Bobcat has unveiled a new expanded family of digging attachments for the company’s compact loader range. For the first time, the offering now includes a choice of three different types of boom distinguished by the system used to mount them on the loaders – either Bob-Tach mounted, centre-mounted or side-shift mounted.
All the attachments, oddly called backhoes by the company, are designed to be operated from within the cab for increased comfort and safety for the operator. They also feature easy-to-use controls for precise, smooth movements and reduced operator fatigue. Bobcat backhoe attachments help to increase the versatility of the compact loaders and provide an excellent return on investment for a variety of applications.
The unique Bob-Tach system is a standard feature of all Bobcat loaders and is by far the most common method for mounting Bobcat attachments, ensuring that they are fitted securely and safely to the machines in seconds. The new Bob-Tach mounted backhoe attachment is approved for use on all models in the new 500 platform, namely the S510, S530, S550, S570 and S590 skid-steer loaders and the T590 compact tracked loader.
With the Bob-Tach system, the backhoe is mounted directly onto the loaders without the need for a mounting kit or stabilisers and provides a maximum digging depth of 1.8m. The hydraulic cylinder swing mechanism provides a swing from left to right of +/- 48 degrees on the dipper.
The Bob-Tach backhoe uses the Bobcat X-Change coupler as standard so is suitable for use with X-Change buckets only (same category as that on the Bobcat E26 compact excavator). A seven-pin control kit is required to use the attachment on the loader and there‘s a hydraulic clamp option which requires an auxiliary hydraulic kit to operate the hydraulic clamp.
Bobcat offers a centre-mounted backhoe attachment for the company’s smallest S70 skid-steer loader. This is also mounted via the Bob-Tach system on the S70 model and is supplied with a mounting kit for the purpose. The backhoe uses pin-on buckets compatible with those for the Bobcat E14 and E16 compact excavators. The swing mechanism is chain-operated and the backhoe has mechanically adjusted stabilisers. The centre-mounted backhoe on the S70 provides a maximum digging depth of 1.85m.
For larger Bobcat loaders, there are four different side-shift backhoes from Bobcat: the 625S, 725S, R30S and R35S models. The side-shift system allows the loader to work close to walls.
Front stabilisers are included as standard for enhanced stability and digging performance, and rear stabilisers are optional. As well as buckets, these easily transportable backhoes also allow the use of breaker attachments.
The 625S side-shift backhoe is approved for use on the S100 skid-steer loader and the T110 compact tracked loader. The 725 side-shift backhoe is intended for use on the Bobcat S130 skid-steer loader. Maximum digging depths are 2.48mand 2.47m respectively.
The 625S and 725S backhoes are equipped as standard with the heavy duty pin-on X-change coupler for Bobcat buckets. In addition, older style buckets that were used with the previous bolt on X-Change coupler are also compatible for use on these backhoes, but must be used with an anchor kit.
Next in the range is a new version of the R30S side-shift backhoe that’s is designed with bolt-on mounting arms for use with different sized Bobcat loaders from and including the S130 skid-steer loader right up to the larger 800 Series S850 skid-steer and T870 compact tracked loaders. The rear frame in the R35S backhoe is different, providing for just one type of mounting arm to allow use of the backhoe on all loaders from the S630 upwards and including the S650, S770, S850, T650, T770, T870 and A770 models. The side-shift frame in both backhoes is locked in place by four clamping cylinders. The R30S and R35S backhoes offer very impressive maximum digging depths of 2.99m and 3.51m respectively.
The joystick controls in the R30S and R35S backhoes are mounted directly on the valve bank, eliminating all mechanical linkages. The valve bank features a new section with manual depressurisation of the auxiliary hydraulic lines. This system removes all pressure in both lines to facilitate connection and disconnection of hydraulic breakers and other attachments. To support this function, a drain line has been added to the backhoe feeding lines. This drain line connects onto the drain coupler on the loader.
For more information visit: www.bobcat.eu.
