Bobcat Clark 533

[Jim Schumacher]

I know there are a ton of people on the site that know equipment very well. I am looking to buy a small skidstear to use on the land. The problem is, though I feel comfortable operating, I know very little about them. The one pictured is a 1980 Bobcat Clark 533 with a 800 lb capacity. I know there are better and bigger ones out there, but this it the first one I found for less then $7500.00. I ran it for about a half hour today and found that it does have a few flaws. Is there anything in particular that I should be watching out for with this specific machine? Any idea what it is worth?

[Rhino]

Jim, depending on how much time you have to spare to go to some local farm auctions, I would look for listings that have a skidsteer for sale. $$$ is tight and you might be surprised at what price you can get a nice skidsteer these days. Also i would get one with tracks or get tracks for what ever you get. The tracks are what makes these machines really handy.

[Brokermike]

here in the northeast you can buy a much newer machine for about the same money.

http://albany.craigslist.org/grd/1751298044.html

I'd keep looking. Tracked skid steers are way out of your budget but you might be able to find a nice tractor with loader, or newer machine for that kind of money.

I've found that older machines, regardless of hours, are prone to blowing hydraulics hoses in the all of the places that aren't easy to replace.

[MERIDIAN MAPLES]

That seems like a lot of money for that age and size of machine. I also think you would be happier with a bigger machine. I bought a case 1840 which is a 1994 for that money a couple of years ago. It lifts 1500#s and we use it all the time for making firewood. We've got a grapple bucket for it, and its a firewood moving machine. Personally I would pass on the one your looking at. If you like Bobcats there are lots newer machines around for that price. Just my opinion.

[MERIDIAN MAPLES]

Also, does that have a Wisconsin engine in it? My friend had an older Bobcat like that with a Wisconsin engine, if he ran it for a while in the summer it would get hot. If you shut it off you'd have to wait for it to cool down to get it started.

[Paddymountain]

I bought a Bobcat 722 about ten years ago and only paid 5000 for it
It has the Ford 4 cyl industrial engine in it, and for it's size it works well
also it will lift about a 1000 lb. I think I would keep on looking.

[KenWP]

With the little Bobcats working on rough ground it is real easy to overload the bucket and tip them foreward. Cell phones come in handy for that experience. 500 pounds is not a lot when it comes to sand and gravel also. We use one for silage in the barn and it's okay because of space but a pain because I have size 12 feet and I just bairly fit in the stupid thing.

[petersp22]

There's a 530 in Greenwood on the Wausau craigslist. Something like that would be handy.

[Big_Eddy]

I'm not a fan of Bobcat's (or similar) in the woods. Too heavy for soft stuff, too tippy for rough stuff and too slow for carry jobs over irregular terrain. IMO Bobcats are best suited to hard surfaces on construction sites or similar. I do like the compact track loaders - but they are harder to find used and pricier as well.

If you are set on getting one - things to look for.
Leaks - should be NONE.
Fluids and Filter - clear and topped up, clean, hours changed recorded.
Hoses - check for cracks, wear, abuse, pinching.
Cylinders - leaks, scoring, bends.
Pivots - tight, well greased, not egged out.
Boom and frame - no cracks, no obvious abuse. Especially around the pivots and cylinder mounts.
Bucket - Edge, heel, corners. No serious distortion or twisting. If Quick Attach - works correctly and not damaged.
Operators station - normal wear. All safeties operational. All gauges operational.
Engine - Typical stuff
Pump - Sound, leaks, reliefs operate.
Cooling - Fan operates, Rad ok,
Tires and Wheels - Condition, Tread remaining, lug nuts, rims - check for egging of bolt holes.
Wheel Motors and driveline - overall condition, sound, adjustment, wear

This is all before operating the machine. There is a lot you can tell from the overall condition - was it looked after and maintained, or was it rode hard and put away dirty? That will tell you whether it's worth looking closer or not. If it is - then the best thing you can do is find a friend who knows equipment, bribe him with a gallon of your best syrup, and take him along for a look.

I'd highly recommend that you give one a whirl in your bush, doing what you plan to do with it. Even if you need to rent one for a day, it will give you a chance to get to know if a Bobcat is right for you, and also give you some idea of what they are and are not well suited for.

[TF Maple]

I like my Bobcat 7753 it is not as wide as my tractors so I can sneak between trees to get to a tight spot to get a tree out of the bush. It is lighter than my tractors so less compaction and the hydraulics are faster too.