Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
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www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation April 2017 35 for both brush clearing and snow removal allows a contractor to expand business opportunities and create year-round work. To maximize torque to the attachment and enhance overall performance, the unit must run at peak efficiency. Rubber track undercarriages reduce friction, improving horsepower efficiency by as much as 10 percent compared to steel-embedded undercarriages. This is because the engine requires less horsepower to power the tracks, meaning more power is directed to the hydraulic system for powering the attachment. Demanding applications often require specialized features in order to maximize durability and productivity. A one-machine-fits- all approach simply won't work. If the typical applications include high debris, rough terrain and difficult surroundings, it's best to look for a machine purpose built for those demands. Forestry applications are especially demanding, involving driving over logs and debris with significant amounts of flying material. Forestry-specific or heavy-duty models offer features that enhance comfort, reduce downtime and extend the life of the machine. Several purpose-designed units offer reinforced windows, a full rear brush guard, extra guarding around key machine components, auto-reversing fans to clear the engine compartment screens, or heavy-gauge cabs rated for withstanding falling objects and rollovers. Forestry and right-of-way work often involves sharp turns and driving across hills, things that frequently cause track derailment on standard track loaders. Choose a model with a large number of lugs and contact points to virtually eliminate derailment when working in such harsh environments. Track width is also a point to consider. Forestry often means soft and extreme terrain. Look for a wider track for more traction. Some manufacturers offer forestry machines with up to 20-inch- wide tracks. The extra width can mean the difference between completing a job and spending the day getting unstuck. A demanding environment is more than debris and obstructions. The heavier the attachment and the higher the ambient temperature, the more important it is to have an efficient cooling system to prevent overheating and limit downtime. Look for a machine designed to keep water and oil temperatures in safe operating ranges under 100 percent load, 100 percent of the time at temperatures exceeding 118 degrees Fahrenheit. These units can run attachments such as mulchers without the addition of expensive external cooling. Many manufacturers stack the radiator, oil cooler, and air conditioning condenser on top of each other. These designs run the same air through multiple coolers, reducing efficiency. For enhanced cooling efficiency choose a side-by-side radiator and hydraulic oil cooler with a separate A/C condenser. This will prevent debris from trapping between coolers and the warm air from one reducing the efficiency of the other. Efficient hydraulics and cooling systems can allow a lower horsepower machine to outperform a higher horsepower unit, resulting in more power and lower fuel consumption. It's important to consider that, though a less efficient cooling system costs less up front, there will still be the price of added cooling systems that are required to perform some of today's more demanding tasks. Consider conditions Choosing the best machine for a variety of jobs requires identifying the surfaces the unit will most often work on. A compact track loader with excellent ground pressure, flotation, traction and ground clearance is a valuable, all-season machine. In order to prevent extra costs, landscaping jobs call for equipment that won't damage delicate turf. This is even more important for work on golf courses' manicured greens. The lower a unit's ground pressure, the lower the risk of damage. Rubber track machines have as many as four times more ground contact points in their tracks than steel embedded models. This spreads the unit's weight evenly for lower psi and extra flotation on delicate surfaces. Look for wider tracks for even lower ground pressure or choose smooth turf tracks as another option to prevent surface damage. More contact points also means more flotation and traction on steep, slippery and wet ground, giving contractors more control on snow, ice, mud and slush. The additional traction allows for faster and safer work during snow clearing or while driving on a muddy construction site, ranch or farm. Low psi and good flotation can even give a compact track loader the ability to drive on top of snow or mud without sinking. For example, this allows a farmer to fetch hay bales from the middle of a snow-filled or soggy field without being bogged down. While turf is a key consideration, obstacles can't be overlooked. Units without enough ground clearance can get hung up on rocks, logs and other debris. Most compact track loader undercarriages are converted from skid-steer designs, meaning ground clearance is limited to the original wheel height. A machine that is purpose built from the ground up will maximize ground clearance providing an average of 5 inches more than converted designs. Rubber track undercarriages reduce friction between the sprocket and the track, resulting in higher horsepower efficiency and longer wear life.