Hydraulic limb saw

[D2Cat]

New project. Hydraulic powered 20" chainsaw. Drove up near Sioux City to get it. It's in like new condition. It was on an L3400.

Got the mount bracket bolted to the bucket. Measured for length of hyd hoses. Won't be long to get it completed.

 

[animals45]

What kinda of GPM is that motor lookin for ?
animal

 

[D2Cat]

7

 

[animals45]

Thanks , nice unit .
animal

 

[mikester]

Let us know how well it works!

 

[Smokeydog]

Have really enjoyed my hydraulic limb saw. Trees grow like weeds here. One of more productive and fun tools to use. It cuts fast! Clean up takes more time than cutting.

Mounted to the grapple. It Would sometimes get in the way on some of the trails cutting low. Now use a trailer mover attachment on FEL. Also reduces loader weight reaching high on my hillside farm.

Have used it both on the B26 and M59. B26 is good for tight spots but more tippy. M59 is a good platform. With the backhoe attached, the outriggers gives another axis of travel. An inch lift of the on the outrigger is 1.5’ sideways travel on the extended saw.
Be safe!

 

[D2Cat]

Have really enjoyed my hydraulic limb saw. Trees grow like weeds here. One of more productive and fun tools to use. It cuts fast! Clean up takes more time than cutting.

Mounted to the grapple. It Would sometimes get in the way on some of the trails cutting low. Now use a trailer mover attachment on FEL. Also reduces loader weight reaching high on my hillside farm.

Have used it both on the B26 and M59. B26 is good for tight spots but more tippy. M59 is a good platform. With the backhoe attached, the outriggers gives another axis of travel. An inch lift of the on the outrigger is 1.5’ sideways travel on the extended saw.
Be safe!

A year or so ago, on the other channel, I was considering what you did, build one. But I talked to the owner of the LimbHog company and started pricing out components and figuring out what I had to match up and fabricate I changed my mind. I remember letting you know about the chain oil requirement and adjustment.

The Limbinator is very similar, a bit lighter in weight, and sold with more vigor. It's available on Amazon, Northern Tool, etc.

I have a quick attach plate I could mount it on, but I thought having it further out to the side may be a benefit. If I don't like it on the bucket I may get another mount bracket and put it on the SSQA. I need two hoses 60" long, but will probably get 72" since they seem more available lately.

I appreciate your input on your fab back then. It was motivation to continue the search.

 

[mikester]

Have really enjoyed my hydraulic limb saw. Trees grow like weeds here. One of more productive and fun tools to use. It cuts fast! Clean up takes more time than cutting.

Mounted to the grapple. It Would sometimes get in the way on some of the trails cutting low. Now use a trailer mover attachment on FEL. Also reduces loader weight reaching high on my hillside farm.

Have used it both on the B26 and M59. B26 is good for tight spots but more tippy. M59 is a good platform. With the backhoe attached, the outriggers gives another axis of travel. An inch lift of the on the outrigger is 1.5’ sideways travel on the extended saw.
Be safe!

Are you running off the BH thumb circuit? Any issues with running the saw and boom or saw and stick?

I've been looking at one of these kits for making a wood processor and thought it might work well on the M59 BH

6K Products - The Simple Saw

www.6kproducts.com

 

[Smokeydog]

So far I’m using the backhoe outriggers to plumb or tilt the FEL mounted polesaw. An ability the TLB has over a skidsteer mounted saw for getting the best position. These polesaws take little skill and patience to use.

Did get a SSQA adapter to fit the QA backhoe mount. Someday like to develop the option of using the limb saw or auger on the backhoe. Believe the BH thumb has the same flow as the 3rd function. Did modify the BH thumb to operate with both hand and foot controls.

Can cut ~2” springy limbs with using the loader hydraulics. Bigger limbs must rely on the hinged weight of the saw cutting down. With Hydraulics you can’t feel how much your are pressing.

The automatic harvester cutoff saws have restrictors, pressure relief and/or timing to control saw travel or pressure. Another contributor made a chainsaw to cut what his backhoe a thumb grabbed.

 

[Jchonline]

Cant imagine how hard it woudl be to position the machine correctly on a limb to cut. I have a hard enough time with a handheld gas pole saw!

 

[mikester]

So far I’m using the backhoe outriggers to plumb or tilt the FEL mounted polesaw. An ability the TLB has over a skidsteer mounted saw for getting the best position. These polesaws take little skill and patience to use.

Did get a SSQA adapter to fit the QA backhoe mount. Someday like to develop the option of using the limb saw or auger on the backhoe. Believe the BH thumb has the same flow as the 3rd function. Did modify the BH thumb to operate with both hand and foot controls.

Can cut ~2” springy limbs with using the loader hydraulics. Bigger limbs must rely on the hinged weight of the saw cutting down. With Hydraulics you can’t feel how much your are pressing.

The automatic harvester cutoff saws have restrictors, pressure relief and/or timing to control saw travel or pressure. Another contributor made a chainsaw to cut what his backhoe a thumb grabbed.

I've been debating between making a log shear attachment or getting a chainsaw head. The base chainsaw head units are fully manual hence low flow requirements. I'm trying to remember if the thumb circuit takes priority over the stick or boom - I think the stick loses out. The shear would be cheaper for me to fab but heavier for the BH. I'd like to be able to cut 8-12 inch diameter limbs as high as I can reach.

The negative with the shear is me ending up twisting my BH or even flipping the machine if a cut-off gets stuck in the shear head at full extension.

The negative of the saw is bending expensive parts if I'm not careful. Easily done on manual controls on a low flow machine like the M59. A 8-15 ton mini-x might be better suited for this.

 

[Smokeydog]

I've been debating between making a log shear attachment or getting a chainsaw head. The base chainsaw head units are fully manual hence low flow requirements. I'm trying to remember if the thumb circuit takes priority over the stick or boom - I think the stick loses out. The shear would be cheaper for me to fab but heavier for the BH. I'd like to be able to cut 8-12 inch diameter limbs as high as I can reach.

The negative with the shear is me ending up twisting my BH or even flipping the machine if a cut-off gets stuck in the shear head at full extension.

The negative of the saw is bending expensive parts if I'm not careful. Easily done on manual controls on a low flow machine like the M59. A 8-15 ton mini-x might be better suited for this.

How high?

6-8” is pretty easy with a hydraulic polesaw. A 6” limb cuts in about 2-3 seconds. I used 12gpm motor. Still works good on the 7gpm B26.

I can see some reach capability use the backhoe. On the FEL can quickly go down a fence row or road. HST is really a must.

 

[mikester]

How high?

6-8” is pretty easy with a hydraulic polesaw. A 6” limb cuts in about 2-3 seconds. I used 12gpm motor. Still works good on the 7gpm B26.

I can see some reach capability use the backhoe. On the FEL can quickly go down a fence row or road. HST is really a must.

As high and as far as I can reach with the BH! Too many leaning trees and drooping branches I can't reach with my pole saw.

Do you have a model/part number on your saw motor? I'm wondering if it's the same European manufacturer as in the link I gave

 

[Smokeydog]

Www.surplus center.com

Parker MGG, model BA1B3 $350.25
Think most polesaw manufacturers use a version of this motor line.

24.5’ reach.

 

[Smokeydog]

D2cat please review your experience once you get your saw going. I’m sure there is some differences depending on the manufacturer. Limb hog specs and design look the best. Surprised how well it performs. Cuts fast! Managed to bend two saw bars in learning new skills. Bars are going to be part of the consumables. My saw is a little longer and twice as heavy.

 

[D2Cat]

Will do. I ordered hoses and couplings from Surplus Center yesterday.

My idea was to trim fence lines and lower some limbs to clear round baler and tractor canopy. I shouldn't need to go as high as you demonstrate!!

 

[D2Cat]

Spend a couple of hours learning the movements required for trimming limbs. Not too difficult, but I wouldn't want to use this saw without an HST tractor. Proper alignment is critical and would be real time consuming with a standard transmission.

 

[Jchonline]

Spend a couple of hours learning the movements required for trimming limbs. Not too difficult, but I wouldn't want to use this saw without an HST tractor. Proper alignment is critical and would be real time consuming with a standard transmission.

Yes I have no doubt. Glad you were able to maneuver it around.

 

[D2Cat]

Cant imagine how hard it woudl be to position the machine correctly on a limb to cut. I have a hard enough time with a handheld gas pole saw!

Oh, this is much easier to position then a hand held gas saw extended to full length!!!!

 

[Jchonline]

Oh, this is much easier to position then a hand held gas saw extended to full length!!!!

Not in my woods with rocks, juniper, aspens aplumb. No way I could get the tractor into some spots let alone maneuver it just right to cut a branch! I bet it is great in open areas though.