Old bobcat m444 or m500 questions

Graveyard1984 · May 6, 2020

I am looking at purchasing a older bobcat from the 1960's i think it is a
M444 or m500.

Are parts available for them?
Are they cost effective to fix?
I know that they are small but i was thinking about it for small jobs around the house.
Are they reliable?
What is the value of them

teddy52food · May 6, 2020

My 1st was a 500. It was used & abused to no end. Tough as nails. Lifting logs for the sawmill , it was overloaded many times with 2 men on the back. It had a 2 cylinder Kohler engine.

Blackhole49 · May 6, 2020

Not any help with Bobcat Brand, but, my experience with an old skid steer. I bought a 1974 CL 40 Ford in 2000 for $2,000. It was was a tired old horse when I got it and parts are hard to come by. Mine has the 104 ci v-4 that I haven't even done a tune up on. The machine will buck like a bronco if you get rough with it. Check and see if axles are available for it, mine has broke 2 and they are hard to come by. That said, it's amazing how much work it will do if your easy on it.

Steve@Advance · May 6, 2020

A lot will depend on how it was used and stored.

At that age, if it spent any time stored outside, count on water being in everything it shouldn't be.

If it is running, that is a big plus.

As for parts, you can probably find about anything as an off the shelf item. I doubt that they had the capacity to make or special order any thing, like special castings or special cylinders, pumps or motors. And there sure won't be any proprietorial electronics! The rest is just fab shop work. If it's broke, weld it. If it's beyond that, make a new one.

Bret4207 · May 6, 2020

I own a 444. Mine was badly abused before I got it, which is why I could afford it. If you are used to a modern skid steer, you will be in for a major disappointment. If you aren't, if you think of it as an overgrown garden tractor with a bucket, you'll be fine. You can still get most parts from Bobcat. They aren't cheap, but they are available.

wore out · May 6, 2020

(quoted from post at 06:30:06 05/06/20) A lot will depend on how it was used and stored.

At that age, if it spent any time stored outside, count on water being in everything it shouldn't be.

If it is running, that is a big plus.

As for parts, you can probably find about anything as an off the shelf item. I doubt that they had the capacity to make or special order any thing, like special castings or special cylinders, pumps or motors. And there sure won't be any proprietorial electronics! The rest is just fab shop work. If it's broke, weld it. If it's beyond that, make a new one.

" I doubt that they had the capacity to make or special order any thing, like special castings or special cylinders"

WOW, that's quite a (false) statement!

IowaJohn · May 6, 2020

If you buy it and need used parts Nebraska Harvestore in Norfolk,Ne has parted out alot of older bobcats. You can Google them. I got parts for my 610 there 'til I sold it.

Old bobcat m444 or m500 questions

Graveyard1984

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teddy52food

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Blackhole49

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Steve@Advance

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Bret4207

Well-known Member

wore out

Well-known Member

IowaJohn

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