What to Consider When Selecting a Hydraulic Flow Option for Your Skid-steer or Compact Track Loader

When selecting a skid-steer or compact track loader, choosing the right hydraulic option is crucial for maximizing the utilization of your investment. Skid-steer and compact track loaders are widely used for a range of tasks on job sites of various sizes, thanks to their maneuverability and the countless attachment options available. CASE Construction Equipment explains what hydraulic options are available and what you should consider when selecting a hydraulic flow option for your skid-steer or compact track loader.

There are three hydraulic options available for skid-steer and compact track loaders: standard flow, high flow, and enhanced high flow.

Standard-flow hydraulics is the most popular option for SSL and CTL owners, with flow rates that differ by manufacturer and model. Standard flow typically runs between 17 and 24 gpm and is included on all machines from the factory. It operates on the same pressure that the carrier's main hydraulics operate on - 3,000 to 3,500 psi. Standard flow hydraulics can power four-in-one buckets, hydraulic hammers, breakers, trenchers, and grapples.

High-flow hydraulics further increases the carrier's productivity and versatility. High flow also operates on the same pressure as the main hydraulic circuits, but the flow rate ranges from 30 to 42 gpm. High-flow hydraulics can be installed at the factory or added later in the field. Attachments that benefit from high-flow hydraulics include cold planers, snow blowers, rock saws, small mulchers, and chippers/shredders.

Enhanced high-flow hydraulics have flow rates similar to a skid steer with a high-flow package, but operate at 4,100 psi. Attachments that are suited to enhanced high flow include large cold planers, rock saws, and mulchers.

The secondary circuit provides additional function for an attachment, such as a side-shift function on a cold planer or stump grinder, changing the direction of a snow blower chute, or for downriggers.

It's important to understand the difference between psi and flow. Flow will determine the speed of the attachment under no restrictions, so if the maximum gpm on an attachment is 30, that will be the maximum flow delivered to the attachment under perfect conditions with no pressure or resistance to that flow. As soon as flow starts to resist, pressure (psi) builds. It's important to understand what the maximum constraints are for your attachment on the flow and that pressure. At some point, the two cross to create the most productive conditions for the attachment.

Hydraulic horsepower indicates what the machine is hydraulically capable of doing, and many attachments are also rated by hydraulic horsepower. This helps to judge the match of the attachment to the machine. Maximize your efficiency with creep control. Carrier features such as creep control are ideal for easy control of the skid steer when using attachments like mulchers and cold planers, enabling the operator to dial in the machine to a precise speed suited to the application. This eliminates any jerking motion that might cause the attachment to stall.

When choosing between hydraulic options, take the long view. Consider high-flow attachments that you may want to run in the future and select a machine from the factory that can handle those applications. This will avoid the expense and time of retrofitting your machine after the fact. It is important to select OEM-approved attachments for your carrier to make sure that your tools will work with the specs on your machine.