743 makeover almost done

[PEVO]

Been busy and on spare time (for months now) been working on repowering, fixing all wiring, gauge and idiot lights, new muffler, radiator, seat +tires..and more...& rattle can repainting into a deceptive color scheme, my 1991 743. Latest pics show everything done Except the cage. I still need to paint it black, add LED lights front & rear with red lights above the back plexiglass on the cage (i still have to add that too top and back...tinted of course. will most likely add a cheap amazon special backup camera with a 4.3in screen...to see whats behind me.
I may even add amber LED flashing lights atop since i do on occasion need to transit a public road going between farm locations. Some may ask why the CAT color scheme deception? Well i already have a CAT dozer and i always liked cat yellow over white and orange ...so there...And it will mess with peoples heads, construction types anyway. It also helps with the deception when you can produce your own custom bobCAT decals(for personal use only). My Day job i manage a graphics sign shop.

Only thing i dont have and on the bubble about making my own is the pull down padded body restraint bar which is long gone from inside the cab.

Heres a few pix so far. Will post more when completed.

 

[Birken Vogt]

My dad and grandpa had a business running those and flat wore out at least two of them back when they were still a current product. Chasing cracks around the loader frame and whatnot, adjusting the levers so it did not creep, nothing bad, just normal wear and tear. Good machines overall, they did not have engine or hydraulic failures or anything like that.

 

[colson04]

Awesome!

I have a worn out 743 that needs some loving one of these days. What all was involved to swap feom the v1702 to a v2203 engine? Mine has 7500 hours and is horrible to start. My dad has a 753 with a 2203 and it lights off easy peasy every time, really nice engine.

 

[PEVO]

theres a seller on ebay that you send your v1702 to, and they will swap all the parts over to a v2203 reefer unit salvage and guarantee it to drop right back in for like $2600 or so. I found diesel shop in east tx. that deals in salvage OTR reefers and they basically did the same for me...i just had to plan a road trip day to take my old engine to them...and a couple of weeks later they had switched everything over to a low hour(in reefer hours) v2203 for me to pick back up and drop into my skid.

What needs changing? Starter, flywheel, oil pan, back engine mount/starter mount(needs to be drilled to mount to 2203) needs dipstick drilled, since reefer engine has dripstick in over size oil pan. Front engine mount, Exhaust manifold. Throttle linkage, Must decide if you want to use manual shutoff engine kill or solenoid shutoff(already on v2203) Also 2203 has different intake/injectors/pump that needs to stay on 2203. so now your lift pump will have a primer. No need for primer bulb anymore. Alternator and mount needs switch over too. Right now you barely bump the starter and it fires right up (1-2 sec). A far cry from my wore out head gasket blown 1702 that needs generous shots of either to coax it to life.
Lastly you will need to replumb your intake to fit since the 2203 intake is back facing(toward you when mounted)vs. the 1702 intake is on top.

I think thats it

 

[colson04]

Nice info, I guess I need to start searching for someone close by to do that for me.

Mine is well worn and ether addicted too. I did replace my glow plugs to make sure they're good, but that wasn't enough to help the cold start issues.

 

[Marcus Wyatt]

That looks awesome bud. I am inspired! My old 743

 

[Welder Dave]

You should never use ether on a Kubota engine. A mechanic told me they have very tight tolerances and ether will destroy them. The older Kubota's were indirect injection and needed the glow plugs all the time when cold even if it was a hot summer day. Once warm would start back up. I think they switched to direct injection in about 1995. This eliminated having to use glow plugs on hot days but still required them on colder days. Going to direct injection made a HUGE difference in starting ease. When it's -30C and even plugged in (block heater and hyd. oil heater) with dual batteries, my indirect injection V1902B can have problems getting started. Glow plugs for a minute or longer is not uncommon. Despite being a little difficult to start at times are very good engines. Red-D-Arc had thousands of V1902B's set at a constant 1800 RPM in their extreme duty welders. They told me it was common for them to go over 9000 hours and never need anything other than regular maintainence and that included the injection pump. Getting over 15,000 hours was more the norm than the exception.