Tractor Hydraulics

[8ob]

[QUOTE="
As for weight capability, the Amercians put a 3 point linkage on the front of these things which they state will handle 800 pounds. This little cutter only weighs in at 440 ish. 200kg in real money.[/QUOTE]

The weight is of less concern, its more of a leverage problem. Side arms can spin a tractor about if they get snagged, you will need to go steady with it and keep your eyes peeled. On the return line it may pay to butcher a spare cap just for this application, the only thing wrong with running the case drain back to the tank like this is the lack of filtration.

Bob

 

[normspanners]

Whilst it looks a nice job I still think the ratio of the leverage on that top link is well over the design strength of the link and the manufactured frame tbh-----but if it works without damage I will stand corrected
Now if the top of the cutter bar is approx approaching 3M high and those two pin points are max 150mm apart (ie the difference in length between the two 'lift arm's' and the centre top link mount is 150mm that is roughly 20:1 so if the pushing load on the cutter bar gets progressively heavier at the top and the TOTAL pushing load adds to say 25 kilos, (this is not including the actual weight of the cutter) will put around 500 kilos on the bottom pin /frame, and then if the top of the cutter bar hits say a strong'ish branch it will go to ----??? who knows, all I do know is from just using my standard 18" electric trimmer, there is a fair loading to pull it through the hedge but even more from using my long arm cutter with a 12" bar, how much force is required at my arms !! coz they ache after ten minutes.
when the break back used to operate on the tractor with the old mcconnels it used to snatch the ford 6000 tractor quite violently and that weighed 3---4 ton?

 

[printcom]

Thanks chaps, I cant argue with any of the comments made above - I know that this is being used in a way it was never intended to be -but, you know i gotta try - the other option is to stick my hand deep in my pocket and buy a 30ish horse compact tractor - Ouch. Mind you if it all goes wrong that could be a big ouch too............

 

[normspanners]

IIRC speed was also an issue if pushed too fast/heavy into the hedge the hydraulic motor would stall out, then if driver was not on the ball with his ears and the clutch-------- break back would follow PDQ.
but yours is mounted in a more user friendly fashion and also you probably know your hedges a little better if not intimately than a hedge that is only cut once a year------ if that,----as are some old gnarled hawthorn field barriers.

 

[printcom]

Well, I ran it for an hour and a half this afternoon until rain stopped play and I jammed it up twice, (must sharpen blades) but despite the idiot driving, it didn't do a bad job. The even better news is that after an hour the plastic oil tank was only luke warm so with a bit of luck heat will not be a problem. If I can talk her into it I will try to get a bit of video made over the next few days. As it stands at the moment I am a happy chappie

 

[printcom]

As promised a bit of video take by the other half, she has a lot of good points but being a camera woman isn't one of them.

 

[tinman123]

she looks comfortable on on the rtv.
could your teeth do with a bit of a sharp maybe, or a new set.
maybe they are new on her.
nice hedges to cut, nothing too big to worry about much, good job that.

 

[printcom]

Your right tinman123, the blades do need replacing. Almost as much as the driver does
Unfortunately the Laurel hedge I intended to cut with this thing has proved to be a bit too big for it to reach all of the top. I am going to have to use the flail for the top.
I will say one thing - its a damm sight easier siting up high in the tractor. Not as good for your neck though.

 

[tinman123]

do you have a tractor and hedge cutter as well.
another mc connel.

 

[printcom]

Yes, I have access to a PA90 something which I use on the back of the Merlo for the farm hedges, no matter how hard I try it is just tooooooo aggressive to do a neat job on the Laurel hedge. The idea of this swingtrim was to make light cuts regularly and keep her indoors happy.

 

[normspanners]

Well it seems to working fine as you say the hedges are not that difficult to cut anyway, hehe suffered a little motion sickness watching the clip, your right she needs to practice her zooming skills I think
GAVIN THURSTON 's job is safe --------for now

 

[printcom]

hehe suffered a little motion sickness watching the clip,

TeHe, what a polite chap you are.... I've kept me mouth shut or she wont help again...

 

[tinman123]

Yes, I have access to a PA90 something which I use on the back of the Merlo for the farm hedges, no matter how hard I try it is just tooooooo aggressive to do a neat job on the Laurel hedge. The idea of this swingtrim was to make light cuts regularly and keep her indoors happy.

i have a 500 here, i mind years ago lad asked me to trim his laurel hedge into the house, i told him it didnt cut great and it might be better to get something else to do it, he was insistent it id be fine so off i went, 3/4 ways into it she snags one of the not so straight ones and instantly he has a new window in his hedge.

 

[normspanners]

Yes, I have access to a PA90 something which I use on the back of the Merlo for the farm hedges, no matter how hard I try it is just tooooooo aggressive to do a neat job on the Laurel hedge. The idea of this swingtrim was to make light cuts regularly and keep her indoors happy.

Ah fantasy's------- we all have them,--------- most end up being impossibilities

 

[printcom]

I just thought you might like to see the offending hedge after a light cut, mind you it took four 1.5 m3 buckets to get rid of the clippings. But shes happy for now......