Need to move a possible new member of my Bobcat family, an 843

[m610]

I have located an 843 project machine in my price range, and owned by a nice guy. The engine overheated and was apart, but being rebuilt. The rest of the machine looks straight and in great shape, with surface rust all over. I have rebuilt a 743 but know nothing about an 843. If I get it I need to move it to my Bobcat trailer. What's the recommendation to make this easy to move?

 

[skidsteer.ca]

I'm not real familar with this model, but if you unhook or loop the hoses from the drive motors on each side and leave the parking brake off , the wheels could turn and you would be able to come along it onto your trailer.
Ken

 

[pondfishr]

I'm not real familar with this model, but if you unhook or loop the hoses from the drive motors on each side and leave the parking brake off , the wheels could turn and you would be able to come along it onto your trailer.
Ken

Congratulations on the new member to the family. I hope it works out well for you.

 

[Tazza]

Congratulations on the new member to the family. I hope it works out well for you.

Ken's advise would surly help, it will still be hard to move but it will roll. Try not moving it too far. Even with the wheels locked up you will still be able to move it with brute force but its not fun, trust me!
When the hydro motors are full of oil they are essentially hydraulically locked and will not want to move. They will move slowly with internal leakage but snails move faster.
Congrats on your new toy!

 

[m610]

Ken's advise would surly help, it will still be hard to move but it will roll. Try not moving it too far. Even with the wheels locked up you will still be able to move it with brute force but its not fun, trust me!
When the hydro motors are full of oil they are essentially hydraulically locked and will not want to move. They will move slowly with internal leakage but snails move faster.
Congrats on your new toy!

That's been my experience, if you just loop the hoses it's still a difficult, slow move. I was thinking about removing the hydraulic motors but was not sure if it worked the same way as on a 743. My final obstacle is finding a trailer to move this thing as mine is about an inch too narrow as it was just fine for a 743 or M610.

 

[switzforge]

Hire a crane and set it on the trailer.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Hire a crane and set it on the trailer.

I crane could be spendy, but even a 2 to 3 yard gravel loader , like a 644 jd or a good size excavator could pick it right up too. But I imagine your trying to avoid such expense.
Maybe a trip to the dealer would confirm if the sprockets and chains would not bind up without the hyd motors there to support them If they use a gear reduction drive like the 853 they may not use the motor to support the gear only turn it. I judt don't know on this model.
Ken

 

[m610]

I crane could be spendy, but even a 2 to 3 yard gravel loader , like a 644 jd or a good size excavator could pick it right up too. But I imagine your trying to avoid such expense.
Maybe a trip to the dealer would confirm if the sprockets and chains would not bind up without the hyd motors there to support them If they use a gear reduction drive like the 853 they may not use the motor to support the gear only turn it. I judt don't know on this model.
Ken

I kind of remember removing the motors on the 743 and sticking a piece of electrical conduit in the center to avoid having the sprocket drop just in case. It was a LONG time ago and most of my work on skid steers lately has been hoses, engine work and electrical. The 843 is kind of my "dream machine" Bobcat as its more powerful that the 743 or M610 but has that classic Bobcat design. I wish there was an online manual for the machine, but I am going to call the local dealer and hope that I get someone knowledgeable. Hiring an excavator or large machinery is not feasible, as the Bobcat is in a tight spot under a carport. Freeing up the wheels would allow it to be towed out and up a trailer. I am willing to disassemble the whole machine if necessary.

 

[Gazza]

I kind of remember removing the motors on the 743 and sticking a piece of electrical conduit in the center to avoid having the sprocket drop just in case. It was a LONG time ago and most of my work on skid steers lately has been hoses, engine work and electrical. The 843 is kind of my "dream machine" Bobcat as its more powerful that the 743 or M610 but has that classic Bobcat design. I wish there was an online manual for the machine, but I am going to call the local dealer and hope that I get someone knowledgeable. Hiring an excavator or large machinery is not feasible, as the Bobcat is in a tight spot under a carport. Freeing up the wheels would allow it to be towed out and up a trailer. I am willing to disassemble the whole machine if necessary.

A few thoughts, you could use a set of heavy duty car wheel dolly's, the type with the 4 caster wheels and small hyd foot pump on a frame just use one on each wheel. (used by panel shops and mechanics to move disabled cars around their shop). Or, 2 sets of towing dolly's, the double trailer axles welded together with two wheels on each side, just lift it up one end at a time, place the rear set of wheels on the frame, then do the same to the front set. thanks Gazza

 

[xtreem3d]

A few thoughts, you could use a set of heavy duty car wheel dolly's, the type with the 4 caster wheels and small hyd foot pump on a frame just use one on each wheel. (used by panel shops and mechanics to move disabled cars around their shop). Or, 2 sets of towing dolly's, the double trailer axles welded together with two wheels on each side, just lift it up one end at a time, place the rear set of wheels on the frame, then do the same to the front set. thanks Gazza

will cost some money depending on how far away it is but how about hiring a rollback tow truck

 

[carl johansson]

will cost some money depending on how far away it is but how about hiring a rollback tow truck

I moved my 763 by picking up the front with another 763 - and putting the full wheeled tow dolly from an old tow truck under the wheels - not the little caster things - it's like 2 truck wheels with 3 bars running between them - the 3 bars form a cradle for the front wheels - then I went around to the back and picked it up - if you were going to push it you could just use a bucket - it you were going to pull it - you use a chain looped through the tie down loop. anyway pick it up - and push or pull it to where you want it to go. relift the front and remove the dolly if you are putting it on a trailer. Repeat the process in reverse to get it off the trailer! Carl Johansson

 

[m610]

I moved my 763 by picking up the front with another 763 - and putting the full wheeled tow dolly from an old tow truck under the wheels - not the little caster things - it's like 2 truck wheels with 3 bars running between them - the 3 bars form a cradle for the front wheels - then I went around to the back and picked it up - if you were going to push it you could just use a bucket - it you were going to pull it - you use a chain looped through the tie down loop. anyway pick it up - and push or pull it to where you want it to go. relift the front and remove the dolly if you are putting it on a trailer. Repeat the process in reverse to get it off the trailer! Carl Johansson

It's mine now. The hydro motors are exactly like the 743 in design, and I just had to remove the motors and space them out with a board and the machine moved easliy. Two cheap come-alongs were all it took to load the trailer and I pushed the Bobcat off and it rolled to a stop. The process was just as easy as I remember.

 

[Tazza]

It's mine now. The hydro motors are exactly like the 743 in design, and I just had to remove the motors and space them out with a board and the machine moved easliy. Two cheap come-alongs were all it took to load the trailer and I pushed the Bobcat off and it rolled to a stop. The process was just as easy as I remember.

Excellent, its going to be a beast when its running again!
Good luck with it, keep us posted.

 

[m610]

Excellent, its going to be a beast when its running again!
Good luck with it, keep us posted.

Yes, this time I intend to take pictures of the process. I am really impressed and excited. It brings back memories of the last project when I was younger. The last time I operated an 843 was sometime in the 90's. As I remember it has a lot of power and is a great machine.