ForConstructionPros.com

It all boils down to an unsatisfied customer and /or broken equipment - neither of which is acceptable.

Avoiding common pitfalls

Some of the factors affecting attachment capability of a skid steer include the size and weight of the machine, the engine horsepower, the rated operating capacity and the hydraulic flow, says Rostberg. "Hydraulic flow is very important as some attachments require minimum flows to operate properly or can take advantage of high-flow hydraulics," he says.

Hydraulic motors are sized to perform in a fairly narrow range of flow — not enough flow can cause poor performance, too much flow can cause damage.

For example, using a cold planer with a lower-than-required flow capacity will lead to premature breakage and wear on the cutting tips. Using an auger that requires more flow than provided will overheat both the attachment and skid steer.

Auxiliary hydraulic flow and pressure varies greatly from smaller to larger loaders and from one manufacturer to the next. The manufacturer's operating manual is the best place to look when matching a skid steer to an attachment.