Loosening/Removing Roots???

AndyMA · Jul 21, 2004

John

I bet if you had much to do of it you'd change your mind. The BrushBrute is wide and grabs a lot at once and you don't have much cleanup. With either a toothbar or backhoe you obviously can do the job, it just takes many times longer and makes a much bigger mess.

Andy

KiotiJohn · Jul 21, 2004

( I bet if you had much to do of it you'd change your mind. The BrushBrute is wide and grabs a lot at once and you don't have much cleanup. With either a toothbar or backhoe you obviously can do the job, it just takes many times longer and makes a much bigger mess)
Looks like the BBrute would be about the same width, and if it were much wider, it would be too heavy for my loader. In addtion, it may grab too much for a small loader to handle. These are just conjecture as I haven't seen one in person, but probably something to think about if using a smaller tractor. The force needed to pull out several saplings at a time could be pretty great. I need to get a better look at the BBrutes, but I think they fit the bucket pretty much like a regular or landscape toothbar don't they? John
Edit: I went back and looked at the BBrute again, and the smallest one is 52", my bucket toothbar is 54" so it's wider actually. If I were to use the next size up, it would be just too wide for my tractor and too heavy.
>>52" Wide with 5/8" thick teeth for tractors under 35HP
Weight: 380lbs - $1350 CAN*<<
I still think, for me, I'd try a 54" landscape toothbar which isn't a lot different than a brush brute from what I can see. For much less than $1,020.00. John

EdwardB · Jul 23, 2004

( If you have a loader, put a toothbar on it and dig em up. Works great...... The loader with toothbar has worked the best for me though. John )

Can you elaborate on your technique? Are you able to pop them out without engaging the dirt? Or do you just dig them out. Also, do you have experience with the toothbar you recommended?

Thanks

KiotiJohn · Jul 23, 2004

( Can you elaborate on your technique? Are you able to pop them out without engaging the dirt? Or do you just dig them out. Also, do you have experience with the toothbar you recommended?)
Most of the time the dirt is going to be disturbed. If you can see the root, start at an end where it's not so strong, curl the bucket down at a slight angle and dig it up under the root and then roll back the bucket while easing forward with the tractor. It will at least dislodge an end and break it off usually, but you may have to cut the other end after getting it out of the ground.
I haven't used the other (landscaper) toothbar, but I've read other member's posts and they were very satisfied.
Now the brush brute may be better as it has tapering teeth that can go in and grab small tree trunks, the landscaper toothbar has probably a little more space between the teeth and would only grab the larger trunks.
I've been able to dig small trees and roots pretty well with the regular toothbar, but if I really had a lot, I might consider either the landscape TB or the Brush Brute.
Usually, after digging the stuff, you may have to back drag the loader bucket to smooth the dirt back over. I normally take the toothbar off if I have a lot of that to do as the teeth can get in the way. It's easy though, just two bolts holding it in. John

ns_in_tex · Jul 23, 2004

Hi Ed,

If by chance, you are handy with a welder, and if your tractor is HST, I would recommend you build something, I think you would like.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-133011-Treegetterhangson.JPG

or do a search all post for "cleaning the fence row is fun now".

Go to the oldest post and follow my post to see one I made & show some of what it can do.

I made mine just as wide as the loader frame and seldom use all of it at once, but the width is nice for piling brush, or rolling up old fence, ETC

KiotiJohn · Jul 23, 2004

Neal. That looks like the brush brute. So cool. I'm going to read that thread for sure. Thanks for the post. John
EDIT: Here's the thread Neal was talking about
Cleaning the fence...
John

Bilser · Jul 24, 2004

$1350 Canadian is less than $1000 in US funds. You may still think that is too expensive.

Bill

KiotiJohn · Jul 24, 2004

At the current rate:
1,350.00 CAD
Canada Dollars = 1,021.41 USD
United States Dollars

EdwardB · Jul 26, 2004

Neal,

I read that old thread, as well as the one with the three point hitch "treegettyer". What a nice looking rig! . In the sandy soil we have here in NW Michigan, I'm sure that it would do a real number on my saplings.

One question, though - do you think a person could make an attachment like this that just slips over the bucket and bolts on - like a tooth bar, but beefier? Perhaps one with only 5 or 6 teeth. I was thinking it may be quicker and easier to fabricate.

ns_in_tex · Jul 26, 2004

I feel sure that could be done and would work to some degree, although, I think you would lose some pulling power and it would not be near as easy to use, sight wise, because of the bucket blocking your view.

Being the width of the loader, makes it just wide enough to see to line up a groove on a tree as you are pulling into it, yet not so far off center to reduce weight lifting capacity much.

Also being closer to the front of the tractor than it would be on the bucket, gives more lifting capacity.

Not many things I build that I don't wish I had done differently after I use it a while. I was lucky on this one I guess, because I would not make very many changes, if I were to do it again.