Hydraulic Ditch - Bank Brush Hog - No PTO

[jmjeffers]

Each year the briar bushes extend further out along the edges of our fields. In some places, as I have got older, they have taken back 25 feet. I also find weed eating along the creeks and ditches to be difficult to keep to keep up with. I decided to do something about it, however, I had to come up with a unique solution since I do not have a PTO. The brush hog shown here was build using both what I had and off the shelf items, nothing special. I just recently tested it and its performance was outstanding (a two inch tree was no problem). I have posted it here in case someone else faces a similar problem and needs ideas.

The engine is a 20hp Kohler. System pressure is 2300psi. 34" cut with a blade tip speed of 16,000fpm. Deck tilt is from vertical to 75 degrees below horizontal. Deck hydraulically extends up to 20".

 

[oosik]

Great Gobneck - that is QUITE a piece of equipment. Gives an all new meaning to "offset cutter". Really quite a stroke of genius..............

 

[texasranger556]

Very impressive. This clearly isn't your first day in the shop!

Any videos of it running?

 

[Fallon]

Nice build. My only concern is the fix mounted blade. A rotary stores a lot of energy spinning. All brush rated rotaries I've seen have had the blades flexibly mounted to a stump jumper. That way they can fold up if they hit something to heavy. With that straight solid blade if you hit a rock you are likely to break the blade, spindle or other things & possibly have the broken blade escape from under the housing at high speed.

 

[nybirdman]

Nice build. My only concern is the fix mounted blade. A rotary stores a lot of energy spinning. All brush rated rotaries I've seen have had the blades flexibly mounted to a stump jumper. That way they can fold up if they hit something to heavy. With that straight solid blade if you hit a rock you are likely to break the blade, spindle or other things & possibly have the broken blade escape from under the housing at high speed.

Very nice build and workmanship;but have to agree with Fallon about your blade design.

 

[jmjeffers]

Not yet, I just finished it and of course it just snowed. I didnt take any during testing...

 

[jmjeffers]

Nice build. My only concern is the fix mounted blade. A rotary stores a lot of energy spinning. All brush rated rotaries I've seen have had the blades flexibly mounted to a stump jumper. That way they can fold up if they hit something to heavy. With that straight solid blade if you hit a rock you are likely to break the blade, spindle or other things & possibly have the broken blade escape from under the housing at high speed.

The blade is not keyed to the shaft, instead a 3/8" thick belleville washer compresses the blade against the drive arbor. This provides for some slip if needed. For those truly rock infested areas, I am currently giving it the ability to spin a chain.

 

[jmjeffers]

Very impressive. This clearly isn't your first day in the shop!

Any videos of it running?

Not yet, I just finished it and it just snowed. I didnt take any during testing..

 

[Oldtink]

Holy ......Now there's some impressive design and fab skills to be proud of. Truly impressive in all aspects.:thumbsup:

 

[davedj1]

That looks great! Have you considered making it extend out another 3 feet or so to get into those really hard to get areas? Have hydraulics move it in and out.