Skid steer quick attach tools are incredibly versatile. They are amazingly efficient time savers as they let you attach the equipment you need in no time. Moreover, if you have a universal attachment coupler, you can mate your loader with any brand of equipment.
However, there are some considerations to take into account before buying your next piece of equipment.
Physical Size and Weight
The first one that comes to mind is the physical size of the attachment. We always need to make sure they size up to the capabilities of your skid steer. It is always wise to refer to your machine’s operating capacity before coupling any tool to it.
And this is true on many levels. Even if we´re just picking an attachment up to move it around for storage or load it into a trailer, things can get dangerous if we don’t take our machine´s operating capacity into account.
If the skid steer attachment is too large, or if you are putting it onto a trailer, the center of gravity of the loader changes as you get higher and further away from your machine. That´s why some skid steer quick attachments require counterweights when used with machines that have enough horsepower to operate the tool but not enough mass.
Flow And Pressure
Before deciding on a skid steer quick attach implement, we must also consider the hydraulic system performance compatibility and limitations. Both the carrier and the attachment will have their own particularities when it comes to flow and pressure, and we want to make sure that they match.
So, even if a universal skid steer quick attach implement can be hooked up, you can see mismatches occurring on the hydraulic side. If, for example, your loader has standard flow, you won´t get optimal performance from high-flow attachments.
If the contrary happens, you might experience hydraulic failures as a result of your attachment not being able to withstand your carrier´s flow rating. There are other problems associated with mismatched flow ratings. If your flow rate is too high, your loader will put excessive pressure and force on the tool, so it will wear a lot faster.
If your machine runs an open-center hydraulic system you can adjust flow rates via engine speeds. Higher engine speeds will yield higher hydraulic horsepower. This is not to say that you should run your attachments “wide open”, using all of the available flow and pressure your machine can dish out. Most skid steer quick attachments today are labeled with optimal operation parameters. A solid rule of thumb is to keep your attachment between 5% and 10% below its maximum pressure so you get great performance, but also optimal cooling. There is no need to put unnecessary stress on your machine as you can end up damaging your tools.
If you need skid steer quick attachments that can handle anything you throw at them and still outperform all of your tools, visit Spartan Equipment today. They specialize in crafting heavy-duty tools that never surrender.
