Flail vs Rotary cutter vs Mulcher

[4570Man]

some I REALLY enjoyed your thread hayden!

I am considering a mulcher for my Kubota KX-040 mini excavator. It seems to definitely be a bit smalls terms of flow and weight for a mulcher, but there are some Youtube videos that show folks successful doing it.

FAE makes a really (expensive) nice unit with a variable transmission and a drum designed to limit how fast material can be feed to the chipper teeth. Is this hype or worthwhile?

Any thoughts on mulchers to consider/avoid? Other than being really careful, any ideas on limiting the impact (pun intended) of using a mulcher in rocky areas?

FYI: I'm a retired old geezer that prefers using my mini excavator than my chainsaw/weed whacker/handheld pole saw...

I looked into a mulcher for my KX-040. I’m sure it would beat the heck out of a string trimmer but based on the videos I’ve seen it’s pretty lacking in the hydraulic recovery abilities. I decided to buy a mower for my skid steer instead.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

4570Man you just hit on my biggest concern...the KX-040 hydraulics may not provide acceptable mulcher performance. I've seen several videos where it looks acceptable, and a few where the time to spool back up to speed looked painfully slow. One thing for sure is the mulcher and KX-040 hydraulics would need to be matched up by someone who really knows the application.

I really don't have the option to use a tractor or skid steer...my terrain is very uneven and rocky.

 

[hayden]

4570Man you just hit on my biggest concern...the KX-040 hydraulics may not provide acceptable mulcher performance. I've seen several videos where it looks acceptable, and a few where the time to spool back up to speed looked painfully slow. One thing for sure is the mulcher and KX-040 hydraulics would need to be matched up by someone who really knows the application.

I really don't have the option to use a tractor or skid steer...my terrain is very uneven and rocky.

These are the key tradeoffs. The Skid Steer will likely have more power overall, and more of it available via aux hydraulics, especially if it's a high flow model. But you are limited in what you can reach, and the terrain you can work with.

I still have a rotary mower for my KX 121 which is just the earlier version of the KX040. It's hydraulically powered just like a mulcher, and works fine. It obviously has less power than the 080, but I have used it for a number of projects either because it was more suited to the job (grass mowing), or because I needed the smaller machine for other reasons and didn't want to haul both the 121 and the 080 to the site. I say "haul" the 080, but for me that means tracking it there. I don't have a way to trailer it without hiring someone.

But back to the 040 with a mulcher - I think it could be made to work just fine. I can't see any reason it would be worse than a rotary mower cutting the same material. I'd just be really careful to match the 040 and mulcher hydraulic requirements. A variable displacement motor in the mulcher would be idea because you can dial it in exactly to the flow on the 040. But I expect they are more expensive, and they will require that you install a case drain which is a bit of a project, but once done it's done. Also, be sure your hydraulic hoses are big enough so they don't restrict flow. My rotary mower originally came with 1/2" hoses which was right at the edge for flow capacity, so I switched them to 3/4". It definitely made a difference.

 

[mikester]

You are very correct, the typical over-use on flail mower is that people use it to mow too much real brush. For the heavy duty flail mower, it can mow a little brush sometimes even diameter up to 4", but it's not good idea let the flail mower always mow such size brush, only mulcher can work it out.
I m curious what mulcher will you purchase. We are developing a tractor PTO mulcher for two years, still not finalize it, an entry-level mulcher, the mulcher is really big machine, such small machine its weight can be more than one ton easily.

A tractor based mulcher is a great way to destroy a tractor. At least skidsteers and CTL's have steel plates underneath that gives you some protection from flying debris. Tractors have nothing.

 

[LD1]

A tractor based mulcher is a great way to destroy a tractor. At least skidsteers and CTL's have steel plates underneath that gives you some protection from flying debris. Tractors have nothing.

I put a skid plate under my tractor cause I use it in the woods frequently. But still dont think I'd want a mulcher on my tractor.

And looking at that....overall a mulcher does a pretty good job, but cant help but think there are shards left that "could" wreak havoc on tires. And smaller tractors arent offered with tracks.

 

[mikester]

I put a skid plate under my tractor cause I use it in the woods frequently. But still dont think I'd want a mulcher on my tractor.

And looking at that....overall a mulcher does a pretty good job, but cant help but think there are shards left that "could" wreak havoc on tires. And smaller tractors arent offered with tracks.

I've been renting these mulchers and CTL's - I don't think I'd want to run a mulcher on my personal machine considering the way these things can fire a log like it was shot from a cannon. I'd love to own one, but I don't think it's worth the wear and tear and cost of repairs. I don't think an AG tractor will take the abuse a 10-12K lb CTL can.

 

[Rustyiron]

I really don't have the option to use a tractor or skid steer...my terrain is very uneven and rocky.

Joey I'm in the same situation with my land (very rocky) and I've come to the conclusion that even the largest "mini ex" simply doesn't have the juice or HP to mulch much more than heavy saplings under 3-4". Here and there you can catch a manufacture (mini ex) that shows the specs for the available hydraulic HP available for the auxiliary circuit. It's surprisingly low, might be good enough for grass and weeds to light brush, but if 3-4" saplings are a large part of your "target" I wouldn't bother.
Then with a drum style fixed tooth mulcher, ultimately you'll be mulching against the ground.... where the rocks are.
The ground is the "anvil" against what a drum mulcher grinds.
I have seen (YouTube) the "disc" style mulchers on 18 -20 ton excavators and with careful operation does not need to contact the ground but leaves a much coarser debris than a drum style.
I really hate rocks!

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

Rocks sure are tough on equipment. I dug a trench for primary power to be bought into my property. (The power company would only do arial.) In about a thousand feet I wore down and/or broke at least a half dozen teeth on my backhoe bucket, and spent 10's of hours on a rental mini-ex with a breaker.

I know a contractor who flat will not do serious rock with his equipment. "Hello...Rental Company?"