443 conversion to newer attachments

[jocww]

I just bought a 1990 443 bobcat last week to get into my backyard to do a retaining wall and to move about 45 yards of dirt under my house which is why i didnt get a bigger one. Problem is the local rental places and bobcat west only has bobtach attachments or the ones that go behind the stand or walk behind tracked units. I have the pin on style 3 and 4 ft buckets but need an auger bit to do some holes for trees and piers later. I also would like to get use an ditcher later too for the ranch along with the auger. So is there a way to make my little new to me toy more relevant in todays world of attachments. I got a screaming deal on the bobcat, and buying a newer s70 at 15k is way out of my budget and renting it just to dig holes instead of an attachment would be a bummer to because A it would be more expensive and B the whole point I bought this thing was to use it as a swiss army knife. I dont mind welding it on if need be.

 

[CoyPatton]

While you did not specify this, I believe you have a bobcat skid steer and not a compact tractor.
I make that statement to qualify my answer! My knowledge and therefore my answer is based on the compact tractor market. I do not know enough about skid steers to know if the available items apply or not.
Again a bit winded but you still have some research to do for yourself.

For the compact tractor with a loader with a pin type bucket, there are are several adapter units available that will allow it to be converted to Skid Steer Quick Attach (SSQA).
For some brands, you can but these as ready to pin on units to the loader. For all you can but kits that come as basically a left and a right latch box and will require some fabrication to be used (cross bracing and brackets attached for your loader pins, your application may require more).
In addition to these 2 options, if you wish to continue then to use your current pin on convertor, it must have fabrication dine to it as well. There are are a variety of kits available for this as well. (Good that you mention willing to weld as welding will be required at this stage even if you can get a ready to pin on latch kit.) I have know people that have build there own design on there buckets so this is doable also. Also if you wish to use or scrap your existing bucket (purchase a new (to you) SSQA bucket) your pin on brackets may be a option if you buy the kit that has to be assembled to fit your application.

Now to state the should be obvious, a ready to pin on kit latch system will be more expensive than a needs to be fab kit. Also when looking for kits, learn all you cal about thickness and style of metal used (most style of metal of ready to pin on kits—same thickness of tube steel as opposed to angle iron means it is more than 2x as strong, but also 2x as heavy. Thickness applies to all steel used in the process for its strength!)
The last point is all of this adds weight that has to be lifted before any material goes into the bucket.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Apparently the 443 was also made with a quick attach. Might check with bobcat about parts to do the conversion. Not sure if it was the same as what we know as ssqa. Otherwise, you are buying a generic conversion kit and cutting off your bucket ears to weld onto the conversion kit. With only one Curl cylinder, you will have a somewhat more difficult conversion. That works as you will cut off your bucket ears anyway to add a ssqa plate to the bucket.

 

[jocww]

it is indeed a skid steer. Im looking to modify or sell my current buckets and buy the new design buckets. They did come with a quick attach and thats what I have but instead of latches its a pin on the bottom of the bucket that goes lateral instead of vertical. Im just hoping to get a kit that doesnt involve too much math. Titan doesnt make a kit and were of no help in pointing in a direction of where to find a kit.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Ok, so it is a quick attach, but not a current SSQA style. That will be a fun conversion. Shouldn't be much math, just a lot of head scratching.

Without good pictures of the existing mount, it's hard to tell other than you have a single center mounted url cylinder. My initial guess would be to sacrifice one of your existing buckets, keeping the flat back plate only. Buy a generic ssqa conversion and weld it on. This is least desired though as it moves the bucket forward more than connecting to the existing pins, reducing available lift capacity due to the longer moment arm.

 

[CoyPatton]

Ok, so it is a quick attach, but not a current SSQA style. That will be a fun conversion. Shouldn't be much math, just a lot of head scratching.

Without good pictures of the existing mount, it's hard to tell other than you have a single center mounted url cylinder. My initial guess would be to sacrifice one of your existing buckets, keeping the flat back plate only. Buy a generic ssqa conversion and weld it on. This is least desired though as it moves the bucket forward more than connecting to the existing pins, reducing available lift capacity due to the longer moment arm.

If he is willing to sacrifice one bucket (sounds like he has 2) and do some involved fabrication, he could take back of one bucket, and make it the base plate for the new latch assembly in an SSQA format. He might be able to then install a SSQA plate to the back of that bucket (again quite a bit of fab work) and have reduce some weight in that process. Just a wild thought as if a 3 pt QA will need support for the single curl anyway and for the SSQA mounts.

And yes the increased distance from the pivot points and additional weight all reduce the available lift capacity.
I debate often converting my loader pin on to SSQA, but when I consider the factors, I come to the conclusion to not proceed. Someday maybe, but so far I have talked myself out of it.