Ottawa, Canada, Bobcat 743

[daveross]

Well, it's my neighbour's 743 that I'd like to help him fix up a bit, and came here for the typical reasons of doing some reading on the various problems the machine has.

No question that the Kubota V1702 needs a rebuild, and it has sticky hydraulic control valves. Yet, it operates reasonably well in its retirement doing lighter duty chores around our hobby farm properties.

My neighbour is a non-mechanic, talented designer, painter, sculptor, carpenter, general renovations, etc., and wicked generous, nice guy. I'm a mechanical engineer who's suffering through a few more years in corporate management before spending my retirement in my favourite hobbies including fixing things that probably aren't worth the trouble.

If you enjoy a good laugh at farmer fixes, checkout this engine bay! Yup, that's what we're starting with here fellas!

 

[fortworth-cowboy]

Welcome here, I like the Beer Can as a Muffler Bracket! If you have questions, let me know.

 

[Micheal]

Welcome to the forum, I look forward to communicating with you about your bobcat.
I too, am a carpenter or a remodel carpenter.
I work on all my vehicles as well. Rebuilding my bobcat was the first engine. I completely rebuilt. I learned a lot and it was a lot of fun.
I will share with you all the information I have and I'll send you some pics as well. Here is my engine compartment. It was really really dirty!
And here it is cleaned up.

 

[daveross]

Wow, that looks awesome!

 

[Micheal]

Thanks but after using it, it doesn't look the same. Maybe I should wash it.

 

[daveross]

I should wash things a whole lot more, but when I have been diligent with it I've always found it worthwhile from a maintenance perspective, as you tend to look over the machine as you wash it and can spot a missing nut or leaking gasket… stuff that's easy to address before it gets worse.

Michael… if you were to estimate, how many hours did you spend rebuilding your engine? I assume you bought a rebuild kit, replaced sleeves, etc. And how many times did you have to pause the job to wait for another part you needed…

I'm trying to figure out how much time and over what period it will likely take. I am pressed for time and have a lot on the go, but might plan a fun thing for my neighbour's birthday where a couple professional mechanic friends gather, I buy the parts, and we hammer out the job with me and others as the "apprentice labour" while the experts tell us what to do. I have a well-equipped shop. If we could get it done for the most part over a weekend with final assembly and reinstall for later, that would be awesome. My mechanic friends aren't diesel engine specialists but are full-time equipment mechanics who have rebuilt the odd engine before; not sure about diesel though. Thoughts?

 

[Micheal]

Wow, that's quite a full question.
First I wasn't in a hurry, I worked on it nights and weekends. Yes I did have to wait on parts and then the right parts. You didn't know if you ordered the right one or not until it arrived. And I did research the best I could to get the right one.
I bought as much as I could on Amazon and eBay. I looked around to get the best price I could.
I did buy a rebuilder kit that came with cylinder sleeves, Pistons, rings, bearings and gaskets.
I didn't keep track of my hours, but I did keep track of the cost. I bought the bobcat for $2500 not running and right now I have about 8 to 9 thousand in it including the $2500.
Do I think you could rebuild the motor in a weekend? Only if everything fell in place perfectly, which I see as an impossibility. There is always something that you didn't see, and it throws a kink in the process, but in view of all that, it was a great experience. And now I get to play with it. There's still more stuff to do to it, and I'll do it when I'm ready I guess.
Though I would love to be a part of that rebuild.

 

[daveross]

Thanks Michael - just what I need - a reality check! We're going to sit the machine on a tarp covered in a thick layer of wood shavings and shampoo the heck out of the engine bay this weekend, then I'll confirm with the guys and make a plan. Take it in logical steps. A big disassembly and parts cleaning, inspection, organizing weekend to see if we have a cracked block or anything like that; re-evaluate. Investment limited to a case of beer . We have a bobcat dealer next door, though not sure how much help they can be with an older Kubota engine, surely some. If the block is good we can do the research / part sourcing as required and then organize a reassembly shift. Appreciate your story!

 

[Markle]

I did the crate engine swap, figuring rebuild costs would come close if I did it myself. Plus I didn't have to mess with injector timing, and I didn't have to run around to machine shops for things like milling head, valve job, sleeve insert, exhaust manifold milling, etc. more efficient. I too bought mine as a dead machine for $1200. It's now at work again.