SP5 SPREADER MODIFICATION

[campholiday]

PURCHASED A 2015 BOBCAT S650 SKIDSTEER WITH A SP5 SPREADER. THE HOPPER DOOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED SO THAT GRANULATED LIME AND FERTILIZER WOULD NOT DRIBBLE OUT WHEN GOING FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THE HOPPER DOOR IS CONTROLLED BY A MANUAL PUSH/PULL T-HANDLE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE SPREADER FAN BLADE IS CONTROLLED WITH A MULTI-SPEED DIAL IN THE CAB. WANT TO INSTALL AN ENCLOSED CAB SO THAT THERE IS NOT NEARLY AS MUCH EXPOSURE TO THE DUST CREATED WHEN APPLYING GRANULATED LIME AND FERTILIZER. IF I INSTALL THE ENCLOSED CAB I WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HOPPER DOOR UNLESS I GET OUT OF THE CAB AND EVEN BEFORE THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE CAB DOOR BECAUSE THE SUPPORT HANDLE FOR THE HOPPER DOOR WON'T ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. ANY SUGGESTIONS. CALLED BOBCAT REP FOR MY AREA, HE HAD NO ANSWERS. MY DEALER HAS NO ANSWERS. IF THERE WAS A WAY TO HOOK UP A HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR TO THE BOBCAT, I THINK A GUY COULD CONTROL THE OPENING/CLOSING OF THE HOPPER DOOR FROM ONE OF THE JOYSTICK CONTROLS? THIS IS BEYOND MY EXPERTISE, LOOKING FOR DIRECTION. RAYNMAN

 

[Jabonee]

Not sure how much $ you want to spend but if you could can find a 12v actuator for the hopper door you have several options electrically from Bobcat to control it. It could also be done hydraulically but it would be hard to control even in variable flow. Electrically would be my choice because of the ease of operation. Just press the ski switch on the left stick for hopper door up or down. :thumbsup::thumbsup: