Slow blades on hydraulic sickle bar

[frogpond]

On my bx25d, I have a wimpy Samurai Sabre sickle bar brush cutter. It clamps onto the loader bucket, and is powered by a cam on a hydraulic motor, hooked up to my 3rd function hoses. My hydraulic pressure tests at about 1800 psi or a little less. Will I gain blade speed and/or power if I shim the hydraulics up more, say to 2000 psi? Or is an external pump and tank the only way?

 

[TractorTech]

An external pump is necessary. Speed is the product of flow. Force is the product of pressure.

 

[TractorTech]

I have seen the Samarai Sabre, but I just set up a double sickle, different brand, on a Deere 5075M. I didn't run the the sickles on the 3rd function for a couple of reasons. One was the electrohydraulic valve wasn't made to be activated full-time. Secondly, the hoses and the passages on the 3rd function are too small.
If you could find a way to get more flow to the sickle, you may be able to solve your problem, but most small Kubotas don't have a lot of flow anyway.

 

[RayIN]

When you watch the video, blade speed is not very fast. Blade speed (flow rate) is limited by the smallest hyd. fitting size:

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Further investigation shows the motor consumes 3-4.5 CI per minute, and advertises slow-moving blades to reduce shatter:

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[woody]

I have the sabre and I control the speed with the RPM's of the tractor motor, unless they have changed something it runs plenty fast I just adjust it until the blades are just starting to get blurry, scientific I know. Used it on my B26.

 

[frogpond]

How did you do your hydraulic hookup? I realize that your tractor is bigger, with more flow. But still, if not 3rd function, how did you plumb it?

 

[frogpond]

Any recommendations on specific pump and setup?

 

[zzvyb6]

I've found that I can lock the curl aspect of my bucket and then use that circuit for a variety of flow based attachments without any speed problems. The sickle then ought to be faster than what you have going on now.

 

[frogpond]

Sounds very useful! How did you do it? That is: lock the curl function, connect to the curl circuit, etc. Do you control the flow with the loader handle?

 

[zzvyb6]

Yes. In your case, you'll want the sickle anvil horizontal, so use a chain to hold the bucket in the wanted angular position. This also ensures that bucket weight back pressure doesn't build up AND to keep it from settling (as some valves tend to do. When you are done and want the curl back, you sometimes have to tap the buttons on the connectors to relieve some residual pressure and to toggle the curl valve handle to eliminate it on the tractor side..