763 Bobcat

[billy]

Hi guys, I want your opinion on a 763 Bobcat skid steer.

Does anyone have used a 763 and how good are they?

I'm looking to use it for landscaping moving dirt sod few pallets of bricks. And then considering putting a plow to push snow.

Are they powerful enough to plow snow?


I'm looking to buy a 763 Bobcat 1998 1,100 hrs lift capacity 1,500 tipping load 3,000. He's asking $12,000 Is that a good price? Includes bucket, forks.

Appreciate your opinions!!!!!!

[Lawngodfather]

The 763 wont lift over or even close to 2000# so that tipping load is not close.

The engine is underpowered @I think it's 42hp

Price is way high, machine is 6 years old $8500 tops.

The machine is pretty stable.

I have lclose to 4500 hours in Bobcats, but ones you used New Holland its hard to go back.

Other than it's needs more HP like most skid steers I would get one.

But the price is too high.

[billy]

lawngodfather thanks for your reply,

I belive it does have 42hp But I like the fact it has only 1100 hrs. I don't want to buy a beat up used machine.

Will it have power to push snow doing a large shopping center with a plow?

[billy]

Actually 46hp kubota diesel.

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by billy
Will it have power to push snow doing a large shopping center with a plow? Depend on what's in front, how much snow etc..

A light dry snow it will do a 12' snow pusher, but a heavy wet good snow, it will do an 8' but might have trouble steering it.

They are good diggers and mille move a lot of dirt, but ones it looses tractoin, it gets stuck fast. Same as my NH Lx665 turbo. got the 10.5-16 tires on them.

[nben]

It's been my experience, (at least in this area) that Bobcats hold there value very well. I don't think that price is too far off. Last year we looked into trading up our 94 743B with 2400 hours and the dealer was going to give up $9,000 with no attachments. Check this site (http://www.miamiequip.com./) for price comparison.

I also wouldn't be to concerned about the tipping capacity. That machine WILL lift the rated capacity and more. I have personally set a 2500 lb. granite slab with our 743..... rated to lift only 1300 lbs. Once you get to know a machine, a little finesse goes a long way.

[Lawngodfather]

763 wont pic up a 1900# pallet of sod.

Lets refrase that, The hydrualics can do it, the machines back end it to light to do it.

It will do better with the weight closer to the machine, that's why the false tipping load weight.

[nben]

Originally posted by Lawngodfather
It will do better with the weight closer to the machine, that's why the false tipping load weight.

I don't know if it is "false". How I understand the "tipping" load is determined is the machine is parked on a flat surface with the lift arms raised to the point that they are the farthest forward in the lift arc. Weight is then put on in increments until the machine falls on it's face. That is the "tipping" weight. That weight is divided and half to obtain the "operating weight".

On a machine with standard lift arms (like the 763), the point that the load would be the farthest forward in the arc is slightly above the top of the tires (or there abouts). On a machine with a vertical lift path (like a 773, S185, or your New Holland) the lift arms actually move the farthest forward towards the end of their upward travel (almost all the way up). So if you take both types of machine with equal tipping loads, the vertical lift machine will feel more stable with heavier weights (assuming you are carrying the weight fairly low on both machines).

I'm not trying to argue that the 763 is an equal workhorse when it comes to lifting in comparison to machines such as yours. My point is that with the right operator and in the right conditions, the 763 will lift what the manufacturer claims. There are many variables of course that will affect the lifting ability, such as terrain, ground stability, load stability, how smooth the operator is, and how far the load is from the lift arms. A pallet of sod, for example, is about 4' in length, which hangs out there quite a bit more than a bucket of dirt and in essence, acts as a giant lever.

I can unload a pallet of sod off of a truck with our 743 with two "heavyweights" on the back. A 773 will load and unload without any assistance at all.

[Lawngodfather]

Not arguing with that, just that machine out in the feild is not going to lift that much weight.

Going to have to foam fill the tires, add rear weights to it, and mine was not very stable with 1900# on front, but my NH was and piclked it up without foam filled tires, or rear weights, and the machine is rated for 240# more.......

Mines has barrily done 2800, but it did it. Did most of it on the front tires......LOL

Let me just make the point easy, don't expect it to do 2000#s.