Front-End Loader Help with loader mount for Bobcat CT450 please!

[deantj]

Hi,

We have a 2008 Bobcat CT450 tractor. We recently found a 9tl loader for it but are having trouble with mounting the loader on the tractor. The loader serial number is AL4F00359. The loader is a 2012, so it has the straight arms, not the older curved arms. We are having two problems.

First, the bolts provided by the Bobcat dealer do not appear to fit the holes. They appear to be 14mm bolts, but just seem a bit off and we're concerned they will strip the threads.

Second, the mounts do not appear to fit the tractor properly. It is a bit hard to explain, but the mounts are a straight plate over the two sections where they mount to the tractor. But the tractor areas to which they mount are offset. Perhaps we just have the wrong mounts? If so, how do I know what mounts to get? The dealer does not seem very knowledgeable, so not sure they can even figure it out. One solution might be to put a shim in between on the front area where it attaches. This would potentially save us a lot of money as the dealer mentioned the mounts costing thousands by themselves! But is this safe? Is there perhaps some shims or adapter that can be purchased for this purpose?

Any Bobcat Tractor experts out there?

Thanks, Tom

 

[airbiscuit]

First, go to a hardware store and buy some bolts with different pitch and figure out what size you actually need. Then you can loosely bolt up the mounds and see what you have (especially to check the width and if the loader arms will fit in their cradle)

 

[SSdoxie]

View attachment Bobcat 9TL mounting kit.pdf

The attached is parts illustration for that 9TL loader. Note: item #12 bushing requires qty 8, means these are used on the front 4 bolts of each bracket. Looks like they used a bushing spacer rather than offset the plate. If these bushings are not in the kit probably best to order from Bobcat to ensure correct size & length. Also the front 4 bolts on each bracket have a different part number than the other 5 rear bolts, this means either the bolts are different diameter or difference in length. All of the bolts are metric.
Bobcat did recommend sanding the paint off the back side of the mount and frame of the tractor to obtain tighter fit up and reduce bolt loosen as paint wears down. Recheck bolt torques frequently after installing the once bolts seem to be staying tight check & re-torque about every 100 hrs. I do mine at each oil change.

 

[deantj]

View attachment 509971

The attached is parts illustration for that 9TL loader. Note: item #12 bushing requires qty 8, means these are used on the front 4 bolts of each bracket. Looks like they used a bushing spacer rather than offset the plate. If these bushings are not in the kit probably best to order from Bobcat to ensure correct size & length. Also the front 4 bolts on each bracket have a different part number than the other 5 rear bolts, this means either the bolts are different diameter or difference in length. All of the bolts are metric.
Bobcat did recommend sanding the paint off the back side of the mount and frame of the tractor to obtain tighter fit up and reduce bolt loosen as paint wears down. Recheck bolt torques frequently after installing the once bolts seem to be staying tight check & re-torque about every 100 hrs. I do mine at each oil change.

Dennis, You are a life saver. I ordered parts from a different mounting kit diagram that was printed for me by the dealer. That diagram does not show the bushings because the mount on that diagram is offset at the plate (so no bushings needed). I wonder if the bolt specs might be a bit different as well, accounting for the lack of fit. At any rate, I'll be ordering those bushings on Monday and taking a closer look at part numbers for the bolts, Thanks! Tom