632 Bobcat

Loader tractor died and was kicking around a stid steer. Stopped and looked at some used units. The one that might fit the bill was a 632 Bobcat. Any thoughts, good or bad and what to watch for. Thanks, Mike

They haven't made the 600 series for quite a while. 1000 lbs. rated capacity. I think has a 4 cylinder Ford 98 cu. in. engine. Decent enough machine but you might want to consider a diesel with a little more capacity. Would need to run it for 1/2 an hour or so to get it hot and see how everthing works. Dave

I am "Bobcat guy". I have had over a dozen, and currently have 3 of them. I know someone will prove me wrong, but my experience is that you should buy a fairly new late-model one UNLESS the COMPLETE history of the machine is known. Some people/businesses simply abuse them way too much. I once bought a 1250 hr machine that ended up having the ORIGINAL chaincase and hyd oil still in it.

Does a 632 have clutches? I'd stay away if it did. A 1000 lb. cap machine will not do all that a loader will (although it will do some things far better).

Will you use the machine often/several hundred hrs/yr? I ask because you can rent a new one from $125-175 per day, and have up to 3300 lbs RATED cap (actual tipping point is double the rated cap on wheeled machines). Also, the new machines are capable of utilizing over 80 different attachments that can also be rented.

Personally, I'd save my $$ until I could find a 753G or S-130. (1300# late-model hydro machines). I recently saw a 2001 753G with 1200 hrs--one owner (a father-son moonlight concrete company), really sharp original comndition and paint, for $11,500. I would have bought it if I had a need for it, but I already have a 2007 S-130, a 2008 T-190, and a 2003 S-250, all of which get over 250hrs/yr put on them. I bought them all used with under 200 hrs---far cheaper than new.

You can't go wrong with Bobcat. I just wouldn't go too old unless you won't hardly use it/don't depend on it at crucial times. Exception would be if you are a GOOD mechanic with extra time you could spend fixing one up--remember, hyd pumps and motors are expensive.

For a Bobcat man, you should realize that a 632 is hydrostatic. The 32 series was the series before the 42/43(diesel) series as in a 743 which is the next size up. I would guess that at least 95% of all skid steers still have the original oil in the chain case and hyd. tank with only 1250 hours. All the oil in the chain case does is lube the chain. Hydraulic oil can be tested. The hyd. oil filter should be changed regularly though. A place that does oil samples told me that unlike engine oil that looses viscocity, hyd. oil increases in viscocity. They said doing samples can save you having to buy a lot of oil that isn't necessary. On some older machines, like an 825, the chain case and hyd. oil used the same reservoir. Then it would be good to change the oil more often. A 632 would have the standard Bobcat coupler and newer attachments should fit on it. There are a lot of good skid steers to consider and always remember that they will all break down and cost a lot to fix. Just like most other equipment. Some skid steers are made more for construction type work ie/ Bobcat, Case, etc. and others are made more for ag type work ie/ older JD's and New Holland(actually they are almost the same machine. One big problem with looking at a machine like this is visibility. You sit down way too low in them and you can't see what the bucket edge is doing. This takes away the whole advantage of a skid steer. You can't do precise work if you can't see what the bucket is doing. Snow and light material buckets are the exception as they are usually a lot higher. Skid steers are like everything else. Some people will love a certain brand and others will hate it. They all have their good and bad points. Dave

632 is older and smaller than I have ever had, and I sure don't know all the models. You may be right on oils not being changed, which reinforces my point--don't buy one w/o a complete history. Iowa's largest dealer's service man told me he has NEVER seen a significant failure of hyd or chaincase areas on machines that have had these oils changed regularly/ machine not severely abused.

I'd bet the farm that a 1200 hr machine that is several years old, and has been washed regularly and/or pushed a lot of snow has a MILKY chaincase. ALWAYS.
You may be right on hyd oil if filter has been changed at least annually, but why not change it once in a while--spend a hundred dollars or so to potentially save SEVERAL THOUSAND in repairs.

My whole point was BE CAREFUL BUYING USED over a few years old--that is all I am saying. No more, no less....