Bobcat 873 Specs and Parts: HP, Capacity, Weight

Bobcat built the 873 in three distinct series, C, F, and G, and the specs shift with each one: 73.5 horsepower from a Deutz BF4M1011 diesel, a rated operating capacity of 2,300 lbs on C-Series and F-Series machines, 2,400 lbs on the G-Series, and an operating weight between 6,885 and 7,285 lbs.

At a Glance

• Engine: Deutz BF4M1011 / BF4M1011F diesel, 73.5 hp (73 hp on later G-Series)
• Rated operating capacity: 2,300 lbs (C/F Series), 2,400 lbs (G-Series)
• Operating weight: 6,885 lbs (C/F Series) up to 7,285 lbs (G-Series)
• Production era: mid-1990s through the early 2000s
• Parts status: discontinued machine, aftermarket support remains strong

What Are the Bobcat 873 Specs?

The Bobcat 873 sat at the top of Bobcat's radial-lift lineup in its era, and its numbers still hold up against much newer machines. Bobcat's non-current model specifications list the following core figures for the 873 family.

Specification	Bobcat 873 (C/F Series)	Bobcat 873 G-Series
Engine	Deutz BF4M1011 diesel	Deutz BF4M1011F diesel
Horsepower	73.5 hp	73 hp
Rated operating capacity	2,300 lbs	2,400 lbs
Tipping load	4,600 lbs	4,800 lbs
Operating weight	6,885 lbs	7,285 lbs
Travel speed	8.1 mph	8.1 mph (7.2 mph with 2-speed option engaged low)
Fuel capacity	25 gal	25 gal
Auxiliary hydraulic flow	16.3 to 18 gpm	18 gpm standard, up to 30 gpm high-flow
Hydraulic system relief	3,000 psi	3,000 psi

Key dimensions are consistent across the family: 112.1 inches long without an attachment, 140.7 inches with a standard bucket, 73.4 inches wide over the tires, 78 inches to the top of the cab, and a bucket hinge pin height of 124.3 inches. Those numbers come from RitchieSpecs and Bobcat's own archived model pages, and they matter when you are sizing the machine for trailer transport or door clearances.

Which Engine Does the Bobcat 873 Have?

Every Bobcat 873 runs a four-cylinder Deutz 1011-series diesel. Early C-Series and F-Series machines carry the BF4M1011, while G-Series machines use the updated BF4M1011F. Both are turbocharged and rated at roughly 73 horsepower.

Here is the detail that matters for ownership: the Deutz 1011 family uses engine oil as its cooling medium rather than a conventional water jacket. That design keeps plumbing simple, but it makes oil condition the single most important maintenance variable on this machine. Neglected oil changes on an oil-cooled Deutz do double damage, hurting both lubrication and cooling at once.

• Follow the service interval in the Bobcat operation and maintenance manual strictly
• Use oil rated for the thermal load of an oil-cooled engine
• Never run the engine hard before it reaches operating temperature

A fresh engine oil filter for your Bobcat 873 belongs in every service, not just some of them.

How Much Weight Can a Bobcat 873 Lift?

The Bobcat 873 lifts 2,300 lbs in C-Series and F-Series trim and 2,400 lbs as a G-Series, measured as SAE rated operating capacity. Rated operating capacity is defined as half of the tipping load, which is 4,600 lbs and 4,800 lbs respectively for these machines.

In practice that means the 873 comfortably handles a full pallet of sod, a hydraulic breaker, or a loaded grapple. If you routinely work at the limit, remember that capacity assumes a standard bucket at standard dimensions. Heavier attachments further from the hinge pin reduce usable payload.

What Is the Difference Between the 873 C-Series, F-Series, and G-Series?

Bobcat revised the 873 twice during its production run, which stretched from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s. The series letter is the key to correct parts, and searches like "1998 bobcat 873 specs" or "2004 bobcat 873 specs" are really asking which series a given machine is.

• C-Series: the original run, 2,300 lb capacity, 6,885 lb operating weight
• F-Series: mid-run update, same core ratings as the C-Series with detail refinements
• G-Series: the final and most common version, 2,400 lb capacity, 7,285 lb operating weight, optional 30 gpm high-flow auxiliary hydraulics and a 2-speed drive option

The reliable way to identify your machine is the serial number, not the year you were told at purchase. Our guide to finding the serial number, year, and model on your Bobcat shows exactly where the plate sits and how to read it. When you order parts, that serial number is what confirms fitment.

Is the Bobcat 873 a Good Machine?

Owners keep 873s working decades after production ended, and there are good reasons for that. The machine offers modern-loader capacity with a fraction of the electronics found on current equipment, which keeps diagnosis and repair in the hands of the operator.

• Strengths: strong hydraulics for its age, simple serviceable layout, huge attachment ecosystem, abundant parts supply
• Watch for: engine service history (critical on an oil-cooled Deutz), hydraulic response, cylinder seal leaks, and cab glass condition

A well-maintained G-Series with the high-flow option remains genuinely useful on a working site today, and used examples typically change hands for a fraction of the cost of a comparable modern machine.

How Long Will a Bobcat 873 Engine Last?

With disciplined maintenance, the Deutz BF4M1011 family routinely runs several thousand hours before major work. The engines that fail early almost always share one history: extended oil change intervals. Because the 1011 uses oil for cooling, old degraded oil overheats the engine from the inside.

When evaluating a used 873, treat the hour meter as secondary to the service record. A 4,000-hour machine with clean, documented oil history is a better bet than a 2,500-hour machine without one. Consult a certified mechanic for a compression and hydraulic check before any purchase.

What Are Common Bobcat 873 Problems?

The 873's failure patterns are well understood at this point in its life, and nearly all of them map to normal wear items rather than design flaws.

• Engine overheating: almost always oil-related on the 1011-series Deutz, as covered above
• Slow or weak hydraulics: start with the hydraulic filter and fluid condition before suspecting the pump
• Cylinder drift: aging lift and tilt cylinder seals are a routine reseal job
• Cracked or hazy cab glass: common on any machine this age that has worked around debris
• Worn door and cab seals: the cheap fix behind noisy, dusty cabs

Every one of those categories is a stocked part, not a hunt. Browse Bobcat 873 parts for the full range, or the wider Bobcat skid steer parts catalog when you run mixed machines.

What Is a Used Bobcat 873 Worth?

Resale value on the 873 varies widely with series, hours, and condition, so a single number would mislead. Auction results and dealer listings are the honest benchmark, and the spread between a rough C-Series and a clean high-flow G-Series is substantial.

What holds value up is documentation: engine service records, recent hydraulic work, and intact glass and seals all signal a machine that was cared for. What drags value down fastest is an unknown engine history, for the oil-cooling reasons covered earlier.

Are Bobcat 873 Parts Still Available?

Yes, and availability is better than most owners of a discontinued machine expect. Aftermarket manufacturers continue to produce parts for the 873 that meet or exceed OEM specifications, typically at a meaningful saving over dealer pricing.

Our catalog carries more than 600 parts with Bobcat 873 fitment, spanning filters, cab glass, seal kits, and wear components. Cross-referencing is straightforward because Bobcat OEM part numbers remain the industry's common language: search by the OEM number and verify against your serial number before ordering.

Which Bobcat 873 Parts Wear Out First?

Based on our catalog data for the 873 family, the most frequently ordered categories tell a consistent story about what this machine consumes in regular service.

• Filters: engine oil, fuel, air, and hydraulic filters lead every maintenance cycle
• Cab glass: door and side glass are the most common damage replacements
• Seal kits: lift and tilt cylinder reseals as the machines age
• Door and cab seals: inexpensive parts with outsized comfort impact

Stocking a filter set ahead of season is the cheapest insurance an 873 owner can buy. If you are unsure which variant your serial number takes, email sales@partsonline.com and we will confirm fitment before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight can a Bobcat 873 lift?

The Bobcat 873 lifts 2,300 lbs as a C-Series or F-Series and 2,400 lbs as a G-Series, measured as SAE rated operating capacity. Tipping load is 4,600 lbs and 4,800 lbs respectively.

Is a Bobcat 873 a good machine?

Yes. The 873 pairs near-modern capacity with a simple, serviceable design, and parts remain widely available. The main check on any used example is the engine service history, because the oil-cooled Deutz depends on disciplined oil changes.

How long will a Bobcat 873 engine last?

Several thousand hours is realistic with proper maintenance. Oil condition is the deciding factor, since the Deutz BF4M1011 uses engine oil for cooling as well as lubrication.

What is a 873 Bobcat worth?

Value depends heavily on series, hours, and documentation, so check current auction results and dealer listings for your region. Clean service records and a G-Series high-flow configuration command the strongest money.

What year is my Bobcat 873?

Decode it from the serial number rather than guessing. The serial plate identifies the series and production sequence, and our Bobcat serial number guide walks through reading it.

What are common Bobcat 873 problems?

Oil-related engine overheating, tired hydraulic filters, cylinder seal drift, and worn cab glass and seals top the list. All are standard wear items with readily available aftermarket replacements.

Need help confirming which parts fit your 873? It is the customer's responsibility to verify part compatibility before purchasing, and we make that easy: send your model and serial number to sales@partsonline.com and our parts specialists will confirm fitment, or browse the full Bobcat parts catalog.