Lane Shark Alternative?

[mculik5]

The wonderful folks on this forum pointed me in the direction of Lane Shark in response to this thread I started - Sickle Boom Cutter?. The Lane Shark looks absolutely perfect for my needs, but...

I have a Kubota B2650, and the Lane Shark folks told me my tractor is too narrow and doesn't have the necessary hydraulic flow. They quote 5GPM for their LS-3 model, but said I likely wouldn't be happy with the performance at that low flow, and said that even though I am over the 2000 pound minimum weight (loaded tires and a backhoe), my tractor is below their minimum width requirement of 56"-57" to safely run the mower in the offset position. The person I spoke with was helpful, and I'm sure he would've loved to sell me a mower, so I suppose I should trust his comments.

So...does anyone know of any alternatives to Lane Shark? The Limb Ninja isn't as flexible, and my local dealer said he's given up on Trailblazer because they are 30-50 weeks out (and their new unit is basically the same as a Lane Shark, so probably not compatible with my tractor for the same reasons anyway). The Modern Ag Path Slayer is too heavy. I also think I'd need a hydraulic power pack to properly run any of these, and the Lane Shark guy said they are problematic because of tank rust issues.

The Lane Shark guy told me about a European company called GreenTec, but they only have two dealers in the US (waiting on a call from one of them) and their system appears to be too heavy and too high flow anyway, although they do seem to have the sickle bar concept I described in the other thread.

Any others out there?

Thanks!

 

[mculik5]

Also, @photoneffect - I googled "lane shark b2650" and found this - FS: 2017 Kubota B2650 with 299 hours (w/ loader, backhoe, 3rd function). In the Google cached version, it says you had a LS-3 and the tractor was plumbed for it. How did the Lane Shark work for you?

Thanks.

 

[i7win7]

hardee brush tiger?

 

[mculik5]

@i7win7 - Thanks. Hadn't seen this one. Unfortunately, too heavy/tractor too small.

I heard back regarding the GreenTec stuff. Also too heavy and $$$.

Found this, though: SABRE SAMURAI CUTTER | Cutthat.com - Your Cutting Edge Technology Expert

This has potential and is basically exactly what I had in mind, although I'm bummed that this can't also be used as a normal brush hog like the Lane Shark.

 

[JCoastie]

This is another option, I have not used it, but have been looking at it online for about a year for my property.
Same name, different company and different style of hardware: TRAILBLAZER-HD for TB-2020 – STOUT DESIGNS, LLC

I was also looking at the Sabre Samurai cutter, but reviews were hit or miss, with lots of people breaking them on the first use and hydro flow issues, but at least it has reviews. I haven't seem much on the Trailblazer HD I posted above, but the design seems sturdy, and I like the fork attach in theory.

It was a year ago, but I emailed both, I never heard back from Sabre, but Stout (Trailblazer HD) got back to me the same day, and answered several questions, back and forth.

 

[Rustyiron]

Seems like a good excuse for a bigger tractor.

 

[Smokeydog]

When I looked at Trailblazer a couple of years ago they had two sizes of cutter heads. The smaller was more the B26 size. Still might be some at dealer lots.

Think they redesigned the larger cutter since then.

I would prefer the power pack.

Seen a few people use a 3pt sickle bar mower modified for ssqa. 3rd function for bar angle. Hydraulic, gas or maybe electric motor. Be sure to get a belt drive cutter. Some areas still can find a good used one for a few $100. Wish I kept my MF hispeed hay mower to Frankenstein. Growing up all roads were trimmed with sickle bar mowers.

 

[cstamm81]

I've been eyeing what I consider to be the professional version of the Sabre Samurai, from Eterra: Eterra
They sent me a short video of a guy running one on his front loader of his mid sized Kubota. Eterra has good reviews on all their hydraulic sickles, the catch is the price and you need 8 plus gpm to run the smallest hydraulic motor they offer for the 5 footer. They have a hydraulic weed wacker head as well, needs 5gpm plus to run.
IMO, you are really limited given the size of your tractor, you could spend a ton of money and not be able to do what you actually want in the end. This is from a guy who is always trying to replace my hand held weed wackers! Best solution if you want to trim heavy brush / branches, and mulch the material, is a mini excavator with a heavy duty flail head. That seems to be the no compromise ticket to all but replacing a hand help weed wacker, but obviously the cost of a good used mini is big boy money!

 

[photoneffect]

Also, @photoneffect - I googled "lane shark b2650" and found this - FS: 2017 Kubota B2650 with 299 hours (w/ loader, backhoe, 3rd function). In the Google cached version, it says you had a LS-3 and the tractor was plumbed for it. How did the Lane Shark work for you?

Thanks.

Yeah, I had the B2650 with an LS3. It worked great. Only reason I sold it is because I'm upgrading my tractor and the LS3 flow is too low for my new tractor. I'll be getting the LS2 with high flow motor to replace it.

The Lane Shark folks said the same thing about the B2650 being too small, but with the backhoe I had zero problems. I don't even have filled tires. If you want to go in the offset position you can swing your boom (still curled) over to the opposite side and it'll give you even more balance. But even before I thought to do that I never felt wobbly in the slightest as long as the backhoe was attached. The only limitation is that when you're raising the loader you'll hear the mower head slow down a tad. You end up getting into a rhythm where you raise the loader as you backup and then lower the loader as you go forward into the brush so it becomes a non-issue. For all I know this happens on the larger tractors too as a simple result of the loader and third function sharing a pump. And as an aside you're much more productive if you set the height of the Lane Shark to one level and then use your wheels as you mow. Lower the loader height a few feet and repeat. It's just better than constantly moving the loader up and down in one spot before you move on.

Only downside is because it's not an officially supported model you won't be able to buy the valve kit from Lane Shark with all the lines the correct length and fittings included. Your dealer should be able to figure it out or you could just get the version of the kit for the tractor that's closest to yours (maybe the L2501?). Might have to modify it or replace a line, but would get you the whips and the switch at least.

edit: By the way, that lean on the Lane Shark in the picture is by design. I thought it was a little odd too and this picture is actually from when I emailed them asking. The tractor sits level and stable.

 

[mculik5]

@cstamm81 - I saw that one, too, but figured for my relatively low-duty needs, I'd save the $2K in the difference. That one does look real nice, too!

@photoneffect - Thanks for all the info. I figured that between the backhoe itself, swinging the boom, and my loaded tires, I'd be fine, but the guy on the phone was pretty adamant. I still think I'd be fine, and since I'd be using this along the fence line with no obstructions on one side, I could even put the backhoe far out and down if I wanted to. I'm guessing that as their company has grown, they've had to stop separating a B2650 with a backhoe and loaded tires from a regular B2650 for liability reasons.

Three separate questions if you don't mind:

1. You were running the LS3 off your tractor pump, not a separate PTO pump? So 5ish GPM and the performance was fine?
2. Did you trim in the vertical position along any fence lines? One of the things I'm worried about is flinging stuff downward into my fence and breaking it. Sickle bar has a definite advantage there.
3. How did you plumb your unit? I'm thinking of running the outlet of my third function, which is power beyond, to a motor spool valve, with two returns to tank (one from the valve, one from the motor) and using the power beyond on the motor spool valve to power everything else that's currently downstream from my third function.

Again, thanks!