attachment for cutting brush alongside trail?

[dukenyc]

I have a JD 4100 (20hp, 17 at the pto) with a belly mower which works fine for maintaining some paths around my property. What is happening is brush and small sapplings are leaning over and encroaching on the paths.

Is there a side mounted cutter or saw that would handle this sort of task? It can all be cut with a shrub cutter, but I would like to get something tractor mounted if possible.

Thanks.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I don't know of anything small enough for that tractor that wouldn't require hydraulics to run it, and then the weight would be pretty great.
I suppose it depends on how thick the saplings are, but a sickle bar MIGHT be able to cut really small stuff, however, I doubt that would be ideal.
Maybe someone else knows of an implement, but the ones that I've seen were for much larger tractors, and hydraulics.
I would recommend you get off the seat and use a chain saw! I know, I know, seat time is best time, but some things just have to be done with another tool.
John /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Moon]

I could use a tool like that, if one exists. But for now we solve this another way. We call it trail maintenance ....I drive the ATV and the wife rides on the back with hand trimmers. She'll primarily trim the multiflora that is growing into the trails. We bring a set of the bigger two hands needed lopping trimers and use them on a few things.
We just did our first trail maintenance run of this year a few days ago. It is a never ending job.

Moon of Ohio

 

[2nstonge]

I use a gas powered weedwhacker, replace the brush cutting blade with a carbide tipped circular saw blade and this thing cuts thru brush up to 2-3 inch sapplings like butter. At times I've thought I jus knicked something only to suddenly see it topple over. You can cut and trim as fast as you can walk. For obvious reasons this set-up is extremely dangerous, I don't let the bride or the kids within 100 ft of me when I'm running it. I frequently check & double check the fasteners that hold the blade on & swap out blades at the first sign dullness. I've cleared acres of scrub & sapplings using it, since you can clip right down to ground level I can really do an area just every couple of years with no other maintenance.

-Norm

 

[viking65]

This Simplicity Brush mower is what I use for exactly what you are tralking about. It works great on large multiflora rose, briars, small saplings, really tall grass and weeds. I have taken down multiflora rose almost 3" in diameter. It's a heavy, well built machine with hydrostatic drive forward and reverse. DR and Billy Goat also build similar machines but I don't think they offer hydro drive.

http://www.simplicitymfg.com/field_brush.php

 

[KiotiJohn]

I just thought about something. Is it possible for you to back a rotary cutter into the areas where this brush is hanging over? You can back into most saplings and the like and slowly cut and back until you've eliminated it. Just remember to go slowly and let it cut a little at a time on the larger stuff.
John

 

[djradz]

kiotijohn's suggestion is what I'd propose, assuming your little deere can handle one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dukenyc]

I had considered the chain saw, but this is all vicious thorns. To get in there with a chain saw will be all but impossible. We are also talking about 1 mile of trails, so doing it by "hand" with a string trimmer would take to long. The rotary cutter is a thought, but I worry about running over the thorny brush. I was told by the neighbor that they weant right through tire on his kubota. Also, although the thickest stems are less than 1.5" thick, they are taller than the tractor, and the thorns would flay me raw unless I wore some sort of body armor.

I has hoping for for a side mount chai-nsaw or shrub trimmer like attachment, preferable self powered, for the side of the JD

Is there anything like this out there?

 

[notamustang]

I think its time to tell your wife you need an FEL. Wear a jacket hat and glasses and beat the stuff back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[riptides]

I seriously remember some implement someone built on this discussion board for this purpose. They even had pictures of it. It was much like the hydro-operated swinging brush-cutters you see the state people drive and operate.

The rotary cutter was around 3-4-5 feet in size, and it hung off a hydro-boom operated from the back PTO.

I cannot find it, but I do remember chiming in offering no technical help what-so-ever, BUT, man it was a sweet piece of machinery. Something the market could stand to look at, IMHO.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif