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Questions about installing a Forestry Mulcher on a Case 580 Loader

Rick1

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Feb 7, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
I've merged two identical threads here. Usually we catch duplicates before there are replies to one or the other, but apparently these twins slipped past us. The reason we discourage such multiple threads is that it can create confusion. Somebody reads one, or posts a reply, and later goes back to find something different than what they've read, or their reply seems to be missing. That's because it's in the other thread.

If this one now seems to be a bit out of order, it's because the replies appear in the order they were posted to the forum, without regard to whether they make sense in that sequence. I'm sure everybody will be able to figure it out.

~Digger242j

Hopefully I've come to the right place for help on this. What I am planning to do is attach a Skidsteer Mulcher head on the loader of my 2008 Case 580 Super M Series 3. I know it's possible to attach the Mulcher head by installing a universal Skidsteer adapter plate... my questions are more about the hydraulics. I have the adjustable BIC rear auxiliary hydraulic lines installed that run onto the backhoe boom... I don't believe I have the front loader auxiliary hydraulics installed which is ok because from what I read in the specs for my Case 580 is that the rear Backhoe auxiliary hydraulics provide more GPM flow than the front lines do. Question is can I just buy a couple of long extension hoses and run them to the front to power the mulcher? And if so once I toggle on the auxiliary hydraulics will it constantly feed the head to whatever GPM setting I choose 0-36GPM ... I need at least 30GPM constant for this mulcher I'm getting. Here is a link to a video of a guy who did the same thing but on a Kubota Tractor


TIA
 
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Rick1

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
Hopefully I've come to the right place for help on this. What I am planning to do is attach a Skidsteer Mulcher head on the loader of my 2008 Case 580 Super M Series 3. I know it's possible to attach the Mulcher head by installing a universal Skidsteer adapter plate... my questions are more about the hydraulics. I have the adjustable BIC rear auxiliary hydraulic lines installed that run onto the backhoe boom... I don't believe I have the front loader auxiliary hydraulics installed which is ok because from what I read in the specs for my Case 580 is that the rear Backhoe auxiliary hydraulics provide more GPM flow than the front lines do. Question is can I just buy a couple of long extension hoses and run them to the front to power the mulcher? And if so once I toggle on the auxiliary hydraulics will it constantly feed the head to whatever GPM setting I choose 0-36GPM ... I need at least 30GPM constant for this mulcher I'm getting. Here is a link to a video of a guy who did the same thing but on a Kubota Tractor


TIA
 

Tones

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Ubique
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Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
The problem I see is the ground speed of your tractor is going to be away to fast because you'll be running it at WOT. The tractor in the video will have a heap more gears than a 580.
 

Rick1

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Joined
Feb 7, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
I don't think that will be an issue because on the loader control stick there is a button which dis-engages the drive gear so you can rev the engine to increase GPM while staying in the same spot or slowly inching it forward by releasing and pressing the button repeatedly... also the 1st gear is really slow at something like 3.6 MPH
 

Junkyard

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3.6 MPH sounds slow but for mulching it's pretty fast. There's a lot of back and forth when mulching as well. Not to mention lots of great little tire poking stems sticking up. I suppose it's doable but a 580 is a less than desirable platform based on watching my buddy work his purpose built machine on steel tracks. I'm not sure his high range in travel mode is 3.6, if it's over that it's not by much. I'm also not sure how efficient that machine will be at keeping the hydraulic oil cool in constant high flow use like that. Just my .02
 

Plebeian

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Apr 2, 2009
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433
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NZ
Purpose built mulchers are usually the way to go if there is lots of mulching to do.
http://www.supertrak.com/sk140ctls-c/
Construction tractor versus Ag tractor - power to weight ratio is a consideration - the construction tractor as it is heavier is likely to use more power just to move.
What type of oil cooling does the case use?
Maybe have a look around the control bank area to see if you can take a mulcher drive feed from there and also how you put the oil back into the hydraulic reservoir is also important.
Maybe put some dual wheels on the case as can be easy to tip over - gives a bit more stability off the level ground.
Local case or mulcher dealer is likely to have examples of 580 mulchers for you look at - cab protection etc
 

Delmer

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Jan 3, 2013
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WI
Yes. It will work as good as a skid steer except for creeping. I'd mount it to one side so you can drive in first taking whatever swath it will handle without continuous start stop.
 

catman13

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Aug 22, 2011
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oregon usa
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it looks like they are running a hydraulic power pack on the back of the tractor, off of the pto and it would work as a counter wieght
 

Welder Dave

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I'd imagine it's similar to a PTO rototiller. 3.6 MPH is way too fast. The best tractors for mulchers have creeper gears with several speeds below 1 MPH. I'd also worry about the hydraulic oil getting too hot with a high flow constant use motor. They work good on skid steers because you can creep along very slowly at full throttle. Constantly pushing a button to slow down would get old fast.
 

GaryHoff

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Sounds like your on the right track.

The rear aux doesn't have a detent, so you will have to hold the switch on, or T in another switch. (connector is in the tower)
Your machine has a gear pump, so as long as the aux switch is held on, it should deliver full flow.
The engine will not stay at full throttle if you touch the brake pedal, so ridding the throttle pedal will get old. (assuming you have the electronic throttle)
You may have to run a case drain line also.
 

fpgm04

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Dec 31, 2009
Messages
214
Location
USA
The engine will not stay at full throttle if you touch the brake pedal, so ridding the throttle pedal will get old. (assuming you have the electronic throttle)

If you have electronic throttle, and are concerned about the default behavior of the throttle that Gary mentioned, there is a disable feature in the instrument cluster menu for the brake enabled idle. You just have to set it each time you turn the key on.

Look for the menu with a brake symbol that has throttle inside of it.
 

Rick1

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Joined
Feb 7, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks for helping me figure this out.

I'm almost certain I read that the machine does have the electronic throttle.

Here is how I'm assuming I would get this working once the mulching head is attached to the loader via the skidsteer adapter plate. I'm trying to follow what you all mentioned but if someone could help fill in the gaps for me it would be much appreciated.

1. Run some long extension hydraulics lines from the rear backhoe boom aux lines all the way to the front to the mulcher (or even better un-mount the aux lines from the boom and re-route them forward to shorten the extension hose length required to reach the mulcher head). I have a feed line and a return line on the boom and obviously the mulcher head has that as well but the mulcher head has another cable which I suspect is for some electronic hookup and I'm at a loss of what to do with that?

sidemount.jpg


2. Turn the aux flow knob to the max position of 30gpm. I'm confused about this part because I read in the manual the rear aux can get 38gpm yet the knob only goes to 30gpm? I'd like to get the full 38gpm because the mulcher head can take 40gpm.

DD0870ZN.JPG


3. Start up the machine and toggle on the aux hydraulic switch (on the back dash) to get the flow going to the mulcher head.

auxkit3.jpg


4. Use the red button on the loader's joystick to dis-engage the drive so I can rev the engine to supply more flow to the mulcher head and so I can creep while mulching.

diverter2.jpg


TIA
 

Rick1

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Feb 7, 2018
Messages
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Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks for the help... I know the setup and the creeping speed is not ideal but I can mulch in one spot and creep a foot and mulch and so on and it should do the job just fine... it's just a bunch of softwood cedars im trying to mulch. I started a thread over in the backhoe section to see if I can get some more direct answers as to how to do it... Thanks again.
 

Tags

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I have no idea if I'm right about this, but, I'm pretty sure you are going to over heat the transmission or the hydraulic system. It "looks" like it should work by the pics you have there but I really don't know if the hydraulic system can take all the heat a mulching head will generate as well as being driven at the same time,since the auxiliary lines were meant to run on the hoe and the machine wouldn't be moving. Not sure also that the transmission will enjoy that clutch disconnect being used so frequently. I would see if you can get your serial # to a case dealer or post it here and maybe someone can tell you if it will work for certain before you buy it. I know that a mulching head on a skid steer, the slower you can move the better, I think that backhoe will move way too fast
 

GaryHoff

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I have no idea if I'm right about this, but, I'm pretty sure you are going to over heat the transmission or the hydraulic system. It "looks" like it should work by the pics you have there but I really don't know if the hydraulic system can take all the heat a mulching head will generate as well as being driven at the same time,since the auxiliary lines were meant to run on the hoe and the machine wouldn't be moving. Not sure also that the transmission will enjoy that clutch disconnect being used so frequently. I would see if you can get your serial # to a case dealer or post it here and maybe someone can tell you if it will work for certain before you buy it. I know that a mulching head on a skid steer, the slower you can move the better, I think that backhoe will move way too fast

+1 on overheating hydraulics, and hard on transmission.

I don't think Rick1 is intending to use the machine solely for mulching. This is clearly not the ideal machine for a mulcher. Probably the majority of the machines work will not be mulching. He probably has some land he has to clear, then level, then dig a trench, then move pallets, ect, and only wants to purchase one machine.
 

Welder Dave

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If that's the case, rent a skid steer with a mulcher. There's a reason you don't see mulchers on backhoes.
 

treemuncher

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If that's the case, rent a skid steer with a mulcher. There's a reason you don't see mulchers on backhoes.

Now there is some good advice. Rent the machine you need instead of wasting time and money on a project that will not be efficient or very useful. This could save you a lot of headaches and wasted money.

Huge hydraulic cooling capacity, not to mention needing much slower ground speed at 0.25-1.0 mph, is what you must have if you plan to run a mulcher. Until you start running mulchers, you have no idea how important hydraulic cooling is or how large those coolers must be. You really need at least 50 gpm and 5000 psi+ to start getting any reasonable efficiency out of a mulcher, and that is with the baby stuff. And size will matter - trying to work around obstacles will be difficult at best with a RTBL.
 

kevin37b

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Nov 12, 2012
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illinois
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Operator #841
Wrong machine for that work , You cannot keep the revs up and creep . You need HST . Besides that you will burn up the HYD pump . Do you see anybody else doing this . I think not . A backhoe digs , it is not a hydraulic motor . Kevin
 
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