3 Point Turbo Saw

Rtwilson · Nov 13, 2012

Has anyone had any experiance with a 3 point turbo saw made by DOUGHERTY FORESTRY MANUFACTURING LTD Co.
Turbo Saw - Tree and Brush Cutters for Tractors

930ck · Nov 13, 2012

Bought one last spring and it works just like the company video shows. I would recommend a tractor with an hst and even though they say as small as 25 hp if you want to cut trees up to 8 inches you will need at least 50 hp.

Rtwilson · Nov 14, 2012

I have hst and 43 hp. Is 8 inches the biggest tree you have cut?

Piston · Nov 14, 2012

I always wondered about these saws and have looked at the vids on Youtube quite a bit. On the videos, it mostly shows people cutting down very 'bushy' softwood trees. It seems these are easily grabbed by the grapple to skid away.

How does this saw work on larger hardwooods? Or even smaller hardwoods like 6"-8" diameter? I'm really interested in these as it is such a neat attachment, but I just can't see how much time it would save over cutting the trees down with a chainsaw?

It seems that the easiest part of clearing trees is cutting them down, the time consuming and difficult part is dealing with the trees once they're already down.

Have you found that using the Turbo Saw significantly reduced the time and effort to clear a large area? How well do the teeth hold up? Do you cut right at ground level?

How much use have you given your Turbo Saw? I really would love the chance to see one of these in action and even use one, as I think it could really be useful in the right conditions. I'm certainly interested in hearing more about how well you like yours, how it's performed according to your expectations, and what types/amounts of trees you have cleared with it.

Thanks for any more info you can give.

930ck · Nov 14, 2012

Rtwilson said:
I have hst and 43 hp. Is 8 inches the biggest tree you have cut?

Have cut down bigger trees by cutting on two or three sides of tree but 8-10 inch trees can be cut in one pass. One thing that limits the size of tree it can cut is the size of a tree at ground level is bigger than it is even a few inches up the trunk.

930ck · Nov 14, 2012

Piston said:
I always wondered about these saws and have looked at the vids on Youtube quite a bit. On the videos, it mostly shows people cutting down very 'bushy' softwood trees. It seems these are easily grabbed by the grapple to skid away.

How does this saw work on larger hardwooods? Or even smaller hardwoods like 6"-8" diameter? I'm really interested in these as it is such a neat attachment, but I just can't see how much time it would save over cutting the trees down with a chainsaw?

It seems that the easiest part of clearing trees is cutting them down, the time consuming and difficult part is dealing with the trees once they're already down.

Have you found that using the Turbo Saw significantly reduced the time and effort to clear a large area? How well do the teeth hold up? Do you cut right at ground level?

How much use have you given your Turbo Saw? I really would love the chance to see one of these in action and even use one, as I think it could really be useful in the right conditions. I'm certainly interested in hearing more about how well you like yours, how it's performed according to your expectations, and what types/amounts of trees you have cleared with it.

Thanks for any more info you can give.

Have only used the saw about 10 hours so can't say on how long the teeth will last. The only trees I have used it on were hedge, elm and mulberry. The main reason I got it was to be able to remove a tree and not have a stump left and the fact that I have would be able to use it on a tractor that I already needed. So far it has done what I expected but haven't had the time to really get to use it as much as I need to to give a real good opinion.

Piston · Nov 14, 2012

Thanks for the quick reply. If you end up giving it a good workout sometime please keep us posted. LIke I said before, I'm also really interested in the capabilities of something liket his. I imagine HST is a helpful feature with an implement like this.

930ck · Nov 14, 2012

Piston said:
Thanks for the quick reply. If you end up giving it a good workout sometime please keep us posted. LIke I said before, I'm also really interested in the capabilities of something liket his. I imagine HST is a helpful feature with an implement like this.

Yes being able to slowly move through the tree is a plus for hst, would be hard on a tractor with a clutch.
Hope to be able to get to use it this winter, eventhough the saw has a grapple I still plan on getting a grapple for my 5740 kubota, just haven't decided on which one.
Be more than happy to report back on the saw and may try to get some pictures of it in action.

Rtwilson · Nov 14, 2012

I'm looking at these saws and some quick tach shears, but im thinking the 3 point sounds nice because I can run my grapple at the same time without having to change attachments, like I would with a front shear. Also I'm thinking my tractor might not have the power for a skid loader style shear.

Alan L. · Nov 14, 2012

I was wondering how you keep the tree from falling on your head?

Piston · Nov 14, 2012

I looked at shears for a while too for my tractor. Most are designed to run with at least 3,000psi which is where the 'force' comes from. Our tractors only have about 2,500psi so it's much less force. On top of that, at under 10gpm flow, the shears would be very slow. I think the turbo saw with the grapple is a good compromise, you can use the grapple to put force on the tree to make it fall behind you, reducing the chance of a tree falling on you.
I'd be a little concerned with 'bushy' trees falling backwards, as the "spring" action in the branches when it hits the ground can cause the tree to spring back towards you.

I bet a turbo saw and FEL grapple setup could clear a lot of trees in a hurry without ever getting off the tractor. This idea is sounding better and better

930ck,
I couldn't be happier with my WR Long 64" OBG-2 grapple. It is an excellent match for our loader.

More pics here.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/211635-grappling-fun-picture-thread.html#post2821856

Rtwilson · Nov 15, 2012

Im starting to like the sound of it and especially the never leaving the tractor part. I also run a WR Long grapple the 72" though, I love it it's on more than my bucket. My only other concern on the turbo saw is that a 10 inch tree is the biggest you can do. Alought I was thinking on larger trees I could make mutiple cuts, and push it over with the loader, or finish the cut with chain saw.

Tanamera · Nov 15, 2012

I have had mine for two years now. I use it with my Kubota MX5100 Gear. It works great. I have cleared hundreds of red cedars off of my property in North Texas. I have never turned the saw teeth (you have four sides to use) and it still cuts trees like butter. The grapple feature is not the best option for gatering and moving cut trees. It's more for dragging them on-at-a-time.

I wish I had and HST. Maybe some day.

Piston · Nov 15, 2012

RTwilson,
Sometimes I wish I went with the 72" grapple (I have the 64") when I'm doing a lot of work with firewood. :thumbsup:

I also found that with the 9" tyne spacing on the grapple bottom, that sometimes firewood or rocks will fall through, so I'm going to weld an additional tyne in each space, which is 8 more tynes, giving me only 4.5" of open space, I think that will work even better and it really won't add much additional weight.

I think a FEL grapple with a turbo saw could do some serious land clearing on a small tractor like ours. I just wish my tractor fund wasn't empty!

930ck · Nov 15, 2012

Had looked at the turbo saw at farm shows before buying one and was told that the reason that they limit the size the saw can cut is to prevent some one from cutting a tree that was big enough to cause a serious problem. I agree on the grapple it is better suited to grab small cedars and carry them to a pile but I think that cedar tree removal is the main purpose of the saw

Rtwilson · Nov 15, 2012

That is the one thing shying me away from the turbo saw. I'm looking to do a whole lot more than little cedars.

Tanamera · Nov 17, 2012

I can cut larger trees with my Turbo Saw. You just have to come at it from a couple of angles.

Rtwilson · Nov 17, 2012

Tanamera said:
I can cut larger trees with my Turbo Saw. You just have to come at it from a couple of angles.

What is the largest tree you have cut? and what type of tree?

Agent Blue · Nov 18, 2012

When you think about it ... it will cut a tree less that 10" at the base and you can control the forward motion of the fall. ( just from observation of the picture ) What if you can't get to the side you want it to fall to ? Are you limited to where you can drive due to the tree stumps ? I believe I could get more done in an hour with a turbo Husqvarnia that that expensive machine maneuvering around in three hours. I cut and limb right away as the next tree may fall in the same location I don't have to fight limbs or skid away prior to this. It may work great for others with nice flat surfaces but hills are another story. A 20" bar certainly isn't limited to a ten inch base. I tend to stick with what works.