brambleberry
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2020
- Messages
- 25
I just bought a used 743ds and am trying to go through everything before putting it to work. I've found pets of all the manuals, and a few places for aftermarket parts, but need some advice on common problems to hone in on and take care of.
The one thing I'm having trouble finding is a replacement ignition panel, the thing currently has a janked up toggle switch box bungeed onto the frame. Left side of the switch connects the glow plugs, right side connects the starter. I'd like to get this back to something a little more standard, especially making sure any sensors are connected so I know what's going on in the machine.
I plan to open up the chain case this week, that's something I've gathered is a good idea if you don't know the machine's history.
I also have a complete filter bundle coming from eBay, I plan to replace all filters and fluids. Are there any filters that absolutely have to be oem? Any aftermarket filters that are definitely problems?
The lap bar was wired up to the cab probably because the plastic bumpers and springs are gone, but the pedal lockouts still move and engage the pedals. I have new plastic bumpers on their way, but forgot to order springs. I assume I can just find something at the hardware store that fits? Looks like the lap bar on this model does not have an air piston to help it stay up when you exit the machine, I tried messing with the little spring tension attachment points yesterday but didn't seem to get anywhere. The bar still just flops down after you exit the cab. I'm assuming I just need to crank more compression into those old rusty springs?
One last thing is the hour meter-it shows only 12xx hrs, and that whole panel looks original to the machine. The guy I got it from said the meter works but I haven't been able to confirm that yet since I don't want to run it much before taking care of issues. I'm really doubting those hours are true though from how beat up the cab is.
Guy said he got it at a police auction, and was told it sat outside for 12 yrs, so assuming most of the "rough look" on the machine is just from sitting outside, not heavy use. Nothing is bent on the frame, all cylinders and pistons look great with zero leaks. He had them all repacked this summer. One axle has a slow leak, and a couple fittings around the drive motors have a tiny seep, but nothing glaring. I have driven it around for 10 min at a time and everything works like it should, though the boom seems to just slam down super fast if you put the pedal to the floor. It will ease down nice and slow if you just lightly push the pedal.
Engine sounds great, a bit of white smoke at startup that goes away quickly. The only thing I'm a little uneasy about is the valve cover vent is pointing straight down to the floor of the engine cavity and has constant pressure shooting out when the engine is running. Is this normal? Do I need to get valves and seats ground? No engine cylinder blowby that I notice, the crankcase doesn't pressurize and the exhaust doesn't have any oily specs flying out.
The engine oil was the worst darkest charcoal black that I've ever seen in my life, so I went and got a cheap fram filter and changed the oil right away with some old 10w30 I had lying around. I was thinking I'd run it a little, then dump that and the filter, change to a good oil and filter. Right away the new oil is pretty dark (but you can still see the dipstick through it), but I'm assuming that's just all the nasty residue that stayed in the crankcase. But is it possible the oil pump is not working? I sort of thought the new filter would take out a lot of the black stuff.
I'll stop there, getting a little long-winded. TIA for any advice!
Darren
The one thing I'm having trouble finding is a replacement ignition panel, the thing currently has a janked up toggle switch box bungeed onto the frame. Left side of the switch connects the glow plugs, right side connects the starter. I'd like to get this back to something a little more standard, especially making sure any sensors are connected so I know what's going on in the machine.
I plan to open up the chain case this week, that's something I've gathered is a good idea if you don't know the machine's history.
I also have a complete filter bundle coming from eBay, I plan to replace all filters and fluids. Are there any filters that absolutely have to be oem? Any aftermarket filters that are definitely problems?
The lap bar was wired up to the cab probably because the plastic bumpers and springs are gone, but the pedal lockouts still move and engage the pedals. I have new plastic bumpers on their way, but forgot to order springs. I assume I can just find something at the hardware store that fits? Looks like the lap bar on this model does not have an air piston to help it stay up when you exit the machine, I tried messing with the little spring tension attachment points yesterday but didn't seem to get anywhere. The bar still just flops down after you exit the cab. I'm assuming I just need to crank more compression into those old rusty springs?
One last thing is the hour meter-it shows only 12xx hrs, and that whole panel looks original to the machine. The guy I got it from said the meter works but I haven't been able to confirm that yet since I don't want to run it much before taking care of issues. I'm really doubting those hours are true though from how beat up the cab is.
Guy said he got it at a police auction, and was told it sat outside for 12 yrs, so assuming most of the "rough look" on the machine is just from sitting outside, not heavy use. Nothing is bent on the frame, all cylinders and pistons look great with zero leaks. He had them all repacked this summer. One axle has a slow leak, and a couple fittings around the drive motors have a tiny seep, but nothing glaring. I have driven it around for 10 min at a time and everything works like it should, though the boom seems to just slam down super fast if you put the pedal to the floor. It will ease down nice and slow if you just lightly push the pedal.
Engine sounds great, a bit of white smoke at startup that goes away quickly. The only thing I'm a little uneasy about is the valve cover vent is pointing straight down to the floor of the engine cavity and has constant pressure shooting out when the engine is running. Is this normal? Do I need to get valves and seats ground? No engine cylinder blowby that I notice, the crankcase doesn't pressurize and the exhaust doesn't have any oily specs flying out.
The engine oil was the worst darkest charcoal black that I've ever seen in my life, so I went and got a cheap fram filter and changed the oil right away with some old 10w30 I had lying around. I was thinking I'd run it a little, then dump that and the filter, change to a good oil and filter. Right away the new oil is pretty dark (but you can still see the dipstick through it), but I'm assuming that's just all the nasty residue that stayed in the crankcase. But is it possible the oil pump is not working? I sort of thought the new filter would take out a lot of the black stuff.
I'll stop there, getting a little long-winded. TIA for any advice!
Darren