Description

Bobcat 444, 500, 600 1987 Service Manual

Working on a Bobcat from the late 80s? You know the drill – missing torque specs, faded decals, and a wiring diagram that someone drew on a napkin. That is a good way to blow a hydraulic line or bend a valve. This is the Bobcat 444, 500, 600 1987 Service Manual – the actual dealer supplement that Melroe/Ingersoll-Rand issued in 1987 to cover the 444, 500, and early 600 loaders. It is 100 pages of verified factory data, not a reprint or a third-party summary. You need this on the bench next to the hydraulic filter and the 15/16″ wrench.

What the Bobcat 444, 500, 600 1987 Service Manual Covers

This supplement is meant to be used with the main 600/600D/610/611 service manual (PN 6556276). It adds specific procedures and specifications for the 444, 500, and early 600 models. The table of contents breaks into four major sections: HYDRAULIC SYSTEM (page 1), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (page 15), ENGINE SERVICE (page 27), and TROUBLESHOOTING (pages 45–46). Each section is dense with measurements, disassembly steps, and safety notes that are missing from aftermarket guides. Page 2 is blank – do not ignore that. The real information starts on page 3 with a full-page maintenance safety warning that covers everything from lift-arm support to battery acid handling. Read it before you crack a fitting.

Engine Service: Wisconsin, Onan, and Kohler Divisions

The ENGINE SERVICE chapter takes up a third of the manual. It is split into three sub-sections: ENGINE SERVICE WISCONSIN (page 27), ENGINE SERVICE ONAN (page 47), and ENGINE SERVICE KOHLER (page 59). That means you get the specific valve lash, compression, and torque specs for each engine brand used in these loaders. No guesswork about whether a Wisconsin head bolt takes the same torque as a Kohler. It does not. The factory numbers are here, and you should not rely on a generic engine manual for those. One wrong torque on a head bolt and you are pulling the cylinder head again.

Hydraulic System: Pump and Control Valve Data

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM starts on page 1 and covers the pump, control valve, lift cylinders, and tubeline routing. The 444, 500, and 600 share many hydraulic components, but the spec differences matter – especially charge pressure and relief valve settings. If you need the charge pressure for a 500, the supplement has it. Skim this section before you start loosening tube fittings. The manual warns about pressurized fluid penetrating skin – that is not a joke. Wear gloves and relieve pressure first.

Electrical System: Factory Wiring for the 444, 500, 600

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (page 15) gives you the wire colors, connector locations, and component tests that are specific to these models. Aftermarket wiring diagrams often collapse all Bobcat skid-steers into one generic drawing. That causes misdiagnosis. This section shows the actual routing for the 444, 500, and early 600 – including the safety interlock circuit that kills the starter if the seat bar is up. Trace it here before you replace a starter solenoid that is fine. The manual also covers the alternator and instrumentation.

Troubleshooting: Page 45–46 – The Symptom-Action Table

Pages 45 and 46 are a troubleshooting matrix. It lists symptoms – engine won’t start, low hydraulic power, electrical dead – and gives the probable cause and the page number for the repair procedure. This is not a flow chart; it is a table you can tape to the toolbox. If the 444 jerks when turning, look up the hydraulic section. Fast. That table saves you from reading the whole book before you start turning wrenches.

Source Authenticity: Why Factory Specs Beat Aftermarket

Manual Transmission is a term you probably associate with gearboxes, but in the service manual world it means the difference between a torque value that works and one that strips threads. This manual is an OEM Melroe/Ingersoll-Rand publication, not a copy job. The part number on the cover is 6556520 (revised 3-87). The original print runs are 100 pages, double-sided, with a dealer copy notice. Aftermarket versions often crop margins, lose foldout wiring diagrams, and introduce page numbering errors. That matters when you are holding a 1/2″ torque wrench and need the exact foot-pound for a loader arm pivot. Do not trust a scan from someone who scanned it on a flatbed. Get the factory file – that is what this is.

Related manuals you may need:

• Bobcat 444 500 600 Service Manual – same supplement, different format
• 2005 Bobcat 444 Operators Manual – Operation and Maintenance
• Bobcat 444 500 600 1987 Service Manual – OEM Shop Guide

For external reference on drivetrain systems, see Manual Transmission and Manual Transmission – but rely on this manual for the loader-specific torque and clearance specs.

FAQ

Does this manual cover the fuel system on the 444 and 500 models?

No. The fuel system is covered in the main 600/600D/610/611 service manual. This supplement only adds the hydraulic, electrical, and engine sections for the 444, 500, and early 600. For fuel injector or carburetor specs, you need the base manual (PN 6556276). This supplement references it repeatedly.

Are torque values listed for the cylinder head bolts?

Yes. The ENGINE SERVICE section (page 27 for Wisconsin, page 47 for Onan, page 59 for Kohler) includes factory torque values for head bolts, connecting rods, and main bearings. Use them exactly – a 10-ft-lb error on a Kohler head can warp the casting. The manual also lists the tightening sequence.

If you are servicing a Bobcat 444, 500, or 600 from 1987, you need the data that came from the factory – not a summary someone typed up in 2024. Access the Factory Manual from AutoRepairManuals and put it on the tablet next to your impact gun.