Mulching with Kubota 080

[Landwise]

As I write this post, I am still recovering from the day-

I have been running a Kubota 080 for about 8 months now with a Rockhound 30 Extreme with missgivings if I had made the right decision. It is productive in 2.5" to maybe 3" material at best. Great for cleaning out ditch banks and LIGHT brush. Love the Kubota, not the rockhound so much. for $8000, it is not bad......

But today, I had the oportunity to run a prototype Loftness Timber Axe made for the Excavator. WOW.......

This thing is easily productive in 5" and smaller material and can cut anything you put it in. We cut 9" pine and a 12" oak today. Also, we cut several huricane blowover trees in the 10"-14" range that were in the way.

It is a prototype, and weighs too much to use everyday on the Kubota (1600 lbs) but it was intended for a JD160. Another is being developed now for the mini's, but I will keep running this one until I destroy it or have to send it back.

Anyone that wants to see it, come on down anytime.

PS Has anyone found a Mulching Forum, or thought about starting one?

Scott

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Now it sounds like your 080 is earning her keep. Does the timberax look like a smaller skid steer version? I always did like running my excavator better than my skid, just easier and much better visibility. I even think with practice you could come close to matching productivity of a 100. The weight does sound a little high. Does it effect the excavator much?

 

[TMTS]

I have also thought about a mulching forum..but since I'm pretty new to this forum, I didn't quite think I had logged enough time to give some constructive feedback to the site administrators...

but it would give this forum back to the rest of the folks who are on here for non- mulching chat...

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

YES YES somebody do it!!! Robbie? hint hint I nominate you..

 

[QwikDraw]

Scott, what are you getting for production with the Brush Hound in a day?

I just landed a fairly big job with 40 acres of it being 4-5 year regrowth of mostly hardwood in the 2-4 inch size. I was thinking of a 30HD on a 65 horse power excavator....do you think I could get 2 acres a day? just laid down and not fully mulched...

I have one other head in mind but it is 3 times the cost.

Thanks....

 

[coopers]

A Deere 160 attachment is on that mini! Holy cow...that says a lot IMHO for Kubota.

Blake
WA

P.S. Any pics?

 

[DirtyWorks]

Pics would be nice..... video would be even better

10" oak..that is extreme! how are the knives holding up?

 

[DirtyWorks]

YES YES somebody do it!!! Robbie? hint hint I nominate you..

second that nomination

 

[Landwise]

Keep in mind....

This thing is new, I mean really new. It kicks my Rockhound 30's #$*, but they are not in the same class either. I would not even try to be productive in anything over 5", but it will cut anything you put it in.

As far as two acres per day, not on an 080. The 080 does not have the swing power and drawbar force to move this head like it needs to be moved. Remember, it is designed for a 12-16 ton class execv, not a 9 ton. I think if you ran this thing too long on the 080, it would wear out every moving part of the boom.

I don't know how they can market the 40extreme to work on an 080. Too heavy. I'll say this- the 30extreme, for $8000, is hard to beat in 3" and smaller material. It's cheap, and it's a throw away head IMO. Make your money and throw it away.

I will post some pic's and maybe some video after a little more time playing on the machine.

 

[Landwise]

OK, Here is a picture of the AXE and the bracket we made to mount it. This is the first night that we had it at the shop.