Birthday present

[DJ54]

Congratulations on your present..!! A couple of years ago, I bought a new Stihl top handle trim saw, and Fiskar's compound long handled trimmer to barber up around the pasture, and hay field, from growth from neighboring properties. Sure beats lugging the ole' Pro Mac 700 around.

Sounds like you got it the old fashioned way, you "earned" it. Enjoy..!!

 

[Whidbey]

Congratulations. I always enjoy your posts.

 

[fried1765]

I was pulling 40-60 foot vines from oak trees, loaded tires + rear ballast, lifting front end with loader arms or pulling in reverse easy to do.
backhoe is ballast for lifting, not lowering FEL. now that I understand your dealing with short bushy material the grapple may be the correct tool.

With backhoe set to just a couple inches off the ground, it can act as a stabilizing rear leg against lifting front end.

 

[kenmbz]

Happy birthday and congrats on the grapple!

 

[goeduck]

Work with trees and brush quite a bit. Four post ROPS and canopy have saved my noggin more than once. Big reason for my current tractors selection. Most folks see a need to improve grill protection with a grapple before too long.

Have wild muscadine grape vines as big as your leg, poison ivy and Virginia creeper as big as your arm. Have English and Swedish ivy that has gone rogue that will kill trees and climb on buildings. Then there is kudzu down by the railroad track wants to cover my field and trees around the pond. You got the right tool to help.
Have a machete sheath pop riveted to the underside of the tractor canopy to carry my vine slaying blade.

Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe Amazon.com : Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe : Garden & Outdoor

Are your 4 post ROPS and canopy factory issue? I have a tractor I would like a 4 post on but they are not made so I have been planning to fabricate my own.

 

[Smokeydog]

Are your 4 post ROPS and canopy factory issue? I have a tractor I would like a 4 post on but they are not made so I have been planning to fabricate my own.

Yes the 4 post ROPS are standard on the M59 and B26.
On our old B20 used 2x2” square tubing from the loader frame back to the rear ROPS and metal plate top to make the 4 post ROPS. Always appreciate the added protection. Also gives good mounting positions for work lights, rear view mirrors, fire extinguisher, tool box and hand holds.

 

[BackRoad]

Happy Birthday - 80 - what a milestone!

Not much more satisfy than pulling down tree choking vines using a grapple!

Neighbor lady, just turned 80 also, had a huge vine patch...big wild multiflora roses and twisted old wild vines going high into a couple of her trees...thankfully not poison ivy.

Knocked on her door, just to see if she minded if I took them out. She thought I was being neighborly...I really just wanted the thrill of attacking the vines!

It was the most fun...reaching up there with that grapple, helping those old trees to shed their burdens!!!

Hope you enjoy it Mr. Fried!

 

[Milo]

Congratulations on being a healthy productive 80, and your new grapple!

I never considered using my grapple to try and pull vines out of trees, my approach has been to simply to cut them leaving the dead vines there. My property was fairly overrun with grape and some poison ivy vines but after a few years now they are all cut and dead. I never could understand why some people let vines take over and slowly suffocate trees.

 

[fried1765]

Happy Birthday - 80 - what a milestone!

Not much more satisfy than pulling down tree choking vines using a grapple!

Neighbor lady, just turned 80 also, had a huge vine patch...big wild multiflora roses and twisted old wild vines going high into a couple of her trees...thankfully not poison ivy.

Knocked on her door, just to see if she minded if I took them out. She thought I was being neighborly...I really just wanted the thrill of attacking the vines!

It was the most fun...reaching up there with that grapple, helping those old trees to shed their burdens!!!

Hope you enjoy it Mr. Fried!

I have large holly bushes (up to 20' high) that have been attacked by invasive bittersweet for years.
I finally decided that I should try to rip some of the awful stuff out.
Only time will tell if this method works, but it is long past due for me to try.

Thank you for your kind words.
At 80, compliments like yours are particularly appreciated.

 

[fried1765]

Congratulations on being a healthy productive 80, and your new grapple!

I never considered using my grapple to try and pull vines out of trees, my approach has been to simply to cut them leaving the dead vines there. My property was fairly overrun with grape and some poison ivy vines but after a few years now they are all cut and dead. I never could understand why some people let vines take over and slowly suffocate trees.

Bittersweet is really nasty stiff.
Cutting it seems to encourage regrowth.
Spraying works great, but can't be done in the bushes/trees without killing them also.
Ripping out the vines is only a transitory solution.
The vines will grow back.

 

[/pine]

I thought I would treat myself...so I bought a first aid kit...!

 

[Gem99ultra]

Congrats Fried1765 on hitting the 80 milestone! Approaching that mark in about 3 months, I'll be celebrating right along with you.

In my family tree nobody has gone past 82. Back when I was a young spirit (in my 20's) I set 35 as my mark. Blowing past that I set 75 as my high mark, considering that in my immediate family 75 was the high mark. Now I'm wondering what the new high mark should be. Considering the advances in modern medicine, I ponder as to whether 90 is attainable.

On the other hand, maybe I should cut back on my tree felling, dragging smaller ones under 6" out of the woods and chipping them? In my age 30 mind, I don't think it's time to cut back. But maybe I should? But then what would I want to do inside on that nice "Plether Lazyboy with heat/massage/bluetooth and four cup holders" other than sit and wish to be outside enjoying life? ...nothing but waiting to die, that's what.

No thanks to that cushy lifestyle. I plan to hold steady going forward. Like most others on here, I enjoy work - especially work that I don't HAVE to get done. That kind of work I call pleasure work.

Hopefully we'll both be here on TBN 10 years telling about our problems and pleasures.

 

[oosik]

VERY Happy Birthday Fried 1765. I'm 78 and purchased my grapple six years ago. However - I've got two years to figure out what to get for my 80th celebration.

Have a good day and GRAPPLE ON ..............

 

[BackRoad]

Mr. Fried and Mr. Gem - you are both heroes and prime examples of "...Use it or lose it..."

Keep on doing what yer' doing!!!

And whatever you do - don't climb into that easy chair!

It's the same as a black hole in space - once you're in it, you can never get back out!!!

 

[fried1765]

Congrats Fried1765 on hitting the 80 milestone! Approaching that mark in about 3 months, I'll be celebrating right along with you.

In my family tree nobody has gone past 82. Back when I was a young spirit (in my 20's) I set 35 as my mark. Blowing past that I set 75 as my high mark, considering that in my immediate family 75 was the high mark. Now I'm wondering what the new high mark should be. Considering the advances in modern medicine, I ponder as to whether 90 is attainable.

On the other hand, maybe I should cut back on my tree felling, dragging smaller ones under 6" out of the woods and chipping them? In my age 30 mind, I don't think it's time to cut back. But maybe I should? But then what would I want to do inside on that nice "Plether Lazyboy with heat/massage/bluetooth and four cup holders" other than sit and wish to be outside enjoying life? ...nothing but waiting to die, that's what.

No thanks to that cushy lifestyle. I plan to hold steady going forward. Like most others on here, I enjoy work - especially work that I don't HAVE to get done. That kind of work I call pleasure work.

Hopefully we'll both be here on TBN 10 years telling about our problems and pleasures.

We most definitely think very much alike !!!

 

[Big Barn]

Best wishes, fried!