GRUBBING

MVVineyard · Jan 31, 2006

"The Good Old Days?????"

Yeah I suppose so, I also suppose that people were in much better physical condition from all the manual labor.
Today we just sit on our iron beasts and let it do all the work while we continue to get fatter and fatter.
I don't know about you but I like sitting on the tractor and let it do all the work. I would much rather run on the treadmill every day, then log trees by hand.
Isn't technology great? Now we have the proper technology in medicine to fix the fact that we are fat too.

LBrown59 · Feb 3, 2006

( Got about 5 hours of seat time grubbing yesterday and the day before.
Temperature was in the sixties here in the M O V.
Summer seat time in the Winter.

MY FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev5003.htm

OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev6003.htm
)
********
Got 9.5 hours non stop of seat time on this yeaterday .
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MY FIRST CAR http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevyscrapbook/files/kamp50.jpg
OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev6003.htm
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jeffinsgf · Feb 3, 2006

I did some grubbing earlier in the week, too. I thought I might share some info on the tool I use. I used to have a Bobcat. When I sold it, I bought an ATI adapter so that I can use Bobcat attachments on my FEL. One of the attachments that I found and bought for my Bobcat is the Digger. It was originally designed for the nursery industry to move stock and root prune. I have found it to be one of the most useful implements I own. I hate stumps in areas that I am clearing. So instead of cutting trees and saplings I dig them out. I can do it with my backhoe, but the Digger is faster and less destructive to the surrounding area on trunks up to about 7 or 8 inches. It works just as well on my tractor as it did on the Bobcat. I dig in a little bit around the perimeter of larger trees, to cut the roots, then raise the FEL and start pushing over the tree. Most of the time, the whole root ball pops out. Slip the Digger scoop under the ball and carry it over to the chipper area where anything over 2" in cut for firewood and the rest is turned into mulch.

Here's a link to the Bobcat page on the Digger!

5030tinkerer · Feb 3, 2006

Have you tried using the Bobcat attachment to relocate smaller trees? I have to move about 300 pines, each no more than 1.5" caliper and am looking for a solution. I've looked at the tree spades, but can't justify the cost. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

wilkesland · Feb 3, 2006

Jeff,

Do you have any photos to post of your rig in operation? Do you use it on your 4410? I ask because my MF1260 is roughly the same weight. I've been thinking of purchasing a backhoe, but your rig may be what I need. I have a zillion small trees to take out that I was going to do with FEL and toothbar and use bh for larger trees. Been waiting on a Markam toothbar, not making much progress with just FEL.

What would be the approx $ for digger and ATI adapter?

Thanks

Barry

LBrown59 · Feb 3, 2006

( I did some grubbing earlier in the week, too. I thought I might share some info on the tool I use. I used to have a Bobcat. When I sold it, I bought an ATI adapter so that I can use Bobcat attachments on my FEL. One of the attachments that I found and bought for my Bobcat is the Digger. It was originally designed for the nursery industry to move stock and root prune. I have found it to be one of the most useful implements I own. I hate stumps in areas that I am clearing. So instead of cutting trees and saplings I dig them out. I can do it with my backhoe, but the Digger is faster and less destructive to the surrounding area on trunks up to about 7 or 8 inches. It works just as well on my tractor as it did on the Bobcat. I dig in a little bit around the perimeter of larger trees, to cut the roots, then raise the FEL and start pushing over the tree. Most of the time, the whole root ball pops out. Slip the Digger scoop under the ball and carry it over to the chipper area where anything over 2" in cut for firewood and the rest is turned into mulch.

Here's a link to the Bobcat page on the Digger! )
Igot another 9.5 hours of seat time on the project yesterday.
Worked non stop the whole time in the 55 to 60 degree tropic heat.Anybody feelin sorry for me yet?
Have done it all with my BX 23 and 2 chains.
Never touched a hand rake.
Most of the trees I dug out with the BH.
Did saw down about 6 or 8 two to 6 inches in a 12 foot square spot.
That ole chain saw sure is a lot faster than digging them out with the BH-now if it would just take care of the stumps too.LOL
Was up there mowing off the area and bumped a couple of the stumps.
Guess I didn't cut them low enough.

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MY FIRST CAR http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevyscrapbook/files/kamp50.jpg
OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev6003.htm

N80 · Feb 3, 2006

I just recently discovered the secret to grubbing where I live. When I first got my Kubota L4400 it was summer and dry as a bone. The soil where I am is a red or gray clay and when its dry, its concrete. I had no luck with the 3-6" pines I wanted gone. I could snap them off just fine, but that's tricky and probably dangerous on the taller ones. Plus it leaves a stubby stump. And its real hard on the tractor too. So I gave it up.

It has been quite wet lately and so a few weeks ago I decided to clear a few small areas to make into food plots. The areas were open except for scattered young pines. I was afraid it would be too wet and that I wouldn't have enough traction and would just tear the ground up.

But, it was perfect. In 4wd with Ag tires I had plenty of traction and I found that If I hit the tree with the bucket about 2 feet up it would bend it over without breaking it. Then I'd dump the bucket until the edge was just at the base of the tree, sink it in and then roll it back. If done properly the bucket would hook the root and pull the tree right out. Sometimes the smaller ones would stay standing up in the bucket! The bigger ones, some over 6", I'd have to push away once they were down. I've gotten very good at this now and can get the tree out without leaving much of a hole at all.

I guess its all about soil conditions and technique, but I'm very pleased at this capability. I think some teeth on the bucket would make it even easier. Probably much easier.

jeffinsgf · Feb 3, 2006

( Have you tried using the Bobcat attachment to relocate smaller trees? I have to move about 300 pines, each no more than 1.5" caliper and am looking for a solution. I've looked at the tree spades, but can't justify the cost. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

I have, and it works like a charm. Your 1.5 inch trees are just the right size for this rig. I moved some redbuds from the back of our place to the back yard. They seem to be adjusting well.

jeffinsgf · Feb 3, 2006

( Jeff,

Do you have any photos to post of your rig in operation? Do you use it on your 4410? I ask because my MF1260 is roughly the same weight. I've been thinking of purchasing a backhoe, but your rig may be what I need. I have a zillion small trees to take out that I was going to do with FEL and toothbar and use bh for larger trees. Been waiting on a Markam toothbar, not making much progress with just FEL.

What would be the approx $ for digger and ATI adapter?

Thanks

Barry )

Sorry, Barry, no pics right now, but if I get a chance I'll shoot some next week. Yes, I am using this on my 4410. The Digger is available in several sizes. I have the 36 inch, which is about as big as I think is practical for a CUT. If they have one between 24 and 36, that is what I would probably look at today. I paid $900 for the Digger. My ATI adapter was $700, but I think the one for your MF is a little less. The JD is complicated by the JD quick attach feature.

If I had to give up one or the other of my Digger or my backhoe, it would be a very, very tough decision. I would probably give up the Digger, but I am sure I would regret it. Luckily, that is a hypothetical decison I will never have to make! If I had neither, and needed to move trees and stick to a budget, I would definitely look at the Digger first. Not only is it less money, but it is much faster. With a BH, you have to dig a larger area around the trunk, then switch positions, turn the tractor around and try to push the tree over with the FEL. If you didn't get the root ball free enough, you have to turn the tractor back around, set up the BH and dig some more. With the Digger, everything is done from the normal operating position. That said, when you hit the upper limit of the size range of the Digger (8 inches more on less depending on species' rooting habit) its efficiency takes a radical nose dive. Digging deep (over 2 feet) is not easy or fast. If you have broadband, watch the Bobcat video. Everything you can do with a Bobcat and a Digger, you can do with a tractor and a Digger.

wilkesland · Feb 4, 2006

Jeff,

Thanks for your reply, one final question. What kind of soil do you have? The Bobcat video shows this tool being used in a wonderful deep loamy soil like I might have when I get to heaven. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But, what I got now is good ole North Carolina red clay - not quite brick quality, but it's hard enough to make digging tough.