Dan Hunter
Platinum Member
I've had the M&M Hydra Snip for a while but couldn't use it without ballast. With the barrel ballast complete, I finally got a chance to use it.
The barrel was a good match for the shear. It controlled any bounce from injudicious FEL movement on all but the most rugged terrain. Without it, the rear tires came off the ground quite easily. I ran it for 4.5 hours. I'd considered another brand on reputation but they refused to build one for a tractor because they said there wasn't enough visibility. I've landed a supersonic aircraft from the back seat of which there really isn't a view of the runway ahead of you; big deal. As I lined up on a tree I had the sheer tilted back so I could ensure a maximum opening of the cutting tools and then lowered it as I maintained a track and leaned over the left side to level the tool and put it on the surface. It was easy to determine if the sheer had engaged the tree and if it hadn't I'd take the time to rake the branches off for a better view. Generally, cutting at the surface was easy to achieve.
Regarding, the performance of the shear - I was impressed. The cutting surfaces show no wear although the paint is gone. I don't know how you'd get paint to stay on steel with that much chromium in it. Another detractor I was warned about is the slower cycle rates that my John Deere would achieve compared to a skid steer. Having no reference, it's noticeable but not annoying. If you don't actuate any other components it's about 4-5 seconds. Maybe I'm patient but it didn't bother me. The sheer is supposed to be capable of cutting a 12" tree. This is true but it depends on the tree. Some of the oneseed red cedar that have the first branch coming out of the ground had to be smaller. If the tree your cutting has branches six inches or so from the ground then it'll have clearance for the assembly and might cut something even bigger.
In summary, I was very impressed with the M & M Tree Snip and would recommend it. It made quick work of a few areas I mauled. Next week I'll take out the Ranch Rake grapple and build some piles. Finally, I'm making progress on the weed tree.
The barrel was a good match for the shear. It controlled any bounce from injudicious FEL movement on all but the most rugged terrain. Without it, the rear tires came off the ground quite easily. I ran it for 4.5 hours. I'd considered another brand on reputation but they refused to build one for a tractor because they said there wasn't enough visibility. I've landed a supersonic aircraft from the back seat of which there really isn't a view of the runway ahead of you; big deal. As I lined up on a tree I had the sheer tilted back so I could ensure a maximum opening of the cutting tools and then lowered it as I maintained a track and leaned over the left side to level the tool and put it on the surface. It was easy to determine if the sheer had engaged the tree and if it hadn't I'd take the time to rake the branches off for a better view. Generally, cutting at the surface was easy to achieve.
Regarding, the performance of the shear - I was impressed. The cutting surfaces show no wear although the paint is gone. I don't know how you'd get paint to stay on steel with that much chromium in it. Another detractor I was warned about is the slower cycle rates that my John Deere would achieve compared to a skid steer. Having no reference, it's noticeable but not annoying. If you don't actuate any other components it's about 4-5 seconds. Maybe I'm patient but it didn't bother me. The sheer is supposed to be capable of cutting a 12" tree. This is true but it depends on the tree. Some of the oneseed red cedar that have the first branch coming out of the ground had to be smaller. If the tree your cutting has branches six inches or so from the ground then it'll have clearance for the assembly and might cut something even bigger.
In summary, I was very impressed with the M & M Tree Snip and would recommend it. It made quick work of a few areas I mauled. Next week I'll take out the Ranch Rake grapple and build some piles. Finally, I'm making progress on the weed tree.
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