Masonry Magazine September 2011 Page. 43
A lot of buyers make the mistake of trying to gain a certain productivity level without proper consideration of machine and attachment compatibility," says Jamie Adams, product manager for JRB Attachments, a Paladin Construction Group brand. "Most operators are smart and know what their machine can handle, but even the most experienced operators run into trouble when switching between multiple applications and attachments regularly. It's important to know your application and machine, and then discuss it with a dealer you trust to ensure your safety and achieve the best productivity for your money."
Dealers often know best
SOME ATTACHMENT PURCHASERS prefer to buy online or through low-cost, low-service avenues. While they often get burned due to a lack of serviceability and the low-quality of these attachments, the biggest mistake they make is not taking advantage of the application knowledge of a qualified dealer.
Dealers know what will work on your equipment, because they talk with customers like you every day and often work directly with multiple manufacturers. And don't forget about the inevitable: like all equipment, attachments sometimes require service. Since every hour that your attachment isn't working for you counts, dealers that have strong service capabilities will move your projects along faster. If you go the low-cost route, you often will lose more money repairing a low-quality attachment than you saved on the purchase price. Consider using a reputable manufacturer and dealer in your purchasing decision for the lowest overall operating cost.
Lighter is not always better
OBVIOUSLY, if you put more weight or stress on a machine than it's designed to handle, it could break. Unfortunately, situations still exist in which operators break attachments when they an attachment that is too small on their larger machines.
"One of the problems that we see among operators is under-sizing an attachment for a host machine," says Jim Koch, marketing consultant for Paladin Construction Group. "Universal mounts can be deceiving, because they portray a "one size fits all" mentality to operators. They save a little money by going with the smaller attachment. Then a different operator takes over and tries to run the host machine at its full capability (which the attachment is not designed to handle), and the attachment breaks. In other cases, the machine's hydraulic system is too powerful and can damage the attachments, because it works them too hard."
Before you walk through the doors
MAKE YOUR ATTACHMENT PURCHASE easier by knowing these simple things beforehand:
Application - Know your material density and/or job requirements. If possible, bring a small sample to the dealership. It's also important to know how you will be using the attachment. For example, do you need to work at specific heights or angles?
Cycle time-Know the required speed to get the task done on time and the estimated amount of travel needed to get around the job site with the attachment.
General machine specs-Know the equipment model numbers, tip load, lift/weight capacities and any other basic information for all machines the attachment will be working with. In addition, know the non-standard features on each machine (changes to hydraulics, tires, engine, etc.).
Hydraulic capabilities-If your attachment requires hydraulics, assure you know your machine's hydraulic flow (gpm) and pressure (psi) output capabilities. In addition, make sure you understand your hydraulic plumbing, the number of outlets and its function capabilities. Not all machines have a third or fourth hydraulic function capability and, yet, a lot of attachments require this.
Mounting ability - Dealers may assume you have a universal coupler, especially for skid steers and compact wheel loaders. If you have a quick coupler, know the brand and model, and bring the serial number of the coupler if available. When possible, bring a photo.
Beware of manufacturer
shortcomings
QUALITY AND REPUTATION always are important. You know that, but people often don't dig deeply enough or ask the right questions about the brand being purchased. Sometimes, thinking ahead about what you might need can save a lot of headaches. Some questions to ask your dealer include:
1. Have you seen this brand of attachment succeed or fail in other customer applications? If so, what applications?
2. What repair capability do you have on this attachment, and do you stock all replacement parts? If you