Rock Hound 30EX HD

[QwikDraw]

First full day with the Rock Hound 30EX HD....
About what I thought...1/2 acre in some tough stuff. I killed 1/2 the knives already. Well I am sure they don't need to be changed right away but they took some abuse. Major dents and dings and 2-3 of the center knives were bent to where they touched the other side knives. Alot of hidden rocks in the snow but better to wreck some $8 teeth then some $80 on the Fecon. I was going to take a few more pictures but 10 minutes after these were taken the pillow block and bearings on the non drive side fell off, which cracked the block...I already called Tom and the new parts are on the way, free of charge. I am happy with it but of course I wish I could have finished more, the excavator is much more comfortable to run, quiet and smooth. I will have to bring the ASV here to get the majority done, rocks or not. I have 31 acres of this to do and another 22 of thinning and over grown fields...can't get just 1/2 acre a day.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted. Congrats on your new toy. Sorry it broke on you. A 100h.p. skid and mulcher it is not!! But a useful tool in your arsonal it will become. The more you run it the better you will see where exactly it fits in. Does yours have the three blade setup. Mine only had two and if I where still using it I would have gone to the three blade setup. It's good to get large tracts to work on isn't it?

Robbie

 

[toy1]

I have been using the rock hound for 3 years now and find it is my weapon of choice, I ran it on kx161, they went to kx 080, it does those area by ponds, brooks etc that you cannot get to with track machine. I will be replacing blades this year they need it.

 

[QwikDraw]

Robbie,
It's the same old story...whatever you get you always want bigger!! I was thinking about a Denis Cimaf head and how it would have faired with all the hidden rocks...it's just a tough environment. I have to take the Fecon back in there because I just have too much to do but I did enjoy running the RH for the day. Yes, all the 30HD come standard with triple blades and thumb saddle. The third blade is just a straight blunt piece of metal, it's not sharp. I will need the RH later in this job as there are some rocky areas I can't even crawl in to with the ASV.

Toy1
3 years on one set of blades sounds good. I think I will be replacing these in 3 weeks! If not sooner.

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Wow cant wait to see more of the excavator mulching! Bummer bout the hound....I havent seen one work in action yet..Hope you get it back together soon..

Ps the flyer is GREAT! thanx-

 

[DirtyWorks]

A 100h.p. skid and mulcher it is not!! But a useful tool in your arsonal it will become.
Robbie

Your starting to sound like Yoda with your wisdom Mr Hegwood!

Congrats on your new addition. Keep us posted!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I was more impressed with my RH than others seem to be. But I bought mine for a very specific job and it excelled in that certain application.( retention ponds) most were pines and soft woods that mulched fairly easy.

Hey Dirt, Once I reread what I put it did sound a little dorky! I'll try to keep it southern! I should have a head for us to see run in a couple weeks and we will have it down your way shortly after.

 

[Landwise]

Robbie,

Do you think I could buy a few tooth mounts and a few cimaf teeth and weld them onto my RH drum? May take a little balancing, but, what the heck.....

 

[QwikDraw]

LW-

Did you ever have any problems with your head....maybe that bearing?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I know we sell blades but I don't think we sell mounts. We have several mounts on the new DAH-080 which is our newest head. It's the one for the Kubota 080 size. I will post some pictures tonight.

QD, I blew out the seal between the hyd motor and grease seal. Must have been a problem for the seal they sent to replace it was three times the seal. But those heads are very picky, you might have some debri stuck on there somewhere.

 

[QwikDraw]

I've been through at least 8 bearings...they keep cracking.

 

[atgreene]

I've been through at least 8 bearings...they keep cracking.

My father runs a USMower. They got a new one last fall with the new Kubota 080 and have been through 2 or 3 bearings. All cracking. One cracked while they stood there looking at it just after it was installed.

 

[QwikDraw]

I haven't had 2 days in a row with out a bearing flange cracking. The the inner ring stripped due to the bolts being pulled out when the bearing goes. I also have been snapping knives, they even dent the housing when the let go.

The RH was sent set up for a Kubota 161 and was supposed to run at 2000-2200 RPM, the 6003 ran it at 3000 RPM and has caused all the problems (we think). RH is working on getting me a proper hydraulic motor. We tried the next size up but it ran at 1600 rpm and seemed to have no torque. We think that may be from the 4000psi causing the relief valve to open and never shut...so we need to change that too. I have spent hours doing R&D for them, hopefully we get it right soon.

 

[QwikDraw]

I did order a bearing with a stainless steel flange but it was cast also. I have not been able to find a bearing block that is solid steel ( in the US, I found one in the UK).

So if anyone knows where I can get a 1 15/16 shaft, 4 3/8 bolt spacing solid steel flanged bearing I'll order one up right now!

 

[Landwise]

I never expected much from my RH. The blades break too easy, it beats itself to death, and I did have to replace the motor.

I am thinking of making a blade holder to mount some Cimaf teeth on the drum, and run it until it flies apart. The 30 HD I have is the perfect weight to throw around with the 080. I put a few all threads across the thumb saddle to add a little rigidity. For $8000.00, it is pretty good. It does fine for grass and small bushy material (Which is what it was designed for), but any claims that it will cut over 3" material are a joke. RH told me to contact one of their customers up north that runs a 40 on his 080's. He said that he could cut 14" trees. I called BS, and bought the 30 due to weight.

I hope the Cimaf head made for the 080 doesn't weigh over 1100 lbs (I really hope it is less than that). Otherwise, I can see long term damage to the swing gear and the pins and bushings.

Currently, as you know, I am running a prototype Loftness Timber Axe. The flow from my 080 is perfect (Could always use more...) but the weight is too much. That would be a great head on a 12-20 ton machine.

Since I have that, I am going to play with the RH and make a few modifications. If I destroy it, oh well.

 

[hayden]

I've been eying a 30EX HD for use on a KX121, but after reading this thread I'm thinking twice about it. It sounds like they are not built tough enough for anything other than grass and very light brush.

Does anyone make a brush cutter head for a mini excavator that can realistically cut 1-2" brush?

 

[fishfactor]

Bushmaster Full Line of Attachments for Skid Steer, Mini Excavators and Tractors

No first hand experience, but I came across these while looking for a rotary mower for our CAT 315.

 

[QwikDraw]

Man, this is an old thread.

The Rockhound did give me some years of good use. The problem was the RPMs of the drum when I got the unit was just too fast (3000 rpms). We did change the motor and it did run at 1600 which was a little too slow but it did fine in material up to 2 inches and never broke a bearing again. Anything over that and it just beats itself to death. I sold the mini and the RH just sits in the yard for now. I'll get mini again some day and put it back to work.

I would look hard at a US Mower before I bought another Rock Hound though.

 

[fishfactor]

Man, this is an old thread.

The Rockhound did give me some years of good use. The problem was the RPMs of the drum when I got the unit was just too fast (3000 rpms). We did change the motor and it did run at 1600 which was a little too slow but it did fine in material up to 2 inches and never broke a bearing again. Anything over that and it just beats itself to death. I sold the mini and the RH just sits in the yard for now. I'll get mini again some day and put it back to work.

I would look hard at a US Mower before I bought another Rock Hound though.

US Mower makes a good unit, even for the big excavators.

 

[mick m]

I have a 30ex usmowers on the way for a backhoe so am hopeing it does small brush and grass as easy as i have been told . its ment to do up to 4 inch too>>????
will let you all know what it goes like in a couple weeks I HOPE