| NOTICE |
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The Caterpillar Quick Coupler (Pin Grabber Quick Hitch) is compatible with Caterpillar hydra-mechanical tools but may experience increased wear where there is long exposure to excessive vibration. The vibration caused by extensive use of a hydraulic hammer as well as the added weight of certain demolition tools such as shears, crushers, and pulverizers may cause premature wear and decreased service life of the coupler. Be sure to carefully inspect the coupler daily for cracks, bent components, wear, distressed welds, etc. when operating with any of the above work tools. |
General Operation
The quick coupler is used to quickly change work tools while the operator remains in the cab. The quick coupler can be used with a broad range of buckets and work tools. Each work tool must have a set of pins in order for the quick coupler to work properly.
The work tools are held onto the quick coupler by hydraulic pressure. If pressure is lost, a check valve in the hydraulic cylinder traps oil in the cylinder. In addition to the check valve, a blocking bar locks the work tools to the quick coupler. Ensure that the hydraulic system and the blocking bar are working properly before using the quick coupler.
A lifting eye is included on the quick coupler. Release the work tool from the quick coupler in order to use the lifting eye to pick up loads. In order to lift a load with the lifting eye, extend the bucket cylinder until the quick coupler is in a vertical position. Do not exceed the rated load for the machine.
Quick Coupler Operation
Description of the Instruction Film
An instruction film is included with the quick coupler. The instruction film illustrates the operation of the quick coupler.
Note: For detailed instructions on the operation of the quick coupler, refer to "Coupling the Work Tool" and "Uncoupling the Work Tool".
The instruction film should be legible at all times. Clean the film or replace the film if the film is not legible. When you clean the film, use a cloth, water, and soap. Do not use solvent, gasoline, or harsh chemicals to clean the film. Solvents, gasoline, or harsh chemicals could loosen the adhesive that secures the film. Loose adhesive will allow the film to fall. If the film is damaged or the film is missing, replace the film. For more information, consult your Caterpillar dealer.
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| Illustration 1 | g01183612 |
Instruction film | |
Description of the Top Frame on the Film (Uncoupling the Work Tool)
- Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the work tool is curled past a vertical position.
- Lower the bucket to the ground.
- Remove the lynch pin from the opposite end of the manual locking pin. Remove the manual locking pin from the coupler.
- Move the electric switch to the UNLOCK position.
- Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been unlocked.
- Place the work tool in the storage position close to the ground. Retract the bucket cylinder until the tool is completely disengaged from the quick coupler.
Description of the Bottom Frame on the Film (Coupling the Work Tool)
- Engage the quick coupler onto the work tool.
- Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the work tool is curled past a vertical position.
- Move the electric switch to the LOCK position.
- Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been locked.
- Insert the manual locking pin into the proper hole and secure the opposite end of the manual locking pin with the lynch pin.
- Make sure that the quick coupler pins are engaged. Retract the bucket cylinder and drag the attachment on the ground. This method will ensure that the quick coupler pins are engaged.
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Crush injury. Could cause serious injury or death. Always confirm that the quick coupler is engaged onto the pins. Read the Operator's Manual. |
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| NOTICE |
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Back drag the work tool on the ground to ensure the quick coupler is properly locked. Do Not strike the work tool on the ground to ensure the quick coupler is properly locked. Striking the work tool on the ground will result in damage to the coupler cylinder. |
Electric Switch Operation
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| Illustration 2 | g01187547 |
Early type | |
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| Illustration 3 | g01231759 |
Later type | |
The electric switch (1) is located inside the cab. The electric switch has two positions that are used for coupling the work tool and uncoupling the work tool. Examples of the early switch type and the later switch type have been shown above. Refer to the Operation and Maintenance Manual of the host machine for the location of the electric switch.
| UNLOCK - In order to unlock the coupler, extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the bucket is fully curled under the stick. Pull the switch outward and move the switch toward the UNLOCK position. A buzzer will sound. Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been unlocked. The switch must remain in the UNLOCK position until another work tool is attached. The switch must remain in the UNLOCK position in order to prevent the blocking bar from jamming. |
| LOCK - In order to lock the coupler, engage the quick coupler onto the work tool. Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the bucket is fully curled under the stick. Pull the switch outward and move the switch toward the LOCK position. The buzzer will not sound when the switch is in the LOCK position. The buzzer does not sound when the switch is in the LOCK position. This does not indicate that the coupler is engaged. Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been locked. Make sure that the quick coupler is engaged onto the pins. Retract the bucket cylinder and drag the attachment on the ground. This method will ensure that the quick coupler is engaged onto the pins. |
Coupling the Work Tool
- Position the bucket or the work tool on a level surface.
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Place the work tool or bucket in a safe position before engaging the quick coupler. Ensure that the work tool or bucket is not carrying a load. Serious injury or death may result from engaging the work tool or bucket when it is in an unstable position or carrying a load. |
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Inspect the quick coupler engagement before operating the machine. Serious injury or death may result from improperly engaged coupler. |
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Crush injury. Could cause serious injury or death. Always confirm that the quick coupler is engaged onto the pins. Read the Operator's Manual. |
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The buzzer will not sound when the switch is in the lock position. The position of the switch does not confirm the coupler pins are engaged. A physical test is required by dragging the attachment on the ground to confirm the coupler pins are engaged. |
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| NOTICE |
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With certain work tool combinations, including quick couplers, the work tool can hit the cab or the front of the machine. Always check for interference when first operating a new work tool. |
- Make sure that the pins are in the bucket or the work tool. Make sure that the pin keepers are installed correctly.
- The manual locking pin must be removed before attaching a work tool.
- In order to prevent the blocking bar from jamming, the quick coupler must be curled past a vertical position before you move the switch from the LOCK position to the UNLOCK position. Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the quick coupler is curled past a vertical position.
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| Illustration 4 | g01238018 |
- Pull the switch outward and move the switch to the UNLOCK position. A buzzer will sound.
- Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been unlocked. The switch must remain in the UNLOCK position until the work tool is attached in order to prevent the blocking bar from jamming. The buzzer will continue to sound until the switch is moved to the LOCK position.
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| Illustration 5 | g01231447 |
- Align the quick coupler with the work tool.
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| Illustration 6 | g01238019 |
- Rotate the quick coupler in order to grab the top pin.
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| Illustration 7 | g01238022 |
- Rotate the quick coupler downward in order to grab the bottom pin.
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| Illustration 8 | g01238028 |
- Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the work tool is curled past a vertical position. This must be performed before you move the switch from the UNLOCK position to the LOCK position.
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| Illustration 9 | g01238035 |
- Move the switch to the LOCK position. The buzzer will no longer sound. Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds in order to lock the hook.
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| Illustration 10 | g01231447 |
- Lower the bucket to the ground.
- Stop the engine. Turn the engine start switch to the OFF position and remove the key.
- Exit the machine.
- Insert the manual locking pin into the proper hole. The manual locking pin must be inserted by hand pressure only.
Note: Do not hammer or force the manual locking pin into position.
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| Illustration 11 | g01187704 |
- Secure the opposite end of the manual locking pin with the lynch pin.
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| Illustration 12 | g01187705 |
- Enter the machine and start the engine.
- Verify that the quick coupler and the work tool are locked together.
- Retract the bucket cylinder and place the work tool on the ground.
- Apply pressure to the work tool against the ground.
- Drag the work tool backward.
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Crush injury. Could cause serious injury or death. Always confirm that the quick coupler is engaged onto the pins. Read the Operator's Manual. |
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| Illustration 13 | g01238039 |
| NOTICE |
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Back drag the work tool on the ground to ensure the quick coupler is properly locked. Do Not strike the work tool on the ground to ensure the quick coupler is properly locked. Striking the work tool on the ground will result in damage to the coupler cylinder. |
Uncoupling the Work Tool
- Lower the bucket to the ground.
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Place the work tool or bucket in a safe position before disengaging the coupler. Disengaging the coupler will release the work tool or bucket from control of the operator. Serious injury or death may result from disengaging the work tool or bucket when it is in an unstable position or carrying a load. |
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| NOTICE |
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Auxiliary hoses for work tools must be disconnected before the quick coupler is disengaged. Pulling the work tool with the auxiliary hoses could result in damage to the host machine or the work tool. |
- Stop the engine. Turn the engine start switch to the OFF position and remove the key.
- Exit the machine.
- Remove the lynch pin from the opposite end of the manual locking pin.
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| Illustration 14 | g01187705 |
- Remove the manual locking pin from the coupler.
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| Illustration 15 | g01187704 |
- Enter the machine and start the engine.
- Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the work tool is curled past a vertical position. This must be performed before you move the switch from the LOCK position to the UNLOCK position.
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| Illustration 16 | g01238035 |
- Pull the switch outward and move the switch to the UNLOCK position.
- Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds in order to unlock the hook. A buzzer will sound until the switch is moved to the LOCK position. In order to lift objects with the lifting eye of the quick coupler, refer to "Coupler Lifting Eye Operation without Bucket".
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| Illustration 17 | g01231447 |
- Move the boom and the stick until the tool or the bucket is in the storage position. Keep the tool close to the ground.
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| Illustration 18 | g01238046 |
- Rotate the quick coupler upward in order to release the bottom pin.
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| Illustration 19 | g01238048 |
- Continue to rotate the quick coupler upward in order to release the top pin and completely release the work tool from the quick coupler.
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| Illustration 20 | g01238049 |
- Move the stick to a position that is clear of the work tool.
Note: In order to lift objects with the lifting eye of the quick coupler, refer to "Coupler Lifting Eye Operation without Bucket".
Coupling a Bucket that is Reversed
- The manual locking pin must be removed before attaching a work tool.
- When you use a hydraulic pin grabber quick coupler, you can connect to a bucket that is in a reversed position. Refer to Illustration 21 for an example of connecting to a bucket that is in a reversed position.
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| Illustration 21 | g01238052 |
- In order to prevent the blocking bar from jamming, the quick coupler must be curled past a vertical position before you move the switch from the LOCK position to the UNLOCK position. Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the quick coupler is curled past a vertical position.
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| Illustration 22 | g01238018 |
- Follow the same steps for coupling the work tool in order to couple the host machine to a bucket that is reversed. Refer to "Coupling the Work Tool" for the proper procedure.
| NOTICE |
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When some Caterpillar buckets are used in the reverse position, it can be more difficult to couple the bucket and uncouple the bucket than in the normal position. Care must be taken to ensure that the position of the boom, stick, and bucket are aligned to ensure smooth coupling. The coupler must be in position between the bucket bosses. If the bucket is not fully engaged in the jaw of the coupler, the quick coupler can become snagged on the bucket bosses. The full weight of the bucket is then carried by the quick coupler sideplates, which can cause damage to the quick coupler. |
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| Illustration 23 | g01231689 |
(1) Quick coupler (2) Bucket (3) Boss (4) Hook | |
Coupler Lifting Eye Operation without Bucket
- Remove the work tool. Refer to "Uncoupling the Work Tool" for the proper procedure.
- In order to prevent the blocking bar from jamming, the quick coupler must be curled past a vertical position before you move the switch from the UNLOCK position to the LOCK position. Extend the stick cylinder and extend the bucket cylinder until the quick coupler is curled past a vertical position.
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| Illustration 24 | g01238018 |
- Pull the switch outward and move the switch to the LOCK position. The buzzer will no longer sound.
- Hold the control lever for the bucket cylinder in the EXTEND position for 5 seconds after the electric switch has been locked.
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| Illustration 25 | g01231447 |
- Rotate the quick coupler downward and move the stick to a position that is clear of the work tool.
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| Illustration 26 | g01238054 |
- Use the lifting eye of the quick coupler, as needed.
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| Illustration 27 | g01187716 |
- In order to reinstall the bucket or the work tool, refer to "Coupling the Work Tool" for the proper procedure.