feller-buncher for mulching?

[TMTS]

anyone have any experience with running a mulching head on a feller-buncher? Could set it up on something like a Deere 653, TJ 608, or Timbco 425. Most of these rigs have a saw pump that would do at least 25 gpm, but many have options for more flow...most have beefy undercarriages, good guarding, good cooling, etc...built to be in the woods.

I'm curious because I also do conventional logging, and if I could get a feller-buncher w/ a saw head that could also run a mulcher, then all the better...looks like the going rate for a decent used machine is $100-150K

to me the main drawbacks are transporting and "scale" of the machine...hard to just show up on a 2-5 acre job with a machine that size...

any and all input appreciated...

-TMTS

 

[cbturf]

If you go to the Prentice wesite the 2470 is a feller buncher not a site prep machine. Lynn Hendrix uses a 2470 because he has found that it is cheaper to buy this one and then make his improvements. The Tigercat track mulcher is just a feller buncher with a grinding head. The only thing that I can think of will be the increased heat build up created by the nearly 100% cycle that mulching has.

 

[QwikDraw]

I sure don't have any experience with one but they do look well built and strong. I like the way you can tilt the head.

Here's my favorite..

Quadco

 

[QwikDraw]

Denis Cimaf also shows some picture of a mulcher on a Timbco

DENIS CIMAF Inc - Image gallery of the DAH-100E brushcutter-chipper

CB- that rig sure looks tough.

 

[deniscimafinc]

This gentleman has been using a head from us on a JD 653E for quite some time now: JPVMulching.com

I'll try to have him signed up in these forums so he can comment directly on your question.

One thing for sure, installation is quite easy on such carrier given the higher flow already available for the head. We usually only have to combine the flow of the saw unit with one of the other function of the felling head.

 

[TMTS]

Fredric- that link has some good videos on it...good array of machines...especially like the Tigercat with the "wrist" option on the mulcher head...

curious what type of flow you are able to get on to the mower units...you mentioned combining saw valve with another head function. are we talking 35-50 gpm or 50+?

Looks like some of the Cimaf heads are set up for excavator/FB connections- but I would guess I could fabricate a bracket to connect the skid-steer Fecon to a excavator/fb two pin set up.

What sort of switch over time is required to back and forth from the mulcher head to the saw head?

gathering info...

thanks

-TMTS

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

WOW>>> ...Those vids are sweet!...I love the TigerCat TrackHoe vid..Amazing operator control felling that tree and feeding it into the head at the same time for processing all in one sweep...Definitely big boy toys there...Makes one wonder if a skid tracked machine is old school......lol...If money grew on trees id have me one of those trackhoe mulchers....

 

[cbturf]

If money grew on trees we would have mulched it all up by now!

 

[deniscimafinc]

TMTS,

For the DAH-150E, which is currently our largest head, we require a minimum hydraulic power equivalent to approximately 40 gal/min @ 4000 psi. Since we use an adjustable variable displacement hydraulic motor (Rexroth 107), you don't have to actually have that combination of flow and pressure, anything similar in power should do. See little note below.

Some larger feller-buncher might have a saw unit powered by that required flow. However, they might lack a few gal/min, hence the required combination with the flow of another function.

By the way, the Rexroth 107 can run with 25 gal/min up to about 61 gal/min. Over that, you loose the advantage of having a variable displacement motor. If you happen to have more flow than that, it can be upgraded to a Rexroth 160 without modification to the frame (same motor bolt pattern). And then you'll be good to work with up to 91 gal/min.

But on more standard flow (40 - 50 gal/min), to get good performances, the important thing is to have a constant flow sent to the head.

On an excavator in weight class of 30000 lb to 60000 lb (15 tonne to 30 tonne), you can get this constant flow with a power unit ($$$), dedicated pump or a priority flow/hammer/diverter valve setup (usual installation). You might be lucky enough to not need any of the above if the service spool has the right setup. And then, there's too many situations possible to describe them all here. Basically, if you loose flow on the service spool when you use other functions, then a priority flow valve will most likely be needed...

Installing a skid steer head on an excavator can be done, that's for sure. However, as operators often push the excavator with the attachment, I'd just be cautious to not damage the frame of the mulcher. Other hint, if your excavator allows, you'll get better operability by fixing the mounting bracket at one end of the mulcher rather than in the middle (use more the bucket's cylinder, use less the big boom's and stick's ones). And, of course, you'll find you'll stay alive longer if you mount the mulcher with one of its side facing the operator, instead of its front or its rear.

Normally, switching over two hydraulic attachments with direct-pin mounting brackets should take between 15 to 25 minutes...


Hope this helps...




Hydraulic power vs flow and pressure

The hp corresponding to our recommendations for the DAH-150E can be calculated as follow:
(40 gal/min * 4000 psi) / 1714 ≈ 93 hydraulic hp

If you run at 3500 psi instead of at 4000 psi, you still should be good to run the DAH-150E if you can have a flow of:
(93 hydraulic hp * 1714) / 3500 psi ≈ 46 gal/min

If you're more into SI units, the constant is 600 instead of 1714:
(150 L/min * 275 bar) / 600 ≈ 69 kW