Fecon FTX 148-L

[DirtyWorks]

MAKA, or anybody. Looking for info, pics specs, price?. Any help appreciated there is room in the stable for one more. Also been looking at 140 HP supertrak/cat hybrid. thanks guys

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Dirt. First, ditch the supertrak. Take a stock cat frame, remove the stock 85hp or so engine and cram an engine twice as big and hope the frame and remaining parts can handle the hp. OR go with a fecon/rayco 140 that is alomst underpowered for its frame!!! The fecon will last and will compliment your 100 well. I might even look for a tractor one size larger than the 140. The 140 would be a step up but not double. You will still run out of hp mulching. With one size larger it just gives you more oportunities for larger jobs. If you have never seen a rubber tired loader with a mulching head that would be something to see. Handles the terrian well and is high and safe. You might even look at a kubota 080 with a mulching head for some real versatility. I liked my 100, until I ran my excavator with a mulching head. Tons less stressful. You can really see what your mulching with the excavator. Just my .02 cents and give you something to think about.. Robbie

 

[DirtyWorks]

Thanks for the reply Robbie.. You have been with me all the way. Altho you seem a little bitter tonite. I know a 140 would be latteral step but I thought a loader option would be a nice addition. I am a little disapointed with the 100. had to replace berings on the rear of the track today. whole asembly cost +- 800 - the labor. Just looking for reliability. Is an excavator that much more productive? Was looking for a productive track machine/carrier for under $160K thanks

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Not taking anything away from supertrak. They have done more for mulchers than anybody else. I have a friend who runs a supertrak 120 and for the money, It's resale value and compared to the competition, there are better options. The loader arms a nice feature but I would look for a good deal on a lightly used machine especially right now. Several to be had.

The 100 is the best stock tractor out now but after running one they still take a beating. I've been lucky as far as wheels, tracks and such. That is I think the best feature on the fecon/rayco are the steal tracks. From what they tell me a fraction of the price to replace.

The 140's are strong. They will serve you well. I was just speaking out of experience about what size material you run into. The bigger the machine the easier it will mulch larger material.

I really liked my excavator. I was really getting into what it could do and what direction it needed to go when business slumped. The Kubota 080 with a fixed tooth head with planier teeth would give a 100 what for. My 161 with a flail head would cut 5" material, and that wasn't even the new three blade setup. I was told that at the dealers meeting they had a 080 with a flail head like mine with the three blade setup shaving railroad ties like pine trees. Plus think, you can cut a 40' swath and never have to move. Its cool.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Thanks for your input on the excavator Robbie. I guess I have been sorta thinking in the box a little too much. I need to research the kubotas now! what kind of head? what are the pressures? -Are you refering to Joe Mitchel by any chance/ I just noticed his Supertrak is for sale. What happened? Yea resale seems to be bad for all mulchers. The 100 is just not cutting it for us. pun intended.Tracks not holding up, a lot of small problems, two track motors replaced, leaking hydraulic valve bank, pins wearing out fast on loader, seat switch went out, overheating engine, three hour meters, a/c won't hold charge, and just this weekend I had to tear down one side for drive bearings. eek: I admit I do try to get the most of my machine but I spend a lot of time under it as well. I have a lot of jobs now and could get a lot more but i need a reliable machine not a toy dirt machine. A lot of my customer want a fine finished product as well and a lot of bigger machines do well on large tracts but they make a bigger mess. Not exactly what I want either.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Yes it is Joe. Work here in Georgia has just dried up. There are a few still going that are alittle more established. You definitly need a tougher machine.
The 080 runs 26 gpm I think and around 3k or better pressure. But it has dedicated pumps for everything and its very effecient. They make a larger brushhound for the 080 with a triple blade setup that they told me would cut 8" material. I wouldn't go quite that big for I can see where it would damage the drum and monuts. I'm sending you a PM.
One thing you might think about doing is running a 140 or so and rough cutting the first pass and have your 100 come behind and cleanup and remulch. Less stress on your 100 and the 140 rough cuts well. Plus your taking advantage of both machines strong points. 140 big and long, just blow straight through and the 100 very manuverable. We did this some wihen demoing the rc-60 and gyro low flow and it worked better than you think. You could also be engageing two jobs at once. Beginning rough cutting one and finishing fine mulching another. A second machine would be great, atleast one machine making money if one goes down. And they will go down!!

 

[DirtyWorks]

And they will go down!!

AMEN BROTHER!

 

[Landwise]

Robbie-

I have an 080 with a rockhound 30hd and have to say the flail mower does not impress me. I have had two different motors and it is still lacking- Anything smaller than 3" is ok, but productivity goes way down after that. I will be the recipient of a prototype Loftness Timber Axe on Dec. 20th, and we will see how that does on the Kubota (I love my Kubota).

Also, I should be taking delivery of my SuperTraks TL150 sometime next week.
I am new to the forum, and Hope I can give as much as I take away.

 

[Landwise]

Dirty Work-
I have the same problems with my 100's (Hence the reason a TL150 is on the way) I run loftness heads now, but speaking of fine mulch, I had the oportunity to run a Cimaf head and WOW!!! If you can stand the 80-120 hour blade replacement at $1200, it leaves an awesome site, and adds about 20% more production over a blunt carbide. It is not for every job, but for that finer mulch requirement, I have not seen a finer head. (Problem---It's north of $30,000)

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Landwise. I had a Kubota161 with a 30 Extreme and it cut pretty good. I to loved my excavator. So much easier to mulch with than the 100. I was trying really hard to market mowing retention ponds with the 161 but it didn't catch on. Had pretty good luck with private lakes and such.
Did you try the three blade setup. It's a center knife that goes between the others and was straight? Tom at rockhound said with that setup on a 080 he went up against a 080 with a FAE carbide toothed cutter and was comparable. Maybe by your experience opinions differ.
I hope the timberax works well for you, The only thing that worries me about the timberax is the blades aren't spiraled and will have a high hyd load. Does that make since???
Is anyone running the new carbide cutter G2? I demoed one and thought is was much better than the old one..
Oh ya. Landwise good to have yopu here. Sounds like you have a good handle on mulching in SC.