Thinking on buying a hedge cutter.

Dawggone · 14-01-2016 07:58AM #1

I'm having to pay €78/hr + vat for hedge cutting so I'm thinking on buying my own.

Secondhand machine that is reliable, robust and minimum of electrics, is what I'm after. Any ideas on make, model, prices etc.

visatorro · 14-01-2016 08:27AM

all the contractors here seem to have mcconnells. so you prob cant go wrong. often thought about buying one but I wouldn't have the time. and the first thing id do is put a stone through the window!

have also thought about buying a saw head for a digger. around 3k. and just hiring digger when needed. less money tied up. less tracking done on fields. still wouldn't have time to use it atm.

foxer3640 · 14-01-2016 08:36AM

78 euro per hour&#55357;&#56883;

Cavanjack · 14-01-2016 10:13AM

Dawggone wrote: »

I'm having to pay €78/hr + vat for hedge cutting so I'm thinking on buying my own.

Secondhand machine that is reliable, robust and minimum of electrics, is what I'm after. Any ideas on make, model, prices etc.

I'll get the boat to France and cut them with a hedge clippers for you for €50

pajero12 · 14-01-2016 10:37AM

visatorro wrote: »

have also thought about buying a saw head for a digger. around 3k. and just hiring digger when needed. less money tied up. less tracking done on fields. still wouldn't have time to use it atm.

Forget about it, They're absolutely lethal, Well all saw blades are.

And also a hired digger won't have screens, Mind you, I doubt a hire comapny would be too inclined to hire a digger out if they knew it was intended for a saw.

Midfield9 · 14-01-2016 11:39AM

All McConnell round here, One lad does alot of County council work and he would have nothing other than a McConnell

Dawggone · 14-01-2016 12:38PM

foxer3640 wrote: »

78 euro per hour��

Silage harvester is €500/hr + vat, inc driver. That's just the harvester.

20ton track machine is €100/hr +vat + diesel.

As silage/maize/combine harvester contractors never have tractors/trailers mowers etc I hire out tractors and drivers to neighbors for €50/hr (I should be charging more!).

Dawggone · 14-01-2016 12:39PM

Cavanjack wrote: »

I'll get the boat to France and cut them with a hedge clippers for you for €50

You're on. When do you want to start?

td5man · 14-01-2016 03:00PM

I'll be over with the digger too. ;-)

queueeye · 14-01-2016 10:52PM

Mcconnel is reliable and robust. If you want to avoid electrics altogether you should be able to pick up a cable controlled machine easily. Cables last for years, are easily fitted and cost about €120 from main dealer. Model numbers will depend on what you want from your hedgecutter. Go for one with plenty of reach as I'd imagine sliding into a drain in France is every bit as emasculating as it is here.
Bomford are a good machine too to be fair but you won't get better than a Mcconnel.
I wouldn't bother with the rest, they will be cheaper but are largely made of biscuits.

foxer3640 · 14-01-2016 11:44PM

A saw is a lethal piece of machinery if you're not used to it. I have one and would get plenty of work if I took it on but tbh I'd rather be at anything else. The saw will kill the pump much quicker than the flail too. Mine is an old bomford. It goes pretty well but the mconnell seems to be the most popular.

Greengrass1 · 14-01-2016 11:56PM

Have a 20ft ferri here for last 5 yrs or so. Bought new. Good machine imo but I don't follow her. I couldn't fault here. But electric controls would be a great job

davidk1394 · 15-01-2016 09:58AM

We have a McConnel PA 93. Great machin simple to use with no electrics. We use it for our own work and the uncles is all

oldsmokey · 15-01-2016 04:16PM

McConnel here - make sure your tractor's man enough for the job - they're heavy ., awkward and a real danger when extended on a tractor too light/ unballasted..plenty of opportunity to get the tractor/operator bashed up too with flying debris.think about it...

Dawggone · 15-01-2016 08:10PM

oldsmokey wrote: »

McConnel here - make sure your tractor's man enough for the job - they're heavy ., awkward and a real danger when extended on a tractor too light/ unballasted..plenty of opportunity to get the tractor/operator bashed up too with flying debris.think about it...

No bother with tractor.

Dawggone · 15-01-2016 08:10PM

davidk1394 wrote: »

We have a McConnel PA 93. Great machin simple to use with no electrics. We use it for our own work and the uncles is all

Cables?

hedgecutting eddie · 15-01-2016 08:55PM

If buyin one get electric s a lot easier to get in on it after having 4 McConnel s hedgecutters never any electric troubles make sure u get one with plenty of reach Mayb a 65t

Dawggone · 15-01-2016 09:09PM

hedgecutting eddie wrote: »

If buyin one get electric s a lot easier to get in on it after having 4 McConnel s hedgecutters never any electric troubles make sure u get one with plenty of reach Mayb a 65t

Good.
The McConnel seem to be the choice. This hedge cutter would be idle for 355 days a year. Would the electrics be able for that?
It's only for my own use so would I need the reach? Land is kinda flat. Maybe better to be looking at plenty reach than for it?
I also don't want to be faffing around with the supports that attach to the back axle, so is it possible to attach directly to the three point linkage?
I've a couple of hefty girls to hitch it to if needs be.

hedgecutting eddie · 15-01-2016 09:42PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Good.
The McConnel seem to be the choice. This hedge cutter would be idle for 355 days a year. Would the electrics be able for that?
It's only for my own use so would I need the reach? Land is kinda flat. Maybe better to be looking at plenty reach than for it?
I also don't want to be faffing around with the supports that attach to the back axle, so is it possible to attach directly to the three point linkage?
I've a couple of hefty girls to hitch it to if needs be.

I cut a lot of hedges for other farmers a few of my customers bought there own last few years Mayb I'm 2 dear , or there sons had nothin to do most of them paid 10k plus , I wud cut a lot of hedges for €1000 but when these farmers take the cost of machine , diesel , repairs and time to do the work they Wudnt b better off , one guy sold his machine I'm back doin de work other lads still haven't hedges cut and really only 6 wks left and they won't now with calving lambing etc but if ur still want one I'd advise u to buy a pa 60 it's 3 pt linkage and gud reach

Shannon757 · 15-01-2016 10:54PM

^^^^^^^^^^ Listen to him, I think he know's what he's on about.:D

davidk1394 · 16-01-2016 06:31PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Cables?

Yeah cables with three levers and we got a heavey duty head fitted. Its on the 3 point linkage with no axel mounts or anything like that. Takes roughly 10 mins to put on or off.

Dawggone · 16-01-2016 07:55PM

davidk1394 wrote: »

Yeah cables with three levers and we got a heavey duty head fitted. Its on the 3 point linkage with no axel mounts or anything like that. Takes roughly 10 mins to put on or off.

I've been searching the machinery websites here and the McConnel's are very scarce. I'm trying to find the main dealers and not coming up with anything.

MickeyShtyles · 16-01-2016 08:04PM

Dawggone wrote: »

I've been searching the machinery websites here and the McConnel's are very scarce. I'm trying to find the main dealers and not coming up with anything.

I'll pm ya, Dawgone.

Milked out · 18-01-2016 01:56PM

https://twitter.com/TheFarmingForum/status/689067517856321536

bogman_bass · 18-01-2016 01:59PM

Dawggone wrote: »

I've been searching the machinery websites here and the McConnel's are very scarce. I'm trying to find the main dealers and not coming up with anything.

what would be the common brand over there?

Dawggone · 18-01-2016 05:48PM

bogman_bass wrote: »

what would be the common brand over there?

Rousseau and Ferri.

White Clover · 18-01-2016 05:52PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Rousseau and Ferri.

Know a man with a ferri. Good hedger he says.

19-01-2016 03:09AM

Dawggone wrote: »

Good.
The McConnel seem to be the choice. This hedge cutter would be idle for 355 days a year. Would the electrics be able for that?
It's only for my own use so would I need the reach? Land is kinda flat. Maybe better to be looking at plenty reach than for it?
I also don't want to be faffing around with the supports that attach to the back axle, so is it possible to attach directly to the three point linkage?
I've a couple of hefty girls to hitch it to if needs be.

A lad i work for has an Arbocut and a Mcconnel PA500(replaced a pa93).
The arbocut is axel mounted/3pt linkage and mcconnel 3pt linkage mounted.
Both are good machines.
Regarding being axel mounted it takes no extra time to latch the axel mounts. We have adapter brackets for the stabiliser brackets for when the hedge cutter is taken off. To be fair the axel mounts take an aweful lot of weight off the top link which have been known to break with the weight of a hedge cutter. One local lad here the casting for the top link on the tractor cracked and broke off the tractor with the weight of the machine. We ourselves broke two toplinks and i mean they snapped, not pulled out.

Regarding reach. if you cut over a lot of dykes or drains , you will struggle in spots with the 93/500. Then because of the reach you will have to drive closer to the dyke than it is really safe to. Longer reach means the tractor is literally safer. Same for topping hedges. A longer reach can put you on level ground which makes it easier to top hedges.

Dawggone · 19-01-2016 06:24AM

9935452 wrote: »

A lad i work for has an Arbocut and a Mcconnel PA500(replaced a pa93).
The arbocut is axel mounted/3pt linkage and mcconnel 3pt linkage mounted.
Both are good machines.
Regarding being axel mounted it takes no extra time to latch the axel mounts. We have adapter brackets for the stabiliser brackets for when the hedge cutter is taken off. To be fair the axel mounts take an aweful lot of weight off the top link which have been known to break with the weight of a hedge cutter. One local lad here the casting for the top link on the tractor cracked and broke off the tractor with the weight of the machine. We ourselves broke two toplinks and i mean they snapped, not pulled out.

Regarding reach. if you cut over a lot of dykes or drains , you will struggle in spots with the 93/500. Then because of the reach you will have to drive closer to the dyke than it is really safe to. Longer reach means the tractor is literally safer. Same for topping hedges. A longer reach can put you on level ground which makes it easier to top hedges.

How about a McConnel MAG480E?
It's the only one I can find secondhand and fairly local to me.

queueeye · 21-01-2016 07:47PM

Dawggone wrote: »

How about a McConnel MAG480E?
It's the only one I can find secondhand and fairly local to me.

Horses for courses, if 4.8 metres reach is enough for you then it should be fine.

Dawggone · 21-01-2016 07:52PM

queueeye wrote: »

Horses for courses, if 4.8 metres reach is enough for you then it should be fine.

I'm not that impressed. Five hours round trip today to view three McConnels. They look to be lightly built and under engineered.
May look at Ferri and Rousseau...

Thinking on buying a hedge cutter.

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