Thinking about buying a bobcat - what to look out for?

[Tazza]

I see that step #11 is to put the seat plate back, so that answers that question..
Fuse holder for hte lights is missing that little circle cover/plug that holds the fuse in. Is that going to be a dealer only-item or is there a better source for them?

ROTTEN COMPUTER ate my post while i was still typing.... ok starting over....
The fuse holders are common parts, an auto store or electronics shop would have access to these, they may not be the same but if you get 2 to match you are set, just replace the entire holder not just the cap.
I don't remember a filter screen..... There should be a valve at the base of the fuel tank where the fuel lines run, turn it off and you won't loose too much fuel.
The only screw i remember on the Deutz engine for fuel was the bleed screw, open that up and pump the lift pump and you got a mess of fuel leaking all over the place, great to clean any oil but really smelly.
Hopefully that will give you a bit of help.

 

[DigitalFusion]

ROTTEN COMPUTER ate my post while i was still typing.... ok starting over....
The fuse holders are common parts, an auto store or electronics shop would have access to these, they may not be the same but if you get 2 to match you are set, just replace the entire holder not just the cap.
I don't remember a filter screen..... There should be a valve at the base of the fuel tank where the fuel lines run, turn it off and you won't loose too much fuel.
The only screw i remember on the Deutz engine for fuel was the bleed screw, open that up and pump the lift pump and you got a mess of fuel leaking all over the place, great to clean any oil but really smelly.
Hopefully that will give you a bit of help.

I called the dealer back and asked them to toss a fuse cover in with the box for my manual. It was 3 bucks for that little cap, but I would spend more than that in time and money running up to the parts store looking for a replacement.
I also pulled the seat pan out and it seems I have a hydaulic leak somewhere. There is pretty fresh/clean fluid in there. It seems like it maybe coming from the “box“ on top that has a few lines going in and out, and a very large and flat 2“ hex head on it? Sorry for the lack of knowledge here, this is not only my first diesel, but also my first toy with hydaulics. The service manual should be here today or tomorrow so that will help. I am waiting to do that creeping adjustment till the manual is here so I can do several things while I have the garage warmed up.
While I had the seat pan out I also found the cause of the floppy right lever, it only had one bolt in there. I put another in with a lock washer and now its nice and firm with no slop. The left side is a lil sloppy due to the bushing being worn. I also asked the dealer to toss this in the box with my manual, but they did not have any in stock.
Tazza, I would really like to figure this excess fuel button thing out. The only way I got the machine to fire up to get it in the garage was to give it a lil snort of ether. Granted, we are pretty sure it still has a full tank of the summer blend deisel in it, but I dont want to have to do this all the time when its cold out. To your knowledge, did all 731's have this button? Was it always a button or did it switch to a lever at some point?

 

[Tazza]

I called the dealer back and asked them to toss a fuse cover in with the box for my manual. It was 3 bucks for that little cap, but I would spend more than that in time and money running up to the parts store looking for a replacement.
I also pulled the seat pan out and it seems I have a hydaulic leak somewhere. There is pretty fresh/clean fluid in there. It seems like it maybe coming from the “box“ on top that has a few lines going in and out, and a very large and flat 2“ hex head on it? Sorry for the lack of knowledge here, this is not only my first diesel, but also my first toy with hydaulics. The service manual should be here today or tomorrow so that will help. I am waiting to do that creeping adjustment till the manual is here so I can do several things while I have the garage warmed up.
While I had the seat pan out I also found the cause of the floppy right lever, it only had one bolt in there. I put another in with a lock washer and now its nice and firm with no slop. The left side is a lil sloppy due to the bushing being worn. I also asked the dealer to toss this in the box with my manual, but they did not have any in stock.
Tazza, I would really like to figure this excess fuel button thing out. The only way I got the machine to fire up to get it in the garage was to give it a lil snort of ether. Granted, we are pretty sure it still has a full tank of the summer blend deisel in it, but I dont want to have to do this all the time when its cold out. To your knowledge, did all 731's have this button? Was it always a button or did it switch to a lever at some point?

The square block you talk about is called a port block, when you have the cab off i recommend you clean or replace the suction line filter. Its on the left side of the block, middle hose. Remove the fitting from the block, its located behind it with a spring holding it in place. Clean with diesel or kero and blow down with air. This little filter causes LOTS of issues if you don't know its there.
Now to the engine. As far as i was aware they only had a button, but some had a lever fitted that was attached to a solenoid so you could hit a button from inside the cab to get it to fire. I just had to open the back door in winter to press the button, summer was no problem for it to fire up without the excess fuel button.
Any chance of a picture from the back of the injector pump?
How did the previous owner get it to start? did they use ether too? i remember giving it a snort one day before i know about the excess fuel button, it let out an awful rattle!!! ether really is a last resort.

 

[DigitalFusion]

The square block you talk about is called a port block, when you have the cab off i recommend you clean or replace the suction line filter. Its on the left side of the block, middle hose. Remove the fitting from the block, its located behind it with a spring holding it in place. Clean with diesel or kero and blow down with air. This little filter causes LOTS of issues if you don't know its there.
Now to the engine. As far as i was aware they only had a button, but some had a lever fitted that was attached to a solenoid so you could hit a button from inside the cab to get it to fire. I just had to open the back door in winter to press the button, summer was no problem for it to fire up without the excess fuel button.
Any chance of a picture from the back of the injector pump?
How did the previous owner get it to start? did they use ether too? i remember giving it a snort one day before i know about the excess fuel button, it let out an awful rattle!!! ether really is a last resort.

between the manual that just arrived, and your post I am able to determine that I do in fact have the solenoid equipped version. The schematic shows that it is connected into the ignition switch.

 

[Tazza]

between the manual that just arrived, and your post I am able to determine that I do in fact have the solenoid equipped version. The schematic shows that it is connected into the ignition switch.

Ok, now i assume its operating? pressing the excess fuel button down when cranking?
I was sure when it was pressed it should stay down, but your model may be supposed to just hold down while cranking, not sure.