Thanks a ton, Mojo!! ...followed the link and downloaded the manuals. That should help a bunch. If you have additional info handy I'd much appreciate ANY tips or advice. I picked the 743 up from a friend of a friend who'd had it sittin around for quite a few years unused. Fortunately I got it pretty cheap, because it crapped out on me just after I'd finished digging the new foundation on a job. (lucky timing, sort of...although my client wasn't too happy about the hunk of heavy equip. broken down in his back yard) I need to dig into the hydro system and see if the main pump's putting out the correct pressure, but I figured as it's had issues starting and I know it's burning a bit of oil, I should make sure the engine is in the best shape I can get it and make sure it's putting out the most torque it's capable of. Currently it's running real weak... won't turn r/or/l well and can't even make it up a steep drive under it's own power. Bucket functions, but when the machine warms up it starts to struggle under load...I've got a lot of work ahead, but I'm stubborn and I'd rather not just scrap the old girl. That just seems like a waste of good steel.
Thanks again!