ideas for clearing grown in trails

[musselmark]

I want to build something that I could mount to an ATV or ATV trailer or small tractor that would cut the branches that grow into the local trails, mostly spruce 3/4" diameter max. Is there anything like this that exists I could copy. I have seen snowmobile trail groomers that have an old style hay mower mounted vertically. What would cut best, rotary blades such as a bush hog, flail mower, hedge trimmer style?

 

[brin]

Yes there is ...a company makes a chain saw attachment for an FEL...and I think it is under $2K...it mounts to the FEL of the tractor and can be controlled to cut hedges , branches etc. Then there is a French company that makes another type of trimmer that can be mounted....I did not write down their web sites...maybe Google will bring them up...but both have been on TBN posts...so a search of TBN may help too....Good Luck.

 

[boggen]

pole saw or tree trimming saw. (little gas engine that rests near your waist much like a weed eater engine, and a long handle / extension, with a miniature chain saw blade on the end of it).

there is no mounting to anything, the engine weight helps offset holding the pole with blade on it, up in the air.

with not mounting to anything, it means you can MOVE OUT OF THE FREAKING WAY, if branch starts to come down on you.

 

[Deerherd]

There's one that looks like a sickle bar mower that is upright, but the name escapes me. (Sabre or maybe Samurai?)

 

[teg]

There's one that looks like a sickle bar mower that is upright, but the name escapes me. (Sabre or maybe Samurai?)

Cutthat.com | Sabre Samurai

 

[musselmark]

Yeah that sabre samurai looks like what I want, I will look into it further.

 

[Coyote machine]

I checked that Samuri out too. Seems like a very good alternative to the 3PT old style sickle bar mowers.
I gave them a call to find out more when they call me back. One video showed it with a cylinder driven extension arm to allow more reach away from the tractor. That would work best for my uses. I couldn't tell if that rig was on a pair of forks or something similar, or if it is something custom someone added to their Samuri/Sabre?!
Anyone on TBN own one already?!

 

[Egon]

Lots of different equipment available. How much do you want to spend?

 

[musselmark]

The samurai is listed at $1450.00, that is more than I wanted to spend but if it works I will pay that. I was going to try and mount a ride-on lawn more deck vertically to my fel and maybe power it with a cheap 13hp engine or hydraulic motor, but this seems much simpler.

 

[nc redneck]

I made this it will cut 3/4 hardwood branches and pine around 1 inch or more. It will cut in vertical position as high as 12 to 13 feet. Before I made it I cleared 2 miles of horse trail with my 4 in 1 bucket. Anything small the side cutter on bucket will just cut it off large stuff can be pulled off or broken. Bucket is not as fast as sickle mower but will get the job done. I looked hard at samurai before building mine. Some old posts about breaking and gears being destroyed plus cost sent me in this direction.

 

[musselmark]

Interesting, could you tell me more about how you built that, what are the parts from?

 

[NS Gearhead]

3/4" may be too much, but I use a hedge trimmer on my Stihl Kombi for trail clearing. 1/2" soft wood limbs are no prob.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g8-E0pGex0

Mine doesn't adjust, it's straight, but works excellent. I just walk the trail and swing it up and down as I'm going.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

3/4" may be too much, but I use a hedge trimmer on my Stihl Kombi for trail clearing. 1/2" soft wood limbs are no prob.

Stihl HL-KM hedge trimmer on a Kombi 130R - YouTube

Mine doesn't adjust, it's straight, but works excellent. I just walk the trail and swing it up and down as I'm going.

I use that same Stihl Kombi on my trails, but sitting in my air conditioned cab with that Samurai on the bucket would be a lot easier....

 

[Coyote machine]

FWIW, I started a new thread about the Samuri/Sabre to see if anyone here has used it, and to get feedback on same. It's : Sickle bar anyone own one of these? Samuri/Saber sickle bar cutter.

 

[woody]

FWIW, I started a new thread about the Samuri/Sabre to see if anyone here has used it, and to get feedback on same. It's : Sickle bar anyone own one of these? Samuri/Saber sickle bar cutter.

Yes sir I got one I use on my drive way and some of my trails, I don't have access to my pictures at the moment but there are is a thread on here with pictures. will see if I can find it.

 

[woody]

see if this works http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/a...tml?highlight=

 

[Coyote machine]

see if this works http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/a...tml?highlight=

That brings me right back here?:confused2: Would love to see your pics and get feedback on the operation, durability as soon as you can get it to us!

Thanks!

 

[woody]

oops lets try again http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/280697-sabre-samurai.html?highlight=

 

[EddieWalker]

I want to build something that ... that would cut the branches that grow into the local trails, mostly spruce 3/4" diameter max.

For $40 to $50 you could buy a pretty good pair of pruners that would do the job just about as fast and easy as anything else. If you want to get real fancy, just about any chainsaw would cut soft wood that size without even trying. If you want to spend more money and you don't care for standing on the roof of something, there are some pretty decent pole pruners out there for under $200

Keep It Simple and you'll get more done, faster and cheaper.

Eddie

 

[Todd727]

Built this last year. I've cut miles of trails and driveway with it. I've cut branches approaching 6 inches with it when clearing fence lines for friends and family. It uses a hydraulic motor, a saw arbor and a 12" blade. All in all, a very simple build. That video was my first cut, and admittedly I was slow and tentative. Now I can cruise along pretty fast. No way someone could keep up with a pole saw or pruner.