Compact harvester - best base machine (excavator)?

[Big J]

I'm specialising in the new year with my business, focusing on young woodland management. I don't like clearfells and the hardwood market is buggered with the ash dieback. I want to do first and early second softwood thinnings, of which there is a fair bit around here, especially in West Devon. 

 

I'm going around in circles trying to find a decent 2 hand harvester that is compact. Vimeks lack power, Malwa are too expensive, Rottne H8 and Sampo Rosenlew are bigger machines and also quite expensive. 

 

So, I'm thinking about getting a 5 tonne class excavator converted. I haven't decided on what head I'd want, but looking at the JCB specs (not set on JCB at all, just first one that sprang to mind), they have decent oil flow (126l/min), sufficient for running a proper head. 5t rather than 8t is preferred due to the 2m track width. 

 

Which base machine would you recommend? I have a decent amount of excavator experience, but not in the forestry sector. I'd ask someone like RJ ****************es or FMS to convert it. Total build cost on a new machine is likely to only be about £75k, which is similar to a 12k hour Sampo. 

 

Any help much appreciated.

 

Edit: Very amusing that the super sensitive censor blanks out RJ F U K E S!! ?

Edited October 2, 2020 by Big J

[monkeybusiness]

Check the hydraulic pressure the various machines run at/deliver. It makes significant difference to performance of some attachments (and may be tweakable, but will void any warranty). It’s not all about flow rate.
I’d also speak to John Craig (JCC) - he is apparently the oracle when it comes to diggers/forestry. 
And you also want to look at machines with decent clearance below the track frame, and decent clearance between the tracks and upper structure. These can both be improved upon but it is not easy or cheap! 

Edited October 2, 2020 by monkeybusiness

[gdh]

Are you putting a tree shear or harvester head on? Takeuchi are good and there's a big stock in JDS which is less than an hour from ****************es 

[Big J]

20 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Check the hydraulic pressure the various machines run at/deliver. It makes significant difference to performance of some attachments (and may be tweakable, but will void any warranty). It’s not all about flow rate.
I’d also speak to John Craig (JCC) - he is apparently the oracle when it comes to diggers/forestry. 
And you also want to look at machines with decent clearance below the track frame, and decent clearance between the tracks and upper structure. These can both be improved upon but it is not easy or cheap! 

Very useful. Many thanks! The JCB seems to be coming out top on flow rates, but I do need to check pressures. 

I'll make some calls on Monday and try to expand my knowledge on the topic. Because it's a very small machine, I'd be limited to small heads. The Jobo ST50 combi would work well here, having roller feed for cleaner timber and stroke feed for the crappy stuff. 

I need to explore a few more first thinning blocks in the area too to determine what the average ground conditions are like as that'll inform the base machine choice, should I go ahead.

[Mrblue5000]

Felix might do the job

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANRhHYZmC4

 

Like all these machines it'll be well worn out before it's paid for IMHO

 

 

 

[MattyF]

I would give FMS an email and ask what they would run as they have enough of them in and out of there workshop to have an idea what would suit best .
I know someone who had a conversion and head done but had no end of problems with the base machine he had picked up himself overheating!

[kernowstu]

SPECIALIST PLANT SOUTH WEST LTD

Nanjeath Farm Lanjeth
St Austell
PL26 7TN CORNWALL

Mail : [email protected]
Tel. : +44 7876022122

 

You try go second hand Mecalac hell of a machine 

[Big J]

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. All really interesting.

 

I love the look of the Felix machines and I've seen the Mecalac machines before - I doubt I'd be able to afford one, but they are brilliant.

 

I'll get in touch with FMS and Specialist Pant SW on Monday  

[Elmsdown Forestry]

Look to Austria for some examples they use a lot of tractor bases for small heads. Nisula make some good small thinning machines and heads they use on valtras. 
There is a nisula 325h on a kobelco sk55 conversion on you tube not sure how it would handle second thinnings though. Nisula also make the N5 purpose built.  
When I looked at a conversion Kobelco seemed to be a very good option  price and flow where good and Molsons had stock machines and have done conversions on other brands. 

 

 

[Big J]

45 minutes ago, Elmsdown Forestry said:

Look to Austria for some examples they use a lot of tractor bases for small heads. Nisula make some good small thinning machines and heads they use on valtras. 
There is a nisula 325h on a kobelco sk55 conversion on you tube not sure how it would handle second thinnings though. Nisula also make the N5 purpose built.  
When I looked at a conversion Kobelco seemed to be a very good option  price and flow where good and Molsons had stock machines and have done conversions on other brands. 

 

 

I don't really fit in tractors (too tall), so it's not much of an option for me. 

I really like the look of the Nisula 325h - I was watching videos about them last night. As regards second thinnings, I like working alongside a cutter anyway, so can always get them to fell the larger trees as required. 

 

I'll have a look at the Kobelco....