Agrishield Pro Cut 21 w/66" Cutter Bar (trail cutter) Review

[Foggy47]

In June I purchased a Pro Cut 66" cutter bar to mount on the front of my tractor, after watching a good video I had seen on YouTube. I bought mine to attach to my universal quick attach on my front end loader. They also make a unit that clamps onto your loaders bucket, and those are considerably cheaper.....but I like the increased visibilty and the freatures of this mount I bought. Their was supposed to be about an 8 week wait....but that turned into more like 12 weeks....but the unit showed up this week. These units run via a hydraulic motor and use the tractor hydraulics to power that motor. Very nice kit here.

The hardest part of the assembly may have been getting the unit out of the (four) cartons it was shipped in. All came via UPS in those 4 cartons/crates. 3 cardboard boxes were strapped and taped.....no danger of loosing any parts. The main cutter bar unit was encased in a wood shipping crate and all secured with tape and more straps. I finally got all the parts out of the boxes and then spent about 2 hours to bolt the parts together and hook up the hydraulic hoses to my rear remotes.

I bought all the hoses and complete kit from Agrishield......and I am glad I did. All the components are first rate and the hoses are the right length to route to my tractor...just as anticipated. I fastened the hoses with a few zip ties and also used some of the Kubota hose routing on the tractor. With all connected I gave the unit a trial run. I cleared about 400 yards of overgrowth from my trails in about 10 minutes time. Pretty sweet. The largest limb I cut was about a 1" oak limb and that is about as big as I would recommend. It really did a nice job of what can be a very time consuming project with all the trails I have on my property.

You can operate this machine vertically (as shown) or horizontally like a mower, or use to trim hedges and along ponds, etc. Also can place the cutter bar at various angles and closer or further into the brush via the sliding tube and connectors,

Keep in mind.....these guys make professional equipment for the orchard industry and lots of implements they make is geared to those functions. Good stuff. There are some wear parts and you can expect to have to replace some blades and such....especially if you are abusive. But I think for my purposes this is just about the best I can do unless I want to spend lots more money on a lane shark or something similar. Here are some pics. Will review again after more seat time with this item. At this point I would buy it again.

 

[Foggy47]

I only took one height of cut down my trails......but I think I would normally go with two passes on each side to do at both high and low levels .....Thus I would be cutting in the area of 11' tall .....which takes care of my needs. I got allot of trails.....and this dude is going to take much of the work out of limbing trails for me. Happy.

 

[Brian662]

Looks like a nice unit, what's the MSRP?

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Are you just going behind and throwing all the branches into the woods? Whenever I clear my roads with the pole saw I love the cutting, and then I turn around and dread the cleaning

 

[Foggy47]

Are you just going behind and throwing all the branches into the woods? Whenever I clear my roads with the pole saw I love the cutting, and then I turn around and dread the cleaning

I am going to try to mulch the branches with my flail mower and / or use my landscape rake to clean up. Will let you know what works best. The unit as pictured had an MSRP of about $3000 complete. That is a fair penny, but it’s about the most expensive one that they make and that is 100% complete as shown. It’s worth it for me…as my trails are closing up in places and I would never do the work otherwise. I can now do this on a rainy day.

 

[Bill]

I could use that for a weekend or two. I just don't have enough roads through timber to justify it. But that a nice rig.

 

[Foggy47]

I did manage to get a small oak tree into the cutter....and it stopped the machine cold. I suppose it was 1.5" diameter. I stopped the machine and reversed the motor to clear the tree. It nearly severed the tree.....and no doubt killed it. I did no damage to any of the teeth in my trial run.....and I kinda learned how to go about this. Will take my mini chain saw along for a few "leaners" that should be removed.

I was supposed to get a package of replacement parts....like $150 in value but they did not show. I guess they want you to do an honest reveiw to get the "free" parts. And I did that above and submitted my claim.

You guys know me.....and I review everything good or bad....like the Flimco crap I owned and my love / hate for my Herd seeder and how they need to be improved. Grin. I love me some cab and my 'boata.

 

[Foggy47]

If a person wants one of these machines....I would order this fall and you would have it for use next Spring / summer. They run a backlog on these things. All American made and use great components / parts which are commonly available for replacements....which is gonna happen.

I do intend to add one mod by adding about a 1.5" diameter tube to attach to the 2" main beam and serve to protect those hoses from damage by debris. They are HD abrasion resistant hoses.....but I wont leave them to "fate". I think I have an idea on how to do so. Also want to make a parking stand....and I thought I was getting one as that is how it is pictured on their site (??). Kinda hard to store this thing as provided here. Needs a couple of those telescoping legs found on other machines in order to set it down.

 

[Foggy47]

Today, I operated this cutter for about 1.5 hours. I cleared perhaps 1 1/2 miles of trails on two sides. I also had my flail mower on the back....and used it on the trails to mulch the debris I had cut with this machine. Slick way to operate. I did two passes in many areas....one low pass and one high pass to provide clearance for my tractor and implements. During deer season....we use a golf cart and an E-bike to get to our stands silently and without scent.

Gotta say...this brush cutter is a super time saver. I think I did in 1.5 hours what may have taken me a couple days......IF my body was prepared for this duty....which it isn't. Mulching the limbs with my flail mower is the absolute best plan for this duty. I do both operations at the same time. Pretty sweet.

I stopped cutting when I saw an oil leak at the hose connections to the hydraulic motor I figured I had broken a fitting or a hose...but when I got back to the pole shed I saw that the fitting had just worked loose....thus the oil leak. I re-tirghtend the fitting and it's good to go again. Still, I had to stop as I had other things to do. I hope to spend an equal amount of time tomorrow....and may be done for this year after that.

I'm going to follow through on protecting those hoses and connections at the motor....as I think these connections are vulnerable to damage with enough time. Lots of things happen in field conditions.

At this point....I would purchase this machine again. .....but it is not one of those things I would loan to others....as it takes a good operator to sense what you are doing and what you should and should not cut with the tool. I still have not nicked a blade or broken anything other than that loose fitting. My hydraulic fluid is now at the very bottom of the dip-stick....so I need to add fluid to prevent damage to hydraulic components.

Too busy for pics today....but this is the real deal. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[Foggy47]

Got more seat time with this rig yesterday. Now have all cleaned up that I want to do this season. 8 hours total running time with this and my flail mower to mulch what I cut down with this machine. Strangely....I had two more events where the nut at the hydrualic pump worked loose. Both times I caught right away and was able to tighten that fitting....the last time I cranked it pretty tight....and no more leaking.

I was able to reach as high as about 17 feet with this sickle cutter head. Really nice to fully trims shooting lanes around my stands while conserving some of the cover around the blinds. In some areas I widened the shooting lanes a bit and was able to greatly expand the area one could shoot.

Eight hours of seat time with this machine can get allot of work done. If I were to use a loppers, a pole saw, a silky, and a chain saw.....I may spend two weeks to accomplish what I did in 8 hours. I do not have that kinda time or energy for this type of work.

The entire unit weighs around 250 lbs and my tractor and loader easily operate this unit with the hydraulic hoses connected to my 1/2" rear remotes and long hoses. I a can thus control the cutting action forward and reverse via the SCV Valve in the cab. Most of the time I ran my flail mower at the same time and kept the RPM.s at about 3000 to keep the flail at operational PTO speeds, and could feather the needed power to the sickle cutter head.

Despite some pretty intense sessions entangled in some heavy brush and tree limbs.....I did not break anything. No cutter blades were noticed to be chipped or broken. That is something that I had anticipated would happen....but no. I did cut a few oak limbs that were way beyond what the machine is designed for. I am not an abusive operator.....but I do use my equipment up to it's full potential at times. It's a calculated risk assessment that can be instantaneous initiated at any moment. lol

I think I may have cut about six to ten 1.5" oak limbs. One in particular locked the cutter bar and I jockey'ed the SCV control reversing directions until I severed that limb. It was preventing shooting in a good line from my deer stand and had to go. Grin.

I did not have time for pics....but will take a few before removing this machine to show the hose routing and the complete rig....as well as the cutter teeth after 8 hours of hard use. It's too bad I did not take before and after pics...as you would be impressed. I would very easily buy this machine again.....after knowing what I know now.

Not sure I stated this in a prior post.....but you can lay the cutter bar down to a horizontal setting....thus cleaning along roadways and water ways is a very safe and easy task (I think). I do have a road coming into my land that is hard to mow with my flail.....even when its offset. The bank is very steep and I fear unstable along the edge. If I were to get too close.....I fear a tractor roll over could happen very quickly....therefore I have not maintained this bank as I would like. Maybe I will do one more cut there with this rig before retiring it for the year.

Phew....quite wordy....no? Grin. I like passing along good intel. Pics in a another day or two.

EDIT: Two shortcomings I see: one is some better protection seems to be needed at the junction of the hoses and fittings to the hydraulic motor. I am going to come up with a solution sometime in the near future. Also I desperately need a parking stand....and I am told that the maker is about to offer one. It's not going to be easy to put this thing away or reconnect it without a better solution. I do have an idea...but little time to implement it this year.

 

[jsasker007]

Sounds like a sweet set up. Always a pleasant surprise when you think something broke but you just need to tighten it back up. Goes from a bad gut feeling to hey what a beautiful day.

 

[Foggy47]

Agrisheild sent me a spare parts kit for doing a review of their product.....above. It's a $175 dollar value.....and WOW! Packed with all the spare parts one could ask. EVEN a spare set of bearings (which I think are for the pitman) which I did not consider to be a "wear item". Not sure how long those bearings will last....? Seems like a generous amount of spare parts here. In the hours spend operating....I did not break anything. So, I am hopeful this machine will go a long time into my future. I can see that someone with a large vineyard or other commercial user would want a part's kit like this. <----that is the way older machinery was sold (like combines) with spare parts and special tools to do field repairs and get back into opereration.

I do like this degree of planning and this treatment allot. Feels like a "white glove" treatment. At the same time.....makes me a bit concerned about what I may break soon....lol I typically will purchase extra blades or wear parts for other machines I own....so I suppose this is a fantastic offering they have. They just want people to write an honest review of their product in order to get the "free wear parts kit". Nice. I do like to review new stuff....so no sweat for me. Andrew told me that word of mouth is their best advertising....and I totally agree with that theory.

Andrew also sent me a new "parking stand" they just began to offer for this product. Looks to be pretty close to what I had planned to make to allow setting this machine on a rolling skid to store it when not in use. This will save me allot of time. I gotta put it together in the next week or two.....and also want to supply a few more pics of the machine operating along a swamp that leads into my land. Maybe will also do a short before and after on a trail that could be cleaned up.

For the swamp application I will lay the cutter bar to a near horizontal setting and shear some reeds and cattails along my roadway. Much like a sickle-bar mower. Most often tho...I will use this tool to cut vertically along my trail system.....which is several miles now. Some trails I do not want to groom....as the ungroomed trails allow bucks to travel more easily as they feel more comfortable in a bit of cover....but they still like an easy travel route....IMO. Then I will put that parking stand together (I think I will add a few welds) and put the machine into storage for the season.

I'm pretty happy with the results I got using this trail cutter......and the fast time to restore my trails for use by my UTV and tractor, even my pickup without scratching the hell out of everything and causing danger to passengers from all the branches and eye-pokers.

Geez, I use allot of words to explain stuff.....lol. Seems like a good product and fills a need for a lightweight front mounted trail cutter that operates well within the hydraulic capacity of most compact utility tractors. A somewhat hard combination to beat.....especially at the price point.

 

[Foggy47]

^ I'd generally post more pics on a product like this. But this is without a doubt the busiest I have been since I built our last home here on the lake about 12 years ago. Lots of whitewater time now....and not much time for Deertopia for a few weeks yet. I do not think I have put in this many 12 hour days in many years. My wife is unable to participate to the degree she may have in the past....so I been doing double duty to allow her to continue her recovery from her health issues. Been a test of our will at times.....but we got the experience and ability to keep up with these young whipper-snappers. Grin. Even teach 'em a few new tricks most days. lol

I think this is the last home I care to tackle....and downsizing is not an easy task, even after planning for it for several years....as we have. Strange what you can accumulate in 55 years of marriage.....and having all the hobbies and interests we have had through the years. At some point you come to realize that "less is more" .....and we are working in that direction.

It's really hard to part with so much memrobilia we have accumulated over our lifetime. How do you discard a wooden decoy collection? .....or a cigar store Indian??....or the many outdoor pictures??? or the invention plaques or issued patents I earned over time????. Reloading supplies and bullets enough to stock a few gun shops, etc. Much has gone to our family....but they only want so much too....and I understand that. We do not want to burden them with our crap....lol.

Then too...there are all the building snafu's that need to be corrected....and appliance and furniture decisions to be implemented. It's all good....but it's all too much when you gotta go thru this chit at 78 years old. lol. The whitewater time will be over soon....and we can already see the light at the end of the tunnel......I just hope it's not a locomotive. Grin.

 

[TreeDaddy]

^ I'd generally post more pics on a product like this. But this is without a doubt the busiest I have been since I built our last home here on the lake about 12 years ago. Lots of whitewater time now....and not much time for Deertopia for a few weeks yet. I do not think I have put in this many 12 hour days in many years. My wife is unable to participate to the degree she may have in the past....so I been doing double duty to allow her to continue her recovery from her health issues. Been a test of our will at times.....but we got the experience and ability to keep up with these young whipper-snappers. Grin. Even teach 'em a few new tricks most days. lol

I think this is the last home I care to tackle....and downsizing is not an easy task, even after planning for it for several years....as we have. Strange what you can accumulate in 55 years of marriage.....and having all the hobbies and interests we have had through the years. At some point you come to realize that "less is more" .....and we are working in that direction.

It's really hard to part with so much memrobilia we have accumulated over our lifetime. How do you discard a wooden decoy collection? .....or a cigar store Indian??....or the many outdoor pictures??? or the invention plaques or issued patents I earned over time????. Reloading supplies and bullets enough to stock a few gun shops, etc. Much has gone to our family....but they only want so much too....and I understand that. We do not want to burden them with our crap....lol.

Then too...there are all the building snafu's that need to be corrected....and appliance and furniture decisions to be implemented. It's all good....but it's all too much when you gotta go thru this chit at 78 years old. lol. The whitewater time will be over soon....and we can already see the light at the end of the tunnel......I just hope it's not a locomotive. Grin.

Keep moving,Foggy

Mentally and physically

bill

 

[356]

^ I'd generally post more pics on a product like this. But this is without a doubt the busiest I have been since I built our last home here on the lake about 12 years ago. Lots of whitewater time now....and not much time for Deertopia for a few weeks yet. I do not think I have put in this many 12 hour days in many years. My wife is unable to participate to the degree she may have in the past....so I been doing double duty to allow her to continue her recovery from her health issues. Been a test of our will at times.....but we got the experience and ability to keep up with these young whipper-snappers. Grin. Even teach 'em a few new tricks most days. lol

I think this is the last home I care to tackle....and downsizing is not an easy task, even after planning for it for several years....as we have. Strange what you can accumulate in 55 years of marriage.....and having all the hobbies and interests we have had through the years. At some point you come to realize that "less is more" .....and we are working in that direction.

It's really hard to part with so much memrobilia we have accumulated over our lifetime. How do you discard a wooden decoy collection? .....or a cigar store Indian??....or the many outdoor pictures??? or the invention plaques or issued patents I earned over time????. Reloading supplies and bullets enough to stock a few gun shops, etc. Much has gone to our family....but they only want so much too....and I understand that. We do not want to burden them with our crap....lol.

Then too...there are all the building snafu's that need to be corrected....and appliance and furniture decisions to be implemented. It's all good....but it's all too much when you gotta go thru this chit at 78 years old. lol. The whitewater time will be over soon....and we can already see the light at the end of the tunnel......I just hope it's not a locomotive. Grin.

As a professor, I accumulated quite the library, and every book had meaning or purpose. This year I followed the counsel of a wise man who 30 years ago said, "When it's time to retire, reduce your library to 100 books." This summer I gave away thousands of my treasures to libraries, friends and students. Richard Foster wrote of the discipline of Simplicity which rings truer each year. Good luck in your efforts, and congratulations on 55 years together.

 

[Foggy47]

Had a short trip to my land today....and wanted to post a pic cutting the edge of my swamp along a road that I fear to get too close to the edge.....for fear of a roll-over with my tractor.

So with only a few minutes to spare (I'm moving and up to my ass in alligators) I drove to the swamp and lowered the cutting bar to near horrizontal. I got a gun and a hard case that holds the gun in the cab of my tractor. It really is hard to see past this case as the angle is just wrong for this application. So rather than run my cutter drive in the dirt or wreck things....I kept the cutter bar a bit higher than I should . Also tried to run at a low cutter bar speed at first. I need to increase the amount of tension on the springs to prevent such easy....folding away from heavy debris. No time.

I soon learned that a higher cutter bar speed and a slow drive was better through this thick chit. Pretty much opposite of cutting brush and limbs. The cutter did a fair job.....but the kick back device indicated I had too high of a load on the cutter bar....and my low speed operation of the cutter did not yield the best results. Still....I can see that with just a bit more seat time I could do a far better job than I did.

I do like keeping my tractor on sold ground and being able to cut this chit back a bit. Maybe more time next year to tweak this set up. gotta put this machine away for the season in the next week or so.....then let my land sit idle for gun season.. Took a pic to show....and the versatility is pretty sweet. They show people cutting hedges and grape vines with this product on their website. I am glad I have one. My trails have never looked so good.

 

[Brian662]

Forgive me if you've already mentioned this Foggy but do the two hydraulic hoses up front just raise and lower the unit? How does the unit start cutting?

 

[Foggy47]

Forgive me if you've already mentioned this Foggy but do the two hydraulic hoses up front just raise and lower the unit? How does the unit start cutting?

My loader serves as the means to position the cutter. The hydraulics to my rear SCV ports are controlled by a valve in my cab. I can operate it in in two directions at my will ....(Foward or reverse). Both have the same cutting action......but it is useful when clearing the machine.

None of my hydraulic set ups are compromised by this set up...except I cannot shift my flail mover farther to the right....until I change it back.....and that is no big deal for me. Not worth another hydraulic connection and valve to me. Its all good.

 

[Foggy47]

I only have small size 3/8" lines to the front of my tractor in order to operate my grapple. These lines could be used to operate this cutter.....but they would cause allot of heat due to the amount of hydraulic fluid they need to transfer. It's far better to use 1/2" hoses for this machine....thus I got long hoses to run to my rear SCV ports. Many compact tractors have enough hydraulic capacity to operate these mowers. Not so on something like a land shark. Also handling this weight up high on a loader is a piece of cake........but other machines can get a bit heavy on a smaller tractor. I did not even consider stability to be an issue with my tractor.