[Fercik]

Recently we had an opportunity to try out a forestry mulcher with our 4R.
Here is how it went:

As it was only a trail run we did not get much work done. We wanted to see whether we could have use for such attachment and whether 4R was worthy of it.
It is definitely very taxing attachement. If you go just a bit faster than you should engine load goes to 100% immediately (tractorplus app) and it can even bog down a bit.
Because of miscommunication with the seller this mulcher had 1000rpm gearbox so with proper gearbox I believe it would work a lot better with less bogging down.
Weight of the implement is another major challenge. We could not use this one with the push frame because it was already too heavy and would not lift. Them JDs with their great power but measly hydraulics. If we decide to buy this exact model I would definitely have to increase the hyd. pressure.

Here are some additional pictures:

 

[Kbar]

Nice. Try it on a skidsteer with high flow pump and it’s a blast. Stay outta the rocks!

 

[Treefarmer]

Nice. Try it on a skidsteer with high flow pump and it’s a blast. Stay outta the rocks!

That's the truth although after a few hours it's not quite as much fun. When we rented one, it liked fuel a lot but no surprise since it basically ran flat out all the time.

 

[JD4052M]

That's interesting! It's amazing what those mulchers can do, especially on a skidsteer like Kyle said.

Nice. Try it on a skidsteer with high flow pump and it’s a blast. Stay outta the rocks!

I get to do that this summer. My boss told me that I'd probably be doing a lot of that work because he doesn't have the time to. I think I'll be running a 333G Deere.

 

[arlen]

Stay outta the rocks!

and barbwire...or you'll be clearing your schedule for the rest of the day😀

 

[Treefarmer]

That's interesting! It's amazing what those mulchers can do, especially on a skidsteer like Kyle said.

I get to do that this summer. My boss told me that I'd probably be doing a lot of that work because he doesn't have the time to. I think I'll be running a 333G Deere.

The heads are heavy enough that we had a fair amount of bounce even though it was level ground. That was probably made worse since we were taking down trees starting as high as possible and cutting down. That also meant a lot of debris covered the machine which had the full forestry package.

 

[Hall00]

I'd have to go with a skid steer version. Driving in reverse all day is not fun, ask the guys with rear mount snowblowers.

 

[RalphVa]

Guy we hired to do our 8 1/2 acres had a 180 hp Cummins diesel powered one, like a skid steer. Did a terrific job.

 

[Fercik]

I'd have to go with a skid steer version. Driving in reverse all day is not fun, ask the guys with rear mount snowblowers.

You go backwards just half the time if you want to mulch the wood to smaller pieces.

There are several reasons why we do not and will not have a skidsteer. The first one is in the name. It would absolutely destroy all of our grass and we really need that grass. Another reason is that its too heavy and even tracked version would create huge ruts in our typically muddy terrain. Lastly its the cost. New or used skidsteers are stupidly expensive for what they are imo. Another cost related issue is that I would not have any attachements for it and I really do not plan on getting another set of hydro powered attachements. There are another minor negatives and not a whole lot of positives.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

...
Because of miscommunication with the seller this mulcher had 1000rpm gearbox so with proper gearbox I believe it would work a lot better with less bogging down.
...

I'm thinking the opposite...the wrong gearbox is resulting in the mulcher drum turning slower than designed...thus more torque.

 

[Fercik]

I'm thinking the opposite...the wrong gearbox is resulting in the mulcher drum turning slower than designed...thus more torque.

It was indeed turning slower than it should but that does not automatically result in more torque. You would get more torque if input(1000/540) was reduced more by the implement gearbox. The drum holding teeths needs certain momentum to work optimally for its specified capacity and it was spinning basically half as fast as it should have.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

It was indeed turning slower than it should but that does not automatically result in more torque. You would get more torque if input(1000/540) was reduced more by the implement gearbox. The drum holding teeths needs certain momentum to work optimally for its specified capacity and it was spinning basically half as fast as it should have.

This is interesting...it sounds like it is a question of 1) Will the mulcher will work best (at least momentarily) with higher rotational inertia? or 2) Higher (continuously available) torque? Put another way, where is the sweet spot between high rotational speed versus available torque?

Please post your findings if you decide to try a unit with the other gearbox.

 

[Montana Dan]

Recently we had an opportunity to try out a forestry mulcher with our 4R.
Here is how it went:

As it was only a trail run we did not get much work done. We wanted to see whether we could have use for such attachment and whether 4R was worthy of it.
It is definitely very taxing attachement. If you go just a bit faster than you should engine load goes to 100% immediately (tractorplus app) and it can even bog down a bit.
Because of miscommunication with the seller this mulcher had 1000rpm gearbox so with proper gearbox I believe it would work a lot better with less bogging down.
Weight of the implement is another major challenge. We could not use this one with the push frame because it was already too heavy and would not lift. Them JDs with their great power but measly hydraulics. If we decide to buy this exact model I would definitely have to increase the hyd. pressure.

Here are some additional pictures:
View attachment 892330
View attachment 892331

That’s cool but I wouldn’t do that with my 4 series. I would not want to have limbs scratching it up or have 300 mph projectiles bouncing off of it either. The tractor and operator are protected well enough in my opinion. That’s a job for a tracked skid steer with a cage in front. The tractor would be subject to too many flat tires too.