Editing Skid-steer loader (section)

==Operation==
[[File:Skid steer Bobcat with tracked treads.webp|thumb|Skid-steer with [[Tracked tread|tracked treads]]]]
Skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheeled or [[tracked vehicles]] with the front and back wheels on each side mechanically linked together to turn at the same speed, and where the left-side drive wheels can be driven independently of the right-side drive wheels. This is accomplished by having two separate and independent transmissions; one for the left side wheels and one for the right side wheels. Earliest versions of skid steer loaders used forward and reverse clutch drives. Virtually all modern skid steers designed and built since the mid-1970s use two separate hydrostatic transmissions (one for the left side and one for the right side).

The differential steering, zero-turn capabilities and lack of visibility often exacerbated by carrying loads with these machines means that their safe operation requires the operator have a good field of vision, good hand eye coordination, manual dexterity and the ability to remember and perform multiple actions at once.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Weichelt |first1=Bryan |last2=Bendixsen |first2=Casper |date=2018-10-02 |title=A Review of 2016–2017 Agricultural Youth Injuries Involving Skid Steers and a Call for Intervention and Translational Research |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1059924X.2018.1501455 |journal=Journal of Agromedicine |language=en |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=374–380 |doi=10.1080/1059924X.2018.1501455 |pmid=30230430 |s2cid=52294832 |issn=1059-924X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Safety Guideline {{!}} Cultivate Safety |url=https://cultivatesafety.org/safety-guideline/?guideline=19&interact=false |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=cultivatesafety.org}}</ref> Before allowing anyone, including adults, to operate a skid steer, they should be assessed on their ability to safely operate the machine and trained in its safe operation. In the US, it is illegal for youth under age 18 employed in non-agricultural jobs to operate a skid steer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Non-Agricultural Jobs - 16-17 |url=http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/youthrules/young-workers/non-ag-16-17 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=DOL |language=en}}</ref> For youth hired to work in agriculture, it is recommended they be at least 16 years old and have an adult assess their abilities using the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gorucu |first1=Serap |last2=Weichelt |first2=Bryan |last3=Burke |first3=Richard |date=September 2022 |title=Injuries and Fatalities Related to Skid Steers: 2015&ndash;2020 |journal=Safety |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=56 |doi=10.3390/safety8030056 |issn=2313-576X |doi-access=free }}</ref>  before being allowed to operate a skid steer.

Another thing to consider are beacon lights and reverse signal alarms that offer a warning to co-workers about the skid steer’s movements. These alarms are not always standard equipment on all farm or landscape skid steer machines, depending on factors like the age of the machine. Use and continued maintenance of these alarms greatly reduce the risk of incidents involving running over and/or pinning co-workers between the machine and an obstacle.  Construction sites and their business contract requirements often call for landscapers to have operational skid steer reverse signal alarms and beacon lights. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Skid-Steer Safety for Farm and Landscape |url=https://extension.psu.edu/skid-steer-safety-for-farm-and-landscape |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=extension.psu.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The extremely rigid frame and strong wheel bearings prevent the torsional forces caused by this dragging motion from damaging the machine. As with [[tracked tread]]s, the high ground friction produced by skid steers can rip up soft or fragile road surfaces. They can be converted to low ground friction by using specially designed wheels such as the [[Mecanum wheel]].

Skid-steer loaders are sometimes equipped with tracks instead of the wheels, and such a vehicle is known as a compact track loader.<ref>https://www.bobcat.com/loaders/compact-track-loaders/features. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922044615/https://www.bobcat.com/loaders/compact-track-loaders/features |date=2020-09-22 }}</ref>

Skid steer loaders, both wheel and track models, operate most efficiently when they are imbalanced – either the front wheels or the back wheels are more heavily loaded. When equipped with an empty bucket, skid steer loaders are all heavier in the rear and the rear wheels pivot in place while the front wheels slide around. When a bucket is fully loaded, the weight distribution reverses and the front wheels become significantly heavier than the rear wheels. When making a zero-turn while loaded, the front wheels pivot and the rear wheels slide.

Imbalanced operation reduces the amount of power required to turn the machine and minimizes tire wear. Skilled operators always try to keep the machine more heavily loaded on either the front or the rear of the machine. When the weight distribution is 50/50 (or close to it) neither the front set of wheels nor the rear set of wheels wants to pivot or slide and the machine starts to "buck" due to high friction, evenly divided between front and rear axles. Tire wear increases significantly in this condition.

Unlike in a conventional [[Loader (equipment)|front loader]], the lift arms in these machines are alongside the driver with the pivot points behind the driver's shoulders. Because of the operator's proximity to moving booms, early skid loaders were not as safe as conventional front loaders, particularly due to the lack of a [[rollover protection structure]]. Modern skid loaders have cabs, open or fully enclosed which can serve as rollover protective structures (ROPS) and falling object protective structures (FOPS). The ROPS, FOPS, side screens and operator restraints make up the “zone of protection” in a skid steer, and are designed to reduce the possibility of operator injury or death. The FOPS shields the operator's cab from falling debris, and the ROPS shields the operator in the case of an overturn. The side screens prevent the operator from becoming wedged between the lift arms and the skid steer frame as well as from being struck by protrusions (such as limbs). The operator is secured in the operator seat when the seat belt or seat-bar restraint is utilized, keeping them within the zone of protection. Safety features and safe operation are important because<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skid Steer Safety – Ag Safety and Health |url=https://ag-safety.extension.org/skid-steer-safety/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=ag-safety.extension.org|date=17 May 2019 }}</ref> skid steer loaders are hazardous when safety practices are not observed. Rollover incidents and being crushed by moving parts are the most common causes of serious injuries and death associated with skid steer loaders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2010-04-01 |title=Skid Steer Loader Safety |url=https://turfmagazine.com/skid-steer-loader-safety |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Turf Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>