Brush hogging with the BX23s

[jwolfet]

This tractor is around 2 weeks old or so now. I was told I wouldn't be able to clear land with it.... that was incorrect. Infact I did so with the 42" land pride rotary cutter... i won't say it was efficient but in alot of cases it was the right size to get inbetween stumps (which brings up another problem ... too many stumps to deal with - i'd be there for 9 years trying to dig them out with the back hoe - the smaller ones i could deal with, with the backhoe - the 2+ ft stumps looks like they will be challenging).

As far as danage

I have a ding my floor board the grill guard isn't sitting right - i kinda rammed a stubborn tree i was trying to push down (I did win - but it looks like it bent my brush guard a little). The day old brush hog has seen better days... no longer new (nothing a hammer won't fix). I did have my bxpanded skid plate on - and that thing is worth its weight in gold.

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[NCL4701]

A large pipe wrench (and sometimes a cheater pipe to make the handle a couple feet longer) is pretty handy for pulling out damage on a bush hog caused by backing into stumps, rocks, largish trees, etc.

I’ve gotten pretty efficient at it after a good bit of practice.

 

[Shawn T. W]

It's not new anymore!

But, yes these little tractors can get a lot done!

Backing into stuff with the tail wheel high can get some stubborn stuff down, just let it chew it up, everything doesn't need to be cut down to only a few inches the first go round ... Second time around when you can see better will make a huge improvement!

ETA - If the stumps aren't where you plan to build a building or driveway, and if the stumps are less than 3"-4" tall, I'd just run over them, or chainsaw them down to that level, yes it will be "bumpy" if a tire goes over them, but the brush hog should clear them ...

I've read they make a chemical "stump remover" that you just drill some holes or cut slots in the top of the stumps, and over time they rot, much faster than naturally ... Then a root ripper could probably get the rest of it out ...

The stuff over about 1.25" you can chainsaw, or if not to much bigger a set of pruning loppers will get them out of the way!

 

[jwolfet]

A large pipe wrench (and sometimes a cheater pipe to make the handle a couple feet longer) is pretty handy for pulling out damage on a bush hog caused by backing into stumps, rocks, largish trees, etc.

I’ve gotten pretty efficient at it after a good bit of practice. View attachment 178492

I used that strategy as well.. Overall impressed with the BX and the little 42" cutter that the dealer recommended - there were a few times it bogged down/stalled - but i learned to lift it up quickly when it does. My biggest issue was getting to not tilt to the left - had to keep adjusting, that right side on the 3pt - and it would keep getting undone (even after setting the lock nut).

I am curious what a bigger tractor would have done - my biggest obstacle was maneuvering around the stumps and all the ruts i kept getting into. After all that it will need stump removal still and grading (alot of work). Contemplating to 1) Either get a bigger tractor 2) Skid steer (compact track loader) or 3) Mini excavator. This specific part was previously timbered - so lots of stumps every 10 ft or so... some pine stumps some of them are just monstrous.

 

[jwolfet]

It's not new anymore!

But, yes these little tractors can get a lot done!

Backing into stuff with the tail wheel high can get some stubborn stuff down, just let it chew it up, everything doesn't need to be cut down to only a few inches the first go round ... Second time around when you can see better will make a huge improvement!

ETA - If the stumps aren't where you plan to build a building or driveway, and if the stumps are less than 3"-4" tall, I'd just run over them, or chainsaw them down to that level, yes it will be "bumpy" if a tire goes over them, but the brush hog should clear them ...

I've read they make a chemical "stump remover" that you just drill some holes or cut slots in the top of the stumps, and over time they rot, much faster than naturally ... Then a root ripper could probably get the rest of it out ...

The stuff over about 1.25" you can chainsaw, or if not to much bigger a set of pruning loppers will get them out of the way!

thats where i kept having to be careful .. once i cut down a small tree - it's not down to the ground - thats what caught my floor board and caused that ding.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

How much area are you planning to clear? I've dug a few of those big pine stumps, but it takes an hour or more. Then you have the issue of disposal. If the stumps have to come up, an excavator - not necessarily a mini - is probably best.

I bought the L35 to maintain trails and do small projects in my retirement. The biggest project was clearing lots for a shop and future house, only had to remove a few big stumps and lots of little stuff. And trenching for the electric service. Then the January ice storm hit and there was more than I ever anticipated to do.

 

[jwolfet]

How much area are you planning to clear? I've dug a few of those big pine stumps, but it takes an hour or more. Then you have the issue of disposal. If the stumps have to come up, an excavator - not necessarily a mini - is probably best.

I bought the L35 to maintain trails and do small projects in my retirement. The biggest project was clearing lots for a shop and future house, only had to remove a few big stumps and lots of little stuff. And trenching for the electric service. Then the January ice storm hit and there was more than I ever anticipated to do.

About 7 acres looks like this - the other bit on this property is just raw land that hasn't been timbered. I want it all cleared my goal is to setup a workshop/barn then i'll look into some other goals I have. I was contemplating just hiring out and having a good operator with a mulcher + skid steer clear it up worry about digging up stumps later. The stumps are one thing - but the ruts and amount of logs/branches left behind after they timbered is unreal. I found myself moving existing remanents of logs/branches among the ones I created to only move it again. Was alot of work just clearing up what I did - if the land was graded better and less rutted - it would have been atleast more straight forward - nearly messed up my ankle just walking around.

 

[Sidekick]

Renting a commercial stump grinder is always an option if you're not going to build there. Amazing what a bx is capable of getting done.

 

[jwolfet]

Renting a commercial stump grinder is always an option if you're not going to build there. Amazing what a bx is capable of getting done.

It will do just about anything it seems - but in smaller quantities and with more patience.

 

[dirtydeed]

uhhhh, it would appear to me that the correct tool for the job is sitting to the right of a shed in pic number 3.

Just sayin'

 

[jwolfet]

uhhhh, it would appear to me that the correct tool for the job is sitting to the right of a shed in pic number 3.

Just sayin'

thats the neighbors - unfortunately not mine. Neither is the shed (that was the outer edge of my property. I found out today that stump drilling actually exists - seems to me a skid steer would be better suited - a dozer would create a mess (all the crap would need to make it somewhere eventually).

 

[cliffboyer]

My first tractor was a gray market 27hp (23hp @ pto) Iseki, no loader. Was paired with a 48" Landpride brush cutter. Took a little time with the 3 acre field, but perfect for in the woods between trees. Great little machine, built like a tank. Smaller and somewhat unrefined compared to the L3301 and 60" cutter that replaced it, but did what was asked and never let me down.

A smaller platform with the cojones to do some work is a good thing.