Bobcat offers, in the new line of tree
speeds, a 24, 28, 32, 36, and 44 inch models.
All of the tree spade models can either
be operated with a 7-pin ACD
version or a convertible valve version.
7-pin ACD version is operated right
through the handles of the skid-steer,
then on the convertible valve, you either
have the choice of operating it through
the 7-pin ACD through the handles
of the loader, or through a pin and
control kit. The diameter of the root
ball can be changed by adjusting the
legs on the tree spade. That is
accomplished by pulling the pin and
sliding to get in to one of the five
holes on the leg. Each hole has about a
difference of one-and-a-half inches to
the diameter of the tree spade itself,
and it will go down nine inches with all
of the holes being used. Bobcat Company
offers a valve accessory that attaches
to the main valve and allows the
customer to operate the rear stabilizer
directly off of the valve. How that is
done is the valve section is bolted to
the main valve, hoses are ran along the
lift arm, and to the rear stabilizers, and
they are operated right off of the
handles on the 7-pin ACD version, or off
of the stabilizer button on the pin and
control kit. On the towers we use UHMW
plastic. What that is, is ultra-high
molecular weight polyurethane and what
that is for is for your high abrasion
and high temperature, it reacts really
good in that type of a situation. The
tower heights on a Bobcat speed are
among the shortest in the industry. Being
compact like that, when the customer goes
into trees, they don't have to worry
about hitting low hanging branches and
so forth. All of the Bobcat tree spades
use AR400 abrasion resistant metal for
their blades. Each of them will have a
inverted bend on the back of them. What
that does, it increases the strength of
the blade, and will limit some of the
flex as it goes into the ground,
and also when placing them into baskets,
the point is actually inverted so that it
will not catch the wire of the baskets
when being placed. The gates on the
new-style tree spades are reinforced
with gusting, they will not flex near
as much as if they were not gusted.
 
