Cutter vertically mounted on loader bucket...

/pine · May 19, 2016

Recently when I was browsing Craig's List I saw an ad for a rotary cutter that had been modified for hydraulic power and mounted vertically on the end of the loader bucket for trimming vertical hedgerows etc...Later I went back to grab a picture and the ad was gone (sold)...

I was wondering about doing something on a smaller scale...rather than starting with a full sized bush hog...I am thinking something like a standard push mower deck...reinforced and fitted with a spindle and a single blade...is this feasible?

How much HP/ GPM would be required to power a hydraulic motor capable of making something like this work?

bcp · May 19, 2016

Changing my push rotary mower from about a 4hp engine to a 6hp engine made it much better at mowing brush up to about 1/2 inch thick. I think I would want about 6 hp minimum hydraulic motor, if hp measurements are equal. (1hp gas = 1hp hydraulic) I might go to swing blades, bush hog style, to protect the motor better.

I've seen 3-4 ft sickle bar cutters mounted on a bucket. I think it takes a lot less HP for a sickle mower. Maybe modify one from a walk-behind mower.

If it would reach what you want to cut, you might look for a 3 point belt drive sickle bar mower, that will operate in the vertical or angled position.

Bruce

Wagtail · May 19, 2016

Do you mean something like this? (Disclaimer: it's not me!)

Ken45101 · May 20, 2016

I have been toying with an idea like that for years. The closest I've gotten was a 6 hp horizontal shaft engine that I was going to mount a blade on. But the more I looked at it, the more I feared my blade mount coming loose and throwing the blade back at the operator! It would need a really good shroud.

Big HP hydraulic motors are really expensive, I would probably go with a gas engine.

My original thoughts were a hydraulic operated 36-48" chain saw but I haven't found any sources for that.

The sickle bar makes sense until it encounters a twig too big and jams it and maybe bends the bar.

There are some bucket mounted, hydraulic pole saws on the market but they are small, expensive and slow to position and operate.

bcp · May 20, 2016

A problem with a conventional rotary blade sideways is that nothing is holding the twig or brush a couple of inches from the cutting point like the ground does when mowing. Many tougher twigs will just be spun in circles by the blade. A saw blade design avoids the problem.

Bruce

Xfaxman · May 20, 2016

Some previous threads:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/248981-anyone-make-fel-tree-pruner.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/338726-sickle-bar-cutter-hangs-fel-2.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/264928-vertical-sickle-bar-mounted-bucket.html

/pine · May 20, 2016

I wish I could find the picture that was in the original ad...it was impressive...but at any rate I see the possible and probable issues...

I had envisioned opening the front of the deck (top or forward facing when mounted to FEL bucket) and replacing the sheet metal with iron (rake like) tines...

I have a big old 7' sickle bar mower (MFmodel 41)...it's really too much for my little B series and it's a pain to connect to the 3ph for as little need as I have for vertical cutting...have been tossing ideas around for a modification to possibly even make a sub frame mid mount for it...I just liked the innovation in the CL ad...

FWIW...even running my sickle bar (vertically to trim encroaching roadside growth)...wispy branches etc. will often get pushed away from the bar before the cutting teeth reach them and they get missed...