QwikDraw
Platinum Member
Good points. Are you getting the one ASV has made by Fecon or the name brand unit. Are they at all different?
Fecon Bullhog vs. Loftness Carbide Cutter Comparison
- Thread starter burnetma
- Start date
- Views: 56814
I am not getting a fecon head that has been private labeled for asv. I have worked out a deal to buy a used fecon head,(new bearings, belts, teeth) and if not happy after a specified period of time, I will trade in for a new fecon head for a price we have already established. I am told new fecon heads have gauges on them which I like.
Robbie Hegwood
Platinum Member
I believe by seeing what larger companies use, or smaller companies that have been in business awhile like you stated say alot. It comes back to the same basic issues. Servicability, quality, price. Paco your right, unless your comparing two different machines side by side the mulch will look the same.
You could probably have three of the top heads running now and in a couple of years they would still be running with much the same results.
The gauge is very helpful. As noisy as these machines are hearing in imperred and that's the only way to know what the head is doing.
You could probably have three of the top heads running now and in a couple of years they would still be running with much the same results.
The gauge is very helpful. As noisy as these machines are hearing in imperred and that's the only way to know what the head is doing.
Robbie Hegwood
Platinum Member
When did magnum sell? That changes thinks alittle. who bought them?
I would say the buyout has been within the last couple of months. i went to magnums web site(florida based company) called it and a recording gave me another number to call. I called it and they were located in a northern state and got the info previously stated. If all issues were resolved, I think I would buy magnum.
Robbie Hegwood
Platinum Member
I don't know if you read my post about me demoing magnums (it's earlier in this thread) but I'm going to run them and see what comes of it. If nothing else I'll be more knowledgeable about what's out there and be able to give the dealer some direct feedback. If I need a carbide head then maybe a good deal in the future. I can't go wrong either way.
McCaskey
Silver Member
My new 63” Loftness Carbide Cutter arrived today. Coincidentally, I was at Mabie Brothers in Syracuse NY the same time as Mark, whose review started this post. We alternated testing the two cutters. I completely agree with Mark’s summary, I could not find a performance difference between the Loftness and the Fecon. In the end, I purchased the CC because:
I ‘m replacing a Davco 705 rotary cutter on an ASV 4810 with the CC. Although the Davco performs well, it leaves a lot of uncut material on the ground. I‘d rather mulch the debris than use a root rake to cleanup later. I’m very happy dealing with Paul Mabie in Syracuse NY. In Buffalo, NY there are other dealers in my backyard, but the knowledge & support is better with Mabie Brothers. Traveling 3 hours to Syracuse was worth the trip.
I did a significant amount of research into brush mulchers. While there might be other cutters, finding a dealer to demo & support near Buffalo NY was a problem. I was not interested in the Timber Ax because I plan on hitting the ground frequently.
Research Notes:
As a side note, I hate my ASV 4810 track controls. Has anyone ever run across a joystick modification kit to replace the two steering handles for the older ASV’s ?
Thanks for reading, being my first post to this forum. Everyone’s advice has been very helpful over the years. The new CC will sit for a few months, we have 3 feet of snow, with another 2 feet expected tonight.
Jeff McCaskey
ASV 4810 with Davco 705 Rotary Cutter
ASV 4810 with Loftness Carbide Cutter
- No sharpening required (I hope)
- Spiral pattern of cutters on drum.
- Better mount for cutters, countersunk bolts.
- Fixed cutters, rather than swinging hammer design.
- Mounted pressure gauge, no additional cost.
- No doors and extra hydraulics to deal with.
- Spring loaded hose holder
- Claw hooks on tree pusher bar, no additional cost.
- I prefer different motors than changing pulleys & belts.
I ‘m replacing a Davco 705 rotary cutter on an ASV 4810 with the CC. Although the Davco performs well, it leaves a lot of uncut material on the ground. I‘d rather mulch the debris than use a root rake to cleanup later. I’m very happy dealing with Paul Mabie in Syracuse NY. In Buffalo, NY there are other dealers in my backyard, but the knowledge & support is better with Mabie Brothers. Traveling 3 hours to Syracuse was worth the trip.
I did a significant amount of research into brush mulchers. While there might be other cutters, finding a dealer to demo & support near Buffalo NY was a problem. I was not interested in the Timber Ax because I plan on hitting the ground frequently.
Research Notes:
- Loftness Carbide Cutter
http://www.loftness.com/pdf/Carbide_Cutter_specs.pdf
- Fecon Bull Hog
http://www.fecon.com/bullhog/skidsteer.asp
- Magnum Systems
http://www.magnummulcher.com/cutheads/
- Denis Cimaf
http://www.deniscimaf.com/a-daf180.html
- Brush Technology
http://www.brush-technology.com/pdf/smo.pdf
- Brown Bear Corp
http://www.brownbearcorp.com/Brush%20Cutting.htm
- Caterpillar HM312 Mulcher
http://www.cat.com/cda/components/fullArticleNoNav?ids=227071&languageId=7
- BAUMAlight
http://www.mtbmfg.ca/brushmulcher.html
- Barda Equipment PACU 4 Brush Mulcher
http://www.bardaequipment.com/
- Story worth reading from Tree Care Industry
http://www.treecareindustry.org/PDFs/TCI_Mag_Aug_06.pdf
Page 32 thru 40
- US Fish & Wildlife: Mechanical Tools
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/grasspdf/14.pdf
As a side note, I hate my ASV 4810 track controls. Has anyone ever run across a joystick modification kit to replace the two steering handles for the older ASV’s ?
Thanks for reading, being my first post to this forum. Everyone’s advice has been very helpful over the years. The new CC will sit for a few months, we have 3 feet of snow, with another 2 feet expected tonight.
Jeff McCaskey
ASV 4810 with Davco 705 Rotary Cutter
ASV 4810 with Loftness Carbide Cutter
Dieselman
New member
I haven't written on this board, but have been folllowing this thread with interest. I've got some comments to add. But first a suggestion. Please tell me you own, bought or plan to buy a safety door for your machine. Not a tempered glass door, but at least 1/2" polycarbonate or 3/4" if you can get it. From experience, please don't operate your new set-up without it.
I'm confused by your list of resons to buy a CC vs. Fecon Bullhog. You'll be able to tell that I am a Fecon fan and I couldn't disagree with you more. We've been running two Fecon heads for over a decade with no problems other than operator irresponsibility. How many guys did you talk to who have owned a CC for a decade? The oldest one is about a year or two old?
You say; Better mount for cutters? Really? A Fecon hammer ($75 plus about $15 for nut and bolt) is cross mounted with a 500-600 ft. lb. torque requirement. Huge bolt and huge lock nut. I can change a hammer simply and easily. The CC uses two smaller allen head bolts face loaded and are recessed into a countersunk area. How does that area look after it has been run in fine dust? Plugged with debris that has to get picked out? How much torque do they require? I'm asking because I don't know. You torque them with a little allen wrench? I'd feel better about torqueing on a big old bolt/nut rather than fiddle with a small allen bolts.
No door to contend with? We don't run doors at all, but I've seen guys use them to make fine product. The ability to have the door open or closed is a major deal to most guys. Fine if the customer wants it chopped up, open if they want production. At least you have a choice.
The CC uses a cutting bar or anvil behind the drum to cut against. Fecon uses welded steel arranged perpendicular like a comb. On the CC the anvil appears to be largly unsupported from the back. It looks like a cutting edge from a Fisher snowplow. When those cutter blocks are thrashing, how is that flat piece of steel supposed to last without getting rolled over, dented, bent, etc. by the force of larger wood passing through there? I can't understand their thinking.
The CC has a bolted push bar. Lame. Can't accept the front/side/up/down loads that a welded Fecon bar can accept. That bar will get ripped off.
Dangling rakes. Fecon can add those if you want. And looking at the gauge of the CC rakes, They don't look too impressive.
Pressure gauge extra? Add it to the Fecon, not a big deal. I think they are about $500. Plus you can hear the engine of your machine bog, who cares what the pressure is? If you need a gauge to tell you your engine is bogging, then you shouldn't be operating. Plus you should also be looking at your worksite, not the gauge.
The motor comment also confuses me. I just don't understand it for two reasons. First, Fecon uses a fixed displacement bent-axis piston motor. The reason is torque. You can get more torque from a piston motor than a gear motor. It's like comparing performance of a Hyundai vs a BMW. There is no comparison between the two. Anyone arguing that the motor on a CC is better than a Fecon is lying to you. I see the CC has an optional piston motor. Did you get it?
And why would you rather replace the motor as opposed to replacing belt/pulleys? You'd rather spend thousands on a motor rather than several hundred on belt/pulleys? If you bought a Fecon with a 63 cc motor, which is the way they set them up for skid steers now, you'd only have to replace the pulleys/belt if you decide to replace your 4810 with something larger.
As you can tell, I am a big Fecon fan. Besides, can someone pipe in and tell a bad experience with a Fecon head?
I'm confused by your list of resons to buy a CC vs. Fecon Bullhog. You'll be able to tell that I am a Fecon fan and I couldn't disagree with you more. We've been running two Fecon heads for over a decade with no problems other than operator irresponsibility. How many guys did you talk to who have owned a CC for a decade? The oldest one is about a year or two old?
You say; Better mount for cutters? Really? A Fecon hammer ($75 plus about $15 for nut and bolt) is cross mounted with a 500-600 ft. lb. torque requirement. Huge bolt and huge lock nut. I can change a hammer simply and easily. The CC uses two smaller allen head bolts face loaded and are recessed into a countersunk area. How does that area look after it has been run in fine dust? Plugged with debris that has to get picked out? How much torque do they require? I'm asking because I don't know. You torque them with a little allen wrench? I'd feel better about torqueing on a big old bolt/nut rather than fiddle with a small allen bolts.
No door to contend with? We don't run doors at all, but I've seen guys use them to make fine product. The ability to have the door open or closed is a major deal to most guys. Fine if the customer wants it chopped up, open if they want production. At least you have a choice.
The CC uses a cutting bar or anvil behind the drum to cut against. Fecon uses welded steel arranged perpendicular like a comb. On the CC the anvil appears to be largly unsupported from the back. It looks like a cutting edge from a Fisher snowplow. When those cutter blocks are thrashing, how is that flat piece of steel supposed to last without getting rolled over, dented, bent, etc. by the force of larger wood passing through there? I can't understand their thinking.
The CC has a bolted push bar. Lame. Can't accept the front/side/up/down loads that a welded Fecon bar can accept. That bar will get ripped off.
Dangling rakes. Fecon can add those if you want. And looking at the gauge of the CC rakes, They don't look too impressive.
Pressure gauge extra? Add it to the Fecon, not a big deal. I think they are about $500. Plus you can hear the engine of your machine bog, who cares what the pressure is? If you need a gauge to tell you your engine is bogging, then you shouldn't be operating. Plus you should also be looking at your worksite, not the gauge.
The motor comment also confuses me. I just don't understand it for two reasons. First, Fecon uses a fixed displacement bent-axis piston motor. The reason is torque. You can get more torque from a piston motor than a gear motor. It's like comparing performance of a Hyundai vs a BMW. There is no comparison between the two. Anyone arguing that the motor on a CC is better than a Fecon is lying to you. I see the CC has an optional piston motor. Did you get it?
And why would you rather replace the motor as opposed to replacing belt/pulleys? You'd rather spend thousands on a motor rather than several hundred on belt/pulleys? If you bought a Fecon with a 63 cc motor, which is the way they set them up for skid steers now, you'd only have to replace the pulleys/belt if you decide to replace your 4810 with something larger.
As you can tell, I am a big Fecon fan. Besides, can someone pipe in and tell a bad experience with a Fecon head?
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Maka
Veteran Member
I am pretty new to them but have decided on Fecon. I have looked at the Loftness but have gone with Fecon. I appreciate the input of all here and especially the guys who have years of use under their belt with them.
Maka
Maka