Help with brush clearing

kas2960 · Sep 25, 2019

mikester said:
I bought a set of bolt on bucket teeth and find they just get plugged up quickly with small brush and weeds. I found that I ended up with large piles of intertwined crud that was difficult to load and remove because it tends to keep rolling forward when trying to load the bucket. I could never get a full bucket unless I got off the tractor and loaded it by hand.

The bucket tooth rack is now sitting in my barn and I use a root rake grapple for cleanup. My advice would be to save money on the tooth bar and buy a grapple. Cleanup will be way faster and you wont need to leave your seat. I get less twitch grass clumps and weeds and more brush in every bite.

No matter which way you go make or buy a grill guard for your tractor. You may need a belly pan to protect low dangling items as well.

I haven't heard of a "root rake grapple" I only saw them pick up limbs and logs and such. Not crappy little vegetation. I need to search that. thanks!

oosik · Sep 25, 2019

I'm right there with Mikester's recommendation for a grill guard. I had the local welding shop add this expanded metal to the OEM grill guard. I have a rock & root grapple. Short/heavy teeth. I open the grapple - wide open - full rotation downward - GENTLY backdrag to collect/pickup limbs & small stuff.
View attachment 622450 View attachment 622451

jeff9366 · Sep 25, 2019

kas2960 said:
Do you have a belly pan on your tractor too?

I have dealer installed improvised under-armor, fabricated using a Sawzall and some welding material, from 9-gauge expanded steel; attached with bolts, nuts and fender washers .

DIRECT METALS 41S759-48X48 Expanded Sheet,Rsd,Carbon,4 x4 ft,3/4-#9 | eBay

I push through Florida jungle often.

nyone · Sep 25, 2019

Have you tryed just useing your bucket? Some times it can be quicker to just use a set of lopper and a chain saw to get all the woody stuff then scrape the small and loose stuff up into a pile.

ruffdog · Sep 25, 2019

kas2960 said:
Re: Help with brush clearing

Another recommendation for the Ratchet Rake.

VIDEO: Ratchet Rake clearing brush - Google Search

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ake-today.html

Thanks jeff9366
That looks like what I need. Mine isn't near as heavy as what is in the video. Thanks for the links too! Once it is down I can drive over it with the rotary mower and mulch it up. I like the fact that it seems to pull out the brush with out leaving sharp crap pointing up waiting to pierce a tire. Do you have a belly pan on your tractor too?

Just remember that the ability of a implement to pull vegetation out of the soil will vary, depending on the type of soil. Sandy soil or soft sandy loam in a woods allows veg to be pulled easily while solid clay/dirt does not. When I had 4 acres of trees and buck-thorn cleared, a guy with a mulcher head went over the whole area to clean up the mess.

kas2960 · Sep 25, 2019

nyone said:
Have you tryed just useing your bucket? Some times it can be quicker to just use a set of lopper and a chain saw to get all the woody stuff then scrape the small and loose stuff up into a pile.

Yep, gave it a try. Seemed like most of it just folded under.

kas2960 · Sep 25, 2019

ruffdog said:
Just remember that the ability of a implement to pull vegetation out of the soil will vary, depending on the type of soil. Sandy soil or soft sandy loam in a woods allows veg to be pulled easily while solid clay/dirt does not. When I had 4 acres of trees and buck-thorn cleared, a guy with a mulcher head went over the whole area to clean up the mess.

View attachment 622484

Interesting you brought the Mulcher up. Neighbour just said, "go get someone with a mulcher and let them take care of all of it" then you don't need to buy anything. Financially I suppose that makes some sense. but then why do I have a tractor??