Toplink Cutting on a Vertical Plane

[LouieJunior]

The jungle is constantly encroaching on my roads and trails. Is there a safe and easy approach to trimming this foliage on the roadsides? I am amazed at the rate this stuff grows!

 

[LouieJunior]

I meant to select Sickle Bar for the topic -- not Top Link!

 

[LD1]

A sickle mower would certainly do it, but it has to be one that can cut vertically. The older (and cheaper) pitman arm styles will only cut horizontal or near horizontal. To get a good one that will do vertical, you are looking at close to $2k used

 

[jenkinsph]

We have a member Soulasphil, who has a mechanized setup for cutting hedges in France as I recall. Might try searching under his name.

 

[leonz]

The jungle is constantly encroaching on my roads and trails.
Is there a safe and easy approach to trimming this foliage on
the roadsides? I am amazed at the rate this stuff grows!

A tractor mounted sickle bar hedge pruner like the GVF loader mounted
*hedge pruner is hydraulically powered and can be operated vertically as well.

There is video of one working on youtube and the distributor is Gillisons and I think
they are in Great Britain. A boom mounted hydraulic flailmower will probably run
you a lot more money even with frieght for the GVF loader mounted sickle bar.

The unit has a separate hydraulic tank and I would assume it has its own pump to power
the hydraulic motor on the sickle bar mower.

Flame weeding is another option using low a pressure propane weed dragon

 

[rbtjr]

I just ordered a BEFCO sickle bar mower that is supposed to be able to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. Everything Attachments and Carver Equipment also sell Italian-sourced sickle-bar mowers that are said to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. I decided on the BEFCO because it is made in the USA, in NC where I live, and BEFCO has a long company history.

 

[sfstravist]

I just ordered a BEFCO sickle bar mower that is supposed to be able to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. Everything Attachments and Carver Equipment also sell Italian-sourced sickle-bar mowers that are said to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. I decided on the BEFCO because it is made in the USA, in NC where I live, and BEFCO has a long company history.

If i'm not mistaken, Befco's sickle mowers as well as their tillers and other hay equipment are imported from Italy. I do not know of any sickle mowers made in America besides the New Holland.

 

[sfstravist]

I just ordered a BEFCO sickle bar mower that is supposed to be able to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. Everything Attachments and Carver Equipment also sell Italian-sourced sickle-bar mowers that are said to cut at a 90 degree upward grade. I decided on the BEFCO because it is made in the USA, in NC where I live, and BEFCO has a long company history.

If i'm not mistaken, Befco's sickle mowers as well as their tillers and other hay equipment are imported from Italy. I do not know of any sickle mowers made in America besides the New Holland.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a First Choice sicklebar mower that will run vertical and I have tried it and it does work. It will cut brush and small limbs very well. But I have got to tell you that it is nerve racking work having that sickle running right behind your right ear and above your head with stuff falling down in your face. A sicklebar is a little floppy when not supported on the far end by the ground. I would not recommend using one that way. But maybe I'm just a chicken.
I have miles of trails and roads to maintain. For me the best method is to use a chainsaw, polesaw, and bushhog. Once I get the brush and trees cut back far enough at ground level upkeep is alot easier. I use the sickle bar at ground level to reach under the branches and keep stuff on the sides from growing.

 

[MrPepper]

Someone sent me this today and it made me think of your thread!

 

[rbtjr]

I have a First Choice sicklebar mower that will run vertical and I have tried it and it does work. It will cut brush and small limbs very well. But I have got to tell you that it is nerve racking work having that sickle running right behind your right ear and above your head with stuff falling down in your face. A sicklebar is a little floppy when not supported on the far end by the ground. I would not recommend using one that way. But maybe I'm just a chicken.
I have miles of trails and roads to maintain. For me the best method is to use a chainsaw, polesaw, and bushhog. Once I get the brush and trees cut back far enough at ground level upkeep is alot easier. I use the sickle bar at ground level to reach under the branches and keep stuff on the sides from growing.

One thought is to mow with the sickle bar at less than a 90 degree upright angle--maybe 80 degrees or 75--so if the hydraulics fail gravity will cause the mowing bar to fall down away from you.

 

[rbtjr]

If i'm not mistaken, Befco's sickle mowers as well as their tillers and other hay equipment are imported from Italy. I do not know of any sickle mowers made in America besides the New Holland.

Interesting. I actually didn't know where the BEFCO sickle mowers were made when I made that post. From prior Internet info (I don't remember specifically where) I read that the New Holland sickle bar mowers are also made overseas. I got the manuals from the Italian mowers and the BEFCO mower and compared them. So far as I could tell, the mowers are a little different, although they all seem to be the same basic design.