Rock Hound 30EX HD

[QwikDraw]

First full day with the Rock Hound 30EX HD....
About what I thought...1/2 acre in some tough stuff. I killed 1/2 the knives already. Well I am sure they don't need to be changed right away but they took some abuse. Major dents and dings and 2-3 of the center knives were bent to where they touched the other side knives. Alot of hidden rocks in the snow but better to wreck some $8 teeth then some $80 on the Fecon. I was going to take a few more pictures but 10 minutes after these were taken the pillow block and bearings on the non drive side fell off, which cracked the block...I already called Tom and the new parts are on the way, free of charge. I am happy with it but of course I wish I could have finished more, the excavator is much more comfortable to run, quiet and smooth. I will have to bring the ASV here to get the majority done, rocks or not. I have 31 acres of this to do and another 22 of thinning and over grown fields...can't get just 1/2 acre a day.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted. Congrats on your new toy. Sorry it broke on you. A 100h.p. skid and mulcher it is not!! But a useful tool in your arsonal it will become. The more you run it the better you will see where exactly it fits in. Does yours have the three blade setup. Mine only had two and if I where still using it I would have gone to the three blade setup. It's good to get large tracts to work on isn't it?

Robbie

 

[toy1]

I have been using the rock hound for 3 years now and find it is my weapon of choice, I ran it on kx161, they went to kx 080, it does those area by ponds, brooks etc that you cannot get to with track machine. I will be replacing blades this year they need it.

 

[QwikDraw]

Robbie,
It's the same old story...whatever you get you always want bigger!! I was thinking about a Denis Cimaf head and how it would have faired with all the hidden rocks...it's just a tough environment. I have to take the Fecon back in there because I just have too much to do but I did enjoy running the RH for the day. Yes, all the 30HD come standard with triple blades and thumb saddle. The third blade is just a straight blunt piece of metal, it's not sharp. I will need the RH later in this job as there are some rocky areas I can't even crawl in to with the ASV.

Toy1
3 years on one set of blades sounds good. I think I will be replacing these in 3 weeks! If not sooner.

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Wow cant wait to see more of the excavator mulching! Bummer bout the hound....I havent seen one work in action yet..Hope you get it back together soon..

Ps the flyer is GREAT! thanx-

 

[DirtyWorks]

A 100h.p. skid and mulcher it is not!! But a useful tool in your arsonal it will become.
Robbie

Your starting to sound like Yoda with your wisdom Mr Hegwood!

Congrats on your new addition. Keep us posted!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I was more impressed with my RH than others seem to be. But I bought mine for a very specific job and it excelled in that certain application.( retention ponds) most were pines and soft woods that mulched fairly easy.

Hey Dirt, Once I reread what I put it did sound a little dorky! I'll try to keep it southern! I should have a head for us to see run in a couple weeks and we will have it down your way shortly after.

 

[Landwise]

Robbie,

Do you think I could buy a few tooth mounts and a few cimaf teeth and weld them onto my RH drum? May take a little balancing, but, what the heck.....

 

[QwikDraw]

LW-

Did you ever have any problems with your head....maybe that bearing?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I know we sell blades but I don't think we sell mounts. We have several mounts on the new DAH-080 which is our newest head. It's the one for the Kubota 080 size. I will post some pictures tonight.

QD, I blew out the seal between the hyd motor and grease seal. Must have been a problem for the seal they sent to replace it was three times the seal. But those heads are very picky, you might have some debri stuck on there somewhere.