Need help, buying a Bobcat 443 or bobcat 743b

[[email protected]]

Hello everyone. I am new to the Forum, and hopefully soon a bobcat. I have a few projects around the house i am looking to get a bobcat for. Nothing major. And to help me plow the snow in the winter, have about a 300ft driveway. I don't know a lot about bobcats, i have driven my father n laws at his business when i was younger and was amazed on what a great tool it was. But never really did any maintenance. So Please bare with me in my questions. Anyways. the 743b has 4300hrs on it. Was repainted, but when i went to test drive it, the hydro's felt weird when lifting the boom. They kinda shook. The other thing i noticed is that the throttle keep slowing down to half throttle, but i have read that is a common issue. I had them grease all the fittings, and found that the eye for the hydraulics was low. Add fluid, but it looked a little milky. They said they would flush the system and see if it got better. Engine had a small leak but other then that started up pretty well cold. Hydro's is my biggest worry. I wonder could the aux hydraulics been on and that causing it to lift weird? He is asking $6,900. Seems solid. Oh the bucket clanks when moving back and forth. Maybe pins are wore out? He said he will deliver it and fix flush the hydros' and see if that fixes the issue for that price. I am 1.5 hours away from him. The 443, I don't know the year, but it only has 1,081 hours on it. 3 cylinder Diesel. Asking 6,500 Smaller machine for sure it looks like, comes with bucket and forks. I have not went to see it yet. But the guy said he is the second owner and its in side all the time. Does not use it anymore. Will go see it this week sunday when he is free. Paint looks ok, no rush, just sun scorched it looks like. My budget is 6,900. Not sure which is the best here. I don't have major digging to do but need to move a few piles of dirt, level my lawn. and maybe do some digging in my ditch for a drainage issue. Appreciate any insight. Thanks all.

 

[Tazza]

The 743 is a nice sized machine, i feel the 443 is a bit small, but depends on your jobs really.
The jerky lifting could be air in the system, you said it looked milky, that could be air bubbles and not water. The air could be from a leak or worn pump. That model is easy to get parts for, and they are quite cheap. generally aux hydraulics being stuck on will give a lack of lifting power, but you never know.
How did it not feel right driving? It should be quite direct, no buffers so it should be nice and direct.
A little engine oil leak isn't uncommon, normally around the throttle leaks over time.

 

[[email protected]]

The 743 is a nice sized machine, i feel the 443 is a bit small, but depends on your jobs really.
The jerky lifting could be air in the system, you said it looked milky, that could be air bubbles and not water. The air could be from a leak or worn pump. That model is easy to get parts for, and they are quite cheap. generally aux hydraulics being stuck on will give a lack of lifting power, but you never know.
How did it not feel right driving? It should be quite direct, no buffers so it should be nice and direct.
A little engine oil leak isn't uncommon, normally around the throttle leaks over time.

Hey thx for the reply. The throttle moving down to half throttle was throwing me off. As it happened so fast. There was a main drive line that blew that was the last straw for the last owner as he had a business. So they just replaced it . So you could be right on the air in system. Do you have to manually purge them? I have a feeling the 443 might be a little small. I don't see much on the interwebs about it and or parts. Seems like the 743 was a solid machine and make for years. The parking brake was not working felt like it was just unhooked. Driving was pretty smooth. I noticed one time it seemed like it didn't want to engage when I went to turn. It was odd, maybe because throttle was down by itself again. I did find a leak on the right side bucket line. They were going to replace that line also. This is coming from a mom and pop dealership very small.

 

[Tazza]

Hey thx for the reply. The throttle moving down to half throttle was throwing me off. As it happened so fast. There was a main drive line that blew that was the last straw for the last owner as he had a business. So they just replaced it . So you could be right on the air in system. Do you have to manually purge them? I have a feeling the 443 might be a little small. I don't see much on the interwebs about it and or parts. Seems like the 743 was a solid machine and make for years. The parking brake was not working felt like it was just unhooked. Driving was pretty smooth. I noticed one time it seemed like it didn't want to engage when I went to turn. It was odd, maybe because throttle was down by itself again. I did find a leak on the right side bucket line. They were going to replace that line also. This is coming from a mom and pop dealership very small.

The system will purge the air on it's own. It's best to do it in bits, say drive it around, lifing and tilting for a few minutes, then sit for a few hours for the bubbles to settle out, then repleat.

 

[[email protected]]

The system will purge the air on it's own. It's best to do it in bits, say drive it around, lifing and tilting for a few minutes, then sit for a few hours for the bubbles to settle out, then repleat.

Thanks. I purchased the 743b! Have lots of questions! I will start a new thread. Thx u