Tree shear on tractor

[stuckmotor]

I'm thinking about a SSQA tree shear for my MF 261 described at left. First, I'd like to know if anyone has had experience with a shear on a tractor mounted front end loader. I've read that sideways pressure from the jaw tends to cause wear and cracks in the loader arms. I can slide my pallet forks right up against a tree and it seems that I could do the same with the stationary jaw of the shear preventing horizontal thrust.

 

[nybirdman]

I built one a few years ago,pain-fully slow work.I ended up using a chain saw and hand run brush saw.I don't see how it could stress the loader arms at all;it applies pressure to it-self not the loader arms.

 

[stuckmotor]

nybirdman,
Thanks for your input. In my understanding, the horizonal pressure on the loader arms is supposed to come when the movable jaw hits the tree first and pulls the stationary jaw, along with the loader toward itself as it closes. If this really is a problem, I guess it could be remedied by having the shear mounted so it's able to slide a few inches as the jaw closes. Did you power your shear from the tractor hydraulics, or a seperate pump?

 

[Xfaxman]

What size trees are you needing to get rid of?

This one would pull big rooted trees, with your loader in float: Super Duty Tree Grapple / Post Puller - attachments for skid steers - Sidney Manufacturing

A snip from the Website.

 

[stuckmotor]

Xfaxman,
I was thinkimg about cutting trees up to 6 inches. That puller pushes against the ground, doesn't it? I was thinking a puller would put pressure against my front spindles and break them. If the ground pushing puller would break the roots from the ground, so the loader could lift them, that might solve the problem. Thanks for the link.

 

[ovrszd]

Few years ago my Brother bought a 12" tree shear. We used it quite a bit the first year. Then it mostly sat.

He tried to use it on his Kubota L3240. Wayyyyy too slow. Also very dangerous. It had the ability to shear a tree that the tractor could not handle.

It had a jaw set about 30" above the shear jaws. When closing on a tree the upper arms closed first. This gripped the tree so you could control the fall. Then the lower cutter jaws closed. When opening after shearing the tree the lower cutter jaws opened first, then the upper arms. So if you needed to release a tree quickly you could not. So,,,,, if sheared tree starts falling to the side you had the risk of tipping the tractor over on it's side before you could let go!!!! I used it some on my Kubota M9540 and it was much faster and a BUNCH more stable.

Then my Brother bought a Bobcat T300 CTL. That's when the tree shear shined!!!! Very fast. Would hold the cut tree so you could pile them. Much more stable when carrying a large tree. Definitely where a shear needs to be used.

End result, and my opinion. You have to use a shear with the end result in mind. If the end result is simply to clear some trees to open up an area for livestock grazing or something similar, a Shear is great. If the end result is to use the cleared area for anything more productive or to keep it clear with a brush cutter, then the Shear isn't such a great idea. You end up with an area littered with stumps. You can't shear below ground level. And once you kill the trees in the area and their roots shrink you will find the stumps are sticking up out of the ground.....

Anxious to see what you come up with, especially if you build one!!! I'll try to find a pic of the brand my Brother had.

 

[ovrszd]

Stuckmotor, here ya go. Click on link below.

Sweiger Shop, Inc.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

CoyoteMachine has one. He might chime in.

 

[nybirdman]

nybirdman,
Thanks for your input. In my understanding, the horizonal pressure on the loader arms is supposed to come when the movable jaw hits the tree first and pulls the stationary jaw, along with the loader toward itself as it closes. If this really is a problem, I guess it could be remedied by having the shear mounted so it's able to slide a few inches as the jaw closes. Did you power your shear from the tractor hydraulics, or a seperate pump?

Shear is (was)_powered by the tractor hydraulics.I never tried any trees bigger than may-be four inch.
My tractor weighs about 7,000lbs.Again;way to slow for my liking.I would rather leave the grapple on and cut by hand.

 

[stuckmotor]

ovrszd,
From my reading, a Bobcat is what I need, but they cost more than I can shell out. When you used the shear on your tractors, was there a problem with it moving the loader sideways?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My neighbor has a 12" tree shear he puts on his CIH JX65, he really likes it and has told me more than once that it works pretty good.

His main use for it is, cleaning up fence rows...

SR

 

[stuckmotor]

Shear is (was)_powered by the tractor hydraulics.I never tried any trees bigger than may-be four inch.
My tractor weighs about 7,000lbs.Again;way to slow for my liking.I would rather leave the grapple on and cut by hand.

nybirdman,
Thanks again. I asked how you powered the shear because my loader has a pump that's supposed to have a greater flow rate than my tractor hydraulics. I was thinking it might be faster if I powered it from the loader pump.

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd,
From my reading, a Bobcat is what I need, but they cost more than I can shell out. When you used the shear on your tractors, was there a problem with it moving the loader sideways?

I totally understand the money thing. My Brother paid $31,500 for a used Bobcat. Wayyyyyy above my league.

I meant to mention the FEL stresses and forgot. I didn't notice any lateral stress on the FEL at all when using the Shear. If you look at the link I posted you can see that the horizontal movement of the shear jaws is minimal. Much more lateral movement in a jaws type puller such as Xfaxman posted. Lastly, when digging in hard material with an FEL you will put far greater lateral stress on your FEL. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[Xfaxman]

Many years ago when I had a tractor without a loader, I had a 3 point cedar tree cutter.

So if you really have to cut them, this is another option.

And a TBN thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/246690-tree-shear-my-little-ole.html

 

[nybirdman]

nybirdman,
Thanks again. I asked how you powered the shear because my loader has a pump that's supposed to have a greater flow rate than my tractor hydraulics. I was thinking it might be faster if I powered it from the loader pump.

Not that the shear itself was that slow just the whole process.One of my wild ideas that didn't work out. Fortunately I didn't have a lot of money invested in it.The only thing I had on my tractor that was worse was a stump bucket and it didn't take me long to get rid of that.

 

[ovrszd]

Not that the shear itself was that slow just the whole process.One of my wild ideas that didn't work out. Fortunately I didn't have a lot of money invested in it.The only thing I had on my tractor that was worse was a stump bucket and it didn't take me long to get rid of that.

I built a stump bucket. Pretty disappointing what it would accomplish. Maybe I had my expectations too high.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Shears are neat, but I too question the efficiency of the operation. I hate moving a lot of equipment to do small work. On an excavator might be a different story. But then you could rip out the whole thing.

 

[ovrszd]

Shears are neat, but I too question the efficiency of the operation. I hate moving a lot of equipment to do small work. On an excavator might be a different story. But then you could rip out the whole thing.

If clearing a large area of a mass of 6-12" trees a Shear is the fastest way. But then you have to deal with the stumps.

If clearing a large area of smaller trees a Puller is the fastest and most efficient way. But then you to deal with the holes left after pulling.

Again, it totally depends on the use of the land afterwards.

A Shear or Puller on a SS or CTL is amazingly fast.

An Excavator is not as fast. But you have a lot less equipment involved.

Excavator versus Shear??? I'd take the Excavator.

 

[Piston]

Agree that the excavator is the best tool for the job when pulling trees out of the ground, I was impressed with a small 6k lb unit that I rented for a job on small trees about 4" in diameter. I've always been interested in something like the Turbo Saw or the Brown Tree Saw.

I've "internet shopped" quite a bit with these and was going to buy the Brown Tree Saw last year for a job but it ended up falling through, too bad because it would have paid for itself on that one job. It seems to me that for a tractor implement the Tree Saw is the most efficient way to take smaller trees down, say under 14" or so. Basically anything you could use a shear on (using a tractor as the driving force) it seems the Tree Saw would be quicker. Not only that but you can cut at ground level (depending on rocks) and leave the FEL grapple on for material handling.

Unfortunately most of the youtube vids on these units only show small bushy trees in a field and not backyard hardwoods like I'm dealing with in New England. Compared to a tree shear, I imagine it would work considerably better. (Assuming the operating platform is the 60hp tractor you mention)

My neighbor has a 16" tree shear that cuts at ground level, and with his ASV-100 it makes quick work of it, but he also has something like 40+ GPM and over 3500psi for hydraulics. I think a tree shear wouldn't be very effective for clearing trees on a tractor. Course, even with the Tree Saw, you still have the stumps to deal with like Richard mentioned, although at least they would be somewhat level to the ground and easy to mow over, but if planning on plowing the land then all bets are off, unless you grind each stumps afterwords (there is another implement) ....man it gets expensive to clear your own land with a tractor! :laughing:

Tree Saw | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/296992-brown-tree-saw-vs-dougherty.html

 

[stuckmotor]

Piston,
The Brown's Tree Saw looks good. I wonder how quickly I'd wear out my clutch easing up on all the trees in a severely overgrown pasture.