The Bobcat soil conditioner has a number
of features that make it the right
choice for landscapers, because it will
cover many of their ground preparation
needs. It can level, clear debris, till the
soil, leave a good seedbed, cut swales and
work in tight quarters. It is functional
and durable. Rotating Drum: carbide tip
teeth give long life. Tooth placement on
the drum maximizes ground penetration.
Easy replacement of the drum when the
teeth do wear out. Individual teeth can
be changed if desired during the life of
the drum. 60-inch and larger models have
the ability to lock the drum, so the unit
acts like a box blade for levelling the
surface, or the drum can be put in a
float position that lets the unit prep
the soil without disturbing the contour
of the surface. Removable Endplates: With
endplates, the soil in front of the drum
is carried along and can be used to fill
low spots. Without the endplates
material can be wind-rowed to one side,
and picked up with the loader bucket.
Direct Drive Hydraulic Motor: The direct
drive motor has fewer moving parts than
competitors that utilize reduction boxes.
Fewer parts lead to lower maintenance.
The latest motor has guards and improved
seals to reduce the possibility of leaks
occurring from material such as twine or
wire wrapping around the drive shaft. In
the 60-inch models and above, the drive
motor allows the unit to work on
high-flow loaders. Front Bolster: The
front bolster offers a wide stance and
enough distance between the wheels and
the drum to allow substantial material
to be carried in front of the drum. It
also offers better grade control. The
ability to flip up the bolster provides
a shorter length for working in tight
quarters, and makes it easier to haul the
unit on a trailer. Oscillation of the
front axle provides better grade control
over rough terrain by keeping the drum
parallel to the ground,
and minimizes elevation changes from
rises and potholes. The large degree of
oscillation allows the soil conditioner
to be angled, lifted, and tilted forward
to create slopes and swales. On the 72-
inch and 84-inch hydraulic models, the
bolster tires are foam filled. This gives
these heavier, hard-working units better
tire life and eliminates downtime from
flats. Manual and Hydraulic drum Angling:
60-inch and 72-inch models offer manual
angling of the drum and optional
hydraulic angling. The 48-inch drum is
standard with manual angling, and the 84-
inch models come standard with hydraulic
angling. Manual angling offers three
positions. Between 0 and 25 degrees right
and left.
Hydraulic angling is fingertip
controlled, and offers up to 25 degrees
left and right angling. Hydraulic and
Manual Raise and Lower of the Bolster:
60-inch and larger models offer optional
hydraulic raise and lower of the bolster
and drum, and it is fingertip controlled.
Hydraulic controls offer on the goal
raise and lower of the bolster, letting
the operator cut or fill as necessary.
Manual bolster raise and lower is
accomplished through a turnbuckle system.
Manual bolsters can be lifted up and
locked into position with a pin. High
Flow Model:. 72-inch and 84-inch only.
High flow harnesses additional
horsepower to give greater torque to the
drum, and lets the soil conditioner cut
deeper and faster even in hard pan and
clay soils. Because the loader high flow
only operates in one direction, a special
valve is installed on the soil
conditioner to allow high flow rotation
in forward and reverse drum rotation.
This gives the high torque benefit of
high flow for all parts of the job. The
Bobcat soil conditioner is offered in
different configurations for various
carriers.
Bobcat carriers include skid-steer
loader, compact track loader, all-wheel
steer, and the utility work machine.
Standard Manual Angle and Bolster
Control with Optional Hydraulic Control:
60-inch to 84-inch hydraulic motor
driven models. Does not include the S70.
Mini loader, S100, T110, and S70: 48-inch
manual angle and bolster control.
Hydraulic motor driven. Versahandler: 84-
inch hydraulic angle and bolster control
hydraulic motor driven. Compact Utility
Tractor: manual and hydraulic angle
control, PTO driven, one directional model,
60-inch and 72-inch. Seeding, sodding, tree
planting setting decorative rocks, or a
number of other landscape opportunities
can be accomplished with the myriad of
other Bobcat attachments available.