Skid Loader Attachment

I"m not familiar with the electrical connections on skid loaders. Looking at a Bobcat attachment with, I think, a 12 pin connector. My skid loader connector only has four pins. Obviously they won"t connect as is, but can they be adapted to work together?

Here is a guy that sells some sort of convertor box.
http://www.skidsteerstuff.com/new_page_2.htm
My understanding of the bobcat stuff was that the wiring sends signals to the control box on a bobcat attachement. Its not a simple 12 volt at this pin to control this function. Its like two computers talking back and forth. Supposedly they did that so bobcat owners would have to buy bobcat attachments...

I've had customers run into that situation a time or two and asked me to make a jumper for them. The only time I had a problem I absolutely couldn't get past, at least not economically, and still have a factory looking setup (what he wanted) was when one wanted me to make a Bobcat attachment work on a Komatsu. If the Komatsu had had enough function buttons I could have made it work. Unfortunately the Bobcat needed like 4 functions and the Komatsu had only wiring/room for 2, or something like that. Too, the way the Komatsu was done there was no way to add any additional functions without a lot of time and expense, due to the whole 'computer' mess that the newer machines have.

I have yet to see a computer on any of the attachments. Yes, the 'newer' machines have a computer that recieves low amperage signals from the function switches. Then, all the computer does is energize the correct solenoid valve to energize the aux flow itself, or use the low voltage signal to open/close a relay to stop/send a full voltage, high amp signal to the correct function on the attachment.


Now the simplest of the Bobcat attachments I have seen have the functions operated directly by the aux flow controller (ie a rotary broom running either fwd or rev). Now for attachments like a 4or6 way dozer blade, you turn on the aux flow and it runs through a solenoid valve block with enough valves to handle the separate functions. That being the case there is typically a pin, in the connector, to energize the solenoid for each functional direction (ie- pin 1 for up, pin 2 for down, pin 3 for left, pin 4 for right, and so forth).

That all said, depending on what attachment your looking at it may or may not work. The deal breaker is if the attachment needs more functions to operate than your machine can send signals to. For instance a dozer blade needing to operate 3 cylinders would need a minimum of a 6 pin connector to handle the functions. Even then you'd more than likely see a 7 pin connector (what some older Bobcats had even though they usually didn't use all 7 places) to allow the operation of the solenoid valves on the attachment plus a dedicated ground to insure the attachment had a sure ground, and not just one through the attachment plate.

Ultimately what your going to have to do is see what the 4 pins on your machine do. It may be set up for a single function (2 pins), a ground (the third pin), and an extra/unused one (the 4th pin). Then see how many functions you need to operate the attachment and compare the two. IF there are enough functions/pins then you can usually get a diagram of the wiring system from Bobcat to see how their connector is set up, and then one for your machine to see how it's set up. From there get the mates for each connector and make yourself an adapter with the proper pins in the proper spots in each of the connectors.

Like I said, I have done this several times over the years, and except for the aforementioned situations that would keep you from making a direct connection, I haven't had any problems thus far. With that said, there are ways to make anything work given enough time, money for the various parts and pieces, and a little ingenuity....but that's a whole 'nother story....

Thanks for the replies!