Everytime i go to start my 743 i have to use glow plugs for 15 sec, to get it to start. usually only for initial start. if the day is warm temps like now, its ok, but in winter if it sits i have to use them again. any reason? this is a older machine (86) but a great running machine and works like a horse. thanks
I would think that is normal. If it starts fine in the summer without glowing it I wouldn't worry. Having to glow them for up to a minute in winter is normal. A new machine that runs the plugs automatic will do it well into the 60's. Now if you have to glow in the summer, that would be a sign of low compression. I have had some so bad, I had to glow them over three minutes on a 85 F day, once started smoked bad and ran so so.
Its normal. My 743 was that way from day 1 new, still is. The 643 I had before that was the same also. FYI, if the machine is new to you, make sure you grease the universal joint as recomended. Ed
it's normal for that engine to have to be preheated, even up into the 60's. many years ago i worked in central florida @ a bobcat dealership when the 643/743 was in current production. one morning, mid winter, it was in the low 20's, the phone started ringing at 7am, "my machine wont start, now the battery is dead, and theres smoke rolling out of the starter !!!" we changed starters, batteries and cables for 2 days :drinkup
Agree with all above. If my memory serves me correctly, the Kubota in the 743 was a pre-combustion chamber head. If I saw one start without glow plugs I would probably faint.
good memmory !! ive seen them not start with just 1 bad glow plug. :drinkup
great, thanks for all the responses, and where is that universal you are talking about? i just had the cab up and washed everything underneath and changed oil, had to adjust park brake, i do get a creeping out of it while at idle, but not to bad. i love these machines, i had a new 773 in 2001, but didnt use it enough to "think" i still needed one, i will never not have a bobcat skidsteer on hand!
Those always seem to start pretty good as long as the engine has good compression. I always get a kick in winter when it is below 20F and I have to cycle a new S185 6 or more times to start. Then I walk over to old one, hold the glow on manually for a count of 45 and it fire right up.
The U joint is a treat. With the cab up, look to the very back of the pump where it starts to go under the blower housing. The joint is down there between the engine and hydro. There are 3 zerks, you may need a helper to turn the engine over to get the zerks to a sweet spot that yoy can reach them.
The 743 didn't have the best neutral centering device brand new, get a little age on them (which a 743 would have) and it's near impossible to make them not creep to some degree. Rule #1 with a 743, never leave the cab with engine running. Fella I used to work alongside of was doing a field repair on a 743, had a sudden urge of "you better get to the porta john...now), took off a in a fast pace and left engine running. By the time he got out of the porta john, that 743 was butt humping the right front fender on his new service truck. Rear door of Bobcat put a nice crease in fender.
ops they were a PITA back when they were new, nearly impossible to get em to stop creeping now. anytime i get one now, i replace everything, it's not worth the return service call, that i have to eat labor and travel time on... :drinkup
:laugh Sorry, but I have this picture in my mind, of a thin, wrinkly old guy, wearing a cap & blue gloves, eyes rolling back in his head, twisting around & collapsing on the floor ....... :falldownlaugh
Yup. Its a little easier if you try to get the zerks rolled over to the right side (as you are laying on the pump). A grease gun with a 3' long hose and someone to work it for you are a plus. Ed
i can just see my big butt trying to lay on the pump, LOL
LoL, no kidding, if I saw one start without glow plugs, would prolly pass out right there. Then the little critter would probably creep and run over me, squash me flatter than a 'possum on the center line. :tong
Besides always creeping, the park brake is always out of adjustment. If I have to do anything to one while it is running, it is on jack stands. I never trust those machines.
yeah the park brake didnt work at all when i got it and i did adjust it and need to adjust it a little more to make it try and hold, after using it for a while the creep is gone.
its been awhile but i have been trying to adjust things to stop creeping, i took spring off added a washer to backside to get a little more adj out of it, since if i just lifted up on the lever under there it would stop creeping, there was also a block thats bolted between the arms that was wore a little bit so i flipped it over, but i think i need to try and re adj it to see if its gonna work. u probably wont be able to make out what i just typed but maybe someone will, lol. it holds with park break on but seems to have alot of hyd pressure on the system, will this hurt anything? thanks