If you have ever spent an afternoon poking around an old farm or a small-town equipment auction, you have likely crossed paths with a bobcat melroe 500. This little machine is a genuine piece of history, often recognized by its boxy frame and that iconic white-and-red paint job that has seen better days. It isn't just a relic, though; for a lot of folks, it was the first real introduction to what a skid steer could actually do.
Before we had the high-tech, climate-controlled cabs of today, we had machines like the M500. It was simple, loud, and incredibly effective for its size. Even now, decades after it first rolled off the line, you will still see these things buzzing around backyard projects and small horse stalls. There is something about the way they were built that just keeps them going, provided you don't mind getting some grease on your hands every once in a while.
Where It All Started
To understand the bobcat melroe 500, you have to look back at the early 1960s. The Melroe Manufacturing Company was really hitting its stride back then. They had taken the original three-wheeled loader design from the Keller brothers and evolved it into the four-wheel skid steer we recognize today. The M500 was a key part of that evolution, sitting right in the middle of a timeline that changed how we move dirt and hay forever.
By the time the 500 hit the market, the "Bobcat" name was becoming synonymous with the machine itself. It was marketed as a tough, agile little beast that could turn on a dime. Back then, farmers were the primary target. They needed something that could get inside a barn where a tractor couldn't fit. The M500 fit that niche perfectly. It was small enough to be nimble but had enough grunt to replace five guys with shovels.
The Specs and That Air-Cooled Heart
The thing about the bobcat melroe 500 that surprises people today is just how basic the engine setup is. Most of these units came equipped with a two-cylinder Kohler engine. It was air-cooled, which was a huge selling point at the time because you didn't have to worry about radiators leaking or antifreeze freezing up in the dead of winter.
It wasn't exactly a powerhouse—we are talking about maybe 18 to 24 horsepower depending on the specific year and configuration—but it used every bit of that power. Since the machine itself was relatively light, it felt punchy. When you hopped in and throttled up, the whole frame would vibrate with this mechanical energy that felt very "analog."
The lift capacity was generally rated around 500 to 600 pounds. Compared to a modern S76 that can lift thousands, it sounds tiny. But for its era? It was a game-changer. It meant you could move a decent pile of gravel or a few bales of hay without breaking your back. The hydraulic system was straightforward too, usually running a simple pump that powered the lift arms and the drive motors.
Operating the M500
If you are used to modern joysticks, sitting in a bobcat melroe 500 is going to be a bit of a culture shock. There are no fancy buttons or touchscreens here. You have two long levers in front of you and two pedals on the floor. That's it.
The levers control the wheels on either side. Push them both forward to go straight, pull them back to reverse, and if you want to do that famous "spin in place" move, you push one and pull the other. It takes a little practice to get the hang of it without jerkily bouncing the machine across the yard, but once you find the rhythm, it feels like an extension of your own arms.
The foot pedals control the lift and tilt of the bucket. It's a very physical experience. You can feel the resistance in the pedals when you are digging into a heavy pile of dirt. There's no pilot control to dampen the feedback. You know exactly what that bucket is doing because you can feel the strain through your boots. It's honest work, though it'll definitely leave your legs feeling tired after a long day of grading a driveway.
Why People Still Buy Them
You might wonder why anyone would go looking for a bobcat melroe 500 in the 2020s. Well, the main reason is simplicity. You can fix most things on an M500 with a basic set of wrenches and a bit of patience. There are no computers to fry, no expensive sensors to go bad, and no DEF fluid to worry about.
It's also the perfect size for "weekend warriors." If you have a small property and you just need to move some mulch or clear some snow, a modern skid steer is a massive investment. An old Melroe 500, on the other hand, can often be picked up for a fraction of the cost. It's basically the "starter drug" of heavy equipment. Once you own one, you wonder how you ever lived without a bucket.
Another big draw is the footprint. Modern machines have gotten wider and heavier. The bobcat melroe 500 is narrow. It can squeeze through gates and into tight alleyways where a bigger machine would get stuck. For people doing historical restoration or working in cramped suburban backyards, that narrow width is worth its weight in gold.
Common Issues to Watch For
Of course, owning a machine that is fifty years old isn't all sunshine and rainbows. If you're hunting for one, you have to be realistic. The biggest thing to check is the drive chains. Since this is a skid steer, those chains take a lot of abuse. If they haven't been lubricated or adjusted over the years, they can stretch or even snap, and fishing a broken chain out of the belly of the machine is nobody's idea of a fun Saturday.
Hydraulic leaks are also pretty common. Old seals dry out, and hoses get brittle. The good news is that most of these parts are standard. You can usually take an old hose to a local hydraulic shop, and they can crimp you a new one in ten minutes.
The Kohler engines are tough, but they do have their quirks. Ignition points often need cleaning, and the carburetors might need a rebuild if the machine has been sitting with old gas in it. But again, these are "garage-fixable" problems. You don't need a laptop and a proprietary software license to get the engine running again.
The Legacy of the 500
It's funny to think that the bobcat melroe 500 was once the cutting edge of technology. Looking at it now, it looks like a toy compared to the massive track loaders on construction sites. But without the M500, we might not have the industry we have today. It proved that the skid steer concept wasn't just a gimmick—it was a necessary tool for modern labor.
The "Bobcat" brand survived and thrived because machines like the 500 were reliable. They built a reputation for being the "tough little guys" on the job site. Even today, when people see that white paint and the black logo, they expect the machine to work hard. That reputation started with the M-series.
So, if you happen to find a bobcat melroe 500 sitting in a barn, don't just walk past it. Take a second to look at the welds, the simple lever system, and the compact design. It represents a time when machines were built to be used, abused, and fixed by the person who owned them. Whether you're a collector of vintage iron or just someone who needs to move a pile of dirt without a shovel, the M500 is a classic that still deserves a bit of respect. It might be old, it might be loud, and it might leak a little oil, but it'll usually get the job done if you treat it right.