swing arm brush cutter

[johndeerefarmer]

I am looking at either a swing arm brush cutter for my Deere 329d compact track loader or buy a Deere 35G and put a brush cutter on it.

I mainly need to keep the trims trimmed on our 800' driveway and mow the grass along the driveway, pond banks and around fences.
My questions concern how beefy these mowers are. My 329d weighs 12000 lbs. If I happen to catch a large limb I think it's gonna bend the arm. Most I see are only 1/4" steel.
The Eterra has 1" steel in the arm but is $31,000
Not sure what would happen if I caught the brush cutter on a large limb- would it swing the machine around or would it bend the arm?

 

[LCCorp111]

I have about 1600' of bushy tree line I would like to trim up about 3' or 4' to keep the critters from hiding. I also need to trim a lot back, to try and make it straight and easier to mow the lawn. I have a Bobcat S300, but I really don't want to tear up the grass by turning and maneuvering around. I am looking to purchase a Deere 60G or a CAT 306, and I was thinking of buying a hydraulic sickle bar.

Do you think a brush cutter would do a better job? The sickle's I have looked at I think were capable of a 2" branch??? I figured that can trim the heavy grass on the ground and the hedges up higher.

 

[SkidTracks]

I am looking at either a swing arm brush cutter for my Deere 329d compact track loader or buy a Deere 35G and put a brush cutter on it.

I mainly need to keep the trims trimmed on our 800' driveway and mow the grass along the driveway, pond banks and around fences.
My questions concern how beefy these mowers are. My 329d weighs 12000 lbs. If I happen to catch a large limb I think it's gonna bend the arm. Most I see are only 1/4" steel.
The Eterra has 1" steel in the arm but is $31,000
Not sure what would happen if I caught the brush cutter on a large limb- would it swing the machine around or would it bend the arm?

I recently purchased a Swing Arm brush cutter. Unfortunately, it arrived just before my CTL went in for service.
You basically have same concern I had before buying, and still have; do to inability to test brush cutter.

I'll report back on it's sturdiness, when I finally get to try two together.

I have considered making a 45-degree offset adapter to go between CTL and swing arm brush mower. Running brush mower set at 45-degrees by hydraulic ram. Which would allow swing arm brush mower to move somewhat forwards or backwards should it catch on something unmovable. Amazing what you find in middle of fields. Offset would provide advantage of little more reach to right side. Whether extra two foot would make a 12,000 lbs CTL unstable is unknown.

 

[MX727]

There are couple of different models out there. I have what is essentially the Blue Diamond. You do have to be deliberate when moving, particularly when tracking forward with the mower off to the side. If the mower gets trapped behind a tree or a stump you didn't see and you track forward, it will torque the pivots. The hydraulics don't have enough force to really do any damage, it's just when you are tracking that you need to pay attention to what you are doing.

You just need to keep your head on a swivel and be very deliberate with it particularly with it off to the side.

It works great for clearing ditch banks and trimming overhangs along roads. However, if you have a mini-ex, there are better attachments for those jobs. I prefer saw blade type attachments for trimming trees. Much cleaner cuts.