Landscape Management, February 2019

Design Build Installation EXPERTS TIPS Skid steers DITCH WITCH Chris Thompson Product manager DITCHWITCH COM When operating properly mini skid steers increase productivity on a wide variety of landscape job sites To optimize machine performance operators should practice regular maintenance on the machine and its attachments Keeping attachments in working order and practicing regular maintenance should help further extend machine productivity and longevity Each attachment should have its own maintenance routine detailed in the operators manual The most common attachments and their recommended maintenance include Pallet forks Inspect forks before each use for damage or wear that requires immediate attention Plows Inspect for loose hoses or fittings and check the blade for wear or cracks Tillers Lubricate the bearings and inspect tines for damage Trenchers Check for worn teeth and proper chain tension to reduce the amount of binding CATERPILLAR Kevin Coleman Product manager CATERPILLAR COM Providing the operator with comfortable equipment that he she enjoys running increases the likelihood of a longterm relationship with a company An enclosed cab design that is sealed and pressurized keeps the operator environment clean and quiet Adjustable joystick control positions provide a wide range of comfortable operating positions for maximum comfort and control Having excellent visibility is key when operating a skid steer and an operator should be able to see the tires attachment and all around the job site A rearview camera can help with hard to see areas behind a machine CASE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Perry Girard Product manager CASECE COM The skid steer is the No 1 tool carrier in North America but the attachments that you add have the opportunity to allow you to take on more billable work This eliminates the need to purchase additional separate machines and reduces your dependency on hiring other contractors The understanding of attachments as a force multiplier and a billing multiplier for a core piece of machinery such as a skid steer grows each day The mentality of well hire that out to another contractor can be replaced with we can do it ourselves and make a business case for it The total cost of ownership is directly related to machine utilization Higher utilization will directly drive your profits and provide you a competitive edge Pairing it with the right suite of attachments will result in greater profits and getting more out of that core asset over its lifetime Entrepreneurial contractors understand this ASV Buck Storlie Product line manager ASVI COM One of the easiest ways to preserve a low cost of ownership with a skidsteer is to do what you can to limit tire wear Use three point turns and avoid spinning out the tires Both tips are especially important in severe ground conditions Practice safe loading procedures This includes not ramming the bucket into a pile of material quickly Loading more slowly helps reduce the sudden load on the machine and reduces the risk of operator injury from hitting an unknown object below the pile Also keep the bucket only as high as required to clear ground obstacles Failing to do so is one of the main reasons for most tipping accidents Finally read your skid steers manual for details about your machine LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET FEBRUARY 2019 44