The brush cutter is one of the best skid steer attachments on the market for its power and versatility. These devices make landscaping your large properties a snap and simplify the task of clearing land for construction or tackling cleanup work.
But if you want to get the most out of this investment, it’s vital to know how to properly care for these machines and maximize their performance. Here are our tips for maintaining your skid steer brush cutter and how these simple tasks can go a long way in preserving its condition.
Perform Regular Inspections
If you want to ensure that your brush cutter is up to the job ahead of you, inspections are the optimal way to do that. These preoperational checks allow you to look at each component for any wear or potential damage. That way, you remain informed of its overall condition and can correct any issues.
Inspections can save you time and money by preventing accidents and machine breakdowns while in use. Depending on the age of your attachment, an inspection could even indicate if you should upgrade to a newer skid steer brush cutter.
Read Your Manufacturer’s Manual
Your bush cutter’s manufacturing guide can also be of great help when you’re looking to maintain it. Along with detailed information about how the device works and effective ways to operate it, these booklets contain advice for keeping your attachment in peak condition. Whether it’s a checklist of things to watch for during inspections or effective ways to troubleshoot common problems, they contain a variety of resources for you to use as needed.
Test Hydraulic Flow Range
Another helpful tip for maintaining your skid steer brush cutter is to test its hydraulic flow. Often, operators include this check as part of their regular inspections, but you can do it at any time.
Since brush cutters activate in accordance with the amount of power they receive from your skid steer’s hydraulic lines, maximum flow is the key to performance. Because of this, you’ll want to be especially careful when checking the hydraulic tubing. Should you notice power decreasing during operation or a leak in the system, it’s time to consider replacing these components.
Clean Out the Blades After Cutting
Make sure you take the time to clean out your brush cutter’s blades following every job. While these devices have a design capable of chopping through thick undergrowth with little trouble, it doesn’t stop them from collecting debris along the way.
These materials can trap heat within your brush cutter, making it more difficult to cool after using it and increasing the risk of damage. As such, you’ll want to ensure there’s plenty of airflow between the blades and near the motor.
Using these tips is an essential part of standard skid steer attachment maintenance. So don’t let a day go by without protecting your equipment from potentially devastating damage.
