New dozer and land clearing

[TxTom]

Well I'm finally going to do things the right way. After trying to make my MF 135 do things it wasn't meant to do, my father and I went in and bought a Case 550G dozer. It's a 99 model, 2829 hours, new engine, and complete new undercarriage. The dealer had leased it out to someone that somehow put gas in it, that's how it ended up with a new engine.

I'll try to take more action pics and document the progress if I can keep from grinning the whole time. After several days working it I can still easily work through lunch time.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

Big boy and little boy. This is my neighbors 1150 with the 34 inch pads. He used this and his excavator to widen my pond while it's been so low.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

This is to give you an idea of what I've got to work on. Lots of brush and downed timber. And the hidden stumps will jump out of nowhere.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

Another shot of the brush. All the decent hardwoods will stay and most of the spindly pines will go. Notice the smoke in the background from 3 burnpiles.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

Tree pushing. This is a 10-12 inch oak that was in the way. 2 sidecuts and a high push and then lift the roots.

Thomas

 

[Egon]

Nice looking dozer and those root rakes look mean! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just a word of caution though. The ROPS does not have any covering to protect you from spears comming thru.

Egon

 

[TxTom]

After reading lots of posts about what it takes to take a tree down, I've learned it all comes down to soil type. I'm working with sand and a layer of limestone about 3 feet down. This a pine that shows what the tap root does when it hits the rock. The glove is where the ground level was.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

Haven't used the rake yet but I'm already laying out the side screens to make. After the first slap in the head that project moved up on the list.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

This one was a surprise to get up. This was about an 18-20 inch pine that had been twisted off about 8 feet tall. I side cut all 4 sides, pushed a couple of directions, and lifted it out. Notice the blunted tap root.

Thomas

 

[TxTom]

Half cleared house site.

Thomas