Skidsteer Recommendation - NH LX885 or Bobcat 763?

Rustyiron · Mar 28, 2015

From your first post describing your use on "hills & slopes" The NH will be much more stable. Longer wheelbase and track & bigger tires/wheels. The noise might just be "hyd. noise" I had a brand new JD 260 and it was loud. The control linkage on the drive motor might be out of adjustment. Be aware that in the woods you will need over the tire metal tracks on either machine. No help on the BC oil issue, sorry.

truckdiagnostics · Mar 28, 2015

Agree with Rustyiron, the NH is worth a second look. I had similar issues with my BC and a linkage adjustment took care of it. On the BC to get more info on the leak you will need to flip the cab. There is a breather tube that comes off valve cover and there is a 3" chunk of hose that connects between the valve cover and the down pipe. Don't know where it goes after that. It is strategically hidden behind the alternator.

gwiley · Mar 28, 2015

I have owned a bobcat 743 and a 773 and I love them. Bobcat makes a very solid machine, both of mine have the kubota 4 cyl engine - rock solid. Parts for the older 7 series are surprisingly cheap. The sideways motor on both the 773 and 743 is deisgned to not hide much behind it - everything you need to deal with faces out.

Given a choice I would get the bobcat.

Hilbilly · Mar 29, 2015

Thanks guys. Lots of help here. I'm sidetracked for a few days as my M.I.L. Passed away yesterday. I'll get back to you as I move forward.

Hilbilly · Mar 30, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Agree with Rustyiron, the NH is worth a second look. I had similar issues with my BC and a linkage adjustment took care of it. On the BC to get more info on the leak you will need to flip the cab. There is a breather tube that comes off valve cover and there is a 3" chunk of hose that connects between the valve cover and the down pipe. Don't know where it goes after that. It is strategically hidden behind the alternator.

Did the adjustment only fix the linkage issue or also the grinding noise when travelling? If it fixed both then I will take another look at the NH.

I took another look at the BC and there is definitely blow by. The short piece of tubing is not connected to the breather so I put my finger over the end of the breather. It took a little while but the pressure did build up to the point where it would eventually push past my finger. Does this sound like machine to avoid or is a little blowby normal for a machine with 3300 hrs on it?

truckdiagnostics · Mar 30, 2015

On my BC I was thinking the worst. Adjusted the linkage, fixed noise and travel issues. I actually had the dealer do it. Glad i did it, was tricky and physially i could not do it at the time. I was amazed. As for the blow by on the BC never really looked at it. I have 5,400 hrs now bought at 3,400 i know I am getting some because when the hose was off it trashed the alternator.

Hilbilly · Mar 30, 2015

I'm home now and a long ways from both machines. I did stop and talk to a BC service person on my way home. He couldn't tell me if the blow by was a real issue or not. I guess they would have to see it. I did ask about the parts to do a complete ring job and bottom end bearings. Total cost for parts was around $1,000. He also asked if the BC would creep after letting go of the levers and I told him it did not. He said that was a very good sign because there are some aluminum bushings that will cause creep if they are worn out and it is expensive to replace. The only way I could know for sure if the NH required a simple adjustment to fix it is to either ask the owner to get it done or for me to take it to a service center and have a mechanic check it out. I'm pretty sure the owner would not agree to either. He was not a very friendly person. I would prefer to get it if that was the magic fix but if it is something more serious I could be into some big repair bills. Without the comfort of knowing exactly what is wrong with it I wouldn't take the risk and buy it, hoping for the best.

I think I may go ahead with the BC. There is another one I can check out but it is even further away, about 6 hrs.

truckdiagnostics · Mar 30, 2015

Try posting under NH section and asking your question specifically same for the blow by on the BC under the bobcat section. Just a thought.

Hilbilly · Mar 30, 2015

truckdiagnostics said:
Try posting under NH section and asking your question specifically same for the blow by on the BC under the bobcat section. Just a thought.

Good idea.

Rustyiron · Mar 30, 2015

Did you check the hyd. oil on the NH (fwiw) looks and tank level. I'm not playing favorite's but I really think you would appreciate the size and stability of the bigger NH. It's hard to describe a noise in writing, you say grinding, not good at all, but there is a hydraulic noise that some could call grinding, esp. in a large wheel motor that may be normal in a machine with some hours on it. You could also try your question over at; Skid Steers
Good luck HB.