mitchash
Gold Member
Anyone ever repower a Bobcat M600 or M610 skid steer? They have a 30hp Wisconsin gas V4 engine standard. I found one with a bad engine and was wondering if it was worth buying and fixing up?
The M610 had an original option of a Deutz 85.2cid or a Petter 70cid, I've owned both and both were under powered imo. Bobcat went from the vf4d (25hp) to the vh4d (30hp) for the same reason. Any savings made by going to a Kohler would be chewed up in time/money making adaption changes. Additionally, I would assume you would lose the 'variable speed' function by changing the pulley along with the 20% reduction in HP. You would lose additional power should you choose to go to 'Floatation tires' or change the "final drive" sprocket to increase speed.
A couple of things to consider:
*A hair line crack in the frame involving the fuel tank is very difficult/impossible to repair.
*A new 'variable speed drive sheave' is 628.00 (last one I bought). The shaft alone is now $208.00. Yes you can find sheaves used for about half price but you MUST know what you are looking at....an 'unmatched' pair (I see them on e-bay fairly often) can take out a crankshaft.
*If the pins have worn through the bushings on the 'driven sheave'/jackshaft sheave into the sheave halves themselves (often the case with poorly maintained machines) you are looking at another costly repair... just a few examples.
As valencleo indicated, it is not a particularly complicated machine but there are things you need to be aware of.