Recent content by houska

That's a great improvement. If mine had offered that, I might still have it. That said, the way a miniex can move is amazing and no comparison to creeping.

I had a tractor backhoe for 4 years, sold it, and bought a mini-ex. As a very general rule of thumb, the bucket breakout force of a mini is about equal to its weight. The bucket breakout force of a backhoe, with subframe, on a tractor is *maybe* 2/3 that (i.e., weight of tractor, though it's...

Not quite a direct answer to your question, but in Eastern Ontario I sold my BH860 backhoe on consignment at the dealer for C$7,900 last summer. That's with subframe, larger model than whatever you're getting (mine was on a Branson 4225H), 4 years old, well-used with some dings. I bought it new...

Both great in theory. And in practice too, if trees are sparse so you can drop it where it wants to go (chainsaw), push it away from you without getting hung up and without discovering its roots are deeply under a large rock (excavator), and you can easily access the trunk at a good angle to...

Anyone with experience running a small-ish tree shear on a mid-sized miniexcavator? After a few days of bashing in forest trails with my KX-040 using just blade, bucket, and chainsaw, videos like the below are very interesting. Especially as I contemplate how much of my forest could use...

@herm0016, I'll be doing the same on by Branson 4225h this spring, for the very same reason, per the advice given to me at Narrowing 3ph arm angle and/or wheel spacers

Nice one. I'm not sure, I will check. Unfortunately not, at least not the logging winch. 26 1/4" is the inside position. The outside (Cat II) is 32"

I have a Branson 4225H. With it I use some attachments whose 3ph mounting pin spread is pretty wide, for instance a logging winch that has 26 1/4" inside (not centre to centre) between 3ph mounting pins. I also have some nice used Trygg chains for the back wheels in winter. Either the...

I get the feeling the value of used Bransons depends heavily on the strength of the dealer support, and therefore brand overall, in your local market. In my area (eastern Ontario), there's a successful, long term Branson dealer and people know the brand (even if they've bought something else)...

Before I forget, one suggestion. Make sure during the winter you occasionally move (i.e. screw in/out) your 3ph toplink. Most of a half-decent tractor is pretty weatherproof. But the first winter we had our tractor outside-ish, we ended up never budging the toplink all winter, since it was...

The best light-weight steel structure is a hefty pole barn, built and paid for by someone else. The next-best light weight steel structure is any one you already have, given the time and hassle of erecting a new one. That said, in Eastern Ontario winter conditions, we've had much better luck...

Congrats on your new "toy". Here's our time progression that you may well end up following: Winter 1. Carefully store our Branson in a "portable garage" just like yours all winter Winter 2. Occasionally get lazy and leave Branson out, with a lovingly attached ATV cover over the cockpit area...

Welcome! I'm less than an hour from you with a Branson 4225H, bought new from M&P Farm a few years ago. Murray at M&P and his team are good guys; fair, responsive, and (as you said) with good access to Branson/Tym parts. Just a tad expensive on transport, so try to find ways to bring in your...

Thanks for the reassurance! Have no trouble with the "new" rubbing off, just as long as it's not a symptom of a problem. Off to dig some more...

I got a new KX-040 in February 2023. Just did the initial 50 hour service (final drive oil change, turntable greasing, etc.). There's quite a bit more wear on the right track sprockets and track links than I was expecting - see picture, note the exposed metal. Does this look unusual for a...