This thread started out about tracks then moved into machine selection 2 or 3 pages in. lol
I guess the title says it all. Six one way and half a dozen the other. I do a fair amount of suburb mulching but really want to get away from idiot city people. Tired of committees of blue haired women charging out and harassing me because I cut a tree down.... Have a lot of farm work lined up thinning hardwoods with a shear (a lot of overgrown post oak that will be small firewood logs) and pushing fencerows back with the mulcher. I like the wide steel track, but it would be a PITA in the burbs and I won't totally get away from that work I'm sure. The Cat bolt on rubber pads look good and are easy to replace, but I don't want to be constantly tearing them up on small sheared stumps a couple inches off the ground and changing rubber all the time. I just don't know how they last. Any thoughts?
Depends on the size of the mulcher machine/ material being mulched etc.
Can use planks of timber and rubber tires etc, to unload a steel track machine in the burbs to get it to the dirt. Still run the risk of broken tar and concrete etc.
Clipon rubber pads over steel tracks go up to 31 inches wide over steel shoes.
Can get clipons to go over rubber tracks. (there are some tough kevlar etc tracks for compact machines)
https://www.trackgrip.com/product-range/rubber-grip/
What excavator and size are you talking about ?
Cat 309
It's a Beast. Lots of good feedback. That's the exact one I'm waiting for a quote on. I'll probably go rubber. The 309 has the separate pumps. One dedicated for the mulcher two gal more than 310 4,000psi about the same. but the other pump is the same as used on the smaller ones. The 310 has a bigger main pump, longer track no swing dual cylinder. Guys say it's pretty good. Some say tracking is better while mulching in the 309
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59695/6A999971-566E-47BE-9341-29FA1D62CA34.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1632073138)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/59695/EA0EEFBB-D4F0-460D-BC03-1B0193D22F7E.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1632073137)
They say the power tilt is really nice as pictured on the first pic of the 309. It's got the hydraulic quick coupler as well. Works awesome with mulcher and buckets that can also be turned for the shovel position. Second pic is the 310 fixed boom dual cylinder
309 is the way to go if you want to do mulching and light forest work. I'm looking at putting some kind of logging head on it. Just can't find the right one. Looking at Arbro but then saw the TMK 300 and it looks like a pretty sweet tool at 1/4 the price...
Good lift capacity at 15 feet. 6,000 with blade down and over the side is 4,700
It's a solid machine and much easier to move around than a 311 or 315. Just can't figure this track thing out.
Kinda of thinking about ordering it without a thumb though... I think that would get in the way with the Arbro or TMK 300 shear. I know if I do that, I'll kick myself though...
Shearex has some really top notch stuff. Here is a excavator tree shear tree clamp for all sizes.
https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc (https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc)
Well.... I guess I'll just have to take the salesman's word for it. LOL
Quote from: Walnut Beast on September 20, 2021, 01:54:37 PM
Shearex has some really top notch stuff. Here is a excavator tree shear tree clamp for all sizes.
https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc (https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc)
If you come across any other quality shears for a 309 size machine, drop me a PM. I've been looking hard at that TMK 300. I don't know if it would shear cedar clean enough that I could sell the log as a post? I'd rather have a saw for a clean cut, but I like the TMK because it has a delimber that can also be used as a grapple. The collector looks good too. I cut a lot of Post Oak too and I don't know if that shear will be worth much for anything around 10" or more...
Sounds good. The one other unit to check out is the Yanmar 100 SV -2A. It specs out about the same and has a dedicated pump as well but probably not as nice as the next gen CAT cab. heamor.com makes some good guarding and ballistic window for the 309 if you are looking for other options besides CAT
Hearmor.com
I put their guarding on a 299. They make quality guarding.
I haven't looking at the 310. What are you gaining and losing with that one? How does the price compare?
Quote from: labradorguy on September 21, 2021, 05:47:04 PM
Quote from: Walnut Beast on September 20, 2021, 01:54:37 PM
Shearex has some really top notch stuff. Here is a excavator tree shear tree clamp for all sizes.
https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc (https://youtu.be/zeCAf6d1bCc)
If you come across any other quality shears for a 309 size machine, drop me a PM. I've been looking hard at that TMK 300. I don't know if it would shear cedar clean enough that I could sell the log as a post? I'd rather have a saw for a clean cut, but I like the TMK because it has a delimber that can also be used as a grapple. The collector looks good too. I cut a lot of Post Oak too and I don't know if that shear will be worth much for anything around 10" or more...
I'd be willing to bet most of those smaller excavators will have a lot of cooling problems well running a head no matter what it is. When we ran shear heads you'd figure on at least losing 4+ ft from the cracks.
No complaints of cooling problems on the CAT 309 and 310 with guys mulching with them all day everyday
Quote from: labradorguy on September 27, 2021, 03:35:56 PM
I haven't looking at the 310. What are you gaining and losing with that one? How does the price compare?
310 is fixed boom with two lower cylinders vs 309 swing boom. The 310 is 22,500 so just a little heavier. Tracks are a little longer I think also. The Auxiliary hydraulic on the 309 is a couple more gallons a min. About the same psi. And the 309 has the dedicated pump that the 310 doesn't but the pump is a bigger pump on the 310. I know guys that have the bigger excavators in there stable went with the 309. The only negative I heard about the 309 is a guy mulching in the mountains was on some steep grades and had trouble crawling out of some steep situations. A guy that couldn't get a 309 because of availability got a 310 and loves it for mulching. I'm still waiting on quote from my CAT guy. I bet there might not be much difference. 309 might be a little more. Let me know what your getting quoted. I know one guy that got one with two buckets around 140ish
I'm in the same boat.... 309 availability is mid-December. Could get a 310 in a couple weeks. I even looked at a Takeuchi TB290 if the Cats don't work out. Landed two great gigs 60-70k but my bigger machine is not going to work there and there is a completion date that is throwing a wrench into everything. I like buying stuff and other people paying for it, so I'm going to have to figure this out sooner than later.
@Skeans That sucks losing 4'... The hardwoods I am cutting are firewood logs so it doesn't matter, but I have buyers for all the cedar logs and 4' is a lot to lose and still make a nice post off of a small tree. I'd like to find a saw or rotating disc with a grapple on it that would work on these little machines but just can't find anything except the Arbro, Farmi stuff and have already been told that they will fall on their faces with post oak limbs... Know of anything that might work? Thanks.
@labradorguy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=28334)
There's the little logmax head but the flow of that machine is the very minimum to run that head and like I said earlier I'd be concerned about the hydraulic cooling of that machine running a head. A stroker head might work for the what you're doing but it will be slow and I'm not sure how the measuring would be.
I'm not too worried about the cooling on these. Cat designed the 309 specifically to run a mulching head at full throttle all day in all but 100 degree weather. In that climate there is an auxiliary cooler available. The high flow pump is dedicated to just the mulching head, Everything else is ran off of a different circuit.
I'll look that logmax up. Thanks!
@labradorguy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=28334)
The problem is the standard pump won't have enough flow to run that head you'd need to have it plumbed into the high flow circuit like the mulcher heads. When I talk about heat you're running two large motors at once for the feed wheels let alone the saw a harvester head will tax a machine far quicker then a mulcher. When looking at harvesters you'll see they have extra cooling packages even compared to something that's running a mulching head for that exact reason mulching is easy work on the hydraulics vs a harvester head.
I'm new to these harvester heads. I appreciate the info. Sounds like it's going to be a shear or nothing. If guess if all else fails, a person could use the TMK 300 shear on the top of the tree, run the delimber bladed up and down it to clean it up, mulch the junk, and then come through with a chain saw and take out the butt logs... idk. Ever look at that TMK 300. I can't get much info on them. Tried logmax today but it kept kicking my emails back with addresses. Doesn't look like dealer support is going to happen with that one. Sounds like it isn't an option anyway. Thanks again for the info.
Their dealer network would be through any dealership but they are owned by Komatsu. You might try calling the head office in Washington and see what they say plus they could tell you for sure if the head would work. Myself I'd skip the shear if at all possible they are that slow to work is really try a dangle head or even a Hahn head.
Call Ryan at Quality Equipment (386) 365-5951 in Florida he might be able to get you what you need. They know there stuff. They just did a Rotobec with a Huldtins grapple saw attached. That was on a grapple truck. He's at the Utility Expo now in KY if he's a little hard to get a hold of
The logmax dealer for Canada was in Moncton NB. Call the Moncton location at (506) 869-2325.
Thanks guys for the info. I will do some checking. I guess I will throw the shear out of the running. I was told by an Arbro owner to throw those size strokers out of the running as well.
A dangle saw would be great. The crap I am in though, I'm going to need some kind of delimber blades and a grapple to keep the darn log from being pushed back by the other trees right on top of my machine. I'm not going to cut white oak grade logs with anything but my Husky, so if I could just delimb and take down a 14" post oak, I would be sh__ing in tall cotton.
@labradorguy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=28334)
Have you considered something a little bit bigger and maybe made for forestry?
Quote from: Skeans1 on September 29, 2021, 09:53:43 PM
@labradorguy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=28334)
Have you considered something a little bit bigger and maybe made for forestry?
Sounds like he doesn't want anything bigger than that size. Tell me how the CAT 309 is not designed for Forestry work. It can be ordered with polycarbonate front and additional guarding. It was designed for mulching with two separate pumps. Same can be said for guys running bigger excavators. Move on up to a TimberPro or TigerCat
@Walnut Beast (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=49695)
A full setup forestry machine would comply with all of OHSA standards across the states or BC which would have a forestry cab. Next the boom would normally at least have blocks under the lift cylinders for greater lift. After which the hydraulics are ok but honestly are lacking the high flow pump is 37 gallons a minute which will barely run the smallest logmax head, let's talk about cooling next it wouldn't have enough cooling to run a head unless it's in a cool environment all the time. I do know some guys that run the forestry excavators which have the high flow pumps to run the heads with the forestry cabs most say they would swap out for a buncher style machine in the future unless they are doing road work as well. What about the undercarriage how will survive doing forestry work? Ground clearance on most of those minis is something that's not considered very often or swing power.
Have you ever seen something like a Neuson harvester they are a purpose built track harvester that's almost as small as the 309.
I know nothing about the the harvester stuff 😂. For that stuff it seems pretty limited for that size of machine for sure
Labradorguy I was thinking of you. A guy was looking for a feller buncher on a pretty big job with oak, walnut and other stuff pretty big where he was mulching. A friend recommended getting a disc mulcher. In a few seconds you can drop some big trees. He does it everyday. He has some pictures and videos where he dropped some 30 and 40" trees really fast. Some ideas
Quote from: Skeans1 on September 29, 2021, 09:53:43 PM
@labradorguy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=28334)
Have you considered something a little bit bigger and maybe made for forestry?
I have bigger stuff but I need something small for residential work. Can't roll into the burbs with a Cat 538 on a lowboy. People don't like seeing those working in their backyards either. :D
I don't know of anyone making a forestry machine that would work.
Quote from: Walnut Beast on September 30, 2021, 10:39:55 PM
Labradorguy I was thinking of you. A guy was looking for a feller buncher on a pretty big job with oak, walnut and other stuff pretty big where he was mulching. A friend recommended getting a disc mulcher. In a few seconds you can drop some big trees. He does it everyday. He has some pictures and videos where he dropped some 30 and 40" trees really fast. Some ideas
I was just looking at the AFE disc mulcher made just for the 309. Pretty interesting. Never ran a disc mulcher. Looks like it can do some work. I wonder how easy it is to unjam? I just put my drum over a stump and backup. Good to go. I was looking at getting the HM210 from Cat. Now I'm wondering...
I don't know enough about that head for the excavator to say one way or another. Now on your CAT 299 that's a different story. They are fast and very productive. A 8" tree down in about a half second. I would stick with the HM 210 or a drum type personally. The HM 210 is a is a FAE head and it's a good one but FAE just came out awhile back with the bite limiter head in that same size but FAE won't let CAT have it yet. Everybody that runs the bite limiter heads love them from from the small excavators to the large ones.
Never tried a bite limiter head. I saw them for the CTLs. I like the idea of it. I would really like to run one. Sometimes though, I like to spin it up and just drop it on the cedars. You're giving me all kinds of ideas here. I need more $$ LOL
Was looking at a Tak TB290 because of availability. They have some cool mulchers too. Bite limiter and regular. I really like the heel that is built onto the munchers they are selling with 290. Looks really handy. First time I saw one like that.
Yep, same drop and mash with the BL. Everything that you want always has to be expensive 😂. Guys seem to like the Tak excavator that have them. Sounds like you need it pretty soon. I talked to Ryan at Quality Equipment and he's actually got some Yanmar 100 excavators coming in. He was at the show so I didn't talk long. The Prinoth guy said that it can really run a head good. I'm going to price one out. Still waiting for the CAT quote 🙄. I talked to a guy that got one and loves it and he said he paid 108.
108 ain't bad. I'll have to look and see if we have a dealer around here. I've got a great Cat dealer very close and the Tak dealer has a good rep. I always look for dealer support. My def injector went out this summer twice and Cat gave me a loaner to keep me running for nothing. That's pretty hard to beat.
I believe I can get a 310 quicker. It looks solid. I'm not sure how important a swing boom is mulching. I mentioned a 310 early on to the dealer and they said look at the 309 instead, that it was purpose built for mulching. I do a lot of forestry work too though. IDK
I wonder if a person could put a TMK 400 on a 310? Might be a little too much.
Quote from: labradorguy on October 03, 2021, 08:45:09 AMI'm not sure how important a swing boom is mulching
I have no experience with mulching but know my stuff around excavators and i would say a swing boom would be counterproductive for mulching. the more moving parts you have the more they fall apart, especially on a high abusive application such as mulching.
i do a fair amount of ripper work with my 30to excavator and less is more. fixed mono boom, hd stick, no tilt or swing bucket adaptors,....
Quote from: labradorguy on October 03, 2021, 08:45:09 AM
108 ain't bad. I'll have to look and see if we have a dealer around here. I've got a great Cat dealer very close and the Tak dealer has a good rep. I always look for dealer support. My def injector went out this summer twice and Cat gave me a loaner to keep me running for nothing. That's pretty hard to beat.
I believe I can get a 310 quicker. It looks solid. I'm not sure how important a swing boom is mulching. I mentioned a 310 early on to the dealer and they said look at the 309 instead, that it was purpose built for mulching. I do a lot of forestry work too though. IDK
I wonder if a person could put a TMK 400 on a 310? Might be a little too much.
Sounds like you have great CAT support. I think you would be happy with the 310. For what it's worth. The guy that has the 310 ( He couldn't get the 309) said he is totally happy with it and said it has plenty of power at 75% and the stability is awesome. He said if he had to choose again. It would be the 310. No regrets. Decisions decisions 😂
Quote from: teakwood on October 03, 2021, 11:20:12 AM
Quote from: labradorguy on October 03, 2021, 08:45:09 AMI'm not sure how important a swing boom is mulching
I have no experience with mulching but know my stuff around excavators and i would say a swing boom would be counterproductive for mulching. the more moving parts you have the more they fall apart, especially on a high abusive application such as mulching.
i do a fair amount of ripper work with my 30to excavator and less is more. fixed mono boom, hd stick, no tilt or swing bucket adaptors,....
Two sides of the coin 😂. The 309 excavator that is a swing boom is designed by the engineers to specifically target the mulching sector in that machine with the two separate pumps. That's why the CAT guy was steering him to the 309. But on the other side a guy that couldn't get his hands on a 309 ended up with the 310 fixed boom and said he loves it 😂
Well, I was a senior engineer in the Global Mining group at Caterpillar in Peoria, IL and still do consulting with them, so maybe they have a soft spot for me. :)
I was the only guy in the room who could build a dragline pad or even push up a berm with a D11. I'm not sure that any of those guys (and women) even know how to start one... I was also the only mining engineer in the Global Mining Group too. Go figure.... :D :D I guess my point being... what looks good on paper to someone from Chicago who never even ran a tractor... does not necessarily transfer to the field. Man could I tell some stories about sh_t I had to clean up for Cat before they embarrassed themselves...
Teak basically said the same thing I did about the more moving parts the more trouble. I live by that motto.
On the other hand, I've gone over the 309 soup to nuts and it's a good machine. I can see the swing boom helping keep the a_s end out of trouble in a tight spot in the woods, but I can also see potential problems using it in forestry. I do like the dedicated pump, but I also like that the 310 has more fluid to help with heat dispersion and it has a top notch pump too.
To me it is a real tossup. Except for hydraulics and the swing boom, the 310 wins all the other specs if I remember right. BUT mulching is all about hydraulics.
Gone are the days of doing demos. These machines hit the lot and they are gone within a couple days if they are not already sold while sitting on the trailer.
There is not a lot of mulching feedback comparing the two (at least what I could find). If anyone wants to chime in, please do, it would be very much appreciated!
Sounds like you had/have a fun career. :)
From what I saw the Cat 309 is around 21000lb? We would mount the Logmax 3000 on thinning carriers like a Neuson/MHT 11 Tonne and wheeled carriers that were lighter.
Quote from: Dom on October 04, 2021, 07:18:53 AM
Sounds like you had/have a fun career. :)
From what I saw the Cat 309 is around 21000lb? We would mount the Logmax 3000 on thinning carriers like a Neuson/MHT 11 Tonne and wheeled carriers that were lighter.
The weight would be like the Neuson or small wheel machines but the hydraulics are really lacking to run a head like those special built machines.
Swing booms are great for digging foundations along walls and other obstacles but I would never want one for mulching. Think about the forces reacting along all of those joints on the structure. An excavator is designed for digging forces acting front to rear of machine - NOT rotational forces at the end of the stick.
I've run a mulching head on my PC200 for over 24 years. If I want the bucket bushings to remain somewhat tight, I have to rebuild every 1000-1500 hours. The stick to boom bushings also slop up fast. It's terribly hard on the machine but then again, I'll attack anything with that machine regardless of size. I have no count of trees in excess of 4' diameter that I've destroyed with that machine but it has been many.
Personally, I can't see running such small machines for mulching but that is because I don't chase residential work or tiny jobs that such a machine would be right for. Right now, my smallest machine is the Menzi Muck with a Seppi BMS-F with 45 gpm @ 5ksi. To me, this machine is painfully slow. It's hard to get used to it being so anemic in performance BUT it will access places nothing else will. Specialty markets are where the money is at. After running the 53klb PC200 with a separate powerpack (Cummins 8.3 @ 300 hp), most anything else is slow...and I like fast & efficient. Hammering out a 2'+ diameter junk tree from within the cab is nothing less than fun to me.
Keep it simple should minimize your wear and repair. Also, have you looked for used equipment in ForestryTrader for small excavator based harvesters? I've seen a number of JD120 and similar sized machines outfitted with felling equipment and already guarded up for severe service.
Quote from: Skeans1 on October 04, 2021, 08:43:58 AM
Quote from: Dom on October 04, 2021, 07:18:53 AM
Sounds like you had/have a fun career. :)
From what I saw the Cat 309 is around 21000lb? We would mount the Logmax 3000 on thinning carriers like a Neuson/MHT 11 Tonne and wheeled carriers that were lighter.
The weight would be like the Neuson or small wheel machines but the hydraulics are really lacking to run a head like those special built machines.
There's no doubt that the wheel motors demand alot of juice. I don't think it would be worthwhile to convert a excavator as the loader is not made to follow the ground like a parallel loader. Coupled with the cost of a head and computer, one needs to be quite productive. There was a Rocan T that was auctioned off a month ago, it would be a nice little machine for occasional work. Ford Versatile with NAF portal axles, coupled with a small head. Since it's essentially a tractor and I wonder if it could go down the road.
Either way, curious how this will all play out.
Powerpack on the excavator I would say your spoiled 😂. There is no doubt the more horsepower and bigger is king. But bigger is not always better. Cost to run, transport, ease of access into locations, cost of bigger ( and used if it breaks down). A friend you know Treemuncher (Tyler) disagreed with another guy recommending he forget (waste your time) with a pt 175 hp dedicated and move up to the pt 300 hp machine. His response have you run the newer ones with the sonic heads. No comparison to the older stuff plus he said he makes more money with his 175hp than he does his 300hp dedicated. Just like a new 110-120 hp skid with a bite limiter head will outperform the older smaller dedicated machines. Like I said guys that have the big excavators with mulchers have said the 309 and 310 are really good for what they can do. Like a guy said that had the 309 and mulches with it full time said, If you have a forest of only 6"+ trees it's going to be a long day
Quote from: treemuncher on October 04, 2021, 09:25:49 AM
Swing booms are great for digging foundations along walls and other obstacles but I would never want one for mulching. Think about the forces reacting along all of those joints on the structure. An excavator is designed for digging forces acting front to rear of machine - NOT rotational forces at the end of the stick.
I've run a mulching head on my PC200 for over 24 years. If I want the bucket bushings to remain somewhat tight, I have to rebuild every 1000-1500 hours. The stick to boom bushings also slop up fast. It's terribly hard on the machine but then again, I'll attack anything with that machine regardless of size. I have no count of trees in excess of 4' diameter that I've destroyed with that machine but it has been many.
Personally, I can't see running such small machines for mulching but that is because I don't chase residential work or tiny jobs that such a machine would be right for. Right now, my smallest machine is the Menzi Muck with a Seppi BMS-F with 45 gpm @ 5ksi. To me, this machine is painfully slow. It's hard to get used to it being so anemic in performance BUT it will access places nothing else will. Specialty markets are where the money is at. After running the 53klb PC200 with a separate powerpack (Cummins 8.3 @ 300 hp), most anything else is slow...and I like fast & efficient. Hammering out a 2'+ diameter junk tree from within the cab is nothing less than fun to me.
Keep it simple should minimize your wear and repair. Also, have you looked for used equipment in ForestryTrader for small excavator based harvesters? I've seen a number of JD120 and similar sized machines outfitted with felling equipment and already guarded up for severe service.
A lot of great info in one post.
Like I said, I need something a 550 can pull into the burbs. Right now I am worked at some gazillionaire's place and they hang out with the Busch family all the social elites for 200 in any direction. It's kind of a hop scotch thing... I'm not going to knock it. lol
I would look at the used market, but I get a Caterpillar employee discount. Hard to pass up.
I'm the same way about that swing boom on that little machine. I like the dedicated mulcher pump, but the 310 looks more solid.
Thanks for chiming in! Hearing from someone with so much experience is exactly what I need. I've only been doing this since 2018.
Quote from: Walnut Beast on October 04, 2021, 07:33:20 PM
Powerpack on the excavator I would say your spoiled 😂. There is no doubt the more horsepower and bigger is king. But bigger is not always better. Cost to run, transport, ease of access into locations, cost of bigger ( and used if it breaks down). A friend you know Treemuncher (Tyler) disagreed with another guy recommending he forget (waste your time) with a pt 175 hp dedicated and move up to the pt 300 hp machine. His response have you run the newer ones with the sonic heads. No comparison to the older stuff plus he said he makes more money with his 175hp than he does his 300hp dedicated. Just like a new 110-120 hp skid with a bite limiter head will outperform the older smaller dedicated machines. Like I said guys that have the big excavators with mulchers have said the 309 and 310 are really good for what they can do. Like a guy said that had the 309 and mulches with it full time said, If you have a forest of only 6"+ trees it's going to be a long day
Yep. Like I was saying, if I have to haul it into a gated estate on a lowboy, that is going to be a NO-GO!!! 310 is my max size for this application. I know it's small, believe me when I say it's really small to a guy would helped get the first Cat 797s to market, ran draglines and D11 carry dozers. It feels like something a kid should be playing with, BUT if it gets me the $$$ when nothing else will, I'm gonna take that ball and run with it. Right now, the machine is 3/4 paid for by other people and some time in the seat for me. I can't pass this deal up even if I have to buy a Tak.
I just need something that will cut a clean butt log, delimb, and hold the tree so I can pull it out of the tangle of inter-grown branches. And a machine that can run the mulcher all day with no issues. I know the perfect set up is out there, but I just have no experience with forestry heads.
There is a guy on Heavy Equipment Forums/compact excavators/building the custom excavator that has quite a bit of positive stuff to say about the TMK shear with bunching arm/grapple. Regarding the pivot boom I would go rid for pretty much anything except close quarters work around structures. I rarely use the feature on my Yanmar 35 and that pivot takes a beating. It is the loosest pin on my excavator by far
Also, will likely be purchasing a Rut Mfg 28 inch disc mulcher with optional brush cutting head for my Yanmar 35 to maintain fence lines and trails as well as do some fire proofing work