PT mounted string trimmer

[bubenberg]

charlie, i know this is not the full answer to all your questions, but this firm has this thing on the market for the second season and i am about to buy one for these long driveways with trees and fenceposts. maybe it is to micky mouse for the job you intend to do with your hydraulic version!!!!!!??!?!?

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=24631&highlight=peco+trimmer

good luck
hans

 

[wasabi]

<font color=blue>I have ordered a DR trimmer head, with pulley, and yesterday I ordered a Gresen .7 ci displacement hydraulic motor that turns 5000 RPM at 15 GPM</font color=blue>

I sure look forward to hearing how this turns out for you Charlie!

With parts of our roads encroached by brambles, some uphill, some down, I could sure use a longer version, say with four or five screaming trimmer heads and easy height adjustment via auxilary hydraulics.

Anybody have catalogue suggestions for parts?

 

[MossRoad]

Try this site if you're serious about trimming /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ostraticky.cz/prod4.html#moving>http://www.ostraticky.cz/prod4.html#moving</A>

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Slight setback in the trimmer project:
I got a call from Country Home Products a week or so ago to advise that the trimmer head assembly I had ordered would not fit the string trimmer I had. (It was a complete assembly including spindle, bearings, head and pulley, to upgrade their older models.) That's when I made the mistake of telling the caller that I wanted the assembly I had ordered to drive it with a hydraulic motor on the PT. The caller said that he would leave the order as placed. Today, however, after not receiving the order, I checked the status on line and found that every item ordered had been cancelled. I called to ask why and was told that they couldn't sell parts except to fit my machine, because if I were to use them for something else and hurt myself, they might be liable.
Since I was only dealing with a customer service lady, I restrained the impulse to comment on parentage, sexual improbabilities or other things that immediately came to mind. I managed actually to comment mildly that I would have been a bit happier if they had advised of their decision, and if they had not cancelled the orders for 155 mil cord and the blade, which do fit my machine.
So, now I have to look up the part numbers of the assembly on my machine, and hope their computer doesn't have me listed as one of those terrible home experimenters who are always suing after injuring themselves with their own contraptions.
Or maybe I'll just remove a foot with the 14" Beaver blade that they've agreed to sell me. Hard to see how I can create something much more dangerous than a 14" horizontal circular saw which they'll sell to anyone with a credit card. Maybe I should be complimented that they are in such awe of my creativity.
Too bad I like their product, and it fits so well what I want to do.

 

[MossRoad]

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Some small progress to report, I hope, on the string trimmer project. After DR refused to sell me a trimmer spindle, I shopped locally and on the net. Finally, I talked to Swisher, and asked about the entire deck for a Postmaster, without the engine or cart. I was advised that it would be cheaper to buy the machine and throw away the engine and cart, and the deck would have to await a production run even to be available. But, after some discussion, I ordered the spindle and string mounting disk. I also found some expensive pulley bushings for the 9/16 shaft on my hydraulic motor. (My next project will use a 5/8 shaft.) If Swisher doesn't change their mind, and the parts arrive in reasonable time, I might actually be cutting and welding within a week. If I don't report progress, please remind me. I may have been distracted by a cool drink and a screened porch.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

The trimmer project is only about three weeks behind the original schedule - therefore considerably ahead of some others. I blame the delay on time spent helping care for my wife's sick mare and foal. (I now have a huge store of points in the bank for holding the foal still for antibiotic shots twice a day. I am not the colt's favorite human, but my wife is appreciative.)
Almost all parts for the trimmer are assembled, some cutting, drilling and welding completed, and maybe another couple of hours before first test. I've made it far too complex, and parts cost has been higher than I'd expected, but maybe next weekend I'll at least have it trimming in vertical mode to do the sides of trails, etc. Horizontal under fences will still require some parts procurement. As usual, my workmanship is a bit crude, so no pictures will be posted unless it really works well. Those seeking craftsmanship should look to Wroughtn Harv or others on the build-it-yourself forum.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>I've made it far too complex, and parts cost has been higher than I'd expected</font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
That's a requirement for every project that I've ever done!
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[pajoube]

Not only the cost but an extra 5 trips to the hardware store.
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
PJ

 

[LBrown59]

Here is another observation for you PT people. Along the lines of what Charlie is looking at
*I have many hedges of various heights that I plan on trimming from a platform of the FEL. My thoughts are to rig up a frame attached to the platform that would hold the hedge trimmer in horizontal position. I would drive down the hedge and trim the top. Probably would have to be a gas machine unless they make such a thing as a hydraulic trimmer.
Boy, Charlie, you sure do stimulate the thinking.
PJ

*Here you go :