Hi Chaps, I am considering putting a fingerbar cutter on the front loader of my tractor. I know this is being done by a few companies but in my opinion a bit half arsed. The appears the best out there is being sold by Slanetrac but to be really useful it needs modifying with a hydraulic side shift. Mechanically not a problem – unfortunately what I know about hydraulic control gear can be written on the back of a postage stamp. The problem I have is I have only one service on the front end (running hoses from the rear is a faff) I need to be able to control 3 items from that service (preferably electrically). Can anyone point me in the right direction – I have been trawling the net and am getting bogged down with information overload without really understanding what I am reading. TIA
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Bill Edwards
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Sounds like you just need a bank of electrically controlled spool valves and then it's a matter of running wires to the cab to a bank of switches.
But what's the finger cutter going to be used for? Can't think of many application they're actually useful for?
But what's the finger cutter going to be used for? Can't think of many application they're actually useful for?
Bill Edwards
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It'll need to be something rather different to the old style used on grass! Also, I should think that on the front of a loader it's going to be damn hard to control as every bump or touch of the steering wheel will move the loader a lot. Nowhere near the precision that a hedgecutter has on the 3pt linkage.
What tractor will it be running off? Assuming it's nothing awkard like a Deere it's fairly simple when it comes to the hydraulics.
The valve will need a constant oil supply in one port and the oil to leave and go back to the tractor tank through another port.
Then for three functions you would have a three spool valve which has six ports, two per service. Each ram or hydraulic motor is connected to its two ports and with the constant oil supply on you then press a button for which service you require.
What makes it harder though is if you need to prioritise a service (e.g keep the cutter going while moving its position) or to feather the controls to move things a little bit. Depends on how good a job you want to make of it really, you can usually stand things to be less ideal for a couple of hours use per year rather than contracting for weeks on end.
What tractor will it be running off? Assuming it's nothing awkard like a Deere it's fairly simple when it comes to the hydraulics.
The valve will need a constant oil supply in one port and the oil to leave and go back to the tractor tank through another port.
Then for three functions you would have a three spool valve which has six ports, two per service. Each ram or hydraulic motor is connected to its two ports and with the constant oil supply on you then press a button for which service you require.
What makes it harder though is if you need to prioritise a service (e.g keep the cutter going while moving its position) or to feather the controls to move things a little bit. Depends on how good a job you want to make of it really, you can usually stand things to be less ideal for a couple of hours use per year rather than contracting for weeks on end.
Gareth J
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Some things that spring to mind.
-will you tractor hydraulic pump be up to powering it along with all the other requirements?
-will the existing service hoses flow enough oil? Compare the size on a flail trimmer.
-what is the quality of cut like with brand new or freshly sharpened flails? The difference in various farmers/contractors hedge trimming qualities round here are marked. One cuts box hedges very neatly.
Interesting project though, interested to see it develop for sure
-will you tractor hydraulic pump be up to powering it along with all the other requirements?
-will the existing service hoses flow enough oil? Compare the size on a flail trimmer.
-what is the quality of cut like with brand new or freshly sharpened flails? The difference in various farmers/contractors hedge trimming qualities round here are marked. One cuts box hedges very neatly.
Interesting project though, interested to see it develop for sure
I am intending to run it on the front of a Merlo Multifarmer - I am not sure what the flow rate is but pretty sure it's north of 80 ltm. Hedge cutter needs around 50. These are the two I have found, unfortunately neither is perfect, big difference in price though. But I think the concept is sound.
As an experiment I priced the 1.8 mtr cutterbar complete with motor from china (they seem to make everything these days) at $300. Yes you gota buy at least 5 and you have import taxes and shipping but it does make you think.
As an experiment I priced the 1.8 mtr cutterbar complete with motor from china (they seem to make everything these days) at $300. Yes you gota buy at least 5 and you have import taxes and shipping but it does make you think.
made one a couple of months ago to trim appel trees
Best thing for Laurel is a good strong dose of Glyphosate or a chain saw 2" off the ground. Nasty poisonous stuff for livestock. Lost sheep to laurel in the past. When chewed the leaves release hydrogen-cyanide and the animal ends up feet upwards 
the trick with this sort of inpement is to not return the oil through the tractor spool if you can help it, wack the tractor on constant pumping feed the pressure port on the nw spool, tank line wants to go into the freeflow return if it has one or more often on the older stuff goes in through the breather/ filler port on top of the gearbox but you need to make a oil injetor that allows you to hurl oil in but retain the vent without makeing a fountain ( quite easy done just pain to explain and someone will pop out the woodwork with the one tractor that particular solution won't fit )
the cutter bar off a dead combine header works.
the farming spec merlos with varible displacement pump can shift some oil. and the rams all have check valves so dont tend to creep.
biggest problem with this sort of thing is that on singel pump systems you new spool needs to be fed by contant pumping but when its recirculating or just running a motor thats not working hard there isnt much pressure on the hydralics avalibel so yu want to use any other service the inplement has to be stoped to do so
the cutter bar off a dead combine header works.
the farming spec merlos with varible displacement pump can shift some oil. and the rams all have check valves so dont tend to creep.
biggest problem with this sort of thing is that on singel pump systems you new spool needs to be fed by contant pumping but when its recirculating or just running a motor thats not working hard there isnt much pressure on the hydralics avalibel so yu want to use any other service the inplement has to be stoped to do so
Best you not let my ginger haired missus hear you say thatBest thing for Laurel is a good strong dose of Glyphosate or a chain saw 2" off the ground. Nasty poisonous stuff for livestock. Lost sheep to laurel in the past. When chewed the leaves release hydrogen-cyanide and the animal ends up feet upwards
pedrobedro
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Best you not let my ginger haired missus hear you say that
I don't understand this, is her name Laurel or something? What has ginger hair got to do with it? I am truly puzzled.
You lucky man
My mate says i should have married a blonde. apparently by the time they realise you have done something wrong your out of earshot
pedrobedro
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But why will she get upset about the Laurel being cut down or glyphosate to kill it ? I agree it's the best thing for it and I had 3 ginger haired sisters so I can cope with them. 
normspanners
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As has been said your main problem is losing all pressure through your hydraulic motor when it is not highly loaded ie on a three port valve any 'soft' port ie the motor, that flow will drop your incoming pressure to the level that the motor is requiring, that then effectively give you no pressure to feed the rams that control the device, you can get a rotary flow divider valve which I believe will allow you to do this http://www.concentricab.com/_downloads/Catalogs/Flow_div_0612.pdf and could if set correctly give the motor one set pressure and allow any other hydraulic systems their own pressure control.
One of the main problem with running the hydraulics ie the return pressure at a high pressure when it is not required is heat, it will overheat the oil in a short time, plus everything is working flat out for no reason.
One of the main problem with running the hydraulics ie the return pressure at a high pressure when it is not required is heat, it will overheat the oil in a short time, plus everything is working flat out for no reason.
Don't ask me, I stopped trying to understand the female mind a long time ago. mind you to be fair to her it does border the farms entrance.But why will she get upset about the Laurel being cut down or glyphosate to kill it ? I agree it's the best thing for it and I had 3 ginger haired sisters so I can cope with them.
