Caterpillar BH30
Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown
The Cat BH30 is a passive hydraulic backhoe attachment, not a self-powered machine: it has no onboard engine or ECM and draws all working power from the auxiliary hydraulic circuit of its host carrier. It mounts to skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, and multi-terrain loaders across roughly the 216B-257B compatibility range through a dedicated carrier-side mount bracket, with a mechanical pin-on coupler joining the attachment to the dipper stick linkage. Operating weight runs around 790 kg (1,742 lb). The BH30 sits in a small family of pin-on backhoe attachments that share a common manual and design lineage but are not interchangeable part-for-part: the smaller BH27, the wider BH30W, and the larger BH150 and BH160 fill out the range by digging capacity and carrier class. Records tie the BH30 to a single confirmed serial prefix.
What separates the family members is scale and reach rather than mechanical concept: each shares the same swing-frame, boom, dipper, and cylinder architecture, scaled up or down, so wear patterns and service points are consistent across BH27, BH30, and BH30W even though their pins, bushings, and cylinders are sized differently and should not be cross-attributed. In the used and parts market, this matters because the BH30 lets a skid-steer, CTL, or MTL fleet add genuine backhoe digging capability without buying and maintaining a dedicated backhoe loader. Its value used is driven almost entirely by carrier compatibility and the physical condition of its pins, bushings, and cylinders, since there is no engine hours meter or fault-code history to judge wear by. A well-greased, low-play BH30 is a straightforward way to extend a loader fleet's job scope; a neglected one shows up fast as sloppy digging and leaking cylinders.
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 BH30 specifications
Engine
| Power source | Passive hydraulic work tool — no onboard engine, ECM, or emissions system. Runs off the host skid steer loader / multi terrain loader's hydraulic system. |
| Applicable host carriers | Cat 216B, 226B, 226B HF, 232B, 242B, 242B HF, 247B and 257B skid steer loaders / multi terrain loaders. |
Weights
| Operating weight | 790 kg (1,742 lb) |
Dimensions
| Overall operating height | 3654 mm (143.9 in) |
| Digging depth (maximum) | varies by configuration/series, roughly 2.75-2.9 m (9-9.5 ft) for this class — confirm exact figure for your unit with your dealer |
| Reach from swing pivot at ground | varies by configuration/series, roughly 2.75-3.4 m (9-11 ft) reported for this class — confirm exact figure for your unit with your dealer |
| Dump height | 2379 mm (93.7 in) |
| Total side-shift travel | 850 mm (33.5 in) |
Performance
| Bucket breakout force | 5500 kg (12,125 lb) |
| Bucket swing (rotation) radius | 218° |
| Boom swing arc | 180° |
| Hydraulic operating pressure | 170 bar (2,466 psi) |
| Minimum hydraulic flow required | Reported figures vary by source, from roughly 35 L/min (9.2 gpm) up to about 83 L/min (22 gpm) — confirm against the host carrier's rated auxiliary flow before ordering. |
| Stabilizers | Two hydraulic stabilizers, independently operated, for ground support during digging. |
| Quick coupler | Mechanical quick coupler; shares tool interface with the Cat 302.5 Mini Hydraulic Excavator work tool line. |
Service capacities (summary)
| Fuel tank / engine oil / cooling system | Not applicable — the BH30 is a passive attachment with no engine, fuel system, or cooling system of its own. Hydraulic fluid is supplied entirely from the host carrier's own hydraulic reservoir; service the carrier's hydraulic system per its own spec sheet. |
Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.
BH30 fluids & capacities
| System | Capacity | Recommended fluid |
|---|---|---|
| Engine crankcase (with filter) | Not applicable — no engine on this unit | The BH30 is a passive hydraulic backhoe attachment for skid steer and multi-terrain loaders (B2H/B3H/B3W serial prefixes, shared with BH27 and BH30W). It carries no onboard engine, so no crankcase oil chart applies. |
| Cooling system | Not applicable — no engine or radiator on this unit | No coolant system exists on the attachment; heat rejection is handled by the host carrier. |
| Fuel tank | Not applicable — no engine or fuel tank on this unit | No fuel system exists on the attachment. |
| Hydraulic system (boom, swing, and stabilizer cylinders) | No separate reservoir; attachment shares the host machine's hydraulic tank and circuit | The backhoe's dig, swing, and stabilizer cylinders are plumbed directly into the host skid steer or multi-terrain loader's auxiliary hydraulic system through quick-disconnect couplers with O-ring face seals. Fluid type and capacity follow the host carrier's own hydraulic oil specification (typically Cat TDTO or the carrier maker's equivalent multi-viscosity hydraulic/transmission oil), not a separate BH30 fill. |
| Transmission / powertrain compartments | Not applicable | The attachment has no transmission or powertrain of its own; it is driven entirely by host-machine hydraulics. |
| Final drives / axles / differentials | Not applicable | No final drives or axles are fitted; the attachment has no ground-drive components. |
| Pivot pins and bushings (boom, dipper, bucket linkage, swing frame, stabilizers) | Grease until it purges visibly at each pin joint; no fill-volume spec given | Cat Multipurpose Grease (MPGM), NLGI 2, is the standard recommendation for pin and bushing joints on this class of Cat work-tool attachment; heavier-load pins on comparable Cat backhoe attachments call for a moly-fortified extreme-pressure grease. Grease fittings are provided at all swing-frame, cylinder, and linkage pivot points for routine service. |
Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.
Caterpillar BH30 maintenance schedule
| Service interval | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Every 10 h |
|
| Every 250 h |
|
| Every 500 h |
|
| Every 1,000 h |
|
| Every 2,000 h |
|
| Every 4,000 h |
|
Servicing the BH30 beyond the schedule
Predictive Maintenance & Fluid Analysis
The BH30 carries no engine or ECM, so there is no oil-sample program. Predictive care centers on the hydraulic circuit: watch the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic pressure and flow for drift that signals internal cylinder bypass, and inspect the boom and dipper cylinder rods for pitting or seal weep at every shift. Track grease consumption at each pivot pin; a fitting that stops taking grease, or a hose showing abrasion through its outer jacket, is the earliest failure signal this attachment gives before a pin, bushing, or seal actually fails.
Corrective & Common Repairs
Most BH30 repairs trace back to pin-and-bushing wear at the boom, dipper, and bucket joints from ground-engaging shock loads, plus coupler pin galling where greasing has been inconsistent. Cylinder reseal is the next most common job once rod seals start weeping under repeated cycling. Also check the carrier-side mount bracket for elongated bolt holes or cracked welds after high-cycle digging; a loose mount bracket accelerates pin wear across the whole boom assembly and often gets misdiagnosed as a bushing problem on its own.
Overhaul & Rebuild Points
A full BH30 rebuild centers on the swing frame and boom pivot bores, which carry the highest cyclic load on this attachment and wear oversize under heavy service. Re-pin the boom-to-swing-frame, dipper, and bucket joints together rather than piecemeal so clearances match across the linkage. Cylinder rebuilds are typically bundled with pivot work since both jobs require the boom pulled down and supported. Inspect swing-frame welds near the pivot bosses for fatigue cracking before putting the attachment back into service.
Seasonal & Environment Servicing
In abrasive or wet ground, purge grease fittings at every pivot more frequently to flush contaminated grease before it turns into grinding paste inside the bushings. In cold weather, check coupler and cylinder O-rings for stiffening or cracking before first use, and cycle the boom slowly at cold start so hydraulic oil in the host carrier warms before full-load digging. For off-season storage, rest the bucket on the ground or on blocking to relieve pressure on the cylinder seals.
BH30 attachments & work tools
Backhoe buckets - general purpose/trenching
BH30 buckets run roughly 300 mm (12 in) up to about 600 mm (23.6 in) wide, with 400 mm (16 in) and 457-500 mm (18-19.7 in) as common mid-range picks depending on dig conditions. Widths vary by dealer catalog and machine series, so confirm against the specific bucket part list before ordering.
Backhoe-end coupler
Buckets pin onto the dipper stick through a mechanical (pin-on) quick coupler, letting the operator swap buckets or a thumb without pulling pins from the linkage each time.
Carrier mounting system
The BH30 bolts to the skid steer/CTL/MTL frame through a dedicated upper mounting bracket and lower frame attachment rather than the loader's bucket quick-attach plate, so it is fitted to a specific host-machine mounting kit, not a universal quick-coupler plate. Swapping the unit onto a different brand or series of carrier typically needs a matched bracket set.
Hydraulic thumb kit
A bolt-on thumb (manual or hydraulic) can be fitted to the dipper stick for grabbing pipe, brush, or rock; thumb size is picked to match the bucket, with 18 in and 21 in thumbs the sizes most commonly cited for this attachment class. Confirm exact sizing against the specific bucket and stick length in use.
Stabilizers
Standard configuration uses left and right hydraulic stabilizer legs to steady the carrier during digging, independent of the boom/dipper hydraulics.
In-cab backhoe controls
Backhoe control console folds up into the operator cab, letting one operator run both the loader travel and the backhoe functions from the seat without leaving the machine.
Auxiliary hydraulic supply from carrier
The backhoe draws off the host machine's auxiliary hydraulic circuit; minimum flow figures cited for this size class run about 30-35 L/min, and the exact minimum varies by which skid steer/CTL model is supplying flow.
Swing and reach envelope
Digging depth for this class runs about 2.8-2.9 m (9 ft 3 in - 9 ft 6 in), with reach and dump height scaling with bucket and stick length. Reported boom/bucket swing figures range from roughly 180 to about 218 degrees across sources, so treat swing angle as varying by configuration/series rather than a single fixed number.
All BH30 assemblies by section
Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar BH30. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.
Frame And Body
211-1549 Console Gp-Operator
| 20***34 | Arm-Lever | 1 |
| 20***35 | Knob, ... Idler | 1 |
| 21***49 | Console Group-Operator | 1 |
204-4041 Console Gp-Operator
| 20***32 | Console As | 1 |
| 20***33 | Plate, . Idler Ass'Y | 1 |
| 20***34 | Arm-Lever | 1 |
207-8467 Frame Ar
| 20***22 | Frame Group-Backhoe | 1 |
| 20***41 | . Idler Ass'Y, Console Group-Operator | 1 |
| 20***76 | Stabilizer Group | 1 |
211-1582 Frame Ar
| 20***76 | Stabilizer Group | 1 |
| 20***68 | Transport Group | 1 |
| 21***47 | Frame Group-Backhoe | 1 |
204-4022 Frame Gp-Backhoe
| 20***22 | Frame Group-Backhoe | 1 |
| 20***23 | Frame As | 1 |
| 20***66 | Plate | 2 |
211-1547 Frame Gp-Backhoe
| 20***66 | Plate | 2 |
| 21***47 | Frame Group-Backhoe | 1 |
| 21***48 | Frame As | 1 |
204-4069 Frame Gp-Sliding
| 11***32 | Fitting-Grease | 2 |
| 20***26 | Frame As | 1 |
| 20***49 | Bracket As | 2 |
207-8479 Frame Gp-Swing
| 11***32 | Fitting-Grease | 4 |
| 20***39 | .. Bearing., Frame As | 1 |
| 20***47 | Bridge | 1 |
211-2082 Guard & Mtg Gp-Cab
| 21***82 | Guard & Mtg Group-Cab | 1 |
| 8T***21 | Washer-Hard; (11x21x2.5-mm Thk)(M10x1.50x30mm) | 4 |
| 8T***33 | Nut (M10x1.50 Thd) | 4 |
204-4076 Stabilizer Gp
| 09***19 | Ring-Retaining | 2 |
| 20***27 | Tube As | 2 |
| 20***28 | Pin | 2 |
207-8468 Transport Gp
| 20***65 | Pin | 1 |
| 20***68 | Pin | 1 |
| 20***68 | Transport Group | 1 |
Hydraulic System
211-1557 Control Gp-Hydraulic Hand -Boom-Stick-Bucket
| 20***35 | Knob, ... Idler | 3 |
| 20***65 | Lever | 3 |
| 20***68 | Boot | 3 |
207-8480 Control Gp-Hydraulic Hand -Boom-Stick-Bucket
| 20***35 | Knob, ... Idler | 3 |
| 20***80 | Control Group-Hydraulic Hand; -Boom-Stick-Bucket | 1 |
| 20***81 | Valve Group-Bank 7 | 1 |
211-9532 Lines Gp-Auxiliary Hydraulic
| 15***17 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***18 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***94 | Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect) | 1 |
207-8466 Lines Gp-Auxiliary Hydraulic
| 15***17 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***18 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***94 | Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect) | 1 |
204-4106 Lines Gp-Auxiliary Hydraulic
| 15***17 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***18 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***94 | Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect) | 1 |
204-4103 Lines Gp-Boom Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 3 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***03 | Lines Group-Boom Cylinder | 1 |
211-9523 Lines Gp-Boom Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 2 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***33 | Bolt | 1 |
204-4105 Lines Gp-Bucket Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 4 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***05 | Lines Group-Bucket Cylinder | 1 |
207-8465 Lines Gp-Bucket Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 4 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***18 | Hose As | 1 |
211-9531 Lines Gp-Bucket Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 2 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***17 | Hose As | 2 |
204-4099 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 15***17 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***18 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***94 | Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect) | 1 |
211-1571 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 15***17 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***18 | Cap-Dust | 1 |
| 15***94 | Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect) | 1 |
211-1574 Lines Gp-Sideshift Lock
| 15***77 | Connector Group | 3 |
| 15***70 | Seal | 1 |
| 18***07 | Connector As | 4 |
204-4101 Lines Gp-Sideshift Lock
| 11***83 | Connector | 1 |
| 15***77 | Connector Group | 3 |
| 15***70 | Seal | 1 |
204-4100 Lines Gp-Stabilizer
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 4 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***00 | Lines Group-Stabilizer | 1 |
211-1568 Lines Gp-Stabilizer
| 20***28 | Connector | 4 |
| 20***31 | Bolt; (Fluid Connector) | 4 |
| 21***68 | Lines Group-Stabilizer | 1 |
204-4104 Lines Gp-Stick Cylinder
| 15***19 | Connector Group | 2 |
| 15***71 | Seal | 1 |
| 20***04 | Lines Group-Stick Cylinder | 1 |
211-9524 Lines Gp-Stick Cylinder
| 20***25 | Elbow | 2 |
| 21***70 | Connector As | 2 |
| 21***24 | Lines Group-Stick Cylinder | 1 |
204-4102 Lines Gp-Swing Cylinder
| 20***02 | Lines Group-Swing Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***09 | Hose As | 1 |
| 20***10 | Hose As | 1 |
211-1578 Lines Gp-Swing Cylinder
| 20***11 | Hose As | 2 |
| 20***31 | Bolt; (Fluid Connector) | 6 |
| 20***32 | Plug | 2 |
207-8481 Valve Gp-Bank 7
| 20***81 | Valve Group-Bank 7 | 1 |
| 23***10 | Valve Group-Control | 1 |
| 23***11 | Valve Group-Control; (Swing) | 1 |
Service Equipment And Supplies
204-4096 Film Gp
| 10***63 | Film-Instruction; (Return Flow)(Return Flow Direction) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
| 15***38 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
204-4097 Film Gp
| 10***63 | Film-Instruction; (Return Flow)(Return Flow Direction) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
| 15***38 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
204-4095 Film Gp
| 10***63 | Film-Instruction; (Return Flow)(Return Flow Direction) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
| 15***38 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
Work Tool Arrangement
204-4018 Backhoe Ar
| 20***18 | Backhoe Ar | 1 |
| 20***40 | Mounting Group-Backhoe, . Yoke | 1 |
| 20***97 | Film Group | 1 |
204-4017 Backhoe Ar
| 20***17 | Backhoe Ar | 1 |
| 20***40 | Mounting Group-Backhoe, . Yoke | 1 |
| 20***96 | Film Group | 1 |
204-4016 Backhoe Ar
| 20***16 | Backhoe Ar | 1 |
| 20***40 | Mounting Group-Backhoe, . Yoke | 1 |
| 20***95 | Film Group | 1 |
207-8470 Boom Ar
| 20***03 | Lines Group-Boom Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***70 | Boom Ar | 1 |
| 20***78 | Boom Group | 1 |
211-1584 Boom Ar
| 20***44 | Boom Group, . Yoke | 1 |
| 21***84 | Boom Ar | 1 |
| 21***23 | Lines Group-Boom Cylinder | 1 |
207-8471 Boom Ar
| 20***44 | Boom Group, . Yoke | 1 |
| 20***03 | Lines Group-Boom Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***71 | Boom Ar | 1 |
153-7857 Bucket Ar-General Purpose
| 15***57 | Bucket Ar-General Purpose | 1 |
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 4 |
153-7860 Bucket Ar-General Purpose
| 15***60 | Bucket Ar-General Purpose | 1 |
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 4 |
153-7854 Bucket Ar-General Purpose
| 15***54 | Bucket Ar-General Purpose | 1 |
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 3 |
190-7390 Bucket Ar-General Purpose
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 3 |
| 19***90 | Bucket Ar-General Purpose | 1 |
153-7851 Bucket Ar-General Purpose
| 15***51 | Bucket Ar-General Purpose | 1 |
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 3 |
207-8476 Linkage Ar
| 20***78 | Linkage Group-Bucket | 1 |
| 20***65 | Lines Group-Bucket Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***76 | Linkage Ar | 1 |
207-8477 Linkage Ar
| 20***78 | Linkage Group-Bucket | 1 |
| 20***05 | Lines Group-Bucket Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***77 | Linkage Ar | 1 |
211-9528 Linkage Ar
| 21***28 | Linkage Ar | 1 |
| 21***29 | Linkage Group-Bucket | 1 |
| 21***31 | Lines Group-Bucket Cylinder | 1 |
207-8469 Sideshift Ar
| 20***69 | Frame Group-Sliding | 1 |
| 20***01 | Lines Group-Sideshift Lock | 1 |
| 20***02 | Lines Group-Swing Cylinder | 1 |
211-1583 Sideshift Ar
| 20***69 | Frame Group-Sliding | 1 |
| 20***79 | Frame Group-Swing | 1 |
| 21***74 | Lines Group-Sideshift Lock | 1 |
207-8472 Stick Ar
| 20***04 | Lines Group-Stick Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***72 | Stick Ar | 1 |
| 20***74 | Stick Group-Hoe | 1 |
207-8473 Stick Ar
| 20***45 | Stick Group-Hoe | 1 |
| 20***04 | Lines Group-Stick Cylinder | 1 |
| 20***73 | Stick Ar | 1 |
211-9527 Stick Ar
| 20***45 | Stick Group-Hoe | 1 |
| 21***24 | Lines Group-Stick Cylinder | 1 |
| 21***27 | Stick Ar | 1 |
Work Tools
204-4044 Boom Gp
| 11***32 | Fitting-Grease | 2 |
| 20***30 | Boom As | 1 |
| 20***44 | Boom Group, . Yoke | 1 |
207-8478 Boom Gp
| 20***30 | Boom As | 1 |
| 20***58 | Washer; (41x71.5x4.5mm Thk) | 1 |
| 20***60 | Washer; (31x55.5x3mm Thk) | 1 |
153-7865 Bucket As-Ditch Cleaning
| 15***65 | Bucket As-Ditch Cleaning | 1 |
153-7863 Bucket As-Ditch Cleaning
| 15***63 | Bucket As-Ditch Cleaning | 1 |
179-9826 Coupler Gp-Quick
| 16***73 | Shim; (0.3-mm Thk) | 4 |
| 16***98 | Lock Group-Pin; -Lh | 1 |
| 16***99 | Lock Group-Pin; -Lh | 1 |
169-5725 Coupler Gp-Quick
| 16***16 | Pin-Support | 2 |
| 16***25 | Coupler Group-Quick | 1 |
| 17***26 | Coupler Group-Quick | 1 |
204-4078 Linkage Gp-Bucket
| 20***60 | Washer; (31x55.5x3mm Thk) | 1 |
| 20***71 | Bushing | 2 |
| 20***78 | Linkage Group-Bucket | 1 |
211-9529 Linkage Gp-Bucket
| 11***32 | Fitting-Grease | 3 |
| 20***60 | Washer; (31x55.5x3mm Thk) | 1 |
| 20***71 | Bushing | 2 |
169-1399 Lock Gp-Pin -Lh
| 09***81 | Pin-Spring | 1 |
| 15***34 | Pin | 1 |
| 15***95 | Knob | 1 |
169-1398 Lock Gp-Pin -Lh
| 09***81 | Pin-Spring | 1 |
| 15***34 | Pin | 1 |
| 15***95 | Knob | 1 |
204-4040 Mounting Gp-Backhoe
| 17***11 | Locknut; (M16x2-Thd) | 4 |
| 20***24 | Bracket As | 1 |
| 20***40 | Mounting Group-Backhoe, . Yoke | 1 |
154-2683 Mounting Gp-Bucket
| 15***83 | Mounting Group-Bucket | 1 |
| 16***20 | Pin | 2 |
| 23***44 | Pin As | 2 |
207-8474 Stick Gp-Hoe
| 20***60 | Washer; (31x55.5x3mm Thk) | 3 |
| 20***70 | Bushing | 2 |
| 20***71 | Bushing | 4 |
204-4045 Stick Gp-Hoe
| 20***31 | Stick As | 1 |
| 20***45 | Stick Group-Hoe | 1 |
| 20***60 | Washer; (31x55.5x3mm Thk) | 3 |
153-7881 Tooth Gp-Uni
| 13***90 | Tooth-Uni | 1 |
| 15***81 | Tooth Group-Uni | 1 |
| 15***39 | Screw-Flat Head; (M16x2x60-mm) | 2 |
BH30 serial number reference
The PIN plate is riveted to the backhoe attachment mainframe itself (not the carrier's own PIN), same placement pattern as the BH27/BH150/BH160 siblings. The first 3 characters are the prefix identifying the exact model/config (B3H for base BH30), followed by a sequential unit number; read as prefix + serial, e.g. B3H00001-UP.
| Prefix | Identifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B3H | BH30 skid-steer/CTL/MTL backhoe attachment, base configuration | Passive hydraulic backhoe attachment, no engine of its own — runs off carrier hydraulics. Reach and dig-depth figures vary by source and by unit configuration for this size class (roughly 2.75-3.4 m / 9-11 ft reach reported across different listings); confirm exact spec for your specific unit with your dealer. Fits Cat skid steer/compact track loader carriers (216, 226, 228, 232, 242, 247, 257 and similar). Parts and service literature is issued jointly for BH27/BH30/BH30W but each has its own prefix — do not merge BH27's B2H or BH30W's B3W ranges into BH30. |
Frequently asked questions
What powers the Cat BH30 backhoe attachment?
The BH30 has no onboard engine. It is a passive hydraulic attachment that draws all its power from the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit, typically a skid-steer loader, compact track loader, or multi-terrain loader in the 216B-257B compatibility range.
What is the operating weight of the Cat BH30?
The BH30 has an operating weight of approximately 790 kg (1,742 lb).
Is there a successor to the Cat BH30?
No confirmed direct successor is documented. The BH30 remains part of Caterpillar's current backhoe-attachment lineup alongside the smaller BH27, the wider BH30W, and the larger BH150 and BH160, rather than being replaced by a generational update.
What BH30 owners discuss
What hydraulic flow and pressure does the BH30 actually need from the host carrier?
Where does play typically show up first on a well-used BH30?
Does it matter which Cat skid steer in the 216B-257B range I run the BH30 behind?
What do experienced owners say about mounting a BH30 on a non-Cat carrier?
Are there electrical or sensor problems tied to the BH30 setup?
What's the real-world grease habit that keeps a BH30 tight?
What should I inspect on a used BH30 before buying it?
Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.
Need a specific BH30 part?
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