Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector

   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #1  

Spudgunner

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2003
Messages
380
Location
Central Idaho Mtns
Tractor
Kubota BX-23 & Toolcat 5600 D
I've been looking at Toolcats and finally purchased one yesterday. I was going to use the TC with a Erskine snowblower but the electronics got in the way. Apparently, the TC's 7-pin connector is actually a datalink between the TC and some attachments...perhaps analogous to a computer and its peripherals. I ended-up buying a Bobcat snowblower rather than using the Erskine although I may end-up getting the Erskine on down the road after I figure out what's up with the TC's datalink/electrical connector/whatever.

Anybody out there know what's up with the Bobcat/TC 7-pin connector? More specifically, if it is a datalink, is there a published spec for it? Actually, even if it's a simple setup like the connector between my pickup and trailer, I'd still like to know what the spec is.

One other question: Is the 7-pin the standard connector on all Bobcat products these days? I was under the impression that Bobcat used a 14-pin connector.

Thanks!
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #2  
My understanding from my dealer is that the Bobcat blower was made by Erskine - is that true? Is there a reason you are interested in Erskine's vs Bobcat? Price, quality, features?

I am strongly considering replacing my plow with a blower but am scared off by the steep purchase price. It would save me a bunch of time on our long driveway trying to move the banks back after a long snow.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #3  
Spudgunner....The 7 pin is unique to Bobcat and only their current-generation attachements will work with it. However, any Bobcat dealer can install a parallel 14 pin receptical and harness so that older Bobcat and most any third party attachments will work just fine, including Erskine blowers.

I did this so I could use a new QuickAttach blower on my new/used Toolcat C. All functions work just fine.

Jabbahop.... A blower may well work well for you, but do not give up the plow. There will be many situations where a plow is still the best tool for the job. I have both at our two places.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector
  • Thread Starter
#4  
jabbahop said:
My understanding from my dealer is that the Bobcat blower was made by Erskine - is that true? Is there a reason you are interested in Erskine's vs Bobcat? Price, quality, features?

I am strongly considering replacing my plow with a blower but am scared off by the steep purchase price. It would save me a bunch of time on our long driveway trying to move the banks back after a long snow.

My sales dude said that the Bobcat blowers were made by Erskine but now are not. I have to admit, I think the Erskine has a better chute/deflector with the curved assembly and sheet of polyethylene to protect/lube in the inside of the chute. Guess we'll see.

Rip, thanks for the info about the 14-pin retrofit that Bobcat offers. Another possibility with the Erskine is to use the pistolgrip controller. I have a friend that attaches an Erskine on his backhoe's front bucket (homebrew mount) and uses the pistolgrip device. Unfortunately, his ancient backhoe seems to lack the hydraulics to really take advantage of the Erskine.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #5  
Yes, the pistol-grip controller is another option for Erskine/QuickAttach, but with the added 14 pin connector and harness, you can then use most any other attachment that has (or can be fitted with) a 14 pin harness. Cost is probably similar.

Not to knock the current Bobcat-brand blowers, but I am quite impressed so far with the two QuickAttach blowers (and grapple rock-bucket and mud hopper) I have bought.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Would anybody happen to know the part number for the 14-pin harness? I've found it best to approach my Bobcat dealer with as much information as possible and I'll probably end-up purchasing this harness somewhere along the way just so that I can use other, 14-pin attachments.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #7  
Spudgunner said:
Would anybody happen to know the part number for the 14-pin harness? I've found it best to approach my Bobcat dealer with as much information as possible and I'll probably end-up purchasing this harness somewhere along the way just so that I can use other, 14-pin attachments.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!


Spudgunner:

The "current" part number for the 14-pin harness kit should be 7120242.
That number fits any 5600 Toolcat with an "A" prefix in the serial number.
It should sell for $525-$600.
The kit comes with 24 seperate pieces (including install instructions), but I could not find an approximate install time. It also comes with an adaptor to re-mount your 7-pin kit above the 14-pin, so you can use either.

FYI - I could not find a 14-pin harness kit for any prior toolcat model. They may exist, but I didn't have any luck locating one.

FYI#2 - There are kits for most of the Bobcat attachments (that require an electrical harness) to switch them from 7-pin to 14-pin.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #8  
After looking at the 14-pin harness kit again:

14pin5600.jpg


It looks like many of the parts are included in the control box(item #2), which should come fully assembled in the kit.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector #9  
I do not have my invoice in front of me, but I paid quite a bit less than your numbers. My TC already had the auxilliary control box with the three momentary toggle switches so only the 14 pin connector and harness needed to be added. The 7 pin connector is still there.
 
   / Bobcat/Toolcat 7-pin electrical connector
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Rip said:
I do not have my invoice in front of me, but I paid quite a bit less than your numbers. My TC already had the auxilliary control box with the three momentary toggle switches so only the 14 pin connector and harness needed to be added. The 7 pin connector is still there.

Given that there is an auxiliary control box...I take it that the stock TC "joystick" doesn't control attachments that utilize the 14-pin connector?
 
 
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