Excavator Attachments

This table is my own invention.  I use it as a quick reference when I need to find out what that piece of rust is supposed to be attached to.  I mean, I often get quite seviceable used excavator buckets and other kinds of used excavator attachments without any description on what make/model of excavator they are intended to be used with.  Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on the way you look at it) almost every excavator has a different size mount for attachments.  So what you do is  measure that excavator bucket and look up the dimensions in this table.  There are going to be very few matches for each particular attachment.  Once you know the most likely candidates, you can look it up in the documentation.  Hope this helps someone!

All sizes are in mm unless inches are specifically indicated.

If the pins are different in diameter, there are two numbers.  Same in other columns.

Although this should be accurate, I am not to be held liable for mistakes in this table.  Always use proper manufacturers documentation on your excavators and/or excavator attachments to verify sizes.

Power Tilt
The Power Tilt attachment uses a wrist-like action to move excavator buckets to either side. Save time and improve productivity on countless jobs by simply tilting the bucket instead of moving the entire machine. Allows digging around and under objects such as culverts, sewer lines, tree roots and foundations, and gives the operator the flexibility to dig and shape holes or ditches to meet the requirements of the job.

Ripper
The frost and rock ripper, available for most types of backhoes and excavators, is used to penetrate and scarify frost or hard ground. Once the earth is softened, the ripper can be easily removed and replaced by a bucket to finish the job.

Trencher
Trencher attachments are designed and built for most types of excavators, skid steers, and backhoes. Trenchers with 2- and 3-foot dig depths are ideal for light-to-medium trenching jobs. Bigger ones with 3- or 4-foot dig depth, can easily handle medium-to-high production trenching. Some trenchers feature manual side-shift, others have an optional hydraulic side-shift available. Heavy trenchers, with a 4- or 5-foot dig depth, are high-production trenchers for use on machines with high-flow capability to tackle tough trenching jobs.

Clearing Rake
As its name implies, the clearing rake is designed for land clearing. In addition to that, a clearing rake can function very well as a grapple when used with a hydraulic thumb.

Digging Buckets
Digging buckets, as opposed to general purpose buckets, are built to meet specific requirements. For example, the dual-tapered bucket allows for easier release of material, the trapezoidal ditch bucket is designed for ditch digging with a specific depth and slope, while a drop center excavator bucket digs a deeper center trench with a higher trench to both sides.

Excavator attachments turn your excavator from a mere digging tool into a versatile machine capable of performing multiple construction tasks.  There are various types of attachments designed for lowest cost or maximum performance.  Here is a brief list of what is available.

Excavator Bucket
The bucket is the most versatile and the most popular excavator attachment. In addition to standard digging buckets that come in all of shapes and sizes, there is a large number of specialty buckets avaiable in the aftermarket.  Side-tilt digging buckets add a degree of versatility for digging under and around objects such as piping, foundations, and sewer lines, while side-tilting grading buckets allow for easier cleanup jobs.  Some of the more exotic types are buckets designed to handle specific material like rock, coral, or permafrost.

Clamps and Thumbs
Clamps and thumbs have a variety of applications.  They greatly extend the capabilities of the excavator by allowing to secure the load in the bucket.   With a clamp, loading objects such as tree stumps and broken concrete becomes much faster and easier.  There are both hydraulic and mechanical versions available.

Rotating Grapple
Rotating grapples with their 360 degree rotation capacity are the perfect attachment for all kinds of loading jobs, such as moving fallen trees, placing landscaping rock and timbers.  They are also useful in demolition applications, and sertain land work such as digging square holes.  Although most of these jobs can be done with an excavator fitted with a trenching bucket and clamp, contractors find the rotating grapple to be a great time saver because of its rotation ability that reduces the need to  reposition the excavator for digging multi-directional trenches or rectangular holes.

Compactor
Two most popular types of compactors are the rotating compactor (aka packer wheel), and the plate compactor.  The biggest advantage of the packer wheel is that it does not require an operator working in the trench, saving effort and ensuring job safety.    The plate compactor has a better reach and can work on slopes more effectively .  Advanced plate compactor models also reduce the need for a person in the trench.

Hydraulic Breaker
Hydraulic Breakers are most often seen attached to excavators at demolition sites.  Breakers are not created equal, their main characteristics are the number of blows per minute and impact energy class. Shielding that protects the delicate (well, at least compared to a bucket) mechanism is also an important consideration.

Auger
The ultimate hole-making tool, the auger is great for jobs such as installation of piers and poles, planting trees and such.  Some models are extendable, other have a drive housing that is the same size as the bit, allowing for a greater depth of drilling.

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There are many more excavator attachments designed for very specific purposed.