CEUnbound Q&A: Outfitting Your Skid Steer with a Broom Attachment

When checking out different broom attachments for your skid steer, it’s easy to get swept away in all the options. In the Q&A below, Ron Peters, product manager for CEAttachments Inc., offers insight into broom attachments and how to find the right one for your machine and task at hand.

CE: How are broom or sweeper attachments categorized for skid steers? By style — rotary, pick-up and push? Are there other categories? Size? Power?

Peters: First, we categorize the brooms by style: angle broom, hopper broom (or pick-up broom) and push broom. Next, we would categorize them by what size and auxiliary flow the skid steer loader has to determine the proper size broom that would fit. Then by the size of the broom based on what the job entails.

CE: What styles and sizes of broom and sweeper implements do you offer for skid steers? Do you have any unique technologies or units?

Peters: Angle brooms are available in 48-, 60-, 72-, 84- and 96-in. widths. Hopper brooms are available in widths of 60 in., 72 in. and 84 in. Push brooms are available in 60-, 72- and 96-in. widths.

The EDGE angle broom comes standard with a fold-away stand to be used when the broom is in storage to protect the bristles from being crushed. We also offer a Dust Control Kit on the angle and hopper brooms to reduce dust and flying debris, as well as a Gutter Brush Kit on the hopper broom to sweep material away from curbs and hard-to-reach areas.

A Hose Saver Kit comes standard on EDGE angle and hopper brooms to hold the hydraulic hoses in place and protects them from falling into pinch-point areas.

CE: Can you briefly explain the features and applications of each major style of skid steer broom?

Peters: Angle brooms feature 50/50 poly/wire combo brush material which provides longer wear than a 100 percent poly brush. Angle brooms can angle up to 30 degrees and come standard with a manual angle. They also feature an optional hydraulic angle kit which allows the operator to angle the broom from the seat of the skid steer. We offer single motor angle brooms, as well as dual motor ones for high-flow skid steer models. EDGE angle brooms can be used year round to clear any type of debris from rocks and wood chips to snow from roads or driveways.

Hopper brooms feature a bi-directional single motor that can operate in forward or reverse, which allows you to drive forward collecting debris or to drive up to a building or loading dock and reverse the brushes to collect debris as you back up. The hopper brooms feature a replaceable bolt-on cutting edge and an adjustment can be made to the height of the brush to lower the brush as it wears. The front bumper and no caster wheels allow you to get up close to objects and the shroud protects from flying debris. The broom also features a bolt-on motor and quick change broom sections which allow for easy replacement. The EDGE hopper broom is ideal for milling and material pickup from road maintenance. These brooms are also used in the spring to clear parking lots from debris after the snow melts.

Push brooms feature replaceable, 100 percent heavy gauge poly brushes and hydraulic angle up to 30 degrees. The simple design of the broom also minimizes any dust that may be produced while operating. These brooms are ideal for pushing dirt, leaves, snow or other outdoor materials along as you drive, reducing the chance of flying stones or debris that might damage nearby buildings or vehicles. 

CE: Do different contractors tend to gravitate toward a certain style of sweeper?  For example, snow removers, groundskeepers, landscapers, road crews?  Do these professionals have different preferences?

Peters: Snow removal operators generally choose an angle broom. Groundskeepers will use all three styles, however, the hopper broom is used most for cleanup. Landscapers would gravitate more to the hopper and push brooms as they may tend to operate the sweeper closer to buildings. Road crews utilize angle and hopper brooms in most cases.

CE: What system requirements are needed to operate each style of broom attachment? Hydraulic power? Are there pushing and size demands that need to be considered? 

Peters: Single-motor angle brooms require hydraulic flow between 8-25 gpm and dual-motor angle brooms need 18-36 gpm hydraulic flow. An operator should choose a wider width broom than the path desired if the broom will be operated at a 30 degree angle. For example, an 84-in. broom at a 30 degree angle will sweep a 75-in. path.

Hopper brooms require hydraulic flow between 15-25 gpm and should be sized according to the width of the skid steer loader.

Push brooms require hydraulic flow with a minimum of 3 gpm and should be sized according to the width of the skid steer loader.

CE: What is the general purchasing cost for each style of broom attachment?

Peters: Angle brooms retail between $4,455 and $7,806, and hopper brooms can cost between $4,262 and $4,900. Push brooms typically retail between $2,694 and $3,620.

CE: How much does it cost to typically rent a broom or sweeper attachment for a skid steer — daily, weekly and monthly?

Peters: Angle and hopper brooms may run approximately $120/day, $360/week and $900/month. Push brooms may run approximately $60/day, $180/week, and $450/month.

CE: Do you offer spray kits with your broom attachments? What do these do? How much do they cost, and how do you install them?

Peters: We offer Dust Control Kits with 25 gal tanks for the angle and hopper brooms. Dust Control kits spray water in front of the broom to minimize the dust and retail for approximately $1,200. An angle broom Dust Control tank is strapped to the top of the cab of the skid steer and the spray bar is bolted to the front shroud of the broom. Hopper broom Dust Control tanks are bolted to the top of the hopper broom and the spray bar is bolted to the front bumper.

CE: How fast should a contractor be traveling when using a skid steer broom attachment? Both in mph and rpm? 

Peters: An operator should travel between 0-3 mpg and approximately 3/4 throttle when using a broom attachment.

CE: What maintenance tips can you share to keep a broom attachment up and running in top shape? How do you judge things like whisk wear or engine maintenance?

Peters: Daily greasing of fittings should be done on all of the brooms. Check for brush wear and replace any sections that are worn down and affect the performance of the broom. On a hopper broom, the operator can adjust the height of brush if the bristles have worn down.  The bristles should be positioned just below the edge of the bucket. Also, be sure to inspect the motor and hydraulic hoses for leaks.