753 bobcat skidsteer

[1349]

Going to look at one tomorrow. 2800 hrs. Asking 6k for it. What should i look for? Good/bad points of machine? Go look or run? Tks

 

[JDemaris]

I think it was a 753 that I used to borrow from a friend for tight work. He had a loader and backhoe for it (maybe ought to call it a "front" hoe. He bought it used with a couple of thousand hours on it and ran it for years. He had two graveyard contracts plus he did custom work. He died before IT did.

It had a Kubota diesel that ran on very little fuel, and the machine was bullet-proof.

That being said it was awful trying to change attachments on it unless on perfectly flat land. I don't have any flat-land around here.

One day I took the loader off, the Bobcat kept popping wheelies and I couldn't drive it 100 feet to where the hoe was parked. So, I put the loader back on, drove to the hoe, and tried again. Then when I bumped into the backhoe, it fell over. What a mess! One lesson I learned fast. Don't mess around changing attachements unless on level ground.

Next day it rained, and once the ground got wet, the Bobcat got pretty useless for moving dirt. Too little ground clearance. Wheels would dig into the mud, it would bottom out, and it would get stuck. I had to finish up with a Deere crawler.

But, when the ground was dry, the Bobcat worked much faster then a crawler-loader.

 

[rrlund]

Not knocking them,not trying to start anything. My brother has a 773 and he and I are on the same page on this. If it was either of us,we'd be looking for something besides a Bobcat with the foot controls. We'd be looking for a Case or Gehl or some other make with hand controls. Not saying that you can't get used to it,but it's the exact oposite of a loader tractor. Instead of your feet running a clutch and brakes and your hands running the loader,the Bobcat is the other way around.
He runs it a whole lot more than I do,but he says even he has a hard time feathering the bucket and being real acurate with it.
If the foot controls are OK with you,the machine itself is probably pretty good quality.

 

[Nate V. IA]

Make sure the pins are tight ($$$), and the bucket tips back all the way to the stops. Get out and let it idle for a while, with that many hours its probably going to walk a little on its own. Look the engine over good, Bobcats worked in high chaff environments tend to catch on fire. If its going to over heat it will do so at full throttle not at idle, BTDT. The price seems inline with the hrs.
Nate

 

[Ray]

Most of the 6000 dollar ones i've seen are in the 5000-6000 hour ones.I've seen some 2800 hour ones for sale in the 10000-12000 range.The hour meters are know to quit working around 1400 hours for some reason.It could be on it's second hour meter.

 

[Derek-U.P.]

Make sure it has the Kubota engine. Some had a Peugot engine,RUN if it does. Parts availability on those is bad. Friend has one and most parts cross to a kubota engine conversion.

 

[Anonymous-0]

753's had Kubota engines. It looks like the 751's had a Peugot engine. 2800 hours isn't that much on a skid steer or a Kubota. Of course it depends on how it was maintained and the operator but $6000 seems too low of a price. Usually the more popular used skid steers in good condition will start at around $10,000. Early 753's had some problems with the new BOSS electronic system Bobcat put on. If it hasn't been done, it probably needs pins and bushings for the bucket tilt but that's not a real big deal. If it needs new tires the cheapest are around $200/piece. If it needs tires and pins and bushings, the price is more in the ball park. If it needs a wheel motor or hydrostatic pump figure at least a couple grand with labour. 753's were the first models with the engine turned sideways and used a belt to run the hydrostatic and hydraulic pumps. That's why they went to a bigger engine from the 743. 753's were very popular but if you don't have experience with a skid steer, it would be a good idea to pay a mechanic at a dealer to check it out. There might be a real good reason why the price is so low. Can you post some pics of it? Dave

 

[rrlund]

One thing that I'd add. When you start it,make sure it doesn't creep one way or the other. My brothers does,my cousins DID. He had it fixed,but said it was pretty pricey.

 

[Kevin Schmidt]

'creep' is just an adjustment in the linkage, if it is expensive to adjust linkage or involves parts, someone got screwed........