Caterpillarwork toolbroom-angle

Caterpillar BA18

Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown

The Caterpillar BA18 is an angle broom work tool built for skid steer loaders, multi-terrain loaders, compact track loaders, backhoe loaders, and compact to small wheel loaders. It carries no engine, fuel tank, cooling system, or dedicated hydraulic reservoir of its own; a gerotor hydraulic motor displacing 408 cm3/rev draws flow directly from the host carrier's auxiliary circuit, needing 42-83 L/min at 145-235 bar to turn the drum. The brush spans a straight sweeping width of 2134 mm (84 in) with an overall width of 2312 mm (91 in) and a brush diameter of 813 mm (32 in), and the head angles up to 30 degrees to either side by manual pin or hydraulic actuation. It mounts through a Cat mechanical quick-coupler and comes standard with a 50/50 polypropylene-and-steel-wire bristle mix in replaceable sections, so wear items get swapped in the field rather than the whole head.

Cat built the BA18 across at least two documented production runs, an earlier one carrying an ACE serial prefix around 1999 and a later AZN-prefixed run around 2004 that appears to be the more recent build before the line moved on. Factory options through its run included a water sprinkler kit for dust suppression, a bolt-on hood extension or rubber flap for added debris containment, heavy-duty storage stands for off-carrier parking, and a field kit to convert manual angling to hydraulic. It sits in a family of related Cat broom attachments: the BP15/BP18 pickup brooms add a collection hopper the BA18 does not have, and the BU115/BU118 utility brooms share the no-hopper layout without angling. Cat eventually replaced the BA18 with the BA118C. In the used and parts market today the BA18 remains a practical low-electronics attachment: because it has no controller or fault codes, buyers evaluate it on bristle condition, coupler wear, and hydraulic motor health rather than diagnostic history, and most reported problems trace back to the carrier's auxiliary hydraulics or joystick mapping rather than the broom itself.

Below: full specifications, fluids & capacities, the factory service schedule, common service parts, verified fault codes, what owners discuss, attachment guidance, the complete assembly directory, and a serial-number reference. Complete parts lists with full OEM part numbers, exploded diagrams, quantities, and fitment data are available free in Heavy Parts AI.

Caterpillar BA18 specifications

Engine

Power source	No onboard engine. Driven entirely by the carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit through an integral hydraulic motor.
Motor displacement	408 cm3/rev (25 in3/rev)

Weights

Operating/shipping weight	Not published in available dealer or factory literature for this exact model - confirm with your dealer before quoting a lift/carrier match
Hood extension weight (option)	20 kg (45 lb)

Dimensions

Overall width, straight	2312 mm (91 in)
Sweeping width, straight	2134 mm (84 in)
Overall width, angled (30 deg)	2328 mm (92 in)
Sweeping width, angled (30 deg)	1702-1848 mm (67-73 in), varies by spec-sheet edition
Height	845 mm (33 in)
Length	1718 mm (68 in)
Brush diameter	813 mm (32 in)
Angling range	Manual or hydraulic angling, up to 30 deg left or right of center

Performance

Required hydraulic flow	42-83 L/min (11-22 gpm), some editions list up to 86 L/min (23 gpm) - varies by spec-sheet edition
Optimal hydraulic pressure range	145-235 bar (2,100-3,400 psi)
Brush shaft speed at max flow	190-197 rpm, varies by spec-sheet edition
Carrier compatibility	Skid steer loaders, multi-terrain loaders, compact track loaders, backhoe loaders, compact and small wheel loaders
Bristle configuration	Standard 50/50 mix of replaceable polypropylene and steel-wire broom sections

Service capacities (summary)

Fuel tank	Not applicable - attachment has no engine, runs off carrier hydraulics
Hydraulic system	No dedicated onboard reservoir; supplied by carrier's auxiliary hydraulic system within the flow/pressure ranges listed under Performance
Engine oil	Not applicable
Cooling system	Not applicable

Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.

BA18 fluids & capacities

System	Capacity	Recommended fluid
Engine crankcase (with filter)	Not applicable	The BA18 angle broom has no onboard engine. It is a passive hydraulic work tool driven by the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit.
Cooling system	Not applicable	No engine or radiator on this attachment; no coolant system exists to service.
Fuel tank	Not applicable	No fuel system on this attachment.
Transmission / powertrain	Not applicable	Brush rotation comes straight off a direct-drive gerotor hydraulic motor. There is no gearbox, torque converter, or powershift compartment to fill.
Final drives	Not applicable	No final drives fitted; the brush core is turned directly by the hydraulic motor shaft.
Axles / differentials	Not applicable	No drive axle or differential; the unit rides on a caster-mounted guide wheel with no gear case.
Hydraulic system and tank	No dedicated reservoir on the attachment itself	The broom's gerotor motor and, on hydraulic-angling versions, the angle cylinder run off the carrier's own hydraulic system. Fill and service hydraulic oil per the host machine's own operation and maintenance manual (typically Cat HYDO Advanced or equivalent anti-wear hydraulic oil for that machine's climate grade). No separate top-off point exists on the broom.
Grease points (pivot plate and bolt, caster mount bracket, guide wheel/roller bearings, angle pivot)	Service each fitting until purge; no fixed reservoir volume specified	General-purpose NLGI Grade 2 multipurpose grease (Cat Multipurpose Grease or an equivalent lithium-complex EP grease); pivot points under higher load can also take Cat's moly-fortified grease line.

Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.

Caterpillar BA18 maintenance schedule

Service interval	Tasks
Every 10 h	Walk around the broom before startup and check bristle sections for missing wafers, torn wire tufts, or uneven wear across the drum. Inspect the Cat mechanical quick-coupler faces and locking pins for dirt, grit, or damage before mounting to the carrier. Check hydraulic hoses and quick-disconnect fittings for cuts, abrasion, or residual pressure that prevents clean hookup. Confirm the angling frame moves freely to both the left and right stops with no binding before starting sweeping work. Look for hydraulic seepage at the motor case-drain and shaft seal after the first few minutes of operation.
Every 250 h	Grease the angling pivot and mounting frame pins per the lube chart, wiping off old grease and dirt first. Rotate or re-index bristle wafers so wear stays even across the drum width, swapping outer-to-center sections as needed. Re-torque the coupler mounting bolts and any hood-extension or flap hardware to the frame. Clean the coupler flat faces and O-ring grooves to stop the recurring leak-past-the-coupler complaint before it starts.
Every 500 h	Check the gerotor motor mounting bolts for torque and inspect the motor housing for cracks or weeping seals. Verify carrier auxiliary-circuit flow and pressure at the broom inlet fall within the 42-83 L/min and 145-235 bar window; do not assume the tool is at fault if angling is sluggish. Inspect the angling cylinder or manual adjustment linkage for wear at the pin bores. Check the storage stand and any bolt-on hood extension for cracked welds or loose fasteners if the tool sits stored between jobs.
Every 1,000 h	Pull and inspect the hydraulic motor shaft seal and case-drain line; replace the seal if case-drain flow or leakage is above normal. Measure remaining bristle diameter against the original 813 mm (32 in) spec and plan replacement once wafers reach roughly half that diameter. Inspect the drum bearings and shaft for play or noise under load. Check all structural welds on the broom frame and angling brackets for cracking from sustained side-load sweeping.
Every 2,000 h	Overhaul or replace the gerotor motor if case-drain leakage, power loss, or internal noise persists after seal service. Replace bristle sections as a full set once wear is uneven beyond correction by rotation. Rebuild the angling mechanism pins, bushings, and any hydraulic angling cylinder as a set rather than piecemeal. Inspect and refurbish the coupler wear plates and pins before they affect carrier lock-up.

Servicing the BA18 beyond the schedule

Predictive Maintenance & Fluid Analysis

The BA18 has no reservoir or filter of its own, so predictive care centers on the carrier's hydraulic oil and the broom's gerotor motor. Sample carrier hydraulic fluid on the normal schedule since the motor pushes contamination back into the shared circuit through the case drain. Track case-drain flow and motor case temperature at the coupler as an early sign of internal gerotor wear. Watch bristle wear rate against hours logged; a sudden jump in wear on one side flags a misaligned angling frame before it damages the drum bearing.

Corrective & Common Repairs

Most "won't angle" calls on a BA18 trace to the carrier's auxiliary circuit or joystick mapping, not the tool, so verify carrier flow and control assignment before pulling the broom apart. When leaks show up at the coupler faces, clean grit from the flat-face seals and bleed off residual pressure before reconnecting rather than replacing the coupler outright. Torn or missing bristle wafers get swapped in sections, not as a full drum change, unless wear has gone past roughly half the original 813 mm (32 in) diameter.

Overhaul & Rebuild Points

Overhaul work on the BA18 centers on three wear points: the gerotor motor shaft seal and case-drain path, the angling pivot pins and bushings, and the drum bearings carrying the bristle sections. Because the motor has no reservoir of its own, any internal wear shows up as case-drain leakage or lost sweeping torque under load rather than a fluid-level drop. Rebuild the angling mechanism as a matched set of pins and bushings rather than one piece at a time to keep the 30-degree stops accurate on both sides.

Seasonal & Environment Servicing

Before winter storage, drain residual pressure from the hydraulic lines, cap the coupler, and park the BA18 on its heavy-duty stand rather than resting weight on the bristles. In freeze-prone regions, flush the sprinkler kit if fitted so trapped water does not crack the lines. Check the bolt-on hood extension or rubber flap for cracking after cold exposure, and re-inspect bristle stiffness in spring since polypropylene tufts can stiffen or set after months of cold, uneven storage.

BA18 attachments & work tools

Work-tool identity and carrier fit

BA18 is itself a Cat angle-broom work tool, not a host machine. It mounts on Cat skid steer loaders, multi terrain loaders, compact track loaders and compact wheel/small wheel loaders, depending on model year.

Sweeping width and brush core

Maximum sweeping width is 2134 mm (84 in) straight, narrowing to about 1702 mm (67 in) when angled to the full 30 degrees. Brush diameter is 813 mm (32 in), driven directly off a single hydraulic motor keyed into a tapered hub on the brush core.

Quick coupler and mounting

Uses the Cat mechanical quick coupler common to skid steer and multi terrain loader work tools, an opposing-wedge interface that lets the operator swap tools without separate mounting plates.

Hydraulic requirement

Runs on the carrier's standard-flow auxiliary circuit through a single unidirectional gerotor motor, roughly 408-410 cc/rev displacement. Required flow is about 42-86 L/min (11-23 gpm) at 145-235 bar (2,100-3,400 psi) optimal pressure; figures vary slightly by spec-sheet edition. No high-flow kit is called for.

Angling configuration

Available as manual or hydraulic angling, adjustable up to 30 degrees left or right of center. Hydraulic angling lets the operator change broom angle from the cab; manual-angle units can be field-converted to hydraulic angling.

Brush material options

Standard brush is a replaceable polypropylene/steel-wire convoluted section, typically a 50/50 mix. Optional all-polypropylene or all-steel-wire convoluted sections are offered for specialty surface conditions.

Dust and containment options

Optional water sprinkler kit is available for dust suppression. Optional bolt-on hood extension with rubber flap is offered where site conditions call for extra containment; this adds roughly 20 kg (45 lb).

Transport and storage aids

Heavy-duty storage stands are offered so the broom can be set down and transported without the bristles bearing load or taking a set.

Family and succession notes

BA18 sits alongside but is distinct from Cat BP15/BP18 pickup brooms (hopper-bucket style) and BU115/BU118 utility brooms (bi-directional, no hopper) in the same broom lineup. The BA18 angle broom was later carried forward under the BA118C designation with similar standard-flow specs.

All BA18 assemblies by section

Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar BA18. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.

Frame And Body

166-0280 Frame Gp-Broom

00***00	Ring-Snap	10
03***53	Ring-Retaining	12
16***80	Frame Group-Broom	1
16***99	Pin	1

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166-0278 Frame Gp-Front

15***40	Film-Warning; (No Clrn, Flying Obj, Stay Back)	2
16***78	Frame Group-Front	1
16***95	Frame As	1
16***96	Plate Group	1

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166-0289 Link Gp-Adjustable

16***89	Link Group-Adjustable	1
17***87	Pin	1
21***41	Plate As	1
21***42	Plate As	1

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166-0290 Mounting Gp-Hydraulic Lines

16***90	Mounting Group-Hydraulic Lines	1
17***29	Plate	1
2P***93	Locknut-Bulkhead; (1 3/16-12 Thd)	2
6V***44	Nut - Self Locking (2nd Type)	2

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166-0284 Support Gp-Work Tool

16***84	Support Group-Work Tool	1
16***18	Stand	1
17***87	Pin	1

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Hydraulic System

166-0283 Lines Gp-Connecting

15***94	Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect)	1
15***95	Fitting As; (Quick Disconnect, Male)	1
16***83	Lines Group-Connecting	1
16***67	Hose As	1

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166-0293 Lines Gp-Cylinder

16***93	Lines Group-Cylinder	1
17***63	Hose As	2
23***91	Orifice As	1
23***93	Orifice	1

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166-0282 Lines Gp-Hydraulic

16***82	Lines Group-Hydraulic	1
16***64	Hose As	2
16***65	Hose As	2
16***66	Tube As	2

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166-0292 Manifold & Mtg Gp-Control

16***92	Manifold & Mtg Group-Control	1
16***17	Manifold Group-Control	1
3D***24	O-Ring - For Oil Drain & Level Plug (Items 3 & 7)	4
4L***54	Capscrew; (3/8-16x21 In) (Gd8) (Hex Hd) (4-Roller)	4

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166-0317 Manifold Gp-Control

16***17	Manifold Group-Control	1
17***32	Valve-Flow Divider	1
17***33	Valve-Relief	1
17***34	Coil	2

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166-0281 Motor & Mounting Gp

16***81	Motor & Mounting Group	1
16***15	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
16***16	Plate As	1
3K***89	Locknut; (5/8-11-Thd)	2

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166-0315 Motor Gp-Gerotor

06***25	Nut-Slotted Jam	1
12***86	Kit-Seal	1
16***15	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
16***70	Key	1

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Service Equipment And Supplies

166-0285 Plate & Film Gp

15***36	Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual)	1
15***40	Film-Warning; (No Clrn, Flying Obj, Stay Back)	2
16***85	Plate & Film Group	1
16***74	Film; (Cat Ba22)(Ba18/Cat)	2

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Work Tool Arrangement

166-0287 Broom Ar-Angle -Manual

16***87	Broom Ar-Angle; -Manual	1
16***89	Link Group-Adjustable	1
16***90	Mounting Group-Hydraulic Lines	1

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166-0288 Broom Ar-Angle -Hydraulic

15***70	Kit-Connecting Plug; (2-Pin)(Engine Sensor Wiring Harness)	5
16***88	Broom Ar-Angle; -Hydraulic	1
16***91	Cylinder Group-Hydraulic	1
16***92	Manifold & Mtg Group-Control	1

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166-0277 Broom Ar-Angle -Common

16***77	Broom Ar-Angle; -Common	1
16***78	Frame Group-Front	1
16***79	Brush Group-Broom; -Polypropylene & Wire	1
16***80	Frame Group-Broom	1

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Work Tools

166-0279 Brush Gp-Broom -Polypropylene & Wire

16***79	Brush Group-Broom; -Polypropylene & Wire	1
16***02	Core As-Brush	1
16***03	Plate	2
16***04	Hub	1

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166-0322 Kit-Brush -Polypropylene

16***00	Bristle As-Polypropylene	22
16***22	Kit-Brush; -Polypropylene	1

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166-0323 Kit-Brush -Wire

16***01	Bristle As-Wire	21
16***23	Kit-Brush; -Wire	1

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166-0320 Kit-Water Spray -Dust Control

00***86	Connector-Hose (1/4-18nptf Thd)	1
12***56	Clamp-Hose	12
16***20	Kit-Water Spray; -Dust Control	1
17***14	Bar As	1

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BA18 serial number reference

The PIN plate for a Cat work tool like the BA18 broom is a small metal tag riveted to the tool frame or mount structure, usually near the quick-coupler plate or on a main crossmember, separate from the carrier machine's own PIN. Read the first three letters as the prefix (identifies the model/production series) followed by a sequential serial number; use the prefix to pick the correct parts and service manual for that production run.

Prefix	Identifies	Notes
ACE	BA18 Angle Broom, early production run	Serial range ACE00001-up. Manual/hydraulic angle broom for skid steer and compact loaders, straight sweeping width about 2134 mm (84 in), brush diameter about 813 mm (32 in). Dates to around 1999. Confirm exact cutoff serial with dealer.
AZN	BA18 Angle Broom, later production run	Serial range AZN00001-up. Same 2134 mm (84 in) straight sweeping width, 813 mm (32 in) brush diameter angle-broom work tool, hydraulic motor driven, manual or hydraulic angling up to 30 degrees each side. Dates to around 2004 and appears to be the prefix used through more recent production; no later BA18 prefix found. Confirm with dealer whether this remains the current run.

Frequently asked questions

What powers the Caterpillar BA18 broom?

The BA18 has no engine or reservoir of its own. It runs off the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit through an integral gerotor motor displacing 408 cm3/rev, requiring 42-83 L/min of flow at 145-235 bar.

How wide does the BA18 sweep?

Straight sweeping width is 2134 mm (84 in), with an overall unit width of 2312 mm (91 in) and a brush diameter of 813 mm (32 in). The head angles up to 30 degrees to either side, manually or hydraulically.

What replaced the Caterpillar BA18?

Cat succeeded the BA18 with the BA118C angle broom. Related but distinct siblings from the same broom lineup include the hopper-equipped BP15/BP18 pickup brooms and the non-angling BU115/BU118 utility brooms.

What BA18 owners discuss

How does the BA18's angle adjustment work in the field, and why do operators sometimes report inconsistent movement?

The BA18 broom head swings up to 30 degrees off center, either by pulling manual retaining pins to reset the angle or, on the hydraulic-angle version, by cycling a diverter valve through the carrier's auxiliary circuit. Reports of a stuck or inconsistent angle almost always trace back to the carrier side, not the broom: auxiliary hydraulics must be switched on and the correct joystick or panel buttons mapped to the diverter before the cylinder responds. Confirm live auxiliary flow and correct control mapping before chasing a hydraulic fault on the attachment.

What's the normal bristle wear pattern on this broom, and when should the wafers come out?

The core carries alternating poly and wire wafer sections - wire cuts caked-on material, poly flicks loose debris - and wear stays even as long as the broom runs level and isn't left working bent from a maladjusted angle. Field practice is to compare wafer diameter against a new section and swap the worn wafers once they've lost roughly half their original diameter, checking more often on abrasive surfaces. Angle brooms carry no caster wheel to catch the head as bristles shorten, so once the head's own down-travel adjustment runs out, the tilt frame can be rotated to buy a bit more usable bristle life before the wafers must be replaced.

What are the known quirks of the hydraulic motor and drive circuit on this broom?

The BA18 runs a single gerotor motor plumbed into the carrier's standard auxiliary circuit, sized across a fairly wide flow range so it works on different loader classes without a dedicated high-flow package. It depends on the carrier or work-tool circuit's relief valve to absorb pressure spikes when the head strikes a curb, root, or debris pile; without that protection, repeated shock loading is what eventually takes out motor seals. Later high-flow carriers add a case-drain return line: connect it on machines with the third port, plug it off on machines without one. A leak around the motor case or a gradual loss of sweeping torque over a season points to internal seal wear, while a sudden dead stop is more often a coupler or relief-valve event than a worn-out motor.

Are there differences between the manual-angle and hydraulic-angle BA18, or between it and later broom models?

Yes. The BA18 was offered both as a manual unit, where the operator resets the +/-30 degree angle by hand with retaining pins, and as a hydraulic unit driven off the carrier's second auxiliary function through a diverter valve. Both share the same general brush core and drive motor but differ in how the angle is actuated and what plumbing they need at the coupler. Caterpillar's broom line was later renumbered and the BA18 was succeeded by the BA118C, which carries a similar layout so service habits mostly carry over - but wafer sizing and motor displacement shouldn't be assumed identical without checking the tag on the actual unit.

What causes the broom to not angle at all when hooked to a skid steer or MTL?

The most common real-world cause isn't a broken cylinder, it's the carrier not sending flow to the right circuit. Check that auxiliary hydraulics are switched on, that hoses are matched to the correct ports rather than swapped, and that the joystick or panel buttons are actually mapped to the diverter function rather than to some other auxiliary tool. Only after confirming flow reaches the broom's diverter valve should a stuck valve spool or a failed angle cylinder on the attachment itself be suspected. Have your dealer verify diverter valve operation if swapping hoses and confirming the carrier's auxiliary settings doesn't restore angle function.

What should a buyer inspect on a used BA18 before purchase?

Start with the wafer core: remaining bristle length and how evenly it has worn shows how much life is left and whether the unit was run angled or bent for long stretches. Spin the core by hand where possible and listen for grinding in the support bearings, and confirm they are still greaseable rather than seized solid. Inspect the motor case for weeping hydraulic fluid and check that it turns freely without excessive drag. Look over the angle pivot and the wear pads or bushings at the frame-to-head joint, and check the quick-coupler faces for pitting or bent tabs that would prevent a clean hookup. Cycle the angle function under power if the seller allows it and watch for hesitation, which points back to the diverter or relief valve. Have your dealer verify hydraulic motor and diverter valve condition before final purchase on any unit showing leaks or rough rotation.

Any coupler or hookup issues owners commonly report with this class of broom?

Flat-face auxiliary quick couplers are a frequent complaint across this whole category of attachment, not unique to this broom. Dirt and grit trapped in the coupler faces, or couplers connected while still under residual pressure, cause weeping leaks and reduced flow that owners often mistake for a weak motor. Wipe and inspect coupler faces at hookup, and relieve residual pressure per the carrier's procedure before connecting or disconnecting. On three-hose setups, make sure the case-drain line is actually connected on carriers that support it rather than left capped.

Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.

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