Caterpillar G165B
Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown
The Cat G165B is a mechanical contractor's grapple, not a self-propelled machine. It carries no engine, transmission, undercarriage, or onboard hydraulic power source; its clamp cylinder runs entirely off the host excavator's auxiliary hydraulic circuit. The tool uses a fixed, non-rotating clamshell jaw in a two-over-three tine layout, with a slightly curved lower jaw for deep penetration into scrap piles and clean release when dumping. Tips, wrappers, and wear plates are AR400 steel. Operating weight runs roughly 3,992-4,055 kg (8,800-8,940 lb) depending on linkage and configuration, with a maximum jaw opening of about 3,860 mm (152 in). The G165B is built for V-linkage and VB-linkage fitment on the Cat 365 excavator class, including the 365C, and sits near the top of the G100B-series contractor grapple lineup that spans the compact G107B (307/308-class) up through the largest G185B (385-class).
In the field, the G165B is a demolition and material-handling tool: structural demolition, scrap sorting, and loading or unloading of rock, pipe, and mixed debris. The interlocking two-over-three tines close around irregular loads and hold them securely while an operator sorts material or loads a truck, and flush-mounted tips let debris slide free on release instead of snagging. A single pin interface lets it run pin-on or with a pin grabber coupler without modification, so it moves between compatible excavators in a fleet. In the used-equipment and parts market, that simple mechanical layout is the appeal: there is no engine or ECM to diagnose, and long service life comes down to keeping pins, bushings, and wear steel maintained rather than chasing powertrain wear, which keeps used units and repair parts in steady demand.
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 G165B specifications
Weights
| Operating weight (attachment) | approx. 3,992-4,055 kg (8,800-8,940 lb) - figure varies by source and linkage version (V vs VB); Cat's factory Contractors' Grapples specalog lists 4,055 kg (8,940 lb) for the G165B |
Dimensions
| Maximum jaw opening (A) | approx. 3,716-3,860 mm (146.3-152.0 in) - varies by source; factory specalog lists 3,860 mm (152.0 in) |
| Upper tine width (B) | 937 mm (36.9 in) |
| Lower tine width (C) | approx. 1,397-1,406 mm (55.0-55.4 in) |
| Minimum (jaws closed) opening (D) | 283 mm (11.1 in) |
| Wear tip thickness | 40 mm (1.6 in), AR400 steel |
| Wrapper thickness, inner and outer | 25 mm (1.0 in) each, AR400 steel |
| Outer wear plate thickness | 30 mm (1.2 in), AR400 steel |
| Mounting / linkage interface | Single-interface pin-on or Pin Grabber Coupler mounting, no modification required; built for 'V' and 'VB' linkage, matched to the Cat 345 and 365 excavator class (parts catalog ties this specific grapple to the 365C with 'V'/'VB' linkage) |
Performance
| Rated material capacity | 9.0 m3 (7.0 yd3) heaped, per SAE J2754 methodology at time of publication |
| Tine configuration | Two upper tines over three lower tines ('two-over-three'), interlocking design for secure grasp when sorting or loading demolition debris, scrap, pipe and waste material; slightly curved lower jaw aids penetration on close and clean release on open |
| Rotation / positioning | Fixed (non-rotating) clamshell jaw - no integral powered rotate function; positioning is done through the excavator's boom, stick and linkage. A powered rotate function is only available as a separate tilt-rotate system, not part of this grapple |
| Hydraulic actuation of clamp | Jaw clamp cylinder runs off the host excavator's auxiliary (grapple) hydraulic circuit; no grapple-specific flow or pressure figure is published in factory literature for this model - confirm auxiliary circuit sizing for the 345/365-class host excavator with your Cat dealer |
Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.
G165B fluids & capacities
| System | Capacity | Recommended fluid |
|---|---|---|
| Pin, bushing, and bearing lubrication (jaw/tong pivots, tine links, mounting bracket) | No fill capacity applies. The G165B is a mechanical grapple with grease zerks at each pivot pin, bushing, and bearing point on the jaw/tong linkage, tine assemblies, and mounting bracket. It carries no engine, hydraulic tank, cooling system, or gearbox of its own; the open/close function runs off the host 365C excavator's own hydraulic circuit and oil supply, which is covered under that machine's own fluid chart, not this work tool's. | Cat multipurpose EP grease with moly additive, NLGI 2, applied at every grease fitting. Cat's standard-duty spec for this type of pin joint is Cat Advanced 3Moly Grease (lithium-complex, 3% molybdenum disulfide), rated for ambient temperatures of about -20 to 40 degC (-4 to 104 degF). For sustained heavy demolition/sorting duty, high load, or hot-climate use, Cat Extreme Application Grease (calcium-sulfonate EP formula, rated about -15 to 140 degC / 5 to 284 degF) is the severe-duty alternative. Grease all points daily under continuous demolition/sorting use, or at minimum every 10 service hours; confirm the exact interval and grease callout for your serial range with your dealer. |
Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.
Caterpillar G165B maintenance schedule
| Service interval | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Every 10 h |
|
| Every 50 h |
|
| Every 250 h |
|
| Every 500 h |
|
| Every 2,000 h |
|
Servicing the G165B beyond the schedule
Predictive Maintenance & Wear Monitoring
Wear on the G165B shows up first at the tine tips, wrappers, and wear plates, all AR400 steel sized to sacrifice themselves ahead of the jaw structure. Track wear-plate and wrapper thickness against factory minimums at scheduled inspections instead of waiting for a breakthrough. Watch the jaw pivot and clamp cylinder rod-eye joints for developing play under load, since growing slop there is the earliest sign of pin or bushing wear. Logging clamp cylinder cycle time and drift also flags seal wear before it becomes a visible leak.
Corrective & Common Repairs
Most G165B repairs are wear-part swaps: tips, wrappers, and wear plates are replaced in matched sets so jaw geometry stays even tine to tine. Worn pins and bushings at the jaw pivot and clamp cylinder mounts are pulled and replaced together, never paired used-with-new, to stop accelerated wear from returning. A bent or cracked tine on the fixed lower jaw is cut out and replaced rather than straightened and reused. Clamp cylinder leaks are traced to rod seals or the barrel first, since the cylinder is the tool's only powered component.
Overhaul & Rebuild Points
A full G165B rebuild centers on the modular pin hub system: pins, bushings, and bearing sleeves at every jaw and linkage joint are pulled, measured, and replaced as complete sets rather than piecemeal. The clamp cylinder is stripped, honed or resleeved, and reassembled with new seals if drift or leakage has progressed past field repair. Box-section jaw structure and mounting yoke welds are checked for fatigue cracking before reuse. Worn AR400 tips, wrappers, and plates are replaced across the full jaw so wear-steel thickness stays consistent.
Seasonal & Environment Servicing
Cold-weather service on the G165B is mostly about grease: switch to a low-temperature grease at pin and bushing joints when ambient temperatures fall below the standard grease's rated range, and cycle the jaw fully before starting work to move grease into cold joints. In wet, muddy, or corrosive demolition environments, clear packed debris from pin bosses and grease fittings daily so grease actually reaches the joint surfaces. For extended outdoor storage, apply a light rust preventative to exposed pins, the clamp cylinder rod, and wear steel to limit surface corrosion between jobs.
G165B attachments & work tools
Jaw / tine configuration
Fixed mechanical (boom/stick cylinder actuated) contractor grapple with a multi-tine upper jaw closing against a longer, slightly curved multi-tine lower jaw. The curved lower jaw improves loading and penetration into scrap and debris piles and gives clean release on dumping. Only one jaw/tine pattern is offered for this size; no separate narrow-tine or wide-tine kit is documented.
Coupler / mounting system
Runs as a pin-on tool or as a pin-grabber-coupler tool with no modification needed, so the same grapple pins directly to the stick/link or is picked up through a compatible pin-grabber coupler on the host machine.
Linkage / host machine fit
Built around the V-linkage front end used on the Cat 365C-class large excavator. A separate same-size grapple built for the VB-linkage version of the 365C is also offered. Linkage pins can be swapped to match a specific machine's linkage, letting grapples of this size be shared across similarly sized excavators.
Wear protection / heavy-duty guarding
Tine tips, jaw wrappers, and wear plates are AR400 steel. Wear plate stock runs around 30 mm (1.2 in) thick, with wrapper plating around 25 mm (1 in), protecting the base structure in abrasive scrap and demolition duty. No separate optional heavy-duty tine kit beyond this standard AR400 wear package is documented.
Hydraulic kit / rotator
No hydraulic tine-clamp or self-contained rotator kit is documented for this model. It is a mechanically linked grapple actuated through the excavator's own cylinder, not a hydraulic rotating grapple; any rotation function would come from a separate rotator/coupler fitted to the host machine, not from the G165B itself.
Intended use / size class
Rated for structural demolition, sorting, and handling of rock, scrap, pipe, and waste or debris loading and unloading. Tool weight is about 3,992-4,055 kg (8,800-8,940 lb) with a maximum jaw opening of about 3,860 mm (152 in), sized to the large-excavator (365C) class it is built for.
All G165B assemblies by section
Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar G165B. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.
Service Equipment And Supplies
286-5619 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
285-8093 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
285-3642 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
284-7987 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
288-3908 Plate & Film Gp
| 28***08 | Plate & Film Group | 1 |
280-1490 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
287-5798 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
287-8239 Plate & Film Gp
| 28***39 | Plate & Film Group | 1 |
287-0487 Plate & Film Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
Work Tool Arrangement
321-6032 Grapple Ar-Demolition
| 28***04 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G130b, D-Linkage | 1 |
| 32***58 | Grapple Group | 1 |
| 32***32 | Grapple Ar-Demolition | 1 |
275-2400 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G130b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***00 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G130b | 1 |
| 27***04 | Grapple Group; -G130b | 1 |
285-1264 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G107b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***64 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G107b | 1 |
| 28***15 | Grapple Group | 1 |
279-7306 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G120b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***06 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G120b | 1 |
| 27***22 | Grapple Group; -G120b | 1 |
279-7307 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G120b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***07 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G120b | 1 |
| 27***22 | Grapple Group; -G120b | 1 |
279-7362 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G145b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***62 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G145b | 1 |
| 27***77 | Grapple Group; -G145b | 1 |
275-2402 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G130b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***02 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G130b | 1 |
| 27***04 | Grapple Group; -G130b | 1 |
282-2575 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G165b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***75 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G165b | 1 |
| 28***77 | Grapple Group; -G165b | 1 |
275-6074 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G125b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***74 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G125b | 1 |
| 27***75 | Grapple Group; -G125b | 1 |
283-7307 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G185b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***07 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G185b | 1 |
| 28***09 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G185b | 1 |
279-7361 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G145b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***61 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G145b | 1 |
| 27***77 | Grapple Group; -G145b | 1 |
275-6072 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G125b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***72 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G125b | 1 |
| 27***75 | Grapple Group; -G125b | 1 |
275-6073 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G125b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***73 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G125b | 1 |
| 27***75 | Grapple Group; -G125b | 1 |
282-2576 Grapple Ar-Mechanical
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***76 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical | 1 |
| 28***77 | Grapple Group; -G165b | 1 |
283-5790 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G112b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***90 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G112b | 1 |
| 28***91 | Grapple Group; -G112b | 1 |
279-7305 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G120b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***05 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G120b | 1 |
| 27***22 | Grapple Group; -G120b | 1 |
275-2403 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G130b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 27***03 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G130b | 1 |
| 27***04 | Grapple Group; -G130b | 1 |
282-8316 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G115b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***16 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G115b | 1 |
| 28***17 | Grapple Group; -G115b | 1 |
283-7308 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G185b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 1 |
| 28***08 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G185b | 1 |
| 28***10 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G185b | 1 |
275-2401 Grapple Ar-Mechanical -G130b
| 13***34 | Plate-Identification; (Work Tool) | 0 |
| 27***01 | Grapple Ar-Mechanical; -G130b | 1 |
| 27***04 | Grapple Group; -G130b | 1 |
Work Tools
279-7377 Grapple Gp -G145b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 6 |
| 14***38 | Bearing-Sleeve | 4 |
| 18***58 | Bearing; (190.31-mm Od) | 2 |
284-5386 Grapple Gp -G185b
| 08***97 | Washer; (13x50x6-mm Thk) | 1 |
| 09***30 | Seal-Lip Type | 4 |
| 09***74 | Bearing-Sleeve | 1 |
283-5791 Grapple Gp -G112b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 6 |
| 14***38 | Bearing-Sleeve | 4 |
| 16***52 | Bearing; (180.45-mm Id) | 2 |
279-7322 Grapple Gp -G120b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 4 |
| 10***29 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 12***90 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
275-2404 Grapple Gp -G130b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 4 |
| 19***52 | Bracket As-Mounting | 1 |
| 19***60 | Pin As | 1 |
275-6075 Grapple Gp -G125b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 4 |
| 10***29 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 19***52 | Bracket As-Mounting | 1 |
282-2577 Grapple Gp -G165b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 4 |
| 11***81 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 12***90 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
282-8317 Grapple Gp -G115b
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 4 |
| 12***90 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 19***63 | Spacer; (16.5x22.2x13-mm Thk) | 1 |
285-3515 Grapple Gp
| 27***08 | Bushing | 2 |
| 27***13 | Pin | 1 |
| 27***16 | Bearing | 2 |
321-4358 Grapple Gp
| 27***09 | Bushing | 2 |
| 27***14 | Pin | 1 |
| 27***17 | Bushing | 2 |
281-0357 Pin Gp-Grapple -G120b, G125b, B-Linkage
| 20***71 | Washer; (26x90x8-mm Thk) | 1 |
| 27***83 | Collar | 2 |
| 27***86 | Bushing | 2 |
280-9004 Pin Gp-Grapple -G130b, D-Linkage
| 09***49 | Washer; (22x60x6-mm Thk) | 1 |
| 25***58 | Pin As | 1 |
| 27***10 | Bushing | 2 |
282-8521 Pin Gp-Grapple -G115b
| 19***79 | Plate | 1 |
| 28***59 | Collar | 2 |
| 28***21 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G115b | 1 |
281-2051 Pin Gp-Grapple -G145b
| 19***79 | Plate | 1 |
| 21***88 | Pin As | 1 |
| 28***51 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G145b | 1 |
281-0356 Pin Gp-Grapple -G120b, G125b, Cb-Linkage
| 27***82 | Bushing | 2 |
| 27***83 | Collar | 2 |
| 27***84 | Pin | 1 |
282-2582 Pin Gp-Grapple -G165b, V-Linkage
| 10***78 | Pin | 1 |
| 28***82 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G165b, V-Linkage | 1 |
| 28***22 | Bearing | 2 |
283-7309 Pin Gp-Grapple -G185b
| 04***12 | Pin | 2 |
| 10***34 | Pin | 1 |
| 28***09 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G185b | 1 |
281-2049 Pin Gp-Grapple -G145b, F / T-Linkage
| 19***79 | Plate | 1 |
| 28***49 | Pin Group-Grapple; -G145b, F / T-Linkage | 1 |
| 28***53 | Pin As | 1 |
280-9013 Pin Gp-Grapple -G130b, Cb-Linkage
| 09***49 | Washer; (22x60x6-mm Thk) | 1 |
| 23***31 | Pin As | 1 |
| 27***08 | Bushing | 2 |
285-3550 Pin Gp-Grapple -G107b
| 26***28 | Plate As-Wear | 3 |
| 26***29 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
| 26***30 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
283-7310 Pin Gp-Grapple -G185b
| 26***19 | Plate As-Wear | 2 |
| 26***20 | Plate As-Wear | 3 |
| 26***23 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
280-9012 Pin Gp-Grapple -G130b
| 27***16 | Bearing | 2 |
| 27***79 | Bearing | 2 |
| 27***81 | Pin | 1 |
283-5792 Pin Gp-Grapple -G112b, 312-Linkage
| 19***80 | Plate | 1 |
| 19***84 | Pin As | 1 |
| 28***59 | Collar | 2 |
282-2583 Pin Gp-Grapple -G165b
| 08***23 | Pin Bkt To Stk Link To Bkt. | 1 |
| 09***76 | Nut; (M14x2-Thd) | 2 |
| 24***74 | Bolt; (M14x2x160-mm) | 1 |
281-0355 Pin Gp-Grapple -G120b, G125b, C-Linkage
| 27***80 | Bushing | 2 |
| 27***81 | Pin | 1 |
| 27***84 | Bushing | 2 |
280-9011 Pin Gp-Grapple -G130b, C-Linkage
| 09***49 | Washer; (22x60x6-mm Thk) | 1 |
| 23***31 | Pin As | 1 |
| 27***11 | Bushing | 2 |
268-9625 Plate Gp-Wear
| 26***25 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 26***74 | Plate As-Wear | 4 |
| 26***76 | Plate As-Wear | 1 |
298-5681 Plate Gp-Wear
| 27***37 | Keeper | 1 |
| 27***78 | Keeper | 1 |
| 27***00 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
288-5713 Plate Gp-Wear
| 28***13 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 29***84 | Plate As-Wear | 4 |
| 29***85 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
268-9617 Plate Gp-Wear
| 26***17 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 26***34 | Plate As-Wear | 2 |
| 26***65 | Plate As-Wear | 3 |
298-5672 Plate Gp-Wear
| 29***72 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 29***92 | Plate As-Wear | 5 |
| 29***93 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
298-5689 Plate Gp-Wear
| 28***32 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 28***33 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 28***37 | Bar, Bolt,Hex Flange Head Cap M8 X 1.25 X 125mm; Special, Bolt,Hex Flange Head Cap M8 X 1.25 X 125mm | 2 |
268-9679 Plate Gp-Wear
| 26***79 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 29***75 | Plate As-Wear | 4 |
| 29***78 | Plate As-Wear | 1 |
268-9631 Plate Gp-Wear
| 26***31 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 29***66 | Plate As-Wear | 4 |
| 29***69 | Plate As-Wear | 1 |
268-9670 Plate Gp-Wear
| 26***70 | Plate Group-Wear | 1 |
| 28***14 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
| 28***15 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
275-6076 Tine As -Upper
| 27***76 | Tine As; -Upper | 1 |
| 28***33 | Plate-Wear | 3 |
| 28***41 | Plate-Wear | 3 |
285-1266 Tine As
| 10***29 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 27***07 | Tine Group; -Lower | 1 |
| 28***66 | Tine As | 1 |
285-1265 Tine As
| 27***37 | Keeper | 1 |
| 27***74 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 27***75 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
283-5856 Tine Gp
| 10***29 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 27***06 | Tine Group; -Lower | 1 |
| 28***56 | Tine Group | 1 |
285-3538 Tine Gp
| 27***05 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***38 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***14 | Plate-Wear | 4 |
275-2405 Tine Gp
| 27***05 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 27***75 | Plate-Wear | 1 |
| 27***76 | Bar | 2 |
275-2406 Tine Gp -Lower
| 10***29 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 27***06 | Tine Group; -Lower | 1 |
| 27***78 | Tine Group | 1 |
283-5793 Tine Gp
| 21***21 | Keeper | 2 |
| 28***93 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***19 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
275-2407 Tine Gp -Lower
| 27***07 | Tine Group; -Lower | 1 |
| 27***01 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 27***07 | Plate-Wear | 1 |
321-4360 Tine Gp
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
279-7378 Tine Gp
| 25***07 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 27***78 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***56 | Tine Group | 1 |
283-5794 Tine Gp
| 22***14 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 28***94 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***66 | Tine As | 1 |
321-4361 Tine Gp -Heavy Duty
| 15***44 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 1 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
| 15***36 | Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual) | 1 |
275-6077 Tine Gp
| 27***77 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 27***10 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 27***11 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
275-6078 Tine Gp
| 27***78 | Tine Group | 1 |
| 28***18 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
| 28***19 | Plate-Wear | 2 |
G165B serial number reference
The G165B has its own work-tool Product Identification Number plate, separate from the host excavator's machine PIN - do not read the excavator's plate for this data. The plate is a stamped/riveted metal tag mounted on the grapple frame near the mounting/pin-grabber end of the tool. It reads as a 3-letter prefix followed by a sequential unit number; the prefix (GCK) identifies the tool model/build series, and the number after it is the individual unit count, not a date code.
| Prefix | Identifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GCK | G165B contractor grapple - factory serial prefix | Home prefix for the G165B mechanical grapple built for the Cat 365C excavator, fitted with either "V" linkage or "VB" linkage. Both linkage variants share this same prefix range; linkage type is a mounting/pin configuration within the range, not a separate serial break. No documented plant/region split or secondary prefix for this model. Exact start-of-production date is not documented in available parts/service literature; confirm exact-year cutoffs with a dealer if needed for a specific unit. |
Frequently asked questions
What excavator and linkage does the Cat G165B fit?
The G165B is built for the Cat 365 excavator class, including the 365C, using V-linkage or VB-linkage mounting. It attaches with a single pin interface and works either pin-on or with a pin grabber coupler, without modification. Caterpillar also lists the broader G100B-series contractor grapple family as spanning the 345 and 365 excavator range depending on the specific model and linkage.
What is the G165B's operating weight and maximum jaw opening?
Operating weight runs approximately 3,992-4,055 kg (8,800-8,940 lb), varying by linkage and configuration, and the maximum jaw opening is about 3,860 mm (152 in). The jaw uses a two-over-three tine layout, with AR400 steel tips, wrappers, and wear plates protecting the jaw structure.
How does the G165B compare to the rest of the G100B-series grapple lineup?
The G100B-series contractor grapples range from the compact G107B, sized for 307/308-class excavators, up through the G185B for 385-class machines. The G165B sits near the top of that range, one size below the G185B, matched to the larger 345/365-class excavators. All models in the series share the same fixed, non-rotating clamshell design, AR400 wear steel, and modular pin hub system, scaling up in weight, jaw opening, and tine width rather than changing the basic design.
What G165B owners discuss
What wears fastest on a G165B contractor grapple, and how do crews manage it?
What's the grease routine owners actually follow on this grapple?
How do you know when pins and bushings on the grapple are worn out?
Is there a set hour interval for replacing the wear plates and tips?
The jaw doesn't clamp as hard as it used to, or it creeps open under load. What's going on?
Any quirks mounting this grapple to a 365C with V versus VB linkage?
What should you check when buying a used G165B?
Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.
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