Tree Puller used as a Shear

[zzvyb6]

Just ordered a Titan Tree Puller, should be here tomorrow according to FedEx. I thought that a tree shear is really what I wanted and considered making 1 from some target steel. Then I saw the Titan add for a 'puller' and went for it. Picture is from the Titan site. The idea is to sharpen 1/2 of one side of the jaws nearest the hinge to get a shear action there. I can still grip with the far jaw teeth. Yes or No ?

Ideas? bolt on a hardened knife blade?

 

[ehcrain]

I run a mtl puller on my L3901, and from the start the teeth were sharp enough to mash smaller trees apart in a close appearance of shearing. Leaves a mess of a stub or stump but anything less than 2 inches across is most likely not going to be pulled and instead gets mashed in two.

 

[ovrszd]

I don't think that would work for me. To get the most lift power I want the tree closer to the tractor, thus hinge point. I would get quickly frustrated every time I sheared a tree I wanted to pull.

My Brother had a shear. I hated that thing. Left a disaster. If you ever plan to use a field, never shear it....

 

[4570Man]

There’s a big difference in the clamp strength in the shear and a puller. I don’t think you’d be able to shear much beyond 2” and at that size you might as well pull it.

 

[shooterdon]

I run a mtl puller on my L3901, and from the start the teeth were sharp enough to mash smaller trees apart in a close appearance of shearing. Leaves a mess of a stub or stump but anything less than 2 inches across is most likely not going to be pulled and instead gets mashed in two.

I have the same issue with my MTL. Easy to shear smaller trees. I have purchased a wireless camera to see If I can be more careful in gripping. Have not tried it yet.

 

[LD1]

Yea, I think clamp strength would be lacking. And if you do shear a larger tree with that thing.....what control the sheared tree? What prevents it from coming back on you?

But as far as steel and material go.....I dont think you need to get too exotic....Wood is ALOT softer than even mild steel. Most logsplitter wedges are just mild steel and seem to do just fine

 

[Torvy]

I'd be more worried about a mechanical option ordered from Titan. You never know what you will get and if it malfunctions, you are out of luck. I hope hours works out great. I am not a big fan of a company that plays off of the good name of another company for profit.

 

[ovrszd]

There’s a big difference in the clamp strength in the shear and a puller. I don’t think you’d be able to shear much beyond 2” and at that size you might as well pull it.

My concern would be the smaller trees that he wants to pull, but shears them instead. Very hard on an FEL to place the tree exactly in the jaws. Normal procedure is push forward until you start leaning the tree.

 

[DaBear3428]

you will not have a deep enough blade to shear anything over the width of the cutting blade.

 

[ovrszd]

Yea, I think clamp strength would be lacking. And if you do shear a larger tree with that thing.....what control the sheared tree? What prevents it from coming back on you?

But as far as steel and material go.....I dont think you need to get too exotic....Wood is ALOT softer than even mild steel. Most logsplitter wedges are just mild steel and seem to do just fine

Good point on controlling the pulled/sheared tree. If pulling a larger tree I always push on the tree and lean it away from the tractor before dislodging the root ball from the ground.

I built my puller from mild steel. The jaw teeth haven't distorted at all.