Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Quads ... an appreciation

Lovely day here today so down in the woods with the quad and trailer chainsawing up some trees that Storm Bram kindly felled for me (but not so kindly deposited across my access tracks.)

For years I used an old grey Fergie for this job ... wonderful thing though it was, down in the wet patches it dug through the grass and rutted the ground. Then I got a quad .... not got the out and out pulling power of the tractor but it pulls over 1/4 ton in the trailer and that's enough limbing and logging in one go for me to be needing a cup of tea ... and as both it and the trailer have big flotation tyres it floats over the soggy bits and keeps mud to a minimum. Hung onto the Fergie for a year or two but just wasn't using it for the work I needed to do so parted with it.

Don't know if anyone else uses one, but, to me, they're one of the good things to spring from the modern world and I wouldn't be without one now.





K

Yes, we’ve had a quad for many years. Mainly used for towing a field mower or dragging the chain harrow around the paddocks.

That looks to be a Yamaha like mine (mine's a Kodiak 400cc) .... is that a flail mower? ... flail mower will be my next equipment purchase, to keep the weeds and grass between the rows of newly-planted native trees in check ... what one is it you have and how well does it work?

K

Yes, the quad is getting on a bit; it’s a Yamaha Bruin. The mower is a Chinese thing modified by a company in Scotland, and cost under £3k new. It had an electric start, but I use the recoil these days. It’s similar to this one I think - https://charlesbentley.com/garden-m...5hp-petrol-powered-atv-flail-mower.html. Both the quad and mower have survived being ignored in a damp shed for months at a time! The flail is very useful cutting on uneven ground, and going through molehills and horse dung! Also good for cutting wet grass if necessary.

Here’s a better picture -



And I’ve found the company I bought it from:

https://www.alphadeltamachinery.co.uk/product/alpha-easiflo-atv-flail-mower/

Quad bikes are brilliant tools, I’m amazed where it can go and the abuse it can take. I have a flail on a 3 ton digger but I might buy a towable fail too. I met this decent chap on his trade stand at the Perth Horse trials, stuff looked well made and although Far East imported, he seemed to be willing to back them up and has sold them for a long time.

https://pjgaul.co.uk/summer-shows-for-p-j-gaul-co/

Quads are indeed amazing bits of kit, whereas the three wheeled versions were very dangerous, I managed to roll one while taking a bend on a flat even surface.... Boy did I feel foolish falling that thing.

As for the floatation tyres, my pal was a Honda dealer, and had one of his teenage kids ride the thing into Loch Lomond, just to see if it would float and it did..Nuts or what..! (-:

Thanks for the links.



Jon ... that 25 bhp v-twin sounds like it will handle most things.

Ewan ... like the look of the front-mounted version ...means being able to get up close to things while still seeing what's going on .... have a lot of rushes, so need to check 15 bhp would do the trick ... tbough if I tookthe initial clearing very slow and steady things would be quicker for routine follow-up trimming.

Not had a catch-up in a while Ewan ... we should arrange a get together sometime soon.

K

Catch up we will Keith, it’s taken me all year just to post on here again, Christmas will never be the same again but I’ve lots of good news to share with you, woodlands, travels, even new Ferraris!

That sounds good Ewan ... we're about all between xmas and hogmannay except for tomorrow afternoon ... you could drop by here or we can come to you (especially if you have new toys to show! 🙂) ... would be good to have a gossip ... been too long.

K