Hydraulic Tree Shears

[F250DSLPWR]

Hello TBN'ers,

Does anyone have experience with this brand of tree shear?

Skid Steer Tree Shear

I am looking for an economy priced tree shear to clear acres and acres of Ash Juniper trees. If I could afford it, I would go with one of the dual hydraulic cylinder units such as a Mighty Axe. I have used a Mighty Axe in the past and it worked well.

If I was to get this tree shear I would use it on my Kubota M5040. I already have remotes in place. I like the fact that this one cuts off center. I think it might be easier to see from the drivers seat.

I would appreciate any feedback on this shear or similar single cylinder models.

Thanks for the help,
Mark

 

[J_J]

It sure looks heavy duty, and the price isn't bad either.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I'd like to have a tree shear, too, but it isn't high enough on my list to get quite yet.
You don't say what you'll be using it on, but, if you are using a CUT, I'm pretty sure you'll need two remotes if you get a rotating unit (one for the rotation and one for the shear). My tractor currently only has one remote so, the "operational" price of the shear is considerably higher than the list price!

The rotation function is handy if you want to cut up felled (or leaning) trees or if you want to trim branches extending where you don't want them.

I guess its worth noting that, like all farm/forest machinery, tree shears aren't entirely safe pieces of equipment. I have read of at least a couple of fatalities related to using tree shears. In one case, somebody dropped a tree on top of themselves. The other was a bit more bizarre: a skid-steer operator was cutting a tree about 4' above the base (because it was too thick lower down) and the weight of the cut tree tipped the skid steer forward onto the stump, crushing the driver in his seat. In discussing the possible uses for a tree shear with my wife, I haven't mentioned these cases.

BOB

 

[rd_macgregor]

Also see the current tree shear thread in the Kioti owning/operating section...

BOB

 

[dangerdoc]

Hello TBN'ers,

Does anyone have experience with this brand of tree shear?

Skid Steer Tree Shear

I am looking for an economy priced tree shear to clear acres and acres of Ash Juniper trees. If I could afford it, I would go with one of the dual hydraulic cylinder units such as a Mighty Axe. I have used a Mighty Axe in the past and it worked well.

If I was to get this tree shear I would use it on my Kubota M5040. I already have remotes in place. I like the fact that this one cuts off center. I think it might be easier to see from the drivers seat.

I would appreciate any feedback on this shear or similar single cylinder models.

Thanks for the help,
Mark

I would not want to operate a tree sheer without some sort of strong metal cage around me. It just looks like there are too many ways to kill yourself with one of those things while sitting in a tractor seat.

 

[BruceWard]

Is this really better than walking around with chain saw? I do not see how you control the direction of fall of the tree. Would be terrible if it fell back on you. Now a feller that cuts and holds the tree then lays it down where you want does seem like a big upgrade over a chainsaw.

Personally I would buy a nice $400 Stihl and cut them myself or spend the $3200 hiring someone to cut them.

Or even better hire someone with a dozer to push the trees over and the roots out of the ground. In Arkansas I could get a D4H and operator for around 50 hours for that $3200.

 

[J_J]

Some of the tree shears have a push cyl that put some force on the tree. When cutting any tree, you look at the lean of the tree if any, and take into account the wind if any.

First pic , the tree shear will grab, cut and lay the tree down.

Second pic the tree should fall opposite the cutting direction, due to the wedge action, taking into account the lean and wind.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Some of the tree shears have a push cyl that put some force on the tree. When cutting any tree, you look at the lean of the tree if any, and take into account the wind if any.

First pic , the tree shear will grab, cut and lay the tree down.

Second pic the tree should fall opposite the cutting direction, due to the wedge action, taking into account the lean and wind.

I think JJ has it right. Plus, I'm pretty sure you can tilt the guard to put some pushing pressure on the tree before doing the cut/shear. This will add encouragement for it to fall away from the tractor, but it won't necessarily overcome the effects of significant adverse lean or high winds. On the other hand, neither will a chainsaw...though I bet its harder to dodge an oncoming tree in a tractor than on foot!
The model linked above has a shield that could be pushed against a tree, as I suggested. If things work as I've hypothesized, then this might be a point against a model like the Timberline from Sidney Manufacturing...
Timberline 14" HTC Tree Shears - attachments for skid steer loaders, small compact construction equipment - Sidney Manufacturing Co. LLC
BOB

 

[Ford tractor]

Most sheers are on equipment that is large enough to pick up and manipulate the tree after it's been sheered. I'd worry about the tree flipping a small tractor or skid - but that may be not a concern if small trees are the target.

 

[J_J]

If it has a single cutting blade, the wedge action from the blade will guide it opposite the wedge force

 

[F250DSLPWR]

Hi Everyone,

I really appreciate all the feedback.

I have used a Timber Axe on a skid steer. It has two cylinders and two blades that cut toward each other. With the brush guard on the sheer just as the cut finishes you can put a little pressure to tilt the shear away and the tree will fall away from you. With a shear on the skidsteer you are right next to the tree. It sucks cutting Ash Juniper (cedar) in the skidsteer since the branches want to come in the cab with you while you try to get to the tree trunk.

I am not dealing with tall or huge trees, so I am not over concerned about having one fall toward me. That doesn't mean I would not be careful in using one. I could easily see where trees over a certain size could cause real harm and injury. At least in the tractor seat we are six plus feet back from the tree.

I have two really good chain saws and have cut a lot of Ash Juniper. It is slow work. I was easily able to do 4x the work with the shear.

What I have not used is a single blade shear such as the one above. I am just not sure how well they cut?

I did like the idea that you could rotate the shear 90 degrees and cut the branches off.

I would not hesitate to buy a Timber Axe or similiar shear except they cost so much, about twice or more than this single blade shear.

In looking at it, The rotating pin just doesn't look heavy enough or mounted well enough. (I could be totally wrong about it and it could be plenty heavy duty enough). I just know the shear I used took a lot of abuse in cutting.

The price of this shear and also the grapple really grabbed my attention.

Has anyone used a single blade shear?