LGP Eddie

Not as simple as that unfortunately. All depends on what pressure the return lines can spike to and what the rating of the motor seal is. Eddie.

Returning down the main returns, plenty of options with a case drain if you know what you’re doing. Eddie.

I took a look over this getting its head bracket made/installed, these are going to be a game changer. Priced right, light and straightforward hold then big cut. It’s under an Engcon here but no need to be. Exactly what many are after to just stick on a Hired 13 tonner, hit them at the bottom and job done. Eddie.

Lovely Hydradig showing off some impressive stability handling this Dipper Extension setup. Despite the floatation tyres it looks just soft enough where it’s working. Massive Arb machine potential in these, I’d love to do one full spec. Eddie.

That Kubota was setup different to most with what John and myself would call a full fat install. Basically the two single auxiliary circuits are actually plumbed up to be combined into a single circuit running through two pipes each side of the Dipper for maximum flow, and return. You can do this because it now has a control system and only needs a single flow/return to the Engcon valve block, where the control system will decide how it’s utilised. That means the flow goes into the Ec-Oil Blocks via two 1/2” pipes which matches the twin 1/2” fittings in them and returns the same. This makes for a very tidy install and is easily capable of handling the 100ltr/min the Kubota puts out. Back then you’d not get the full 100ltr/min through the Ec209 Unit by some margin to run a Mulcher underneath the unit, but further developments have meant if you specced it right and John worked a bit of his magic I’d expect it could be done now. If you’re prepared to go Direct Mount only on an 8 tonner, you can go with the Ec214 for more flow through the Unit than you can possibly achieve with the machine at 140 plus ltr/min. You offset having the bigger unit by not having a top quick hitch, and you’d be fine with some of the lighter Mulchers. The FAE there in 1.25m width would simply be too heavy under a unit on an 8 tonner. The latest generation of Engcon coming this year will finally have a circuit that bypasses the valve block and will give around 200 ltr/min through the Unit, which should finally be enough for almost any applications. Some still massively confuse flow with pressure, but basically flow gives you the speed and pressure gives you the power. Guys who fit Shears to any machines under 8 tonne, get your Pressure checked and in many instances a small tweak is all that’s required up to the Shear suppliers recommended pressure for an incredible increase in cut capacity. Generally 8 tonne and up they’re pushing enough out. Eddie.

Plenty of room for improvement, but a great start. The real test will come at Bauma show next week, three years on from it’s launch. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone goes down the same route of everything down below construction on another Wheeled Excavator and takes it to them head on. Eddie.

Some images of a superb JCB Hydradig setup and this really demonstrates the ridiculous situation we have in the UK at present, being one of the few markets that can’t legally tow a Trailer behind Wheeled Excavator. It’s a tiny piece of legislation that’s genuinely holding back progress. Full Tiltrotator equipped Wheeled Excavators are ultra versatile, and need their attachments with them. As for braking, couplings etc, it’s all there for other markets, tested and proven, ready to go. They should be allowed to carry attachments only, and materials whilst within the confines of a site or closure. Towing fixed axle Plant like a Compressor or even Powered Chipper should be included, but not Plant on Trailers to keep things simple and prevent abuse. Lovely setup. Eddie.

For those that haven’t seen the Denis Cimaf Head, what actual sharps can do, or see some great footage of how a VT Motor simply holds in longer and spins back up instantaneously, even on standard carrier machines, this is a great video. The simple fact is it’s not going to like ploughing in the ground or smashing the back out of Rhodie roots you’ve turned over. It is however the closest to having a chipper on the end as you’ll get. We figured, one of these in first to clear the way to just above ground, making a very easy job for a Tracked Skidsteer following which hate standing trees, would be a really productive team. The FAE, with sharps is as close as you can get whilst still able to do a reasonable amount of ground engagement for an all round machine. Oh and that Petrol Grinder they give you!?? Eddie.

Simplest answer is the Variable Torque Motor is always trying to get the maximum from the flow available itself, no settings to make, just give it what you’ve got in terms of oil from the carrier machine. The bit to be concerned with is it holds on an awful lot longer when in material by producing more torque, and this translates into the ability to almost eliminate a stall situation when operating. However if you do pull the head speed right down, the recovery time is literally instantaneous, which all put together over the course of a shift make a huge difference. I waited a couple of weeks to get my version and had to put a very good client who I was part way through a large Rhodie clearance on hold. However once the new Head was Installed with VT Motor they came to me after around three days and said if we didn’t actually know you’d switched the head on the machine, we could accuse you of tossing it off on your last visit, such is the production increase! This was actually install day, first time this had ever been done through Ec-Oil with no hoses or wires to connect. It had doubters but went on and is still performing perfectly to this day. The doors are controlled by the rollers in the Joysticks that normally do the Tilt and Rotate, with the actual Mulcher activated via a latching on/off button on the Joystick. Its actually only being fed here from a tiny bit of flow that’s coming from the feeder valve for the Engcon unit to activate the door, but you can see/hear how crisp it is. Totally different when you turn her up flat out and press the actual joystick button for full flow, it really flew then! Still be a good setup today.? Playing for the camera!? Eddie.

I've run fixed carbide on tractor mounted mulchers but I've had a few people say and probably rightly that the size machine we are running won't cope with fixed teeth as takes a lot more power. If I was going 8ton class I'd definitely go solid but don't think a 2.6 will be up to it even going steady The most essential thing these days I’d to try and spec a Variable Torque Motor. I had a straightforward 30 percent increase in productivity when switching from standard, literally night and day. Eddie.

In that application you can’t beat having something fixed and preferably sharp. I’ve always run sharps in preference to carbides, it’s the old saying you’d not try and cut wood with a hammer when you have an axe, and I suppose you could say you wanted that axe to have a good solid shaft, not broken with the head flopping about, hence Fixed tooth. The closest I suppose you could get to a chipper on a machine is the Denis Cimaf type setup, but everything contacts something it shouldn’t at some time, and those really sharp teeth aren’t going to like it! I found on my FAE I would get around 60 days on a set of the sharp teeth including reversing them. They give good performance throughout and then went on to cut any grass etc through the summer perfectly when absolutely blunt. All this is based on Excavator with Mulcher Heads where you have limited power to play with and can come down on the material and minimise ground contact. Carbides are essential in most other carriers due to the amount of ground engaging they do. If he was running Y flails then yes they’ll be a lot less effective than some good heavy boot flails. Eddie.

Video from my friend Matt out in the USA, showing a comparison between his regular Flail and Fixed tooth Mulcher on his 5 tonne Kubota setup. A really nice touch on the Fixed tooth Mulcher is an small Hydraulic Thimb setup on the back of it which is ideal for moving material about. You can see the difference Fixed tooth brings in such applications, also the fact they show a lot more face to the material makes it easier to cut down tops or work your way into things like Rhodies. One thing I always found, when you work your way down to what is generally the point of refusal, and then have to start taking stabs for the last bit, between allowing the rotor to spin up, go down lower and work upwards on the side of the material to reduce its diameter and then come down on it again. This helps prevent the long strands splitting off as you’re working on something solid. Again the larger face or opening door of the Fixed tooth type allow this, where a Flail you’re stuck with nibbling straight down. https://youtu.be/9123UzXn6Es Eddie.

Just get a Unimog and use that magic legislation dissolving white diesel in it!? This has taken some time, but finally Gregor McArthur and John Craig came together to install my new Mecanil SG280 Felling Head. I’ve run someone else’s Mecanil for them on all sorts of carriers, and done a lot of work in getting tweaks/mods sorted, eventually getting them Factory done into this latest version for myself. This setup is done so it runs through the SVAB Joysticks in the cab, no additional pedals or buttons are required to be installed, which transmits via radio remote to the head, allowing continuous 360 Operation. It would of had a top quick hitch and the whole setup done through the Engcon Ec-Oil system so I didn’t even need to get out of the cab to install it, but experience has shown, you mainly leave the head on for long periods, the weight saving is essential on this carrier machine and it’s about the equivalent of changing a breaker on a JCB 3cx in terms of time, so no real hassle. Hopefully this combined with the Engcon/TMK setup it already has, should make it a fair weapon. Eddie.

Stick with it J, I used to really specialise in sites that needed solutions with the absolute minimum of impact, the money generated from the Timber generally of little consequence. I take my hat off to commercial Forestry, stunning kit, highly skilled Operators and I must say from what I’ve seen some really tidy sites about these days on some really challenging terrain. However there’s a place for small kit, absolutely minimal mess and working to an entirely different ethos to simply commercial considerations. Best advice crack on and keep under the radar! Had some great jobs and worked with many fantastic guys who’ve brought all kinds of skills, and laughs!? Eddie.

This really is little bigger than a Transit, certainly a nice solution. Eddie.

Do the necessary and enjoy doing the job in comfort instead of dragging the arse out of a pickup with some trailer that’s never been maintained since the day it was built. Not for everyone but an impressive compact solution. Eddie.

Yes I believe it’ll carry 3.5 and tow 3.5. It’s size was something done in a nice colour could, with a dropside and flat floor kit, could literally be a daily drive too. Eddie.

I should have written down all the various weights John quoted me for this Iveco, it certainly had me scratching my head, that this thing no bigger than a double cab Transit was ok for carrying 3.5 tonne? Apparently it’s legal with a U35 Kubota on it! Fair setup.? No it’s not got a fifth wheel onto that trailer! Eddie.

Yes the Tracks have been lengthened. It’s been built to a very specific spec as I wanted it to be exactly 2.9 metres wide with 700mm pads and rubber blocks for roadside work, so no movement order required making transport cheaper and more convenient. Its going to put setups twice the money in the shade Roadside with 13 metre reach, Engcon and TMK with Turbo Ram and Collector coming together to produce a very fast setup for smaller material. There’s another completely different setup for it being fitted today that will give it another dimension altogether. When in full LGP mode with the 1200mm pads it works out just under 3.4 metres wide which is basically the same as my previous Kobelco. Experience has shown that’s the maximum you’d want to go to for a balance of ease of transport and generally accessing gates etc. To achieve this and better vision working over hedges/fences or down slopes it’s had a 9” lift too. You sit higher in this than the Liebherr with the cab down. John and his team have done a fantastic job given the exacting spec and no there’s really little tolerance to play with! Credit to Adrian at Cabcare for producing me a one off Certified Cab Guard for the JS145 with a top section of the front screen grille that can be unbolted for an unobstructed view when on Bucket work. Eddie.

Just a snippet that shows John Craig at the controls dialling in the Engcon Ec209 with the SVAB controls. This actually has the latest Intermercato TG25 SR5 Grab, specced by myself and converted to Ec-Oil by Jcc Group for a no hose solution. I was really torn between which grab to spec on this unit as weight is a major consideration, but this has turned out nicely. I’ll be keeping an eye on it as I’ll probably supply this to people who want a grab for the 6 tonners or a cheaper/lighter option for an 8. John really has the unit flying now! Eddie.

John took good time to setup the TMK300 which is running through the Engcon Ec209 unit via Ec-Oil, so a no hose solution. Took a fair bit of dialling in which was an eye opener, so maybe not just a case of plugging one in and go, or if you’re running one under a Tiltrotator, take the time to get your chosen installer to pay a visit with pressure gauges to dial it all in correctly. There’s a couple of great videos from a Dealer in America that explain how the TMK with collector works and a guide to setting up the timing. Once the larger portion of the Turbo Ram was coming into play, it really did deliver a blow. I’d expect that it’ll do something like 4 to 5” on the smaller/faster stroke and from what I’ve seen pretty much anything you can get in it, once the bigger portion catches up. The fact it collects automatically is fantastic compared to something like a Westtech, you just choose when to drop the bundle, press and hold the button whilst you open the jaw. Should be a real quick setup and bunch up that awkward small stuff nicely for the following chipper. Eddie.

Had a rough few weeks on the kit front, so a very welcome sight when I visited JccGroup’s yard today to see my latest build in the flesh. She’s not new, but a really nice JCB JS145 Long Reach with only 330 hrs. Loads of spec on it and a few more to go, but certainly looked the part and the initial shakedown on attachments showed it’s going in the right direction. Eddie.

Not cheap, but a rare one. Make some setup out of this. https://www.mascus.co.uk/construction/used-midi-excavators--7t---12t/takeuchi-tb290/oqwnmqsd.html Eddie

Never got around to a Trailer when I had my Kubota's but a lot of the Scandinavian guys use this method for tipping, usually just a loop of heavy wire rope. Eddie.

Get the lad on it and pay him a fair rate, but find a way he does a few and then you have a sit down to negotiate the final price per net. The lesson for him in actually weighing up all the variables and how he values his time is priceless experience at that age. Nice to hear hear the lad is keen to work and earn. Eddie