Mini Bob Tach - Conversion to Latest Style

Has anyone ever seen / designed an adapter to convert a pre-463 style Bob Tach to the latest design? All of the attachments that I can rent currenly only match the latest design and will not directly fit my machine.
From what I can tell, the profile of the Mini Bob Tach matches the regular full-size Bob Tach design, except that the locking pins are on 33" centres and the overall width is 35". This means the pins pretty much line up exactly with the boom arms of my 440B, with little clearance between the rear wall of the bucket and boom arms for locking pins It would appear that Bobcat changed the design of the boom arms starting with the 463 to add increased clearance for the locking pins.
I wouldn't mind converting my machine to the latest configuration, as I currently only have a few attacments, but this does not look possible without offsetting the mounting surface forward, and possibly compromising the lifting capability of my machine (which is somewhat limited as it is). My other thought is to come up with a couple of bolt on "shoes" that would clamp into the attachment and allow my existing horizontal locking pins to engage.
Any thoughts?

I talked to the dealer today. They were doing some research for me on the existence of such an adapter. They came up empty, much to both of our dismays. Even if the cost was not prohibative, fitting a later model bobtach is out of the question due to the boom differences. So I have started designing my adapter shoes... SR

SkidRoe said:

I talked to the dealer today. They were doing some research for me on the existence of such an adapter. They came up empty, much to both of our dismays. Even if the cost was not prohibative, fitting a later model bobtach is out of the question due to the boom differences. So I have started designing my adapter shoes... SR

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I was going to say you may need to build an adaptor plate. Even if you could get hold of an old bobtach, you would have the locking levers and pickup ready to go. Just cut the rest down to make it fit a plate that will hook up to your machine.
Do keep us informed as to how you go about it, it will be interesting.

Tazza said:

I was going to say you may need to build an adaptor plate. Even if you could get hold of an old bobtach, you would have the locking levers and pickup ready to go. Just cut the rest down to make it fit a plate that will hook up to your machine.
Do keep us informed as to how you go about it, it will be interesting.

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Well, this project took an interesting turn yesterday - I recieved a call from an aquaintence offering me complete, but damaged, Bobtach off of a T190 at a very reasonable price (case of beer). From the sounds of it, it should be quite repairable. Picking it up in the next couple of weeks.
This should be interesting...

SkidRoe said:

Well, this project took an interesting turn yesterday - I recieved a call from an aquaintence offering me complete, but damaged, Bobtach off of a T190 at a very reasonable price (case of beer). From the sounds of it, it should be quite repairable. Picking it up in the next couple of weeks.
This should be interesting...

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I finally test fitted it last night. Turned out pretty well. The face of the plate is offset about 2" from the original bobtach on my machine; that's about as close as I could get it. As luck would have it, the handle pivots line up exactly with my boom arms, and hit when you tilt the bucket back. I am going to try to change the coil springs to bevel springs; this should buy me back another 1" of space after I cut the threaded portion of the pivot stud down.
It will get it's first test this week end. I am renting an auger to do some post holes. I will post some pictures, if anyone would like to see.
Cheers,
SR

SkidRoe said:

I finally test fitted it last night. Turned out pretty well. The face of the plate is offset about 2" from the original bobtach on my machine; that's about as close as I could get it. As luck would have it, the handle pivots line up exactly with my boom arms, and hit when you tilt the bucket back. I am going to try to change the coil springs to bevel springs; this should buy me back another 1" of space after I cut the threaded portion of the pivot stud down.
It will get it's first test this week end. I am renting an auger to do some post holes. I will post some pictures, if anyone would like to see.
Cheers,
SR

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I didnt realize there were different sizes. Not meaning to hijack but do you think my 751 has the smaller or larger style? it's a 96 i think looks standard to me. Nice score on the used bobtach sucks it catches your lift arms, is there any way to relocate the springs? Or do away with them?

shawn macananny said:

I didnt realize there were different sizes. Not meaning to hijack but do you think my 751 has the smaller or larger style? it's a 96 i think looks standard to me. Nice score on the used bobtach sucks it catches your lift arms, is there any way to relocate the springs? Or do away with them?

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I for one want to see pictures

Tazza said:

I for one want to see pictures

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I have looked at many also, here are two to show you the differance on these two. Look @ the wedge pin location.

renopker said:

I have looked at many also, here are two to show you the differance on these two. Look @ the wedge pin location.

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They are quite different. I guess the mounting plates are teh same width, but the pins look different because of the narrower lift arms?

Tazza said:

They are quite different. I guess the mounting plates are teh same width, but the pins look different because of the narrower lift arms?

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machine size, some bob-tachs are 1/4 plate 5/16,3/8, 1/2, with larger machines the lift arms are also larger and therefore larger tilt cylinders causing the tilt cylinders to be in different locations to the wedge pins. Some on the inside of the arms and some on the out side.

shawn macananny said:

I didnt realize there were different sizes. Not meaning to hijack but do you think my 751 has the smaller or larger style? it's a 96 i think looks standard to me. Nice score on the used bobtach sucks it catches your lift arms, is there any way to relocate the springs? Or do away with them?

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@ Shawn -
You shouldn't have an issue with your 751, it will be the regular full-size bobtach.
The smaller bobtach (like on my 440B) started with the early 300 series machines (our M-371 had the same set up) and finished with the 453. Starting with the 463, Bobcat went to a design similar to the standard bobtach, but it was narrowed from ~44" to ~35", as most of these machines have the ability to pass through a 36" door / gate opening. The locking pins are on the same centre to centre distance (~33"), so the smaller machines can be fitted with attachments meant for larger machines, provided they have the lifting / hydraulic capacity.
The 44" bobtach does not look out of place on my 440B, as it has the wide tires on it.
@ Tazza
Pictures are coming, might even get some action shots this week end.
Cheers,
SR

SkidRoe said:

@ Shawn -
You shouldn't have an issue with your 751, it will be the regular full-size bobtach.
The smaller bobtach (like on my 440B) started with the early 300 series machines (our M-371 had the same set up) and finished with the 453. Starting with the 463, Bobcat went to a design similar to the standard bobtach, but it was narrowed from ~44" to ~35", as most of these machines have the ability to pass through a 36" door / gate opening. The locking pins are on the same centre to centre distance (~33"), so the smaller machines can be fitted with attachments meant for larger machines, provided they have the lifting / hydraulic capacity.
The 44" bobtach does not look out of place on my 440B, as it has the wide tires on it.
@ Tazza
Pictures are coming, might even get some action shots this week end.
Cheers,
SR

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Here are some shots. I modified the lever pivot springs with the bevel springs and shorter bolts; now I have plenty of clearance to the boom. Still need to paint it.





The T190 bobtach was the ideal design to start with for this conversion.
BTW - the Kia Sorrento and the trailer in the background are my pickup truck these days - lol!!
Cheers,
SR

SkidRoe said:

Here are some shots. I modified the lever pivot springs with the bevel springs and shorter bolts; now I have plenty of clearance to the boom. Still need to paint it.





The T190 bobtach was the ideal design to start with for this conversion.
BTW - the Kia Sorrento and the trailer in the background are my pickup truck these days - lol!!
Cheers,
SR

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I tested it last night on my neighbour's bucket off of his 722 - fits like glove and works great. You don't even notice the extra 2" of offset. Looking forward to tomorrow!!
Cheers,
SR

SkidRoe said:

I tested it last night on my neighbour's bucket off of his 722 - fits like glove and works great. You don't even notice the extra 2" of offset. Looking forward to tomorrow!!
Cheers,
SR

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Here is the first use this past weekend. You barely notice that it is even there!!

Love the auger. Even with the 440B's limited flow and pressure (6.8 gpm / 1350 psi), it chewed throught ground at an impressive rate. If I had hit some sizable stones, things might have been different...
Cheers,
SR

SkidRoe said:

Here is the first use this past weekend. You barely notice that it is even there!!

Love the auger. Even with the 440B's limited flow and pressure (6.8 gpm / 1350 psi), it chewed throught ground at an impressive rate. If I had hit some sizable stones, things might have been different...
Cheers,
SR

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Isn't it great when a project comes together and works as good as if not better than you had hoped?