709 (backhoe) quick connect information

[sunnyboy]

I have obtained a 709 (backhoe) recently, but the hoses do not have quick-connects on them. Rather, there are those red plastic blanking plugs where the quick-connects should be. I can purchase quick-connect couplers from the local dealer no problem, but which one goes to which hose? There is a short hydraulic hose going into the control box, and a longer hose going down to some type of manifold block. Which hose gets the male coupler, and which the female? Also, my bobcat has the newer (large) aux. hydraulic quick-connects. Is there a part number for these? I've also seen older smaller ones (smaller diameter connecting fittings which are too small to connect to the newer, larger ones) and so don't want to get the smaller ones by mistake. Thanks very much. -S

 

[Tazza]

I can't tell you what hose goes where, but if you hook it up wrong, it will simply not work correctly. Remove the couplers and swap them over, it should be just fine.
I believe all the couplers made these days are a standard, if you measure one on the machine and tell the shop you are buying them off, they will be able to match them for you.

 

[sunnyboy]

Replying to my own original post... On the newer model 709, both main hydraulic hoses go into the control box, so there's no quick way of telling what's going on. BUT - on the older 709's, one hose goes into the control box, the other connects to a fitting at the bottom of the backhoe. On the bobcat, the lower (female) coupler is the hydraulic SEND (or out), and the upper (male) coupler is the RETURN (or in). The flow TO and attachment always goes to the controls first, so that is how I connected my couplers - male (on the 709) to the control unit, female (on the 709) to the return line. It worked first time - at least until one of the 709 hoses blew! Cheers, -Richard

 

[sunnyboy]

Aargh!!!! As it turns out, I did manage to get the couplers on backward. Honest mistake, I guess. The one line went directly from the coupler to the left side of the 709 control box, so I connected it to the outlet from the bobcat. Turns out the hose that went "down" actually went to the bobtach interlock, then to the right side of the control box. This, according to the local bobcat place, is the inlet side for the 709. I had it connected to the return on the bobcat. It was pretty obvious that all was not well when I tried running the backhoe - only the main ram would work, everything else would stutter but not move except when the hydraulics were turned off - then you could bleed them to a resting position, but not actually move them under power. After the discussion with the bobcat place, I reversed the couplers - the outlet from the bobcat now goes to the lower (retrofit) bobtach interlock, then to the right side of the control box. The left side of the control box now connects to the return side of the bobcat. After completing the coupler swap, I powered up the bobcat and backhoe, and everything worked perfectly! Cheers, -R

 

[Tazza]

Aargh!!!! As it turns out, I did manage to get the couplers on backward. Honest mistake, I guess. The one line went directly from the coupler to the left side of the 709 control box, so I connected it to the outlet from the bobcat. Turns out the hose that went "down" actually went to the bobtach interlock, then to the right side of the control box. This, according to the local bobcat place, is the inlet side for the 709. I had it connected to the return on the bobcat. It was pretty obvious that all was not well when I tried running the backhoe - only the main ram would work, everything else would stutter but not move except when the hydraulics were turned off - then you could bleed them to a resting position, but not actually move them under power. After the discussion with the bobcat place, I reversed the couplers - the outlet from the bobcat now goes to the lower (retrofit) bobtach interlock, then to the right side of the control box. The left side of the control box now connects to the return side of the bobcat. After completing the coupler swap, I powered up the bobcat and backhoe, and everything worked perfectly! Cheers, -R

At least its happy and working now!