Bush hog and saplings

My question is: How large of a sapling can I cut with it? The 'hog is not a very heavy duty unit (jd 503), but has shear pins and rotating blades with front safty chains.

I need to cut clumps of about 20 saplings in a 3-4' diameter all saplings smaller than 1-1.5" in dia.

Thanks in advance- I'm a little new to the aspect of mowing brush!

Pat

• Warning for first time brush hoggers

Pat

First be safe, you can get into a real mess brush hogging TAKE YOUR TIME!!

I cut with a WD Allis Chalmers ( 35 HP) , 5 foot woods with longer blades. Front tires need fixed from time to time , not too offen do the back go down. Watch for junk, that is the biggest thing that is hard on the tires.

I would not run the brush hog too low to the ground. Hit stumps etc. and ground, hard one the blades etc.

Use grade 5 sheer bolts or softer , maybe run at 3/4 speed ( throtlle ) (sp) . Better to stall the tractor than to brake your hog.

Watch your self on hill sides.

I cut up too 3'' ( base ball bat size) trees thats about as big as I can go, thats for locust and oaks single trees. Maybe a little bigger for sassafas( sp) and softer wood. Broom handle size should be no big deal, thats what they should be made for; Brush Hog.

Greese and check the equipment make sure guards are in place , wear glasses . Maybe back over the bigger brush. Run trees over with the back tire or track first .

Have a Good One !!

Punchie

I feel much better knowing it has been done before and that it won't hurt anything. I like to get work done, but do not like destoying the "wrong tool" while doing it!

The little crawler also has brush screens to keep the most flying pieces and briars at bay, as well as keeping the paint ON my rubber tired tractors!

I can't wait to get started- souds like a slow project, but hey- what could be better than spending time on a tractor!!!

Thanks again to all, Pat

I reconditioned about 5-8 acres of very overgrown pasture with an old 8N tractor (about 27 hp) and a fairly light 5' no-name brush hog.

Chopped up many saplings the size you said without any problems...didn't even break a shear pin for a long while. Over the course of a year or so, I got more and more overconfident. Not sure at what point they became 'too big,' but it was definitely just fine to 1.5". As everyone said, go slow to keep the hog's blade speed up, and take partial passes if need be.

Tom

Go SLOW, and I would cut them down low....The lower the better, so you don't leave stumps sticking up... BUT---you don't want to go over too much stuff at once...take a partial swipe, if you have to.....and wear a heavy coat and hat..!! Those chains may not stop all the pieces....!!! SHARP blades are the key....will cut much better, with less power....and wear and tear...!! I like to use Moly grease, or Spray on Graphite on the blade pivots... A PTO slip-clutch--set to just hold, but able to slip enough to take the shock out will protect the driveline... Cutting saplings is hard on these mowers, but they will do it...!! Live power take-off is a real help, here..!!

I'll let you all know how it goes!!
thanks, Pat