kingkong49
New member
my question is this- i just got a bobcat 743 and would like to put steel tracks on it. is this a good idea for this size skidsteer or not? i have alot of hills and rocks and mud to deal with. any thoughts on this? thanks
bobcat743
- Thread starter kingkong49
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Rustyiron
Super Member
You'll love them. No problem on 743. A friend runs them on his 743 for years.
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kingkong49
New member
Hj thanks for your reply, do you also know what brand of tracks he used and what size tires are on his 743. mine came with 12-16.5 and i think i have to switch back down to the 10-16.5 thanks
Rustyiron
Super Member
He had the 10" tire with the flat stamped pad that (Logering) I have the Grouser brand with the cast track. Both good with the Logering offering a bit more flotation and the Grouser with more traction and weight. (Those are both my opinoions) They both are available in all the tire sizes, I would not change to the smaller tire, but you might check for clearance for the track. If I remember the 743, there is plenty of room for either at the main frame but I don't remember the clearance up front at the loader arms.
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kingkong49
New member
Hi Rustyiron, thanks for getting back to me on this. my 743 has about 1/1/4 inch of clearence at the top in the rear of the main frame edge, in the front i will need a boom stop added. my local bobcat dealer told me that with 12-16.5 tires and the tracks on that i would break the chains because the tires were to big and the added weight of the tracks. i thought i would try the tracks that are the stamped steel because they claim less weight than the forged ones. i have plenty of clearence on the inside of the tires. what do you think i should do. thanks again.
franklinute
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2008
- Messages
- 184
On a 743 2" wheel spacers are recommended unless you turn the wheels around to give the tracks clearance. I've never heard that the chains would break with 12x16.5 tires and tracks on a 743. I've seen lots of 743s with 10" tires and tracks take all kinds of abuse and no damage. One thing to consider is the 12" wide tires and tracks will probably be wider than your bucket. Whichever size you use the metal tracks will make a huge difference in the performance. Enjoy.
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kingkong49
New member
HI thanks for the information, i have about 5/1/2 inches between the side wall and the main frame. the tires are 33 inches tall and i only have 1/1/4 inch of room near the rear edge by the engine compartment. they stick under the wheel well about 2/1/2 inches. the tires only measure 10/3/4 at the widest point, even know they say 12-16.5 is this normal? this is my first skidsteer, its all new to me thanks for all your help.
Rustyiron
Super Member
It might be best to follow the dealers recomendations, esp. if you can just change the tires without buying the wheel too. I didn't really think about the drive chains and the added load, in that respect, I would think that the machine should be engineered so that (small) difference would not be the breaking point. But that has been my observation of Bobcat's machines, only built to the minimums. Every time when it comes to replacing a machine I look at BC, I really want to like them as they seem to have the most advanced cab (controls, aux controls, features) but they are usually the lightest unit in the HP class that I am shopping for. As for using spacers or rev. the wheels, that will add a load to the axles and bearings with the wider track- strike 2. Go with the dealers sugg.
franklinute
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2008
- Messages
- 184
kong49 - now I am very curious about the type of tires you have on those rims. If you have to stock rims and 12" wide tires that would make them taller and narrower. If you put tracks on you will have clearance issues by the engine compartment. 1.25" is not enough room. I know the specs of my 843 pretty well but not the 743.
SSdoxie
Elite Member
The 743 was built with 10X16.5 tires. Running the 12" is already demanding more HP because of the taller/bigger circumfrence. Adding tracks not only adds weight but traction too, both require more HP. I think putting tracks on this with 12" tires will turn it into a gutless wonder. Also putting tracks over the 12" tires is going to require more thickness in the boom stop adapter and will set your bucket so high that when bucket is flat (level with ground) it won't set on the ground, you won't be able to smooth foward grade cut.
