If you’ve been looking to hire a forestry mulcher but have been unsuccessful, here is why. Believe me when I say that we have looked at renting a forestry mulcher machine when we have had an exceptionally high volume of work, but no one is interested in renting them out. This is due to the fact that maintenance and upkeep are required. Because of the nature of the task, a significant quantity of dust and wood fibers are produced, all of which find their way into the engine, the air filter, the radiator, the cab, etc. If this fiber dust is not cleaned for even a week, it may obstruct the cooling capacity of the radiator, causing the machine to overheat; even worse, the fiber dust in the underbelly of the machine might catch fire during the warmer months due to the increased temperature. Even if a machine that hasn’t been maintained properly has the danger of catching fire, the likelihood of a fire being started by the mulching machine itself is quite minimal.
Adding lubricant to the machine is still another cause. If you inquire with any rental firm about the likelihood of the equipment being greased by the renter, you will find that the likelihood is far lower than 10%. Failure of the main bearings will occur if they are not lubricated regularly with the precise kind of grease that is called for in the manual. Because I was the one who needed to do this repair, I am aware that it costs more than $5,000 just in components, in addition to a whole week of shop work. The Skid Steer itself is going to have a life expectancy that is much lower overall. Mulching necessitates the use of full RPM and produces a great deal of heat, both of which accelerate the wear and tear on hydraulic pumps. A skid-steer should have around 2,000 hours of trouble-free life before it has to be replaced.
The actual mulcher heads are equipped with a variety of pricey wear parts. Over $3,000-$3,500 is required to purchase a complete set of teeth with a lifespan of 200-400 hours. The liner within the brain, which is where all of the debris is pushed to pass, is the one component that the majority of people do not think about. The mulching head determines whether or not this component is a weld-in part, in which case it necessitates the full removal of the bearings (which will require new bearings). Rebuilding a mulcher head might thus cost up to $10,000 in components alone, not including labor costs.
Last but not least, the process of land clearing is taxing on machinery, and items often fail. Because of the risk of damage, some businesses are unwilling to hire excavators to homeowners for the purpose of land clearing. Therefore, if you are fortunate enough to locate anything that is available for rental, my prediction is that they won’t be doing it for long once they learn how much it really costs them to do so. Contact us if you are in Vancouver, Battle Ground, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Orchards, Brush Prairie, Ridgefield, Camas, Washougal, Portland, or nearby regions and are having trouble renting a forestry mulcher for your land clearing or brush mowing needs.
