PhilC wrote:

trainzkid88 wrote:

one way to tell which way a tree naturally wants to go is to look for the heel spur at the stump by that i mean the main root that is biggest as generally that is the weighted side and that root is holding up the tree. wind will change all of that and the tree can still turn in mid air as the weight shifts.

the best way to push trees is with a excavator with ripper tine you rip around the tree first then you push it the excavator allows you to get a higher leverage point. bonus they are more manoeuvrable than a dozer and if they have a grab you can make nice neat windrow heaps of the tree waste, stack the logs and clean up of the resulting hole is easy
 
You advice is going to get someone hurt or killed.
There have been far too many fatalities by even skilled operators using an excavator to push trees over. Most excavators do not have the correct cabin protection for tree pushing. They are also slower (track wise) and have less pushing ability than a correctly outfitted dozer.
Also if the tree slides off the side of the bucket then it can follow the boom of the excavator straight onto the cab where as the tree pusher helps to push the tree away from the operator due to  the side frames of the tree pusher.. That's one reason I do not like the narrow center mount tree pushers.

Also a 2000w generator will only run a 1.9kw motor or 2.5hp so I doubt that will start the engine. 42MT starter motors are 7.8KW or 10.5 hp.
Agreed!!!!!

i was referring to 240v motors. and it was starting the pilot engine not the main. of course it wouldnt wind the main over even with the gear reduction of the staring clutch etc not enough to start it. mind you a compressor needs a 6hp petrol to do the work of a 2hp electric motor.

although i have seen our d4's main engine roll over with the rope on the pilot flywheel (the nephew had been playing on her and had engaged the pinion) yes the main was decompressed.

trainzkid88 wrote:

a 2000 watt generator will run a electric motor big enough for that.
 

They were talking about pull or push starting the main so I assumed you were talking about the main especially since this is an 8U and the pilot motor has a starter motor.

I realize you were talking about 240v but 2000w is 2000w regardless of the voltage or amps to get there. The more volts the less amps and vice versa but you still get 2000w.
As for your compressor I would have to know how many poles the electric motor is and what ratio the drive belt pulleys are before any conclusions could be made.

Hi, Folks.
I have seen a LOTTTA BS talked about clearing with excavators over the years. As PhilC mentioned, using an excavator can be extremely dangerous, especially if all you have is a single point ripper tine - UTTERLY STYOOOPIDDDD!!!!!!!!! - for the very reasons that PhilC mentioned.

On top of that, excavators are all well and good when working WITHIN their own working radius. Once you have to double handle or walk material - or trees, brush, etc. - to get it to where it needs to go, they are a LOST CAUSE 'coz other machines will do it more economically.

A LOTTTTA people totally underestimate the value of a front end loader, especially a tracked unit, with teeth on the bucket for clearing work. They give you reach for leverage when pushing trees over, teeth on the pushing edge for control of the tree on the way down, mobility for moving downed trees to a stack or windrow and the teeth can be used as a rake of sorts for cleaning up.

But what would I know? I'm 'justa pore, dumm bulldozer op'rator' - who happens to have spent several years clearing with track loaders, a couple of them fitted with fairly wide rakes, and even used 4WD loaders on a couple of occasions.

One of my favorite 'toys' for this sort of work is a 5MK series Cat 953B track loader, quick, grunty and heavy enough for pretty much any clearing around where I have worked. On one job where I cleared 122 acres, there were FOUR trees that I could not comfortably knock down with the 953. They brought in a 'kummagutsa' PC400 to take those four trees down and the operator dropped the second one on the handrail above the fuel tank - on the opposite side from the cab.

Just my 0.02.

we used the neighbours track loader to push a few of logs as he cut them for us (we wanted it to go a particular direction and it worked well with me working the loader and george on the saw. as it was a 70s era machine with hydrostatic trans. the fun bit was communicating when to apply power as he made the cuts as he wasnt always visible from the seat. had to be careful i didnt crush him.

we found having a experienced operator in a 12 tonne excavator was easier he did the whole lot we where only topping and tailing the logs and yes much easier if your only working in the machines own reach which we were. we took 4 trees all within a 4 metre radius one at a time. and the neatness of the clean up with virtually no dirt in the heaps(makes them burn easier no need to push em up and reburn a few times it one and done

im talking a 15 cfm compressor. and no matter how your dropping a tree you need to be able to know which way it wants to go naturally. ive seen a log come back across the stump as it fell. no one was hurt but it gave everyone a fright.

Hi, trainzkid88.
Quote:.
" .... no matter how your dropping a tree you need to be able to know which way it wants to go naturally. "
Unquote.

IF you're talking taking them down with a chain saw or axe, then you are right. Using a machine introduces a whole new set of elements, including, if you have the right equipment, being able to 'persuade' a tree to go elsewhere than where it appears to want to go - - - - IF you know what you are doing and KNOW the capabilities and limitations of the machine you are using.

If you don't, it can be danged DANGEROUS.

Just my 0.02..

a couple we took down years ago by pulling them the direction we wanted with a wire rope as we cut em as they were rather close to buildings. and yeah the neighbour cleared his place with a cat 944? (its a 70/80s era d4 size machine) track loader he also did a couple of fence lines for us along with access track it worked well.

Hi, trainzkid88.
I'll bet you that your neighbour didn't do any clearing with a Cat 944 track loader ' coz that is a 4WD rear wheel steer machine. Mighta bin a 941.

Just my 0.02..

i wasnt sure of the model most of the markings are worn off. but i think you might be right i know its cat 4cyl about d4 size and has the powershift trans and yes some of the things he has done with her i shake my head its had a hard life he does try and look after it reasonably well though.