westendorf brush crusher

[marinegrunt]

does anyone have one?



Semper Fi

 

[dfkrug]

I keep hoping to see one, but no dice so far. Even tho Westendorf
has a product or 2 represented at the World AG Expo in CA, they
never have a BrushCrusher there.

The official word when I have called the factory in IA is they have
sold out and none of their distis have them in stock.

 

[IslandTractor]

I haven't seen any posts from users but there was a useful thread about them a few months ago: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/108920-buying-grapple.html?highlight=westendorf+brush+crusher

You need to read down a bit until the discussion moves to the brush crusher.

 

[marinegrunt]

Thanks, I think I'm going to have to go with the millonzi.

 

[john_bud]

Don't have one, but have been PM'ing back and forth with them about it. Looks like a nice simple and strong unit. Does not have curl as those cylinders are used to open/close. Suit's me fine as I don't have the extra hydro flow & valve for separate cylinders.

Thinking hard on it. May depend on if it would interchange between my tractors.
jb

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks, I think I'm going to have to go with the millonzi.

Quite a few others have come to that conclusion.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

At a third of the price of the Millonzi, and the fact you don't need additional hydraulics to operate, it is the ideal solution for handling logs, brush and other items around the yard with your FEL. It's like adding a pair of hands to the end of your loader arms. Getting rid of the solid blade/bucket on the bottom of the attachment makes a world of difference when handling unruly and lopsided loads. It also increases how much you can lift. Allows you to lift the load instead of lifting a heavy attachment. Did you watch the online videos? Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment. Click on the Part 2 Video it has great action shots. It really does work that slick!

 

[RancherSam]

Do they only work on westendorf loaders as the product page claims? What's the availability and the cost for a quickie loader?

 

[IslandTractor]

At a third of the price of the Millonzi, and the fact you don't need additional hydraulics to operate, it is the ideal solution for handling logs, brush and other items around the yard with your FEL.

Just how much does the Westendorf grapple cost? The Millonzi costs less than a grand so if yours costs less than $350 that is a deal.

Adding hydraulics definitely increases the cost and hassle but also gives you curl and dump functions which can be very handy when dealing with brush or doing root grapple work. I do see your device as great for moving logs or for some limited grapple type work but it would be a challenge to work without a true dump/curl function.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

The one Millonzi unit I saw online retailed for $3200. Our mechanical units start around $800 (approximate suggested retail price, local dealers may vary). Larger hydraulic units with power-teeth are same as Millonzi in price, except they don't have lower bucket. I appreciate the clarification on my post, and agree a grapple for $350 would be a great deal. What Millonzi unit were you guys referring to? Does it require hydraulic cylinders?

 

[Westendorf-RR]

Do they only work on westendorf loaders as the product page claims? What's the availability and the cost for a quickie loader?

Currently we fit around 75 different Non-Westendorf loader models. We fit new loaders on a daily basis as the inquiries are submitted. We just need a few measurement from the loader arm end and stroke length of your cylinders.
PM me with your specific model number and I can let you know if we have a fit.

 

[IslandTractor]

The one Millonzi unit I saw online retailed for $3200. Our mechanical units start around $800 (approximate suggested retail price, local dealers may vary). Larger hydraulic units with power-teeth are same as Millonzi in price, except they don't have lower bucket. I appreciate the clarification on my post, and agree a grapple for $350 would be a great deal. What Millonzi unit were you guys referring to? Does it require hydraulic cylinders?

The Millonzi 48 inch "light duty" single jaw root grapple is the one that sells for less than $1000. It weighs in a just 280lbs and is well constructed of 3/8 inch steel. No one has ever reported damaging one that I recall. I use mine on a loader with 2700lb lift capacity without any problem. Millonzi makes bigger and heavier duty versions too but I haven't priced them myself.

The Millonzi definitely requires hydraulics. That is the place your grapple idea stands out. For a tool that is mostly to move logs your unique grapple would be great for someone who doesn't want to deal with hydraulics and who has weight/loader capacity issues.

 

[jimmysisson]

Island - there's an upgrade to the 48" that bumps the weight to 317#. They've made the outer tines 1/2" rather than 3/8", and have added some louver-type bars over the cylinders. You can see through the louvers but they protect the hydraulics. The 60" weighs #440 with the same upgrades. One-arm 48" is $845 now plus freight, 60" with two grapple arms is $1,426, both "TBN prices", per John Millonzi in Dec.
Jim

 

[IslandTractor]

One-arm 48" is $845 now plus freight, 60" with two grapple arms is $1,426, both "TBN prices", per John Millonzi in Dec.
Jim

Thanks for the update. I presume those are the universal QA adapter mounts. Millonzi usually charges about $100-150 extra for a specific pin mount.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

The one I looked at online had dual grapples on top. Our smaller Brush Crusher unit for our compact tractors weighs in at just 140#, allowing those guys with a max lift capacity of only 500# to still lift a decent payload. That was the niche market we were looking at when the attachment was designed as we saw so many requests coming in for that style of grapple, but no one had extra ports or the third hydraulic function installed on their loader. Once you started to add the cost of the new valve, hosing and levers to the attachment price, interest in the attachment was lost pretty darn quick. Thanks for the update and photos of the Millonzi.

 

[harwill]

I guess I'm one of those whose loader has yet to be discovered. It's a Rhino 2408TL (curved arm, kinda like the NH 16) on a NH TC40A. So what would be an appropriate model, 3000, 4000 or 5000 for that combination? Would it be better to convert to the quick attach system or leave things as pin-on? Since the bucket cylinders are paralleled, I can see the grapples would tend to be "self leveling" in their ability to grasp uneven loads. But I'll be darned if I can see how one opens while the other stays closed without cutting into the loader plumbing? Anybody had any experience with the Brush Crusher?

Inquiring minds...

 

[IslandTractor]

I'll be darned if I can see how one opens while the other stays closed without cutting into the loader plumbing? Anybody had any experience with the Brush Crusher?
..

I haven't operated a Westendorf but the principle is that they have the mechanics set up so that the operation of the dump/curl function on the FEL does not in fact cause any dump or curl but instead opens/closes the brushcrusher. So they are in fact "cutting into the loader plumbing" but it is done mechanically so you trade dump/curl for open/close. Clever and an nice solution if the loss of dump curl can be accepted. You will be limited in how you can pick up brush to scooping dead ahead rather than having the option of coming down over the top of the pile for example. Still, for a minimalist and low weight solution to moving logs and most brush it seems to me it would work fine. It's one of those 50% (maybe more) solutions for 50% of the price of a full grapple/hydraulics set up. I'd think it is most attractive to someone with a smaller tractor with limited FEL capacity or someone who does not really expect to do a lot of grapple work. I can imagine it would be a bit frustrating compared to a full grapple with independent hydraulics if you were doing a lot of work other than moving logs.

 

[ScottAR]

Is one made for a deere 75? This looks like the rig for cleaning up after the 580 case goes through.

 

[jake98]

that looks like what I should have bought. i'm wondering what the price would be for the 4000 series. it may be less than what i'm waiting to have to spend on the hyd. 'upgrades'. but on the other hand... i think most brush piles would stay on without any pressure other than the weight of the grapples on my uninstalled new unit. i need a monkey on the front to open and close the grappels... hello to all

 

[Westendorf-RR]

So they are in fact "cutting into the loader plumbing" but it is done mechanically so you trade dump/curl for open/close. Clever and an nice solution if the loss of dump curl can be accepted. You will be limited in how you can pick up brush to scooping dead ahead rather than having the option of coming down over the top of the pile for example.

You put this perfect! It takes some getting used to, but once you understand you need to move the tractor some and/or the arms down into the load while opening and closing, you'll be able to pick up anything. I've inlcuded an email I received from a guy out in NY after he got his unit installed...

Before I purchased a set of Brush Crushers for my John Deere 740 loader I knew they were going to get a serious workout. Over 75% of my 80+ acres are wooded and some logs are 18 feet long! After some practice I can finesse those claws pretty good and do some delicate work like moving around attachments for my Super C in and out of storage. Most of the work is moving logs and stumps and an occasional actual brush pile. I also used it to clean up some scrap iron around the farm too. Those Brush Crushers are the Cat's Meow. Greg - Spencerport, NY