Hi - New member, first posting. I have a Bobcat T200 (owned for over a year) and I want to buy a backhoe attachment for it (immediate need to bury over 700 feet of water line). I'm curious which model would be recommended? I talked with my local Bobcat dealer today and he said I will need to buy a 709 or 811 and a "mounting plate kit" (~$600 for the kit) since the backhoe needs to attach to the Bobcat frame, not just the quick attach plate. I have other digging projects on the horizon beyond just trenches that's wy I'm looking toward a backhoe and not a trencher attachment. I have no experience with a backhoe attachment so I'm asking for some kindly advice/guidance. I'm curious what a mounting plate kit is, where it mounts on the frame, how the 'hoe attachment mounts to it, etc. A picture or 3 would be awesome! I've located an 8709 within driving distance of home for a reasonable price... Soil here is rocky clay. Thank you in advance, Michael
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skidsteer.ca
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The hoes dig well, not as handy as a mini ex, but not as expensive either. They are not as smooth to operate of course, but have good power and make the skidsteer much more flexible. Your t200 has a different boom then this 773, so the hook attaches a bit different, but the hook itself will look the same.
The heavy brackets hold the loader boom up a few inches for better clearance under the stabilizers. They also lock the bucket tilt cylinder to make for a steady mount on the loader. Flip 2 locking levers rearward, retract the bucket dump cylinders, lift the boom then tilt the hoe forward to get it off the brackets. Then unplug the hoses and release the bobtach.
2 mins on or off.
Ken
The heavy brackets hold the loader boom up a few inches for better clearance under the stabilizers. They also lock the bucket tilt cylinder to make for a steady mount on the loader. Flip 2 locking levers rearward, retract the bucket dump cylinders, lift the boom then tilt the hoe forward to get it off the brackets. Then unplug the hoses and release the bobtach.
2 mins on or off.
Ken
Hi Ken - Thank you very much for the information and the pictures! They show more than any others I've been able to find on the web. If you don't mind, I have a few more questions. Do the brackets attach to the frame or the boom? Do they bolt on or are they welded on? The 'hoe I've found is a model 8709 and the seller has given me a measurement, the width of the mounting arms (that attach to the hooks) are 30-3/4" wide, outside to outside. That would place them inside the boom arms of my T200, instead of outside like your pictures show. I guess that's just how the 8709 was made. I suppose there are different brackets for different model backhoe/bobcat combinations. I'll go visit my local Bobcat dealer tomorrow and see what they can tell me. The T200 has a single dump cylinder mounted in the middle instead of twin cylinders mounted out near the boom arms. I don't know if that is significant at all. Speaking of which, my dump bushings on the attachment/bobtach are pretty worn, I suppose I should plan on replacing them soon after I get a 'hoe. Hopefully they won't be as hard to replace as the tracks were! Your descriptions are very helpful and encouraging too. Thank you again! Michael
They bolt to the side of the bobcat to essentially make the attachment one with the machine. With the small amount of flex in the lower arms, at the top of the hoe when in the seat, you get flung about. With it mounted to the frame, it is a LOT better, i tried it on mine without mounts, i was flung all over the place. It was bad enough that i didn't use the attachment for about 10 months before i was told about the brackets to hold it to the frame. Been great ever since.
skidsteer.ca
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The 8709 may be the older style of hoe then. The 909 also hook inside the boom on 2" trailer balls. The 709 replaced the 909, (same dig depth) but had the newer outside boom mounts and more clearance under the outrigger.
If the 9709 in a oldeer hoe, you may have to fab your own mounts up, as bobcat did not make mounts to fit all hoe models to all machines. I used this newer style of mount but updated my 909 to fit on the outside of the boom because it was no longer compatible with my newer 2000 773G loader. it was made for my 1993 753
Ken
8709 was for an 873. This link to a brochure may help. http://www.equirentsa.com.ar/PDF/BACKHOE-607-709.PDF ...karl, looking for a similar one for my 909 hoe
As soon as I can find a mini excavator I'll have a good 709 for sale.
Hi Ken, I just acquired a 909 backhoe with the hopes I could use it on our '97 773. We thought we could just weld the balls right to the boom and not have to alter the backhoe, but this seems too easy and not as secure as hooking to the frame. Would you mind sharing with me how you made this work? I'd be extremely grateful if you could shoot a picture of the backhoe's modified mounting arms. Also, the backhoe has been sitting for some time with no fittings on the hoses. Should we try and flush the old hydraulic oil out before connecting both hoses? Our thought was hooking up the supply line and leaving the fitting off the return line and letting it purge into a bucket while gently working the controls. Then topping off the reservoir. Any thoughts on this project would be greatly appreciated! Keith
The balls are on large angle iron that bolt to the frame.
No idea if the width matches. I would (on a level site) hookup the 909 using the Bobtach, tilt it back as far as you can (connect the aux hydraulics and use the bucket to push the backhoe back, as the Bobtach cannot often tilt it back enough. The hoe should be level (at the bottom of the arms that connect the trailer balls); hence why starting on a level site is easier.
Look where they are and then see what you can mount the trailer balls to. Standard 2" trailer balls.
If you want to see mounts, here are combo mounts for a 909 and 709. Not sure what they fit onto, perhaps a 753/763. YMMV. http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?110519/2116
As for flushing, won't work. Backhoes are open centre/continuous flow, so you'll drain all your fluid before you have moved anything. You could disconnect all hoses and try to drain out the oil, but really, is it worth it, and will you really get it out anyway?
...karl
Thanks Karl, The sockets at the end of the arms come down right on top of the loader's cross member, which seems like the logical spot to weld on the balls, but I've read that it must be connected to the frame or you'll be thrown around like a rag doll. First I need to hook up the fittings and see if the hoe even works, then I will decide if it's worth modifying.
skidsteer.ca
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Here is a link to the album with a few pictures. Basicaly I cut the hook arms off and welded a longer beam across the hoe to come out side the boom. The 2 arms back and a set of pins. A permanent one to go behind the hook and a removable one to secure the mount to the hook.
mahans7
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SSCa, real interested in your backhoe mount modification. Could you please post the link for the pictures.
SkidRoe
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The word "Here" at the beginning of the post is the link. If you look carefully, you can see it is a different color than the rest of the text.
Great, thanks! That's pretty much what I was thinking instead of welding the balls right to the boom. The pins are key, very clever. Looks like the brackets are the same ones you use for the 709 backhoe. First I need to figure out why the backhoe is unresponsive now that I've got the hydraulic lines connected. I read the threads about the sequence of turning on the auxiliary hydraulics and swapping the fittings, but it didn't make a difference. Gonna have the Bobcat tech check the auxiliary hydraulic switch and the trigger. Any other possible reasons oil ain't flowing? Thanks again for the pictures.
