Show us your Arb Diggers please.

[LGP Eddie]

its classed as an 8 tonner but does it actually weigh that

 

It's never been weighed yet but I'd suspect something like 9.5 tonne all up with Engcon Tiltrotator fitted?

 

I think there's quite a few shots of it through this thread, but here's a few of it with different attachments.

 

 

Eddie.

[Breezeblock]

i suspected it would be quite heavy with the extra wide pads and the winch i bet it sits pretty firm on the deck what it like travelling round corners have you got to lift your feet to turn

[LGP Eddie]

i suspected it would be quite heavy with the extra wide pads and the winch i bet it sits pretty firm on the deck what it like travelling round corners have you got to lift your feet to turn

 

Most of the extra weight is in the right place low down, and the extra undercarriage width/length makes it rock solid at full capacity.

The extra length of track is really showing in soft terrain, as the shorter tracks of the previous machine would sink idler end first when things got really bad, but this machine stays level and firm.

It was actually tracking out marks made by the Tracked Dumper, and that would normally just have the edge over the excavator in floatation terms due to it's tracks ability to mould to the terrain.

 

As for turning, you can spin it on the spot if you needed to no issues, but obviously on most of my work it's the turning that makes the impact, so you tend to do it in several long moves to reduce damage.

 

Eddie.

[Stephen Blair]

That 3rd pictures makes it look like a Swiss army knife! Am amazing machine!

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Didn't know you'd had it plumbed in for a stroke head; how's it going? PITA doing the joysticks or pads?

[LGP Eddie]

Didn't know you'd had it plumbed in for a stroke head; how's it going? PITA doing the joysticks or pads?

 

Thanks Stephen, you need as many strings to your bow as you can get these days!

 

 

 

TCD, it was plumbed up for the Kesla Stroke Head from the start, but it's certainly not the normal setup??

 

I looked at the work I do and what I was aiming for, and like yourself know that you simply can't get near a roller head setup in terms of productivity, so never began to try.

I did however learn what a step up the Stroke Processor was from nothing, and having learnt a huge amount from the experience decided to take things to the next level.

 

The Kesla was purchased used through Wilson's, and I was truly delighted when I collected it, as it really is a nice unit.

It was then sent up to John Craig at JCC Engcon to be incorporated into the Kubota build, but here's where it starts to differ from the norm?

 

The Kubota is blessed with a very trick SVAB control unit for the Engcon, which in real terms is able to be expanded many many times adding more and more functions as you go.

How John Craig managed it is beyond me, but in simple terms the Kesla is mounted via the Engcon EC-Oil quick hitch system including electrics.

This means basically I can go from say the Engcon or FAE Mulching Head to a fully functioning Harvesting Head in around 15 seconds without leaving the cab!

 

However it was always my intention not to have any form of measuring system, I simply don't want the complexity or have any need for the accuracy in my applications.

This allows me to have the Stroke Head running through my Engcon Joysticks, via rollers and buttons in pretty much any order I want via the SVAB.

 

It really is some setup John has done, as basically I've got all the main functions on fully proportional rollers, with buttons for the stroke and saw.

 

We have proved it works perfectly and the Kubota throws it around as though it's not there, but I've simply not had time to finish everything off.

By finish I mean having time to myself to practice enough to get consistent with it, and once I'm happy I'll get the Head fully gone through to make certain it's in A1 order.

 

i have exactly the place coming up, so I'll let you know how I get on.

 

The Nisula roller head has really caught my eye though!

325H

 

 

 

Eddie.

[Burgess]

Is the stroke head just for when you can get some useable timber out of the area your clearing in then? rather than cutting commercial woodlands or whatever.

[LGP Eddie]

Is the stroke head just for when you can get some useable timber out of the area your clearing in then? rather than cutting commercial woodlands or whatever.

 

Yes absolutely for just getting some cut to a reasonably consistent length for easier handling/stacking plus hopefully better to find a home for, but also to simply try to minimise men on saws for safety.

 

If it does show a bit of promise, the Kubota will certainly get where many can't without making a mess, and Greg can easily forward it out with the Tracked Dumper setup to back it up.

 

The basic shear has already taken a huge percentage of hand cutting away, especially in the really horrid stuff, and really can shift some work in a day.

 

Eddie.

[sjs5060]

Eddie I've 3/4 acre of small softwood I need to clear fell. Would that be somethin you fancy havin a go at with your rig?

It's too small a job for a big harvesting contractor to deal with, besides there is none round me. And the trees are that small the hand cutters can't get the tonnage out in the day to make it viable.

I'm in no mad rush so if you fancy a go at it let me know.

 

Ste

[beechwood]

Here's the one we use. Not mine owned and operated by my good friend Mark. One day, if it stays still long enough I'm going to paint it green!