The CUL Concrete Crew

Three Attachments that Transform a Compact Utility Loader into a Dedicated Concrete Machine

By Pam Stask

Unique concrete jobs often call for novel approaches — especially those small-scale worksites in residential backyards or bustling city side streets where you make and sometimes break up a construction project.

If you envision every job as a blank canvas, a versatile compact utility loader is a great multi-tool to tackle every artistic aspect of those unique concrete applications. These machines can be used for a wide range of projects, from pouring and building a concrete patio to demolishing it a few years later. Equipped with the right attachment, compact utility loaders (CUL) have earned the moniker of a “do-everything machine” for jobs that require specific and multiple hydraulic tools for completion.

Don Reed, sales manager for Ramrod, explains the ultimate tool carrier simply: “The unit is defined by its attachment,” he says. “A CUL is a power drive unit, so whatever an operator attaches to it specifies what it does. The attachments make it dedicated to a particular task.”

The attachments an operator and crew add to a CUL make it an ideal machine for pint-sized, one-and-run concrete projects. By connecting concrete specific implements to a CUL (breakers, buckets and cement bowls for example), a crew can tackle tough jobs that involve all things concrete. There are concrete breakers or hammers that come prepared to smash and split tough material into smaller portions ready to be hauled away. Then come the concrete buckets and cement bowls, the brew kits and distributors of viscous concrete — ideal for shaking, mixing and pouring their materials so operators and crews can get small projects done, in even smaller time frames. All three of these attachments can be attached to a compact utility loader to turn the already hard working machine into a master of concrete construction.

Breaking Out

When the time comes for destruction, a CUL can be paired with a concrete breaker to rip, destroy and shatter the tough material that stands in its way. Concrete breakers are attachments that are primarily used for demolition purposes. For example, CUL breakers are often utilized to break up concrete in driveways, patios and parking lots. These heavy-duty attachments allow for areas to be broken apart and carried away for new construction to take place; attach a grapple bucket to your CUL and haul off the debris. A concrete breaker is categorized by its impact energy in ft-lbs. The impact energy class can range from 150 to 300 ft-lbs for compact utility loaders.

“The higher the class of the breaker, the more flow and pressure will be required from the hydraulic system,” explains Dan Roberts, Toro Sitework technical service representative. “Concrete breakers are also measured in blows per minute.”

Like all CUL implements, the breaker is attached to the front end of a CUL through a universal quick-attach system. For a CUL to operate a breaker, it must produce 8 to 12 gallons per minute (gpm) of hydraulic flow for the attachment to work efficiently. When using the breaker for work on sidewalks, driveways, etc., Jaime Wines, product manager of compact utility equipment for Ditch Witch, suggests positioning it vertically and lowering it until it reaches its point of contact. Then the hydraulics should be activated and the breaker is ready to operate. Although the breaker attachment is relatively simple to operate, positioning it when operating may pose some challenges to the operator.

“The big place you will have difficulties with breaking is when you’re working pure horizontally,” says Reed. “Horizontal operation is not recommended with a compact utility loader breaker. An operator can work in any other position than horizontal. It’s mounted so it can be adjusted any way. When the breaker is working in pure horizontal applications, you’re just not maximizing its power.”

A breaker attachment for a compact utility loader can range from $6,000 to $11,000, depending on manufacturer and any added options.

Different chisel points, moil points and asphalt cutters are available options to customize a breaker attachment to accommodate different work conditions. By adding various dedicated chisel or moil points, an operator can handle specific jobsites with the best possible break point for the project. Operators should always look to adding options to customize his or her unit for particular projects.

“It is important to choose the right tool and options for the material being broken,” says Roberts. “Some manufacturers offer a tamper tool option in order to compact the soil after demolition, prior to pouring new material.”

A breaker attachment does require regular maintenance checks to ensure it is working properly. Today’s breaker attachments require less maintenance than those prior, especially with keeping its battery charged.

“If you went back a couple of years, the breaker would need to be recharged on a frequent basis,” explains Reed. “Now they can go a year or two before needing to be recharged.” The moils on the breaker should also be checked to identify any excessive wear. The material that an operator is hammering is a big factor in how often the moils will need to be replaced. Another maintenance concern comes from the CUL itself. Since the attachment causes a vibration to the machine, parts on the CUL should be checked to ensure they are fastened on correctly.

“A real challenge lies in that the hammer is vibrating all the time, so the bushings on the arms of the CUL may need to be replaced or reinforced,” says Reed. “Regular machines will need to replace the bushings once or twice a year, while a dedicated machine will have to reinforce and/or replace them every six months or a year.”
Other maintenance issues and requirements can be found with the attachment’s operator’s manual, says Wines. The manual should be consulted for necessary maintenance checks throughout the year.

Bowls of Cement

Another attachment that turns a CUL into a concrete construction machine is a cement bowl. Together, the loader and attachment work in harmony to complete small-sized concrete projects. Cement bowls are used to mix materials on jobsites where bringing in a large concrete truck is not possible, allowing crews to get their cement projects completed without losing productivity. Roberts explains that cement bowl attachments for CULs are attached to an auger power head, which rotates the bowl. These attachments usually have paddles and/or flighting inside them to mix the cement as the bowl rotates.

Cement bowls are generally measured by their volume (in cubic feet) or the weight of the cement they can mix (in pounds). A cement bowl often can hold and mix more material than the machine can carry, so capacity in pounds is a more useful number to compare. The maximum mixing capacities of cement bowls range from 2.2 to 3.1 cu ft, which makes them ideal for tackling small jobs where not a lot of cement is needed.

“A cement bowl would be used for smaller jobs,” says Reed. “A fencer may use it for cementing post holes. It can be used for maintenance or small repair jobs. A bucket is good for projects where a contractor has to travel a bit for jobs — where you use a little bit of cement somewhere and move on to the next project.”

The compact utility loader’s hydraulic flow rate affects the rotation speed of the cement bowl. A higher flow rate is suggested for operating the attachment, so operators have precise control over the cement bowl and its speed.

“It is good to have higher flow rate for this attachment so operators can slow the CUL’s engine rpm in order to turn the bowl at the desired speed,” says Roberts.
In order to use a cement bowl attachment, certain precautions should be taken during and after operation — considerations that can ensure productive work on any jobsite. Roberts offers three operational tips when using a cement bowl attachment: 1) do not exceed the maximum capacity of the cement bowl; 2) slow down the bowl’s revolutions when pouring the cement to avoid spills and unnecessary jobsite mess; and 3) clean the bowl while the cement is still wet to make end-of-day cleanup quick and easy.

A cement bowl attachment for a CUL costs between $600 and $1,000, depending on the manufacturer. Just don’t forget the simple maintenance, which must be performed to the attachment. The bowl should be cleaned out after every use; Wines recommends for an operator to refer to the attachment’s operator’s manual for proper maintenance. When storing the attachment between uses, make sure the bowl is clean and kept in a position where it will not retain water.

“Keep the cement bowl out of rain and other weather elements,” says Reed. “The attachment is made of metal and could possibly rust.”

Concrete Mix Up

Like a child shaking two dice in their hands and carefully dropping them onto a game board, CULs employ the same tactics when using a concrete bucket. The mixture is ground finely in the bucket and dispersed precisely onto the jobsite. Concrete buckets are attachments used to mix and discharge cement or concrete in tight work areas where cement trucks are not an option or one isn’t needed because it is a small job.

“Buckets are good for small- to medium-sized jobs. You can use it for fixing a portion of driveway or patio,” says Reed. “Landscapers, fencers, demolition guys and contractors would find them useful.”

Sizes of concrete buckets vary depending on the size of the CUL and what necessary jobs it must perform. There are standard buckets and heavy-duty reinforced buckets available, says Reed. A reinforced bucket employs heavier-gauge steel, so it can handle larger capacities on the jobsite. Bucket capacities typically range between 4.7 and 13.5 cu ft.

A concrete bucket mixes the material and prepares it to pour. The attachment uses a discharge chute to place concrete exactly where it is needed, which is ideal for an operator to have precise control when filling a small area with concrete. Concrete jobs can be completed quickly, as a full bucket can be discharged in 50 seconds. According to Reed, Ramrod offers a bucket that can be tilted 85 degrees, while most other units angle around 60 degrees.

A concrete bucket can range in price from $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the manufacturer and options added to the attachment.

The available options for concrete buckets include powered and non-powered, varying sizes and side or front discharge. Side delivery buckets allow the operator to dump the concrete to the left or right, rather than forward, says Reed. This option enables the operator to pour the mix without having to backup the CUL and pull forward. Concrete buckets have a similar maintenance regimen as cement bowls. In particular, the bucket should be cleaned immediately after use.

“It’s important to keep the bucket clean after using it,” explains Reed. “Otherwise the concrete can cake up inside. Just spray it down and it’s clean and ready to go for the next time.”

Next time a compact utility loader is called upon to complete a concrete specific job, operators can look to three different attachments that can define the machine’s purpose and practicality. Whether it’s destroying already constructed concrete or mixing up a new batch, there’s an attachment that can help get the job done right.

Pam Stask is assistant editor of Compact Equipment.

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