Chandler - thanks for the advice. I did buy the Bradco brackets for the Bobcat side (they mount using the eight existing holes in the sides of the cab) but they are not compatible with the mustang attachments on the Bradco side. Even cutting, re-positioning and re-welding the Bradco attachments won't fix that. I do have a plan that would avoid having to extensively modify the attachments or scrap the Bobcat brackets but I thought I would try to find the "turn-key" parts first. Your New Holland attachments may have been different than the Mustang version. Did you take any before/after pictures? - JimI had a similar situation with my bobcat as you can read on the bobcat thread. I bought the half mounting plate from bradco that goes on my bobcat which was about 135.00 and I had a local welding shop cut off and modify the arms (subframe mount) that go from the backhoe to the bobcat. Just make sure that the arms are down and the backhoe is level when you measure. It saved me about 2/3 the cost of buying a new set from bradco. The subframe mount on my backhoe fit a new holland skid steer and we had to make the arms come up higher and longer to make it work. I carried my bobcat and backhoe to the welding shop so they could make a custom fit and it works fine.
No I didn't take any before pictures. I just didn't think to. I, like you, searched for a used mount but couldn't find anything. I will try to take some pics now that it is fixed. What kind of hitch or coupler does it have? If that part is the same, then you can make the rest work. If not, you could do like some others have done and make a mount using trailer couplers or a three point hitch adjustable top arm. I think it's a john deere brand that is used. I might could search and find it again. My arms have hooks that lock onto the bobcat half mount. Mine mounts on the frame where you step to get into the loader. It is a piece of angle bent to fit the frame, just guessing about 20" long. It has two horizontal round pins that the arm hooks latch onto. We had to extend the arms about 2" longer and 2" higher to get it to fit. Also we had to move them to the middle about a 1/2". I'll take some pics and try to post them sometime this week.Chandler - thanks for the advice. I did buy the Bradco brackets for the Bobcat side (they mount using the eight existing holes in the sides of the cab) but they are not compatible with the mustang attachments on the Bradco side. Even cutting, re-positioning and re-welding the Bradco attachments won't fix that. I do have a plan that would avoid having to extensively modify the attachments or scrap the Bobcat brackets but I thought I would try to find the "turn-key" parts first. Your New Holland attachments may have been different than the Mustang version. Did you take any before/after pictures? - Jim
I think we have the same Bradco "hooks". Each side has a length of threaded rod with jamb nuts, an over-the center tensioning clamp and a hook machined from flat plate steel about 1/2" thick. I have one design complete now that will let me use the Bradco hardware I have and leave the Bobcat brackets mounted where they are. This involves using an I-beam bar to "spread" the Bradco hook centerlines out to the Bobcat brackets. Not too complicated and it will attach and detach easily. I'm looking forward to seeing how you did this when you post your pictures. I will try to post a picture of the hook arrangement that I have. - JimNo I didn't take any before pictures. I just didn't think to. I, like you, searched for a used mount but couldn't find anything. I will try to take some pics now that it is fixed. What kind of hitch or coupler does it have? If that part is the same, then you can make the rest work. If not, you could do like some others have done and make a mount using trailer couplers or a three point hitch adjustable top arm. I think it's a john deere brand that is used. I might could search and find it again. My arms have hooks that lock onto the bobcat half mount. Mine mounts on the frame where you step to get into the loader. It is a piece of angle bent to fit the frame, just guessing about 20" long. It has two horizontal round pins that the arm hooks latch onto. We had to extend the arms about 2" longer and 2" higher to get it to fit. Also we had to move them to the middle about a 1/2". I'll take some pics and try to post them sometime this week.
Chandler - If I did this right this should take you to a picture of one of my Bradco Mustang hooks. These may be similar to yours. - Jim http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat 743 and Bradco 408/IMG_1396.jpgI think we have the same Bradco "hooks". Each side has a length of threaded rod with jamb nuts, an over-the center tensioning clamp and a hook machined from flat plate steel about 1/2" thick. I have one design complete now that will let me use the Bradco hardware I have and leave the Bobcat brackets mounted where they are. This involves using an I-beam bar to "spread" the Bradco hook centerlines out to the Bobcat brackets. Not too complicated and it will attach and detach easily. I'm looking forward to seeing how you did this when you post your pictures. I will try to post a picture of the hook arrangement that I have. - Jim
All: I went ahead and rolled my own coupling for the 743 and 408 backhoe. The hooks were plasma-burned at a local shop from a template that I supplied. All other machining was standard stuff. I am having short hose adapters made by Royal Brass to allow the Bobcat aux hydraulic fittings to clear the end of the coupling bar. I guess I could have trimmed the bar but this will prevent damaging the couplers even with a worst-case lateral "shift". I'm not sure it is of interest to anybody but here are some pictures. - JimChandler - If I did this right this should take you to a picture of one of my Bradco Mustang hooks. These may be similar to yours. - Jim http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/IMG_1396.jpg
Sorry - I used the wrong links for the pictures. Here are the right ones: http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat 743 and Bradco 408/IMG_1800.jpg http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat 743 and Bradco 408/IMG_1803.jpg http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat 743 and Bradco 408/IMG_1805.jpg - JimAll: I went ahead and rolled my own coupling for the 743 and 408 backhoe. The hooks were plasma-burned at a local shop from a template that I supplied. All other machining was standard stuff. I am having short hose adapters made by Royal Brass to allow the Bobcat aux hydraulic fittings to clear the end of the coupling bar. I guess I could have trimmed the bar but this will prevent damaging the couplers even with a worst-case lateral "shift". I'm not sure it is of interest to anybody but here are some pictures. - Jim
http://s414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/?action=view¤t=IMG_1800.jpg
http://s414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/?action=view¤t=IMG_1805.jpg
http://s414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/?action=view¤t=IMG_1803.jpg
Nice setup indeed!Sorry - I used the wrong links for the pictures. Here are the right ones: http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/IMG_1800.jpg http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/IMG_1803.jpg http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/jimhumphries/Bobcat%20743%20and%20Bradco%20408/IMG_1805.jpg - Jim
Thank you Tazza. I hope it holds up. - JimNice setup indeed!
