This also limits the flicking action of the bristles and limits its sweeping effectiveness. Caterpillar brooms should be adjusted so that the brush contact surface, also known as the brush pattern, is fairly small. The brush pattern is defined as the size of the swept rectangle that would be observed if the brush was stationary, spun, and then stopped. The brush pattern would be the width of the brush on the long side of the rectangle, and 2 to 4 inches across the short side. This pattern would get larger on the short side of the rectangle as more down-pressure is exerted on the brush. 

To check correct down pressure Operate the broom brush on the ground and rotate at normal operating speed with the machine remaining stationary. Lift the brush off the ground. The correct brush pattern of a properly adjusted broom will have a 2” – 4” Brush Contact Width. Effective sweeping is accomplished by using the tips of the bristles to “flick” the surface being swept. In most applications, slower brush rotation speed, and light ground contact flicking debris over to the side, will ultimately lead to excellent sweeping results.

Angle Broom  (BA18, BA22, BA25, BA30)
Caterpillar angle brooms use a windrowing action to move loose debris forward and/or to the side of the surface being swept. They can be oriented straight or angled up to 30 degrees left or right of center for optimum windrowing.

Dirt and Gravel. Sweep on days with overcast conditions and humid conditions in order to keep the dust to minimum. Sweep with wind to your back or sweep so that the wind follows the direction of the broom angle. Low broom speeds and moderate ground speeds work well in order to clean debris from hard surfaces. High broom speeds tend to raise the dust. If available, use a sprayer kit to keep dust to minimum. 

Heavy Debris. For heavy debris that is large than 50 mm, use a high broom speed. The ground speed should not exceed 8 km/h Thatch Low broom speeds and low ground speeds work well for thatching jobs. Adjust the broom height so that the bristle tips barely touch the grass in order to prevent the bristles from pulling broom into the ground. If the broom is pulled into the grass or if it stalls, raise the loader arms in order to raise the broom. Do not increase engine speed in order to override a stall. Use a combination of broom speed and ground speeds that rolls up a neat pile of thatch.  

Snow. To sweep snow efectively, set the engine speed to three quarters of high idle. Operate the speed direction control in order to move the host machine at a slow ground speed. For wet or deep snow, increase the engine speed to high idle in order to prevent the snow from building up inside the broom frame.