Caterpillarwork toolbroom-pickup

Caterpillar BP18

Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown

The Caterpillar BP18 is a passive, hydraulically driven pickup broom designed to mount on Cat skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, backhoe loaders, and wheel loaders through the standard Cat coupler plate. It carries no engine of its own: two in-line hydraulic motors, fed by the host machine's auxiliary hydraulic circuit, turn a 660 mm (26 in) diameter brush across a 1829 mm (72 in) sweeping width. At roughly 472 kg (1,040 lb) with the gutter brush fitted, it collects swept material in a 0.45 m3 (0.59 yd3) hopper for controlled dumping rather than side-casting, making it suited to yard cleanup, jobsite sweeping, and light debris collection wherever a compatible carrier is already on hand.

The BP18 is Cat's dual-motor pickup broom in the 72 in (1829 mm) sweeping-width class, built around the two-motor drive and hopper geometry of its generation. It is a separate model from the wider BP18B pickup broom rather than a direct generational replacement - the two are documented as distinct models rather than a simple predecessor/successor pair. Because the BP18 shares its mounting standard and general duty cycle with other pickup brooms in the line, it remains active in the used-equipment and parts market: fleets running older skid steers and loaders still rely on it, and its hydraulic motors, brush cores, and coupler hardware continue to see demand independent of which pickup broom model is currently cataloged.

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 BP18 specifications

Engine

Power source	None. BP18 is a passive hydraulically driven pickup broom work tool, not an engine-driven machine. It runs off the host Skid Steer Loader or Multi Terrain Loader's auxiliary hydraulic circuit.
Emissions tier	Not applicable, no onboard engine.

Weights

Unit weight (as equipped with gutter brush)

472 kg (1,040 lb)

Dimensions

Overall width	2108 mm (83 in)
Maximum sweeping width	1829 mm (72 in)
Height	787 mm (31 in)
Length	1575 mm (62 in)
Brush diameter	660 mm (26 in)

Performance

Drive method	Direct drive, two in-line hydraulic motors mounted in a support housing keyed into the brush core hub
Motor size	200 cm3 (12.2 in3) per motor
Combined effective displacement	400 cm3 (24.4 in3)
Required hydraulic flow range	57-95 L/min (15-25 gpm)
Optimal hydraulic pressure range	145-227 bar (2,100-3,300 psi)
Rated brush speed	190 rpm at 38 L/min (10 gpm)
Hopper capacity (rated struck, per ISO 7546:1983 / SAE J742 Feb85)	0.45 m3 (0.59 yd3)
Brush head retention	Dual chain and loader-arm bracket system for quick dumping
Brush material (standard)	Replaceable polypropylene/steel-wire sections
Host machine fit	Approved for optimum performance on Skid Steer Loader models 236, 246, 248, 232, 242, 252, 262 and Multi Terrain Loader models 247, 257, 267, 277; not approved on smaller 216/226/228 Skid Steer Loaders

Service capacities (summary)

Fuel tank / engine oil / coolant	Not applicable, no onboard engine
Hydraulic system	No dedicated reservoir; operates on the host machine's auxiliary hydraulic supply within the listed flow and pressure range

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

BP18 fluids & capacities

System	Capacity	Recommended fluid
Engine, cooling, fuel, transmission, final drives	Not applicable	The BP18 pickup broom has no engine, radiator, fuel tank, transmission, or final drive of its own. It is a passive hydraulic work tool: a broom cartridge turned by a hydraulic motor, mounted to a carrier machine (wheel loader, backhoe loader, or skid steer) via a quick coupler.
Hydraulic drive (broom motor)	No separate reservoir or fill capacity; the broom motor draws from and returns to the host carrier's own hydraulic system	No dedicated Cat hydraulic fluid is specified for the attachment itself. Oil type, viscosity grade, and climate selection follow the carrier machine's own Operation and Maintenance Manual for its auxiliary hydraulic circuit.
Grease points (broom drive bearings and pivots)	Fill until grease appears at the bearing seal; no published volume figure	Lubricate at scheduled intervals with a Cat multipurpose-type chassis grease (NLGI 2 general duty, or a molybdenum-disulfide-fortified grade for higher-load/high-speed bearing points), selected for ambient temperature per Cat's general work-tool lubrication guidance.

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

Caterpillar BP18 maintenance schedule

Service interval	Tasks
Every 10 h	Check bristle wafers for wear, cracking, or uneven wear pattern across the brush core Inspect hydraulic hoses, fittings, and quick-connects for leaks, chafing, or loose connections Confirm quick-coupler engagement and mounting pin security before operation Clear hopper and gutter brush of accumulated debris and check hopper door for free operation Listen for abnormal noise or vibration from the hydraulic motors during a brief dry run
Every 50 h	Inspect hydraulic motor housings and shaft seals for weeping or seepage Check brush core bearing for play, roughness, or excess heat after operation Grease coupler pins and pivot points per the attachment lubrication chart Inspect gutter brush arm and its hydraulic or mechanical adjustment for smooth travel Check hopper seals and latch mechanism for wear that would let material spill
Every 250 h	Inspect hydraulic motor-to-brush drive coupling for wear, slop, or misalignment Check brush wafer wear against the service limit and rotate or replace as a set if uneven Inspect frame, motor mounts, and coupler brackets for cracks or elongated bolt holes Cycle hopper door actuator and hinges fully, checking for binding or hydraulic drift Verify hydraulic hose routing and clamps have not loosened from vibration
Every 500 h	Inspect and replace hydraulic motor shaft seals if any seepage was noted at earlier checks Check brush drive spline or gearbox interface for wear beyond service tolerance Torque-check all coupler plate, frame, and motor mounting fasteners to spec Inspect hopper structure and gutter brush frame for corrosion, fatigue cracking, or weld separation Flush and inspect hydraulic motor case-drain path if the carrier circuit uses one
—	Replace bristle wafers when worn below the service limit or when sweeping width narrows noticeably Replace hydraulic hoses showing cracking, bulging, or abrasion regardless of elapsed hours Replace brush core bearings if seized, noisy, or showing measurable radial play Replace hydraulic motor seals immediately on any visible leak rather than waiting for the next interval

Servicing the BP18 beyond the schedule

Predictive Maintenance & Fluid Analysis

The BP18 carries no engine or dedicated hydraulic reservoir, so condition monitoring centers on the host carrier's hydraulic fluid and the attachment's own motor health. Track carrier fluid cleanliness and case-drain temperature when the broom is engaged, since a failing motor bearing or worn seal shows up as rising case-drain heat or falling brush speed before it shows up as visible leakage. Periodic sampling of the carrier's auxiliary circuit fluid catches contamination introduced through the broom's hose connections early, before it reaches other attachments sharing the same circuit.

Corrective & Common Repairs

Bristle wafer replacement is the most frequent repair on the BP18, done as a set to keep sweep pattern and brush balance even. Hydraulic motor repairs typically involve shaft seal replacement after a case-drain leak is spotted, or full motor exchange once internal wear drops flow efficiency and brush speed. Brush core bearing replacement follows noise or play found during inspection. Hose and fitting replacement at the coupler interface is common given the repeated connect and disconnect cycles the attachment sees in mixed-fleet use.

Overhaul & Rebuild Points

A full overhaul centers on the two in-line hydraulic motors: internal wear on gears, seals, and bearings eventually drops output below the 190 rpm design brush speed even with correct flow and pressure supplied. The brush core, drive coupling, and spline interface wear as a set and are inspected together at rebuild. Coupler plate pins, bushings, and the frame mounting brackets take the mechanical load of repeated attach cycles and should be checked for elongation or cracking whenever the unit is pulled down for motor work.

Seasonal & Environment Servicing

Wet or freezing conditions push moisture into hydraulic quick-connects and motor shaft seals, so cold-weather storage should keep couplers capped and fittings protected from ice buildup. Grit and fine debris packed into the brush core and bearing area accelerate wear in dry, dusty environments and should be blown out or washed clear more often than the standard interval calls for. Standing water in the hopper promotes corrosion at seams and hinges, so draining and drying the hopper before extended storage protects the structure between seasonal use.

BP18 attachments & work tools

Host carrier compatibility

BP18 is a pickup-broom work tool sized for the roughly 60-72 in sweeping-width class, built to mount on Cat skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, backhoe loaders, and wheel loaders rather than operate as a standalone machine. It sweeps material into an integrated hopper for controlled dumping instead of side-casting.

Mounting/coupler system

Attaches through the standard Cat skid-steer-pattern quick-coupler plate shared across the pickup-broom work-tool line, letting one operator swap it onto a compatible loader or backhoe loader without a separate bracket kit.

Hydraulic power requirement

Broom rotation is driven off the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic work-tool circuit rather than a self-contained power source. Flow and pressure figures published for this sweeping-width class are documented under the current BP18B designation; treat exact numbers as unconfirmed for the earlier plain BP18 without a data-plate or parts-book cross-check.

Model lineage and documentation

Plain BP18 and BP18B are separate pickup-broom models in Caterpillar's lineup rather than a simple generational succession: BP18 uses a dual hydraulic-motor drive in the 72 in (1829 mm) sweeping-width class, while BP18B is a wider, single-motor design. Caterpillar issues combined parts and service literature for BP15B/BP18B as a pair, so dedicated documentation naming the plain BP18 by itself is limited.

All BP18 assemblies by section

Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar BP18. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.

Frame And Body

165-9890 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***90	Bracket Group-Broom	1
16***20	Link-Chain	2
16***21	Chain As	2
17***62	Bracket As	1

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206-7974 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***20	Link-Chain	2
16***21	Chain As	2
20***74	Bracket Group-Broom	1
20***75	Plate	2

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165-9889 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***89	Bracket Group-Broom	1
16***92	Bracket As	1
16***93	Bracket As	1
16***20	Link-Chain	2

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246-9801 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***20	Link-Chain	2
16***21	Chain As	2
24***01	Bracket Group-Broom	1
24***30	Bracket As	2

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240-8443 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***92	Bracket As	1
16***93	Bracket As	1
16***20	Link-Chain	2
16***21	Chain As	2

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258-6413 Bracket Gp-Broom

16***20	Link-Chain	2
16***21	Chain As	2
24***30	Bracket As	2
25***13	Bracket Group-Broom	1

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165-9064 Frame Gp-Broom

13***43	Bolt-Round Head; (M6x1-6g-Thd)	2
16***64	Frame Group-Broom	1
16***19	Pin As	2
16***85	Pin	2

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165-9058 Frame Gp-Debris

13***96	Edge-Cutting	1
15***53	Screw-Flat Head; (M16x2.00 Thd)	11
16***58	Frame Group-Debris	1
17***50	Bucket As-Sweeper	1

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Hydraulic System

165-9067 Lines Gp-Connecting

16***67	Lines Group-Connecting	1
17***82	Hose As	2
2M***80	Seal--To Connector Pump Outlet	2
6V***98	Seal-O-Ring -Line From Gear Pump Output	6

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165-9062 Lines Gp-Connecting

15***94	Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect)	1
15***95	Fitting As; (Quick Disconnect, Male)	1
16***62	Lines Group-Connecting	1
17***94	Hose As	2

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173-1758 Motor Gp-Gerotor

16***07	Kit-Seal	1
17***58	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
1B***14	Key-Woodruff	1
3F***73	Nut-Self Locking	1

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173-1759 Motor Gp-Gerotor

16***07	Kit-Seal	1
17***59	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
1B***14	Key-Woodruff	1
3F***73	Nut-Self Locking	1

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Service Equipment And Supplies

191-1124 Kit-Roading Plate & Mounting -Roading

17***15	Film; (Reflective)(Warning)	4
18***98	Plate	2
19***24	Kit-Roading Plate & Mounting; -Roading	1
6V***44	Nut - Self Locking (2nd Type)	2

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165-9063 Plate & Film Gp

15***15	Plate-Identification	1
15***36	Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual)	1
16***63	Plate & Film Group	1
16***89	Tack-Fastener	4

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Work Tool Arrangement

165-9057 Broom Ar-Pickup

16***57	Broom Ar-Pickup	1
16***58	Frame Group-Debris	1
16***60	Drive Group-Broom	1
16***61	Brush Group-Broom; -Poly & Wire	1

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165-9900 Brush Ar-Gutter

16***65	Brush Group-Gutter	1
16***67	Lines Group-Connecting	1
16***00	Brush Ar-Gutter	1

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Work Tools

296-3649 Bracket Gp-Mounting

24***30	Bracket As	2
25***14	Rod As	2
29***49	Bracket Group-Mounting	1
6V***88	Nut-Self Locking; (M20x2.50 Thd)	2

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165-9061 Brush Gp-Broom -Poly & Wire

16***61	Brush Group-Broom; -Poly & Wire	1
16***71	Kit-Brush; -Polypropylene	1
16***72	Kit-Brush; -Wire	1
17***60	Core As-Brush	1

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165-9065 Brush Gp-Gutter

03***55	Locknut; (5/16-18-Thd)(Marked X)	1
13***40	Key-Square	1
16***65	Brush Group-Gutter	1
17***63	Brush As-Gutter; (Wire)	1

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165-9060 Drive Gp-Broom

16***60	Drive Group-Broom	1
16***09	Housing	2
17***58	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
17***59	Motor Group-Gerotor	1

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165-9071 Kit-Brush -Polypropylene

16***71	Kit-Brush; -Polypropylene	1
16***88	Bristle As-Polypropylene	21

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165-9072 Kit-Brush -Wire

16***72	Kit-Brush; -Wire	1
16***87	Bristle As-Wire	20

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256-9335 Kit-Water Spray -Lines, Dust Control

00***86	Connector-Hose (1/4-18nptf Thd)	2
12***56	Clamp-Hose	10
17***92	Coupling	1
17***51	Elbow	1

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173-0216 Kit-Water Spray -Dust Control

00***86	Connector-Hose (1/4-18nptf Thd)	2
12***56	Clamp-Hose	10
17***16	Kit-Water Spray; -Dust Control	1
17***92	Coupling	1

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BP18 serial number reference

On Cat work-tool attachments the serial/PIN plate is a small metal tag riveted or stamped near the mounting frame or quick-coupler bracket, not on an engine block, since these are passive hydraulic tools. Read the first 3 characters as the model/build prefix (e.g., ADH) and the following digits as the sequential unit number; confirm against a dealer parts lookup if the plate is worn, painted over, or missing.

Prefix	Identifies	Notes
ADH	BP18 Pickup Broom	Plain BP18 pickup broom, a 72 in (1829 mm) sweeping-width hydraulic pickup broom work tool for skid steer and compact wheel loaders. Distinct from the wider 84 in BP18B, which carries its own separate prefix; keep the two apart.

Frequently asked questions

Does the BP18 have its own engine, and what powers it?

No. The BP18 is a passive attachment with no engine of its own. Two in-line hydraulic motors drive the brush, powered entirely by the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit at 57-95 L/min (15-25 gpm) and 145-227 bar (2,100-3,300 psi).

What is the BP18's operating weight?

The BP18 weighs approximately 472 kg (1,040 lb) as equipped with the gutter brush, within the weight range typical of pickup brooms sized for skid steer, compact track loader, backhoe loader, and wheel loader carriers.

Is the BP18B a direct replacement for the BP18?

Not exactly. The BP18 and BP18B are documented as separate pickup-broom models rather than a simple generational succession - the BP18 uses a dual hydraulic-motor drive in the 72 in (1829 mm) sweeping-width class, while the BP18B is a wider, single-motor design. Check with your dealer for current parts and service coverage on either model.

What BP18 owners discuss

What wears out first on the BP18's hydraulic drive, the motor or the bearings?

Owners point to the core-shaft support bearings and the drive motor shaft seal as the first wear points on this class of pickup broom. A slow weep at the motor face or case-drain line is the usual early warning; a rumble or vibration once spinning means a bearing has started to go. Ignore either long enough and the motor follows the bearing into failure. Light seepage is normal to keep an eye on, not an emergency, but steady leakage or noise under load means pull the motor for inspection. Have your dealer verify before putting it back in service.

How often do the broom wafers need replacing?

General consensus for this broom class is to swap wafers once bristle length is down to roughly half of new, or in the neighborhood of 100-200 working hours depending on what's being swept - millings and gravel chew through bristles far faster than clean pavement. Wafers replace individually without pulling the whole core, which owners say keeps downtime short compared to broom designs where the entire brush core has to come off for one bad section.

How should the gutter brush be used, and does it wear differently than the main core?

The gutter brush is for edge and corner work - curbs, wall lines, tight corners the main core can't reach - not general-purpose sweeping. Running it lowered constantly wears it out well ahead of the main broom; the common practice is to drop it only when actually working an edge and raise it for open passes. Uneven wear on one side usually means the operator (or the job) is favoring that edge more than the other.

Does the BP18 mount and drive the same way across skid steers, track loaders, backhoe loaders, and wheel loaders?

The coupler plate is common across compatible carriers, but drive behavior is not - auxiliary hydraulic flow and pressure vary a lot between a compact skid steer, a backhoe loader, and a wheel loader circuit, so the same broom can spin noticeably faster or slower carrier to carrier. Hose routing and coupler orientation can also differ enough between carrier families that a clean bolt-up isn't guaranteed without checking fit first. Have your dealer verify coupler and pin condition when moving the tool between different carrier types.

What auxiliary flow or pressure should the broom be run at?

The drive motor is built around a flow window rather than one fixed number - running well under it starves broom speed and sweeping performance, running well over it shortens seal and bearing life. If a carrier's aux circuit sits at the high end of the tool's rated range, the common practice is to throttle flow back through the carrier's aux control rather than running it wide open all the time. Check the carrier's actual aux output against the tool's rated range before regular use.

What should I check before buying a used BP18?

Focus on the drive motor first: seepage at the seal or case-drain, and any noise or vibration once it's spun up. Next check core-shaft bearing play, how much life is left in the wafers versus how worn they already are, and the coupler plate and mounting pins for wear or cracking from mismatched flow over its working life. Spin the broom and watch that it runs true across the full width - a bent shaft or uneven bearings shows up as one side dragging or wobbling. Because parts availability can vary between pickup broom models, also confirm which wear parts are still stocked for this model before committing. Have your dealer verify hydraulic and mounting condition before buying.

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

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