excavator mulchers

Brad11477 · Dec 1, 2014

I'm looking for some opinions. I own a cx160 case and a pc200-6. I'm wanting to put a mulching head on one of them. Ive not ran one or owned one. We are wanting to use it to trim back hedge rows. Keep trees mowed down in drainage ditches. And possibly do some small land clearing jobs. Any suggestions on the mulching head that would best suit my needs? The RDM machine with the thumb really interests me. Any thoughts??

Thanks

Robbie Hegwood · Dec 2, 2014

Several thoughts right from the start. The larger machine the better. More hp, more reach. If you go with the smaller machine you will want more of both. Even with the 200 will will run out of both. Also IF the Komatsu has the auxiliary valve (optional on this series) it will be an easier install. The Komatsu aux valve is pretty special, it can do 2-pump flow. As for a head, Fecon is offering there new rotor on excavators now, worth a look. Let me know if you need help plumbing your machine.

Brad11477 · Dec 2, 2014

Thanks so much for the reply. I guess when we make the purchase and its time to plumb the machine I will be getting in touch.

Thanks
Brad Hinch

tonyoz · Dec 2, 2014

If I was going down the excavator mulcher road I seriously look at adding a pump just to drive the mulcher and by using a closed loop circuit there would be no need to increase the oil cooler size. The arm movements would still be as fast as bucket operation. I have only operated an excavator mulcher once and thought it as woefully slow( 25ton Kobelco). Just my:2cents:

Robbie Hegwood · Dec 3, 2014

Hey guys. The additional pump would be great ,but, there are 2 major road blocks. First there is no where to add an additional pump. Very few machines have a PTO spot to add a pump. But these are designed for small gear pumps, the largest I have seen is about 30 gpm at a max of 3000 psi pump. Plus I have only seen these on 30 ton and up machines. Not going to drive a mower. Second if you could add a larger pump you will not have enough hp to run it. These mahcines are marginal to run just themselves under load. You would easily have to have an additional 100 hp, just not there. ROWMEC removed the factory engine in a SANY and put in a 300 hp motor to attempt this. Not sure how it performed or the build cost, but they have it for sale now. If you are super serious and money is no object, a dedicated feller buncher style machine with a closed loop circuit is the ticket. Tigercat 822 and Deere 753. I know someone running both and they are the most dependable platforms I have seen, personally.

tonyoz · Dec 3, 2014

Hey Robbie, most modern excavators are running a smaller engine but more hp. As an example a Hitachi zx120 is rated at 93hp where as the now old Hitachi UH06D was also rated at 93hp but was a 20 ton machine. I have noticed on the new type excavators there is plenty of room at the front of the engine to mount a pump, driven off the crankshaft maybe using a driveshaft to get it outside the radiator. The reason for going closed loop is the benefit of cooling the oil as against running a gear pump which could cook the hydraulic oil.
I agree with you about going the harvester way (Tigercat etc) for all the same reasons the loggers have, but our game is a little different in that owners may want a smaller size machine that is more versatile and easier to transport.