How can I mulch what I need?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

This morning I got this excavator with Battle Ax mulching head. You see the pile I need to mulch. I tried to grind two 20" pine stumps and it will do it, but it would take 2-3 hours per stump!
The Ex engine I'm running wide open, like 2500 rpm, but mulch drum slows & stops with any approach. I called manufacturer who said that head is for brush, 6" or less! The excavator engine never bogs at all.
I need to mulch loads of stuff up to about 24" or so, trees. I asked about the Kubota KXO80-3 and manufacture said it wouldn't be much better at all.
Is there a better mulcher or skid steer mulcher?

 

[dodge man]

I think you’ve got the wrong tool. I’ve seen those used more for standing brush and road side ditches. For big stumps a stump grinder. For smaller stuff a chipper. For bigger stuff a fire.

 

[CalG]

Doesn't it take a drum grinder to do Stumps? That is what the mulch companies around here use.

Big $$$

 

[Shawn T. W.]

For bigger stuff a fire

Yes, just get a match!

 

[Seven Gables]

Unless there’s a reason you can’t burn in your area it’s really the best . That pile would be down to ashes in no time.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The dealer saw what all I needed to do and that's what they recommended. I have a PTO stump grinder for the tractor that would grind stumps in about 15 minutes. I called dealer and we'll work something out. I do have a lot of smaller stuff this may be handy for.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Unless there’s a reason you can’t burn in your area it’s really the best . That pile would be down to ashes in no time.

Right now it's dry. Not a good time to burn.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Pick a rainy day ...

 

[oldnslo]

I suspect the flow is lower on that excavator vs a skid steer and more line loss due to length of lines both of which reduce available “hydraulic “ to mechanical torque available at the cutter head.

 

[RayIN]

I suspect the flow is lower on that excavator vs a skid steer and more line loss due to length of lines both of which reduce available “hydraulic “ to mechanical torque available at the cutter head.

I agree, plus_total flow is limited by the smallest opening in the system, not the pump.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I did just now noticed this:

Auxiliary Hydraulic Flow: 19.8 GPM (AUX1) / 9.8 GPM (AUX2)

This is the Kubota kx057-5 flow. The dealer had the mulcher on Aux 2. So if it was on Aux 1, wouldn't it have double the flow?

I just got the machine this morning so I'm learning, but to activate mulcher I press this knob, the display screen comes on, turn knob to accessory and choose mulcher Aux 2.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Pick a rainy day ...

View attachment 5604133

wow... If I had to wait for a rainy day I would never get my burn piles looked after (haha)
Honestly I gave up grinding long ago for burning as grinding takes a very long time vs. my burning unless I had a lot of money to buy a lot of hp. to make the work. Grinding is comparatively a lot more time intensive. Realizing not all live in places where burning is safe and allowed though I be blessed with 5+ months of snow on the ground.

Cheers

 

[oldnslo]

Fuddy
If the numbers for flow are correct then yes aux 1 would be approx double of aux 2.

The question now becomes what is flow rate desired for the mulcher head? Double flow would double speed which may be more than cutter head can handle.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The manufacturer recommended 2,000 rpm. It didn't seem to be turning that fast. Ex. engine rpm wide open was about 2,400.
He did say the PTO grinder would have more power.
Hydraulic Flow Range 15-35.9 GPM (mulcher)
(Maybe the dealer goofed?)

 

[Seven Gables]

I did just now noticed this:

Auxiliary Hydraulic Flow: 19.8 GPM (AUX1) / 9.8 GPM (AUX2)

This is the Kubota kx057-5 flow. The dealer had the mulcher on Aux 2. So if it was on Aux 1, wouldn't it have double the flow?

I just got the machine this morning so I'm learning, but to activate mulcher I press this knob, the display screen comes on, turn knob to accessory and choose mulcher Aux 2.




View attachment 5604140

From looking at your picture in your opening post of the stick and mulcher they do have it plumbed to your auxiliary 1 which is your high flow and is correct. You’re thumb is connected to the auxiliary 2 , low flow, also correct.
You’ve got three hoses going to mulcher, one of the two smaller lines will be your in flow to the mulcher motor, the other small hose will be the case drain from mulcher motor and returning to tank. The one large hose (looks to be 3/4” ) is return oil from motor. As far as I can tell it’s plumbed correct, no way would they try to run that big mulcher on the low flow aux 2 . One other thing is when you’re running the mulcher or any attachment with a motor you’ve got to be in one way flow, this I’m quite certain with the newer dash 5 series is done with a pilot operated selector valve . Older dash 4 models you had to manually turn the selector valve to choose between one and two way flow..
I would ask your dealer to send a tech out and give you a demonstration .

 

[Seven Gables]

One other thing I forgot to mention, the flow on both the auxiliary 1 and auxiliary 2 circuits is fully adjustable , maybe it’s just set on the low end of the range. This is done right from the cab controls

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

One other thing I forgot to mention, the flow on both the auxiliary 1 and auxiliary 2 circuits is fully adjustable , maybe it’s just set on the low end of the range. This is done right from the cab controls

Yes I saw that and adjusted it to max I think.
Maybe I should look at the manual.

 

[WM75Guy]

Here is a video of a guy mulching with his excavator. At the 12:50 mark he does some fair size logs. He uses a TMC Cancela mulcher on a Kubota excavator about the size of your excavator.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I believe mine will do that as well. Those look like fallen logs most likely rotten.
When they delivered it yesterday I had them try it out on the wood pile and hit this very large oak (40"+ diameter) tree log I cut trees down a few years ago and it exploded shards everywhere.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I'd put the thumb on and restack that pile in either a log cabin stile pile, or a tee-pee style ... Save your cardboard boxes, and on a damp still morning light it up!

I use the propane torch to light the cardboard ...

Blazer says, that's some serious heat!

Oak is gonna be a long slow grind, especially that 3'+ stuff ...