mulching buisness?

[circle a farms]

where would you start. i think there would be a market in my area because noone has one. I have a T300 already that i use around the farm and looking to try to help it pay for itslef. What would be a good head for this machine.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Two questions and the answers will lead you to an answer. Does your Bobcat have high flow? If any way possible try to line up a job or two and see where you get. It sounds good on paper but getting customers to pay 150.00 per hour is alittle harder.
Then after that there are alot of things to consider.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

whatever you do, don't practice on someone else's property unless they know up front what you are doing.

There is quite a learning curve for the mulching business. You will be asking your machine to the most demanding job there is for a compact machine. A t300 will operate a mulching head "okay" if you have a K series with 37 gpm. Cooling will be an issue and that is part of the learning curve to keep the radiators clean.

Must haves:
-air compressor to blow out engine compartment, radiators, and cab
-a lot of patience with dust entering the cab (plugging holes takes hours and testing and more hours)
-fire extinguisher
-good insurance
-fuel transfer tank (figure using a day's worth of fuel in 4-5 hours)
-absolutely clean hydro oil and filters to get started
-ditto on radiator
-lexan door is a must have or you are playing with your eyesight and life
-plenty of tools for changing teeth (impact wrench) etc. extra teeth depending on the type of head
-you need to demo the heads for your type of terrain and cutting conditions. Some heads like Robbies take less hp and will probably be more efficient in many conditions but I like carbide for rocky conditions
-a good relationship with a dealer so you can demo before you settle on a head unless you can find a good deal on a used one (and make it work).
-a place to practice..that's one of the biggies I see to getting started so you can see machine limitations, get used to keeping it running cool, and learn how far debris can be ejected so you can gauge how close you can work to people, houses, cars, roads, etc. Hope this helps.

 

[Heavyduty]

whatever you do, don't practice on someone else's property unless they know up front what you are doing.

There is quite a learning curve for the mulching business. You will be asking your machine to the most demanding job there is for a compact machine. A t300 will operate a mulching head "okay" if you have a K series with 37 gpm. Cooling will be an issue and that is part of the learning curve to keep the radiators clean.

Must haves:
-air compressor to blow out engine compartment, radiators, and cab
-a lot of patience with dust entering the cab (plugging holes takes hours and testing and more hours)
-fire extinguisher
-good insurance
-fuel transfer tank (figure using a day's worth of fuel in 4-5 hours)
-absolutely clean hydro oil and filters to get started
-ditto on radiator
-lexan door is a must have or you are playing with your eyesight and life
-plenty of tools for changing teeth (impact wrench) etc. extra teeth depending on the type of head
-you need to demo the heads for your type of terrain and cutting conditions. Some heads like Robbies take less hp and will probably be more efficient in many conditions but I like carbide for rocky conditions
-a good relationship with a dealer so you can demo before you settle on a head unless you can find a good deal on a used one (and make it work).
-a place to practice..that's one of the biggies I see to getting started so you can see machine limitations, get used to keeping it running cool, and learn how far debris can be ejected so you can gauge how close you can work to people, houses, cars, roads, etc. Hope this helps.

Nice write up. I would see if you can line up some work through a couple of channels first before you spend alot of time and $$$. Real estate and construction connections would be a must. If you are depending on Joe Public calling, you are taking a big gamble. Good luck, it is and can be a tuff business to be in right now.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Yellow well put. I would even seriously consider trying to visit with a mulching contractor (like Yellow) and run one of these units. Outside your territory and see what its like to run one all day and help with the daily maintenance. That will give you a good look at the other side of mulching. The blade/tooth maintenance, tractor cleaning, what to look for as far as debri, what items will give you the most trouble and expense.
If you can do that and come out the other side still excited about mulching then it just may be in your blood. OR you will see why so many startup mulchers fail. You have to be extremely adaptable and a very quick learn in this business. Yellowdog has alot of experience and knows what works where.
And yellow thanks for the honerable mention.

 

[AX MAN]

You will also need plenty of money and tools so you can fix all kind of stuff. You also must be willing to go to where the work is, at times work 10 hrs a day with hunting club members or property owners watching you wanting you to be balls to the wall. Also be able to make your payments during slooooow times. This is only based on my situation.

 

[bontai_Joe]

A different method of getting in the mulching business as done by an outfit by me. He has folks haul in their brush and limbs, and charges by the load to dump it on his site. He mulches it there and sells the mulch by the cubic yard. He gets paid on both ends, and avoids the hassles of transporting his equipment. BUT it's not the only thing he does there, also sells landscape rock, crushed stone, and storage sheds.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

A different method of getting in the mulching business as done by an outfit by me. He has folks haul in their brush and limbs, and charges by the load to dump it on his site. He mulches it there and sells the mulch by the cubic yard. He gets paid on both ends, and avoids the hassles of transporting his equipment. BUT it's not the only thing he does there, also sells landscape rock, crushed stone, and storage sheds.

He's not using a brush mower, is he? Is this some type of horizontal or tub grinder?

 

[bontai_Joe]

He has a big commercial wood chipper.

 

[Heavyduty]

whatever you do, don't practice on someone else's property unless they know up front what you are doing.

There is quite a learning curve for the mulching business. You will be asking your machine to the most demanding job there is for a compact machine. A t300 will operate a mulching head "okay" if you have a K series with 37 gpm. Cooling will be an issue and that is part of the learning curve to keep the radiators clean.

Must haves:
-air compressor to blow out engine compartment, radiators, and cab
-a lot of patience with dust entering the cab (plugging holes takes hours and testing and more hours)
-fire extinguisher
-good insurance
-fuel transfer tank (figure using a day's worth of fuel in 4-5 hours)
-absolutely clean hydro oil and filters to get started
-ditto on radiator
-lexan door is a must have or you are playing with your eyesight and life
-plenty of tools for changing teeth (impact wrench) etc. extra teeth depending on the type of head
-you need to demo the heads for your type of terrain and cutting conditions. Some heads like Robbies take less hp and will probably be more efficient in many conditions but I like carbide for rocky conditions
-a good relationship with a dealer so you can demo before you settle on a head unless you can find a good deal on a used one (and make it work).
-a place to practice..that's one of the biggies I see to getting started so you can see machine limitations, get used to keeping it running cool, and learn how far debris can be ejected so you can gauge how close you can work to people, houses, cars, roads, etc. Hope this helps.

How well do you think a s300 could handle a mulcher? Would steel tracks be mandatory?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

If you already have the S300 then you could make it work. There are ways to overcome some of it's problems. Westshore has a S330 that he has worked into a pretty good mulcher. Now if you want put the VTS on it and it will dramatically improve it's performance. If you want to go this way I can give a few suggestions and Westshore and Yellow can help.

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

Steel over the tire tracks are a necessity, VTS are better allot better. You will actually go through more muck with the VTS than a dedicated track loader. A good investment would be the forestry application kit from Bobcat it comes with a screen kit for the rad, Gaurds to stop material from entering via the boom cylinders, a FOPS certified (I think) gaurd for the cab and a 3/4 " lexan windshield for the front door. Don't bother with the demolition door Bobcat sells its crap. You can also hot rod the pump on the 250,300,320 and 330 for more fuel and rpm but added heat comes with it too. I have never overheated mine nor come close but I have the application kit on both the T320 and S330. I was getting 39 GPM at the mulcher on the 330 too. Cimaf head is the most efficient in my opinion but with all chipper type mulchers not made for grinding rocks LOL. I blocked off the filter inside the cab so it only draws from the outside filter and most of the dust problems were eliminated. Nothing beats a dedicated or purpose built machine but with the right head and some experience a skid steer can do a pretty good job. Oh yeah Robbie i'll have some real good pics for you on Sunday or Monday.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Steel over the tire tracks are a necessity, VTS are better allot better. You will actually go through more muck with the VTS than a dedicated track loader. A good investment would be the forestry application kit from Bobcat it comes with a screen kit for the rad, Gaurds to stop material from entering via the boom cylinders, a FOPS certified (I think) gaurd for the cab and a 3/4 " lexan windshield for the front door. Don't bother with the demolition door Bobcat sells its crap. You can also hot rod the pump on the 250,300,320 and 330 for more fuel and rpm but added heat comes with it too. I have never overheated mine nor come close but I have the application kit on both the T320 and S330. I was getting 39 GPM at the mulcher on the 330 too. Cimaf head is the most efficient in my opinion but with all chipper type mulchers not made for grinding rocks LOL. I blocked off the filter inside the cab so it only draws from the outside filter and most of the dust problems were eliminated. Nothing beats a dedicated or purpose built machine but with the right head and some experience a skid steer can do a pretty good job. Oh yeah Robbie i'll have some real good pics for you on Sunday or Monday.

Wanted to bring this thread up again.

I talked to Bobcat engineers and I was told that the 330 and T320 do NOT share the same pump and that I couldn't get the same pressures out of the 330's pump as I could in the T320 which is around 3650psi standard.

How did you overcome or turn up your pump on your s330?

I have been thinking about getting a T320 but didn't know if I wanted to go through that expense. I thought about VTS on the 330 but wasn't sure if the power to weight ratio would be an issue since the 330 has 7 less hp than the 320? Any thoughts on that. I know we discussed this awhile back but I lost that thread. thanks. Yellow

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

Wanted to bring this thread up again.

I talked to Bobcat engineers and I was told that the 330 and T320 do NOT share the same pump and that I couldn't get the same pressures out of the 330's pump as I could in the T320 which is around 3650psi standard.

How did you overcome or turn up your pump on your s330?

I have been thinking about getting a T320 but didn't know if I wanted to go through that expense. I thought about VTS on the 330 but wasn't sure if the power to weight ratio would be an issue since the 330 has 7 less hp than the 320? Any thoughts on that. I know we discussed this awhile back but I lost that thread. thanks. Yellow[/QUOTE

I never touched the hyd pump on the 330, you can increase the pressure a bit but what i done was the injection pump, more fuel and rpm = more power and usually more rpm is more flow, the 330 will out push the 320 any day stock vs stock with the vts and is more comfortable (Less rough) Really I wouldn't bother switching to the 320 unless the 330 is in need of replacement.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Wanted to bring this thread up again.

I talked to Bobcat engineers and I was told that the 330 and T320 do NOT share the same pump and that I couldn't get the same pressures out of the 330's pump as I could in the T320 which is around 3650psi standard.

How did you overcome or turn up your pump on your s330?

I have been thinking about getting a T320 but didn't know if I wanted to go through that expense. I thought about VTS on the 330 but wasn't sure if the power to weight ratio would be an issue since the 330 has 7 less hp than the 320? Any thoughts on that. I know we discussed this awhile back but I lost that thread. thanks. Yellow[/QUOTE

I never touched the hyd pump on the 330, you can increase the pressure a bit but what i done was the injection pump, more fuel and rpm = more power and usually more rpm is more flow, the 330 will out push the 320 any day stock vs stock with the vts and is more comfortable (Less rough) Really I wouldn't bother switching to the 320 unless the 330 is in need of replacement.

no issues with the motor with the adjustments? How much did you adjust it? I need to do something to get the "edge".

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

no issues with the motor with the adjustments? How much did you adjust it? I need to do something to get the "edge".

More fuel until it started to smoke a bit under heavy load and about 300 rpm more ?? I can't remember what it had to start with, On my 320 I was running 2850 rpm, I think the 330 is at 2800 or so.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

More fuel until it started to smoke a bit under heavy load and about 300 rpm more ?? I can't remember what it had to start with, On my 320 I was running 2850 rpm, I think the 330 is at 2800 or so.

I get 2580 on my 330 at full throttle, no load.

 

[jamesn]

If you already have the S300 then you could make it work. There are ways to overcome some of it's problems. Westshore has a S330 that he has worked into a pretty good mulcher. Now if you want put the VTS on it and it will dramatically improve it's performance. If you want to go this way I can give a few suggestions and Westshore and Yellow can help.

the only problem with the s300 is it over heats, i operated one for quite some time with a loftness head. the only cure i found for the overheating problem was to seperate the hyd. cooler and mount it on top of the cab enclosed in a metal shroud with 2 electric cooling fans. this solved the over heating issue

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

the only problem with the s300 is it over heats, i operated one for quite some time with a loftness head. the only cure i found for the overheating problem was to seperate the hyd. cooler and mount it on top of the cab enclosed in a metal shroud with 2 electric cooling fans. this solved the over heating issue

The S330 and T320 have larger rads and more cooling than the older K models, I have never had a problem overheating but we rarely see higher than 30 deg c here. The only time it got near over heating was when I was working in a marsh with Bul rushes and the rads were completely covered, I wiped the grass, reeds off and kept on going, this was a 27 deg day too.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

the only problem with the s300 is it over heats, i operated one for quite some time with a loftness head. the only cure i found for the overheating problem was to seperate the hyd. cooler and mount it on top of the cab enclosed in a metal shroud with 2 electric cooling fans. this solved the over heating issue

For others operating Bobcat K series machines...

I operated two s300k series machines in s. Texas summers. Never had an overheat problem even in 100 deg. plus, humid weather. Radiators must not have been getting enough air or there was some restriction. A cheap fix is disposable A/C cut to fit filter put between cover and AC evaporator. It will catch most of the "fluff". You can blow out your bottom engine radiator from inside the fan cowling and then vacuum out all the crap then blow it out again from the top side. After that, I doubt you would have many cooling issues if you used the disposable filter. If, by chance, the temps started to climb, you can repeat the cleaning process. Doesn't take very long and you can do it between fill-ups in the field if necessary.