Chinese Auction Attachment Control Selection Guide

Just picked up a skid steer attachment from RB Auctions, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or a local auction? Most of these Chinese-manufactured attachments arrive with no controls installed, or with a crane-style controller you're expected to wire up yourself. This guide walks you through exactly what to order — no guesswork.

⚠ Before you start: some of these imported attachments have known safety issues. Please read our Chinese Attachments Quick Tips blog before wiring anything in.

Three Questions Answer Everything

1. What does your skid steer's factory connector look like? (No controls at all / Bobcat 7-Pin / 8-Pin / 14-Pin)
2. How many functions (solenoids) does your attachment need to control? A simple grapple or auger might only need 1–2. A mixer, tree shear, or planer can need 4–6 or more.
3. What connector does your attachment's solenoid use? DIN, Deutsch, or Delphi Metri-Pac — check the plug on the attachment itself.

Once you know those three things, find your row in the table below.

Quick Answer Table

Connector style (DIN, Deutsch, or Delphi Metri-Pac) is selected on the product page at no extra cost — pick whichever matches your attachment's solenoid plug.

Step 1: Identify Your Machine's Control Type

No Controls Installed

Your cab has no extra switches or auxiliary buttons for attachment control, and there's no dedicated attachment connector on the machine at all. You'll need a stand-alone switch controller that wires directly to your battery and mounts in-cab — it doesn't depend on your machine's brand or connector type.

Bobcat 7-Pin

Bobcat machines use a proprietary 7-pin (Trident/ITT) connector for CAN-based attachment control. Because it's a CAN signal rather than simple switched power, Bobcat 7-pin machines need a CAN controller in the loop — you can't just wire a harness straight to the solenoids.

8-Pin (Older CAT ABC-Series, ASV, Terex)

Look for an 8-pin Deutsch-style connector near the attachment mount. Common on older Caterpillar ABC-series, ASV, and Terex machines.

14-Pin (Most Modern Machines)

The 14-pin Deutsch HD connector is the industry standard on most current machines: 2014+ CAT, newer ASV, Yanmar, New Holland, Kubota, Case, Takeuchi, Develon, Sany, ZoomLion, and most other modern brands not listed above.

Step 2: Count Your Functions

Each function is one solenoid the attachment needs switched on/off independently — for example, a tree shear's rotate and grab might be 2 separate functions, while a mixer with multiple hydraulic circuits could need 5–6. Check your attachment's wiring diagram or count the solenoid coils on the attachment itself. When in doubt, size up — you can leave extra channels unused, but you can't add more later without buying a bigger harness.

Step 3: Match Your Connector Style

We support three solenoid connector styles, and price is the same no matter which you choose:

• DIN — the classic round DIN 43650 connector, common on many hydraulic solenoid valves.
• Deutsch — Deutsch DT-series connectors, widely used across newer attachments.
• Delphi Metri-Pac — Delphi's sealed automotive-style connector.

Check the plug already on your attachment's solenoid and match it — don't guess. A mismatched connector won't plug in.

Special Case: Bobcat 7-Pin, Up To 6 Functions

Bobcat's 6-function path is two products working together, not one single kit:

1. 7 Pin (6 Output) 14 Pin Controller for Bobcat Loaders, Toolcat & Versahandler (SG-CAN60-14) — $950. This plugs into your Bobcat's factory 7-pin CAN port and converts it to a 6-output 14-pin signal.
2. PLUG PRO SMART 14 Pin Harness, 6 Output (SG-BPH-14-6-9-XX) — $295. This runs from the controller's 14-pin output to your attachment's solenoids, in your choice of DIN, Deutsch, or Delphi Metri-Pac.

Total for a complete Bobcat 6-function setup: approximately $1,245.

If You Have No Factory Controls

The stand-alone switch controllers above wire directly to your battery and don't need a machine-side connector. Depending on your attachment's solenoid connector, you may also need a short output jumper cable to finish the connection — these are available separately in Deutsch and Delphi styles for about $25 each in our Harness Connectors collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm not sure how many functions my attachment needs?

Count the solenoid coils on the attachment, or check any wiring diagram or label that came with it. If you're between sizes, we recommend sizing up rather than down.

Can I mix connector styles on one harness?

No — each harness ships with one connector style throughout. If your attachment uses more than one connector type, contact us before ordering.

Does connector style affect price?

No. DIN, Deutsch, and Delphi Metri-Pac are the same price on every harness — pick whichever matches your attachment.

My machine has factory attachment controls already — do I still need this?

If your machine already has a working factory harness and controls for the number of functions you need, you likely don't need anything from this guide. This guide is for machines with no controls, or with fewer factory-controlled functions than your attachment requires.

Is it safe to wire these myself?

These kits are designed for straightforward installation, but some imported attachments have wiring quirks or safety issues we've documented separately. Please read our Chinese Attachments Quick Tips blog first, and reach out if anything about your specific attachment looks unusual.

What if my machine or attachment isn't covered here?

Contact us with your machine's make/model and a photo of the attachment's connector or solenoids, and we'll help you find the right parts.

Browse the full Chinese Auction Attachment Control Kits collection →