Hello from Skid Steer Genius

[SkidSteerGenius]

Hello everyone! I am the founder of Skid Steer Genius and Skid Steer Solutions. Our company ensures that you can operate every brand of attachment on every brand of skid steer loader. I started Skid Steer Solutions in 1994 and sold it in 2021. In all of those years, I have gained a lot of knowledge about the machines and how to operate the attachments properly. Every manufacturer uses a different method of control so that they loop you into only buying their brand only. When Bobcat decided to lock all of us out because of their CAN controls, I decided to do something about it. I hired an electrical engineer to help me map every single CAN control in the Bobcats of 2010. We created the first two channel CAN controller and released it in 2011. Since then we have been updating it to work with all of the machines that they produce including Toolcats and Telehandlers.

I am happy to answer any attachment questions that you have as I have worked with most of the manufactures in the US, Canada, Europe and China so I know what I am talking about. I maintain a 30 y/o database on a 1TB hard drive that has all kinds of historic information so i can quickly look up anything that I may have forgotten. Let me know how I can help!

 

[mrbb]

welcome to the site

 

[skidsteerforum]

Welcome to the Skidsteer Forum @SkidSteerGenius

 

[MX727]

I didn't think other manufacturers used different methods, just differing wiring pinouts. Of course, your point about Bobcat is valid and why I crossed them off my list of machines and attachments long ago.

Your 14 pin sheet for the various machines has been invaluable, so thank you for that.

 

[SkidSteerGenius]

I didn't think other manufacturers used different methods, just differing wiring pinouts. Of course, your point about Bobcat is valid and why I crossed them off my list of machines and attachments long ago.

Your 14 pin sheet for the various machines has been invaluable, so thank you for that.

You are welcome. Cat and John Deere are now using CAN technology as well and so far we have been unable to crack them. John Deere P series now monitors the 14 pin outputs for resistance. You may get a short indication on a control channel just because it does not like the solenoids installed on your attachment. I am sure that of course theirs do not have it.

 

[LandMan]

I am in the process of purchasing a 2025 JCB Teleskid 3TS-8T with an 80” bucket. For use in Bigfork Montana.

I need to buy lots of attachments and need help with selection, 3rd party manufactures, and compatibility:
Bucket - Back hoe heavy duty bucket
Selector Grab/Grappler (the type that grabs and rotates)
Breaker/Hammer
Trencher (deeper the better)
Forks (pallet and with a “work platform/man bucket” add-on combo, if possible)
Earth Drill
Ripper Tooth

Prefer to buy used or 3rd party to save some cost. Prefer good “value”. Want reliability and parts that don’t break (best quality available for the good price).

Thank you ahead of time for the help!

 

[SkidTracks]

You are welcome. Cat and John Deere are now using CAN technology as well and so far we have been unable to crack them. John Deere P series now monitors the 14 pin outputs for resistance. You may get a short indication on a control channel just because it does not like the solenoids installed on your attachment. I am sure that of course theirs do not have it.

Bobcat for long time has used CAN bus technology. Requiring those with regular 14-pin attachments to buy Bobcat's CAN bus to 14-pin converter module and wiring harness. One of things I ran into with converter module was pins coming out were current limited. Enough current for basic hydraulic solenoid, but not enough power for small electric pump motor.

The workings (or switch functions) of CAN bus to 14-pin converter could be modified by changing jumpers on a connector which plugged into converter.

What may have to be done in case of Cat & J.D. is use a low-current 12v relay between a 14-pin converter and what ever solenoid is needing to be driven. 12v relay's contacts being fed by 12vdc accessory (or switched on/off) power. Usually providing around 15 to 20amps.

If Cat / John Deere's 14-pin interface is particular sensitive to seen resistance (or current load); the use of a driver-chip or a transistor as interface to 14-pin converter module may solve it. With driver-chip or transistor controlling 12v relay, which in-turn drives the solenoid or motor of attachment.

A departure solution is to buy 12v remote controller with one or more button selections. For example: I have been using a remote controlled 12v ATV winch mounted on a 10-foot box beam as mini-crane. No reason a replacement remote control and control box couldn't be adapted to control an attachments solenoids.

 

[SkidTracks]

I am in the process of purchasing a 2025 JCB Teleskid 3TS-8T with an 80” bucket. For use in Bigfork Montana.

I need to buy lots of attachments and need help with selection, 3rd party manufactures, and compatibility:
Bucket - Back hoe heavy duty bucket
Selector Grab/Grappler (the type that grabs and rotates)
Breaker/Hammer
Trencher (deeper the better)
Forks (pallet and with a “work platform/man bucket” add-on combo, if possible)
Earth Drill
Ripper Tooth

I would not skimp on strength or quality of forks. Need to be easily adjustable in width. There may be standards for pallents; but I never seen to get stuff on standardized pallets. As for strength, stacking and moving two pallets of Quikcrete is serious strain.

Virnig makes a serious trencher with high-flow. 60" depth. Different width chains, 6"/8"/10"/12". Although 10" & 12" may no longer be sold. Looking at $13,700 for new. After doing lot of research, I almost both a 48", but couldn't justify cost vs. usage.

From experience with hard-clay and shale, Earth drill (auger) needs two different teeth. Rock teeth and hardened teeth for dirt and clay. Auger itself needs either front end heavy machine or weights added to auger attachment. I have watched my auger bounce up and down trying to chew through shale rock.

Rear ripper tooth (or tooths) are made by several companies. But require rear auxiliary hydraulics and may or may not be available for your machine.
Front ripper teeth, on attachment, is an option. How well they will work will depend upon what you are trying to rip. Were I buying one, I would want some form of depth control, skid-plates or wheels.

 

[SkidTracks]

Cat and John Deere are now using CAN technology as well and so far we have been unable to crack them.

I read (somewhere) several companies using CAN technology have started encrypting the data (control signals and information) being sent and received. Cat and J.D. may be doing similar.

It may be legal right of companies to do so, but it is customer unfriendly. I believe a customer should be able to work on the product they have bought, without being forced to pay dealers.

 

[LandMan]

I would not skimp on strength or quality of forks. Need to be easily adjustable in width. There may be standards for pallents; but I never seen to get stuff on standardized pallets. As for strength, stacking and moving two pallets of Quikcrete is serious strain.

Virnig makes a serious trencher with high-flow. 60" depth. Different width chains, 6"/8"/10"/12". Although 10" & 12" may no longer be sold. Looking at $13,700 for new. After doing lot of research, I almost both a 48", but couldn't justify cost vs. usage.

From experience with hard-clay and shale, Earth drill (auger) needs two different teeth. Rock teeth and hardened teeth for dirt and clay. Auger itself needs either front end heavy machine or weights added to auger attachment. I have watched my auger bounce up and down trying to chew through shale rock.

Rear ripper tooth (or tooths) are made by several companies. But require rear auxiliary hydraulics and may or may not be available for your machine.
Front ripper teeth, on attachment, is an option. How well they will work will depend upon what you are trying to rip. Were I buying one, I would want some form of depth control, skid-plates or wheels.

Thank you for the information SkidTracks!