Bobcat 773G

[Tony]

What's the going rate for a 2001 773G, turbo diesel, high flow, 2K hours, with absolutely horrible paint (what's left of it, mostly rusty metal)? Seems to run and operate nicely. Rear stabilizers and standard loader bucket.

[Tony]

Go to this link and click on 773. It will bring up a current list of 773's currently for sale around the country. http://www.machinerytrader.com/drilldow ... anu=BOBCAT

That's a handy link. Thanks! It'll help me get a value for my ol' 743 as well.

[Tony]

Well, after viewing every 773 on MachineTrader... I'm not sure where I stand. I want to make sure I'm comparing apples-to-apples to be fair to the seller, but I don't want to pay too much. The serial on the 773 is 519017xxx which seems to put it on the older side of the 773G series. I'm not sure if that matters or not, but it does seem to matter quite a bit on my 743.

Another oddity are the graphics. It has the “standard” looking 773 graphics, with “turbo“ above the 773, like this one:

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings ... D=10038343

But below the 773 it has “high flow”. I know, according to this link:

http://www.bobcat.com/historical_specs/ ... r/773_1999

... that the Start of Production (SOP) for the 773G was 1999 and that high flow (27gpm) seems to be “standard”. There are no standard flow figures given. Of all the 2001 773's on MachineTrader, I don't think I saw a single non-773K 500K model graphics. There were lots of 773's with no year listed, so maybe one of those was a non-773K 2001.

What am I getting at? Who knows. But I am starting to suspect that maybe the 773 I'm considering isn't a 2001, but maybe a 2000. Most of the 1999 models have a totally different graphic and the rear lifting arm has a different shape to it.

There is a 773C (SOP 1994) and 773 (SOP 1997), but I know this is a 773G, so it can't be as old as 1994.

I did find a brochure for the 773 G-series and there was a turbo and non-turbo model available. The specs for the 773G turbo are identical to the 773T, so that's what I'll probably reference in the future.

[Tony]

Remember, bobcats weren't really manufactured in "years" like automobiles. Instead, when upgrades or modifications were made to a given model, a different serial number break would be created. Thats why the machines serial number is so important and not year. Always take a machines year with a grain of salt when looking at used machines. Many claims for a given year are not factual.

I went back Friday and ran through a full test drive/operate. Seems nice and tight. Engine runs well. No leaks that I can see from most angles. I went ahead and bought it. I'll be picking it up Saturday. I mainly bought it for the extra hp and flow rate over my 743. After I finish the paint job on the 743, the 743 will be for sale locally.

Your going to love the 773, its a proven workhorse.

Thanks Reaper. It's a big technological change from the 743. The LCD panel and operator codes are handy, but I still don't have the “start-up sequence“ memorized. You have to punch about 5 buttons to get things started and rolling. It came with 12” wheels, but I think I'm going to swap to 10”. The 12” probably give me a little extra speed, but the 10” should give me more torque. The engine is also turned 90* from the 743, which fills the engine compartment tightly. Not nearly as much room to get in and around to work on things.