ASV RC-100 Brush Mulching & Forestry Package

[Gamma]

I understand that the RC-100's that come as part of the Brush Mulching & Forestry Packages have manual & not hydraulic quick-attach mounts on them that the Fecon cutter head mounts to normally with the additon of also being bolted to the quick-attach mount. From what I've told by my local dealer this is to make a much stronger connection between the Fecon head and mounting plate.

Several questions for those of you that might have 1st hand experience with this:
1. How long does it take for example to unbolt the Fecon cutter head and say mount a brush grapple or vice versa? Will it be a major PITA to switch attachments with the manual quick-attach & bolts?

2. Has anyone had trouble with using a Fecon cutter head on a hydraulically operated quick-attach equipped RC-100? Have you seen cracks in the mounting plates or what?

 

[QwikDraw]

Only a few minutes to switch from the head to the grapple, during the clean up part of my last job I must have switched it 10 times a day. Keep a rag handy and wipe down the fittings while changing.
I have broken one of the hydraulic lines on the quick attach from sticks that get stuck up there while backing over semi processed wood, I lost half a day and gallons of hydraulic oil. I would not have a problem spending a few minutes (probably 1 minute) to pull the manual levers to save that time and money.

No cracks yet...better check closer.

Ted

My machine has 190 hours already!

 

[Gamma]

Ted,

Thanks for pointing out the vulnerability of the hydrualic quick-attach hoses. I would have never thought about that, but ASV has I guess.

Rory

 

[Kendall69]

QwikDraw, do you love the ASV - I'm getting close to pulling the trigger, also looking at the CAT.

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

I have not had any problems with my quick attach set-up. CAT 257 High Flow...It is Hydraulic controlled from in the cab via switch. The hoses are pretty well protected and routed behind the loader arm structure/support. You still must climb out and connect the hoses for whatever attachment your running though. Machine now has 1200 hours...

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Gamma. I also noticed the manual attach on the new forestry 100's. After seeing firsthand I agree with ted the manual is better for mulching. Just less lines etc. to get snagged. But also Hahn makes a cover to go over this area if you have a quick attach model. Just an option. If I buy another one it would have the manual version. Less stress. As far as the fecon's being bolted I can't comment, my timberax is pretty big and the quick attach holds is just fine. But remember my head mulches forward, so I do most of my processing out front not backing up.

Also one good benefit of the manual attach is it would make the "head" lighter. The plate wouldn't have two cylinders, hoses, fittings, etc. I rebuilt my pushbar on my timberax and removed probably 50-60 lbs. of metal and it made a big difference. Just something to think about. Robbie

 

[McCaskey]

Since a mulcher is very heavy, it can damage the bottom pins on the quick disconnect over time. My QD was stressed bad enough that the mulcher fell off a few times when in use. Real scary when its running at full speed then falls off the skidsteer.

Since I don’t remove the mulcher very often, I added a 1” thick steel bar and two bolts and holes in the mulcher. Thereby clamping the mulcher to the QD.

Picture attached.

 

[Gamma]

Since a mulcher is very heavy, it can damage the bottom pins on the quick disconnect over time. My QD was stressed bad enough that the mulcher fell off a few times when in use. Real scary when its running at full speed then falls off the skidsteer.

Since I don’t remove the mulcher very often, I added a 1” thick steel bar and two bolts and holes in the mulcher. Thereby clamping the mulcher to the QD.

Picture attached.

WOW!! I'd hate to have a mulcher head running at full RPMs fall off. Did it take off spinning any distance & rip off hoses?

I definitely think I'd get the bolt on version of the Fecon head & ASV mounting plate.

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Hey there McCaskey, Is that an RC30? Point being, what mulcher is that?Thanks-Scott

 

[Gamma]

Hey Gamma. I also noticed the manual attach on the new forestry 100's. After seeing firsthand I agree with ted the manual is better for mulching. Just less lines etc. to get snagged. But also Hahn makes a cover to go over this area if you have a quick attach model. Just an option. If I buy another one it would have the manual version. Less stress. As far as the fecon's being bolted I can't comment, my timberax is pretty big and the quick attach holds is just fine. But remember my head mulches forward, so I do most of my processing out front not backing up.

Also one good benefit of the manual attach is it would make the "head" lighter. The plate wouldn't have two cylinders, hoses, fittings, etc. I rebuilt my pushbar on my timberax and removed probably 50-60 lbs. of metal and it made a big difference. Just something to think about. Robbie

Robbie,

Are you saying that you can notice that 50-60 lbs of metal that you removed? In what way?

Rory