Cab glass protection from trimming limbs

[imarobot]

I tried out my flail mower in the vertical position to trim back small branches along the edge of my field. The thing chops limbs into pieces but sometimes they get thrown forward and hit the back and corner windows of the cab.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to protect the glass and how to mount it?
I really don't want to be drilling holes in the tractor and I still want to be able to open the windows. Also need to be able to see what's going on back there to make sure to see what I'm cutting.
Something to temporality install for only when doing this cutting is what I'm thinking.

 

[jyoutz]

I tried out my flail mower in the vertical position to trim back small branches along the edge of my field. The thing chops limbs into pieces but sometimes they get thrown forward and hit the back and corner windows of the cab.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to protect the glass and how to mount it?
I really don't want to be drilling holes in the tractor and I still want to be able to open the windows. Also need to be able to see what's going on back there to make sure to see what I'm cutting.
Something to temporality install for only when doing this cutting is what I'm thinking.

How about some kind of shield on the mower, not the glass?

 

[imarobot]

How about some kind of shield on the mower, not the glass?

It has metal plates that pivot. Maybe I could put something to keep them from pivoting, but I think that may damage them as they run into branches.
With the mower horizontal they keep grass from shooting out the front of the mower but stay hanging down.
In the vertical position they move in or out allowing wood chunks to be thrown forward.

 

[Russell King]

Maybe just add something that holds the flaps in position to protect the tractor? A set screw, magnet, clamp or such?

 

[BBFarmer]

Better be careful brother!

Several years ago my neighbor decimated his windshield and right door getting careless with a front mounted limb ninja.

Probably the most dangerous attachment I've ever been around.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Better be careful brother!

Several years ago my neighbor decimated his windshield and right door getting careless with a front mounted limb ninja.

Probably the most dangerous attachment I've ever been around.

^^^^^^ This^^^^^

Cab glass, and eye surgery is expensive. Hurts a lot.

Maybe the verticle usage isn't worth it?

Maybe... Buy a hand held large hedge hedge trimmer, (5/8") and hire the local farm boy.
Buy goggles, a Stihl helmet and face flip down, and a dust mask for him.... Cheaper in the long run. Pay him a couple hundy... you will be saving $.

 

[BBFarmer]

^^^^^^ This^^^^^

Cab glass, and eye surgery is expensive. Hurts a lot.

Maybe the verticle usage isn't worth it?

Maybe... Buy a hand held large hedge hedge trimmer, (5/8") and hire the local farm boy.
Buy goggles, a Stihl helmet and face flip down, and a dust mask for him.... Cheaper in the long run. Pay him a couple hundy... you will be saving $.

I agree.

It does an excellent job leveled out low and slow.

But with that thing angled up 5 6 or so feet off the ground. Stuff flies everywhere. More than just debris to. It slings large chunks of wood shrapnel right back towards you.

I know the flail mounted behind you isn't quite so bad. But still gotta be very cautious.

 

[jaxs]

I tried out my flail mower in the vertical position to trim back small branches along the edge of my field. The thing chops limbs into pieces but sometimes they get thrown forward and hit the back and corner windows of the cab.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to protect the glass and how to mount it?
I really don't want to be drilling holes in the tractor and I still want to be able to open the windows. Also need to be able to see what's going on back there to make sure to see what I'm cutting.
Something to temporality install for only when doing this cutting is what I'm thinking.

That is called "keeping your cake and eating it to".
The solution calls for "breaking some eggs if you want omelets".
Look at shields on tractors used to mow roadsides for ideas adaptable to your situation. You will have to drill some holes.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I would try security PET plastic window film. It's cheap, easy and a do it yourself afternoon job.

The stuff I use is supposed to protect against hammer attacks by making glass 15x stronger than without the film added.

 

[BBFarmer]

Look at shields on tractors used to mow roadsides for ideas adaptable to your situation. You will have to drill some holes.

A must have.

Our county uses some decent size new hollands, think they're T5's or T6's, with the offset ditch cutters.

They have mesh guards that hang off the right side of the tractor. Pretty impressive counter weights off the left rear rim to.

Never seen one of them with any busted glass.

 

[jyoutz]

I agree.

It does an excellent job leveled out low and slow.

But with that thing angled up 5 6 or so feet off the ground. Stuff flies everywhere. More than just debris to. It slings large chunks of wood shrapnel right back towards you.

I know the flail mounted behind you isn't quite so bad. But still gotta be very cautious.

The woods operators who do mastication (mulching) have steel mesh cages to protect them from flying wood chunks, not a glass cab.

 

[imarobot]

Better be careful brother!

Several years ago my neighbor decimated his windshield and right door getting careless with a front mounted limb ninja.

Probably the most dangerous attachment I've ever been around.

I can believe, when that thing hits a branch it's like the branch explodes!

 

[imarobot]

The woods operators who do mastication (mulching) have steel mesh cages to protect them from flying wood chunks, not a glass cab.

And that's what I'm trying to figure out how to do.

 

[Russell King]

You might be able to build a thick plexiglass cage around the rear and hang it from the cab? Maybe some of those pump up suction cups to hold onto the glass and attach the cage to. But put a cushion between the plastic and suction cup.

 

[Spam Bot]

3M makes some extreme glass protection products. They might not save the glass, but they will save you from the shattered pieces of glass. They add both protection from the sun if that is what you want, and also protect you from broken glass. Some of the demonstrations that I have seen show that they add strength to the glass aside from breakage protection.

Ultimate Security Window Film Durability Test: Punch, Bat, and Hammer | ROLLerUP

How tough is the ROLLerUP security window film? We put it through a full durability test, including an emergency window punch, a baseball bat, and a hammer. ...

www.youtube.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y5H1WDB?pd_rd_i=B09Y5H1WDB&pf_rd_p=c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&pf_rd_r=X9QKHR8NF9XWPTR1T15M&pd_rd_wg=1xX6g&pd_rd_w=QBoE0&pd_rd_r=0e6861c3-d9cb-4f0a-9646-d0b783913739&th=1

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Attach polycarb ( LEXAN) with Velcro strips. That's what SWAT shields are made of, dang near bulletproof.

 

[imarobot]

You might be able to build a thick plexiglass cage around the rear and hang it from the cab? Maybe some of those pump up suction cups to hold onto the glass and attach the cage to. But put a cushion between the plastic and suction cup.

I was thinking maybe some sort of plexi-glass that would stop a bullet, or maybe 1/2" screen which I could bend around the side to cover that glass too.
From looking at the rear window hinge it looks like I could fabricate something to use the hinge bolts to attach the top of the shield. Suction cups is a good idea to hold the bottom in place, and maybe the top too.
Or maybe I need a tank...

 

[imarobot]

3M makes some extreme glass protection products. They might not save the glass, but they will save you from the shattered pieces of glass. They add both protection from the sun if that is what you want, and also protect you from broken glass. Some of the demonstrations that I have seen show that they add strength to the glass aside from breakage protection.

Ultimate Security Window Film Durability Test: Punch, Bat, and Hammer | ROLLerUP

How tough is the ROLLerUP security window film? We put it through a full durability test, including an emergency window punch, a baseball bat, and a hammer. ...

www.youtube.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y5H1WDB?pd_rd_i=B09Y5H1WDB&pf_rd_p=c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&pf_rd_r=X9QKHR8NF9XWPTR1T15M&pd_rd_wg=1xX6g&pd_rd_w=QBoE0&pd_rd_r=0e6861c3-d9cb-4f0a-9646-d0b783913739&th=1

Cool stuff, but I'm trying to keep it from breaking.