Help with Bobcat 642 drive chain replacement

laurencen · Dec 5, 2017

you need all 4 wheels off the ground both to test and replace chain, lift arms and block, I recommend 2 people to replace chains, defiantly trust the fellow in control of the levers, it would be too easy to get hurt if the chain was pulled too fast while trying to feed it

ibbuckshot · Dec 7, 2017

What kind of homemade tools or tricks do you use to pull together the chain ends in order to insert the master link? There may only be a few thousands of an inch that keep the link from being connected............

laurencen · Dec 7, 2017

go get some strong zip ties, put then between rollers where the sprocket teeth would go and thro the other end of chain, use 2, pull each one tighter and it will bring chain together, there are tools for this but I could never get them to fit in the space, you may have luck putting each end on the sprocket teeth, need at least 2 teeth engagement, will work for the front chains but not the back chain, hard part is getting the split pins in the holes and spreading them between chain and side of case

ibbuckshot · Dec 7, 2017

How then would you get to connect the back two chains??? I spoke to the person who is to supply me with his now my shop manual and he cant find it...... Says he has it saved on his computer and can print it out.. I hope so. It looks like I am to be the proud owner of this 642. He has become disinterested in doing any additional work on it.

laurencen · Dec 8, 2017

the back ones are a real pain, I would first get machine on stands and try rotating the wheels one at a time and see how much rotation is in each,

if the 642 is same system as 743 I can email the pages for chain replacement,

ibbuckshot · Dec 17, 2017

Thank you Laurencen, your e mail pages have been printed out and in a binder to be out in the shop for the chain replacement. Wouldn't you know that this morning I got the previous owner to come up with a new copy of the three versions of the Bobcat 642 manual. This newly printed manual is a 384 pages and has " Dealer Copy - Not for Resale " printed on every page. I don't know where he obtained it but it sure is extensive. I want to thank you again for your assistance. Have a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year..... Now I am out to finish my newly constructed backhoe thumb. I think it will work very well. I need all the help I can muster..in my old age.

Have fun,
buckshot