Slasher???

[pennwalk]

PennDOT is doing some roadside maintainence around here. They have some kind of a machine that turns small trees into what looks like straw. I have yet to see the mystery machine in action but it is really cleaning up the roadside. Anyone know know what it is?

Chris

 

[chim]

Chris, I saw what looked like about a 36" rotary deck on a machine that could reach out so far from the tractor it is mounted on, it looks like it should fall over. Last Fall, there was a stretch of Rt. 230 between Mount Joy and E-town where tha RR tracks are close to the road, and there is brush / trees between the tracks and the highyway. The trees were all "shredded" looking about 20' up. Looked like an airplane crash site without the plane.

They have all sorts of different equipment along Rt. 30W of Lancaster just ripping the crap out of everything. Still haven't figured outy just why they're spending all out taxes on this...............chim

 

[Rowski]

Here in the northern part of VT they have been using a rotary cutter mounted on an excavator run by hydraulics. Not sure if that is what's doing in you neck of the woods. Pictures would be nice, but you need to see it first/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

 

[RoyJackson]

I saw what looked like about a 36" rotary deck on a machine that could reach out so far from the tractor it is mounted on, it looks like it should fall over.

Saw one of those machines rigged to a larger JD tractor. There's a pretty big counter weight on the side opposite of the boom.
This was on a side road in Loganville, PA (few miles south of York). This was apparently a training session for the operator.
Although this guy's work was a tad rough (training), the machine appears to be pretty nice for hitting slopes and ditches where a tractor just can't get to.

There was a link to the manufacturer of this implement (on TBN) a few months back.

They have all sorts of different equipment along Rt. 30W of Lancaster just ripping the crap out of everything. Still haven't figured outy just why they're spending all out taxes on this

Boy, they've been working on Rt. 30 for years...I think there's tax money to spend and they don't want to lose any of it!

 

[WVBill]

They use those things along the rural roads here in West Virginia. I don't think it gets looking much better after the operator finishes training. First time I came up on a crew doing it I'd driven for a mile or so thinking a tornado had come thru. They make no attempt at all to clean up the debris from the road - just leave it there for traffic to run over and shred up.

 

[RobS]

Not sure about what you saw but around here I've seen a log skidder looking machine with a huge rotary cutter mounted on the front. Looks like it would plow through 4-6 inch trees and brush without a thought /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MarkV]

Our rural electric co-op contracts out to a company to clear the power line right of ways and we see them every three years or so. This is a mountainous area (by Georgia standards) and these guys use a track vehicle that is all caged in with one mean brush cutter mounted on the front. This machine doesn’t think anything of 6” trees and will go almost anywhere. It is real show watching it work but there is no way I would go some of the places they take it.

MarkV

 

[dourobob]

I have also seen one of these machines last fall in Eastern Ontario Canada - chewing up anything in its wake that is under 6" except the rock /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Last night in our local paper there was a letter to the editor wondering why this was being done "cause it will just grow back up again" and asking "if the shredded sticks and shards wouldn't be dangerous to any wildlife (deer in particular) travelling through".

I must admit it does tidy the roadside (temporarily) and makes it easier to see all the garbage some inconsiderate, unthinking folks dump from their cars and trucks. The trees look pretty tattered however and my impression is that it is "make work" - the operator sure gets lots of seat time and does seem to have a big grin on his face whenever I have passed him - sorry no pics - just like the Sasquatch /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif he is never there when I have my camera.

Bob

 

[WVBill]

Around here they clear the mountain power line right of ways using a 20' chain saw dangling from a helicopter. I only saw a picture in the paper - would love to see it in action!

 

[MarkV]

<font color=blue>20' chain saw dangling from a helicopter.</font color=blue>

Now that would be something to see---as long as you are not hiking the powerline that day./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

MarkV

 

[WVBill]

I think that's one of the reasons they published the picture and schedule in the paper.

 

[pennwalk]

Hey Chim we are in the same neck of the woods. I saw the spin cab New Holland tractor with the bush hog on the arm. They are using something else too. I saw a big red tractor with something on the back but the mechanics were swarming over it and I couldn't get a good look as I flashed by. It leaves piles of shavings that look like straw. I can't figure out the PennDOT pattern if there is one. We could probably start a what's up with DOT thread. Rt 283 is like welfare for DOT workers they are always working out there.

Chris

 

[vutch]

Around here (northern WI) they use a New Holland four wheel drive with rear and side mount rotary cutters to clear the ditches. They also have an excavator mounted unit that they do ditches as well as trim the trees with. Take a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tiger-mowers.com>Tiger Mowers</A> (this is what our county uses). They have a whole range of industrial mowing equipment. All the stuff for New Holland bidirectionals is especially interesting.

Chris

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Here in most areas of New Hampshire, our power company's are fairly aggresive in keeping the power line ROW's clear of anything that could damage the lines and cause a outage. They use a machine very much like MarkV described. It is usually a large excavator with extra screens, grills, cages etc. to protect the operator and on the end of the boom is a device which is kind of best described as a big grinding attachment. there is very little if anything that it won't and can't shred.
The company name that I see, is usually the same, unfortunatly I can't think of it. But I have been told that the owner of the company is the guy who invented the particular type attachment the he uses.
I have had the chance to watch it work and it is rather amazing. I am doing some web searching to see if I can find anything on it or something similar, if I have any luck, I will let you know.

 

[chim]

Vutch, Thats's what I saw................chim

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Yes, I would have to say the Tigar line of mowers is pretty darn close to what they use here in NH.

 

[Slamfire]

That Lincoln Highway was the first paved road in the country. It is about time they got around to redoin' it.

 

[chim]

You gotta admit one thing. That old horsehair macadam has held up pretty well............chim

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

My property is right on a section of the old Lincoln Highway here and it was just repaved last summer from the new state highway down past my place a couple miles or so. Beyond that it's really rough, though. Quite a bit of history there, to be sure.

 

[pennwalk]

Saw the slasher stopped by the side of Rt.283 on the way to Harrisburg today. I stopped off to talk to the owner/operator. He called it a FAE tree mower <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.faeusa.com/>http://www.faeusa.com/</A> The tractor was a Big Valmet 4WD. The tractor has a brush cage all around. There is an second set of controls and the seat swings so he can work either direction. Impressive set up. He can lift the rear shield and back into up to 12" trees and turn them into shreds. Or if he is working brush he can run it over and turn it into mulch. If he lowers the cutter all the way down it will till the mulch into the ground and leave the ground ready to plant. The mower needs a lot of maintainence and doesn't seem to work very fast. He said the Valmet was too strong for the mower and that caused some break downs. On smaller tractors it tends to be hard on the tractor. He mentioned blowing the PTO on a New Holland swing cab and a Case Maxum. Still he is clearing trees and leaving mulched ground. Here is the mystery, Why does Penn DOT want want more roadside grass to mow?

Chris