

 

[Mikefromcny]

Wow, looks great, nicely done. Almost too pretty to use.... LoL. I just bought a set of $50 decals off of eBay for the 440B. If they look anything like the pictures in the listing, they should look pretty good. I bought them from a seller that goes by "discounteddecals". I didn't price the kit from the dealer, but they wanted $10 for a modern white Bobcat decal and $15 each for modern black decals. I was afraid to ask what the kit sold for.

I may put a high price on it so it doesnt sell lol....maybe sell my JD 720 tractor and crawler loaders. If the 873 didnt wipe out my savings I would be a lot more tempted to keep it but I could really use the money for other "deals" lol. Prep: Any of the deep gouges in the metal were hit with a flap wheel on an angle grinder to remove the high spots. I scuffed any of the hard to get to areas with a piece of 140 grit sandpaper to get the paint some tooth. Any of the large flat spots were sanded smooth with a pneumatic vibratory sander...$1 and the local fleet market, probably 50 years old LOL. Used a sears craftsman HVLP gun the spray it. Bare metal was hit with rusoleum automotive quality primer. I have a few pics though the process I'll post when I get some time..gotta go see a movie with the girlfriend who said it "looked like a bobcat"....women! Fwiw, it was painted outside, and breezy lol

 

[donald73d]

I may put a high price on it so it doesnt sell lol....maybe sell my JD 720 tractor and crawler loaders. If the 873 didnt wipe out my savings I would be a lot more tempted to keep it but I could really use the money for other "deals" lol. Prep: Any of the deep gouges in the metal were hit with a flap wheel on an angle grinder to remove the high spots. I scuffed any of the hard to get to areas with a piece of 140 grit sandpaper to get the paint some tooth. Any of the large flat spots were sanded smooth with a pneumatic vibratory sander...$1 and the local fleet market, probably 50 years old LOL. Used a sears craftsman HVLP gun the spray it. Bare metal was hit with rusoleum automotive quality primer. I have a few pics though the process I'll post when I get some time..gotta go see a movie with the girlfriend who said it "looked like a bobcat"....women! Fwiw, it was painted outside, and breezy lol

Looks great. How many hours did it take? Where are you located so I can drop mine off? Are you in NY?

 

[mahans7]

Looks great. How many hours did it take? Where are you located so I can drop mine off? Are you in NY?

Hold on now, I commented 1st so that should give me 1st dibbs on dropping mine off. I don't even care where Mike's located, although Alaska would be a stretch. Hmmm......

 

[Mikefromcny]

Hold on now, I commented 1st so that should give me 1st dibbs on dropping mine off. I don't even care where Mike's located, although Alaska would be a stretch. Hmmm......

Where are you 2 guys located? I'm about 20 mins south of Syracuse, in the corn fields of rural NY...never have been to NYC. I think I have about 30-35 hours invested. 3 cans of white, 2 of orange and 1 of charcoal grey. Keep in mind now the only reason I painted it was it came with stickers when I bought it, and no one would put new stickers on a ratty machine! Would I do it again? probably. I was really rushed to get this done since winter is coming soon and we had tons of rain.

 

[mahans7]

Where are you 2 guys located? I'm about 20 mins south of Syracuse, in the corn fields of rural NY...never have been to NYC. I think I have about 30-35 hours invested. 3 cans of white, 2 of orange and 1 of charcoal grey. Keep in mind now the only reason I painted it was it came with stickers when I bought it, and no one would put new stickers on a ratty machine! Would I do it again? probably. I was really rushed to get this done since winter is coming soon and we had tons of rain.

Mike, I'm in Birmingham Al where it only snows once every 2-3 years but I'll be ready the next time.

Judging by the results of your paint job I knew you put a lot of time in. But one of these days I'm going to paint mine too and if it looks 1/2 as good as yours I'd be happy. (new stickers on a rusty old machine, that would be a sight to behold) Ed

 

[wings5j]

Mike, I'm in Birmingham Al where it only snows once every 2-3 years but I'll be ready the next time.

Judging by the results of your paint job I knew you put a lot of time in. But one of these days I'm going to paint mine too and if it looks 1/2 as good as yours I'd be happy. (new stickers on a rusty old machine, that would be a sight to behold) Ed

Mike,
I just wanted to add my congratulations. Your machine looks like new again. Someday I might tackle that job on my 742B but painting is one of my least favorite things to do.
Thanks for posting the pics.
John

 

[Toad]

Looks good!!! I Just bought a M371, I already bought the decals for it... and will be painting mine over the winter... but you did a good job. how that paint spray out from Bobcat???

 

[Mikefromcny]

Looks good!!! I Just bought a M371, I already bought the decals for it... and will be painting mine over the winter... but you did a good job. how that paint spray out from Bobcat???

not bad, 2 coats minimum. 3 qts of white, 2 qts of orange and 1 qt of charcoal grey. I used as few rattle cans of rustoleum automotive primer on bare metal areas.

 

[donald73d]

not bad, 2 coats minimum. 3 qts of white, 2 qts of orange and 1 qt of charcoal grey. I used as few rattle cans of rustoleum automotive primer on bare metal areas.

I live near Albany so not that far. My uncle lived in Manlius and ran a tree nursery and we would go to the Suburban amusement park in the summer.

 

[Mikefromcny]

I live near Albany so not that far. My uncle lived in Manlius and ran a tree nursery and we would go to the Suburban amusement park in the summer.

Its a small world. I live about 10 mins from Manlius, in Pompey, graduated from high school there almost 10 years ago...LOL

 

[donald73d]

Its a small world. I live about 10 mins from Manlius, in Pompey, graduated from high school there almost 10 years ago...LOL

Ever been by Cross Creek Nursery. http://www.crosscreeknursery.net/

 

[Mikefromcny]

Ever been by Cross Creek Nursery. http://www.crosscreeknursery.net/

Sure have, many times. A friend bought a house across rt 92 from them. Actually the 743 has seen it. Took the rollback truck and 743 with forks to move said friends very heavy tool box.

 

[bobcat763]

Sure have, many times. A friend bought a house across rt 92 from them. Actually the 743 has seen it. Took the rollback truck and 743 with forks to move said friends very heavy tool box.

Cool 743 its a awsome machine i love the repaint