Tree shear on my little ole kubota

Piston · May 30, 2012

Like many of you, I'm pretty darn impressed with the idea of a tree shear. It's really amazing what hydraulic can do! I've been thinking about the possibility of using a tree shear with my tractor? Not sure if it's really feasible or not, but I'm curious how many people have used a tree shear with their tractors hydraulics, and if so, what your hydraulic flow is, and pressure, as well as how did it work?

My tractor has 9.6gpm flow, and 2550psi of pressure. I could probably get away with mounting the shear to the front end loader, but that would take away my grapple, and I can see the advantage of having both. So, would it be difficult to modify a tree shear so that it worked on the 3pt hitch? Not only would it still allow the use of the grapple on FEL, but it would also be pretty darn good ballast, although I don't have any idea how far these things stick out.

My land is full of smaller pines, and very dense spruce trees in some areas. I was thinking about a tree shear to help clear some of this land (although I want to keep some evergreens for wildlife during the cold winters)

Most of the trees are under 6" dbh and taper rapidly so they really aren't that tall. I understand there is a safety risk with using a tree shear on a tractor not equipped with a full forestry cage, but I think that can be mitigated and delt with.

A post by Joel4330 over in another section got me thinking about this some more, and a little more interested in the idea. I also have a neighbor with an ASV100 (and mulcher) who is pretty generous with letting me borrow (the skid steer not the mulcher unfortunately) So if it just wouldn't work on the tractor and I could find a good deal on a used one then I could possibly use it with his skidsteer-heck, maybe he'd even split the cost with me in exchange for some seat time with his machine.

Any thoughts on whether it would work on my tractor or not? Or am I just out in left field? :laughing:

Taylortractornut · May 31, 2012

Piston I have a friend thats scrapping an older large Bobcat feller buncher. He wanted 350 for the shear if he hasnt scrapped it yet. Used to the pulp wooders here would mount a shear on the fron of a skidder instead of the blade. I have seen a fellow in Florida one time with a larger shear on the back of his tractor with a hydraulic toplink. e had a grapple on the front. He used it in an orchard and a pine plantation.

schmism · May 31, 2012

Piston said:
My tractor has 9.6gpm flow, and 2550psi of pressure. I could probably get away with mounting the shear to the front end loader, but that would take away my grapple, and I can see the advantage of having both. So, would it be difficult to modify a tree shear so that it worked on the 3pt hitch? Not only would it still allow the use of the grapple on FEL, but it would also be pretty darn good ballast, although I don't have any idea how far these things stick out.

pressure is what generates the "power" of the cutter head. flow rate dictates how fast it will cycle.

or if you bought a comerical version for the front of a skid steer then there is no reason you cant put mounts on it for 3pt for the back.

you should have plenty of distance off the back.

IndyIan · May 31, 2012

I would guess you could go buy a nice 346xp and run around your woods cutting the trees nice and low, and then pick them up with the grapple and it would be much faster than a shear on the 3pth.
I guess if your shear could cut then hold the tree so you could drive a bit and stack them, so you can pick up 5 or 6 at once with the grapple, that would save quite a bit of work and be fast.
Does the skid steer shear clamp the tree? Doesn't look like it to me. Just cutting and have the tree fall random directions doesn't seem to be an asset to me.

Bullhogn · May 31, 2012

Make sure you have proper FOPS and OPS protection
on that tractor! Trees don't necessarily fall where you want them too!

Piston · May 31, 2012

Taylortractornut,
I'd be interested in your friends setup but Mississippi is a little far for me

Schmism (can't figure out how to say that:laughing

THe first pic you posted looks exactly like what I mean. That actually looks pretty simple to build.

I'm sure there is a mathematical formula for figuring out how big of a tree I could shear using my tractors pressure, but I do not know the first thing about that. I know there are online calculators for figuring force, but I'm curious what a realistic size tree is that I would be able to shear with my pressure.

Indyian,
Your absolutely right about a good chainsaw doing some fast work. I have been using my Stihl 361 for doing exactly that. But how much more fun would a shear be than bending over with a chainsaw :laughing:

PatasColo · May 31, 2012

This is an interesting thread. and made me think. One key to remember is that even with your little Kubota (or any pressure generating device), you are not limited directly to its pressure limit to determine the amount it will cut. You can amplify that pressure by designing your shear to take advantage of leverage.

The simplest way to envision this is to think of a set of long-handled loppers. The farther away the application of pressure is from the fulcrum (and the closer the item being cut is to the fulcrum), the more force will be experienced at the cut point.

-Mitch

schmism · May 31, 2012

Piston said:
Schmism (can't figure out how to say that:laughing

I'm sure there is a mathematical formula for figuring out how big of a tree I could shear using my tractors pressure,

Steve works see my sig :thumbsup:

pressure, eh.... you can get the same force out of the shear with just a 100psi pressure... you just have to have different geometry and much larger diameter pistons driving it.

most normal hydraulic stuff all runs about 2500psi weather your a big tractor or a little one. Only people that differ from that is large industrial hydraulic equipment like track hoes. CAT pioneered the first high pressure systems with 3600psi. but that was because they were the only ones that could build hoses that with stood the pressure.

JoeL4330 · May 31, 2012

IndyIan said:
I would guess you could go buy a nice 346xp and run around your woods cutting the trees nice and low, and then pick them up with the grapple and it would be much faster than a shear on the 3pth.
I guess if your shear could cut then hold the tree so you could drive a bit and stack them, so you can pick up 5 or 6 at once with the grapple, that would save quite a bit of work and be fast.
Does the skid steer shear clamp the tree? Doesn't look like it to me. Just cutting and have the tree fall random directions doesn't seem to be an asset to me.

I have a shear and several chain saws. In either case, cut a few, then pick 'em up with the grapple; for small saplings, shear is quicker and cuts 'em off closer to the ground (although I've been eyeing a carbide chain for one of my saws so I can cut down and dirty) ...depending, the shear can uproot, and/or cut roots. My shear does not grab the sapling once cut ...that's an option I don't have ...as mentioned by another poster, that's often referred to as "feller-buncher" ...can cleverly grab several upright saplings per pass.

Incidentally, the tree does not fall in a random direction...there's a high bar that can push while you cut and lays it pretty much dead straight in front of you (assuming level land and upright trees). see Berlon: Tree Shears which is the brand I have ...shows both the guard-pusher and optional grapple ...mine also pivots and I have the sprayer option (currently dismounted)

Incidentally, if anyone is near the eastern panhandle of WV, you can come operate mine and cut some saplings for me ...and/or consider making an offer since I use it so infrequently any more.