The MS960 is the 900 series head built for average to large skid steers, and the step up from the 500 series is a different class of machine rather than a wider one. The rotor grows to 18.5 in across and carries 38 tools instead of the dozens a fixed carbide head of the same width runs, each one taking a bigger bite, and it reaches 2 in below grade rather than 1. Baumalight offers the teeth as double carbide tipped rippers for general use where there is a lot of ground contact, or as single blade planers, which are a little more efficient where there are not many stones.

The detail work is where the series earns its price, and most of it is about keeping the machine working. AR400 wear plates bolt in and are replaced without pulling the rotor. The frame is angled so the head rolls back to engage a standing tree fully, and a directional felling hook built into the push bar steers wayward trees and low limbs as they come down. A spring loaded hose support keeps the hoses clear through that forward curl, and the hose feed sits centred and adjustable so it reaches carriers with couplers on either side. The case drain line carries a vent to atmosphere, which is the part worth understanding before ordering: if the third line is missed or blocked, the vent tells the operator instead of the blockage quietly taking the motor shaft seal. One of the five motor options is a variable two-speed, which trades a fixed rotor speed for the ability to match speed and torque to what is actually in front of the head.

Common Applications

• Land clearing and site reclamation on larger skid steers
• Standing tree felling with the roll-back frame and felling hook
• Below-grade cutting on stumps and root collars
• Right of way and utility corridor clearing

Selection Notes

• Match the head to the carrier by weight first: this model is charted against a minimum carrier weight of 7,000 lb.
• Case drain is critical on this model and on every one of the five motor options, at every rated pressure. Confirm the carrier has a case drain line before ordering, or have one field installed.
• Five motor options are offered. Four are bent axis piston motors charted against narrow flow bands; D97X2 is a variable two-speed motor charted across a much wider band, so its brush capacity depends heavily on the flow the carrier actually delivers.
• Hydraulic couplers are not supplied with this model. Baumalight ships no couplers with the product because carrier fittings vary too widely, so they are ordered separately against the carrier.
• The 900 series teeth are offered as double carbide tipped ripper or single blade planer. Ripper is the general use tooth for work with lots of ground contact; planer is more efficient where there are few stones.
• A free replacement belt ships mounted on the unit in a built-in storage bay, and a free set of 6 replacement teeth ships in the enclosed spare tool compartment.
• Choose the motor option against the carrier's measured flow and pressure.