Built a pole saw

quartlow · Oct 10, 2011

Been looking at pole saws for the skid steer, Decided I could build a better one.

Neighbor donated a hydraulic motor to start with, turned out to be just the right size

Had the 3 inch square tubing.

Robbed the saw parts from an old Echo
Adjuster and drive stuff and the 20 inch bar

The ones you buy are mounted on the edge of the bucket, and that's where I started out. Turns out the bucket blocks your view some of the time. I had the blank makeup plate all ready so I mounted it there, works much better

Bar lubrication comes from the return line, controlled through a needle valve.

Boom folds down around and pins in place for storage/transport. There's also a chain that goes back to the loader arms for transport

I can reach up about 21 feet
The work light does make a difference when working in the shade. Next up is a remote wireless camera

Roger in Iowa · Oct 10, 2011

Fantastic job. Just what I need for dead wooding.

robertmn · Oct 10, 2011

Roger; Great saw!!! Way safer than a man in a bucket!!! Or neater than the way I trim trees around the fields.....with our backhoe!!! Again nice job. Bobmn

Dave in MS · Oct 10, 2011

Great job! And to think I was the only gadget nut on here.

Pat-CT · Oct 10, 2011

Ok now my question is, What keeps you from putting to much
downward force on the branch while you are cutting? Ive never seen
one operate so I have no clue. Looks like a great job! It looks
factory built.

greygoat · Oct 10, 2011

Great looking..but what"s the copper tubibg for.
It"s unsafe in a hydraulic system, even a bypss
relief, or case drain situation.

NEsota · Oct 10, 2011

Congratulation on your success. My interest in building a pole saw comes from a desire to cut what we in the midwest call hedge, it is more properly called osage orange and is so hard that sometimes, when cutting it you will see sparks fly off the chain. Because of the frequent requirement to sharpen the chain, I have questioned using a buzz saw blade or modern hardened circular blade. Another feature I would want is the ability to vary the horizontal-vertical plane of the blade. Comments please.

thurlow · Oct 10, 2011

I love it.........

Jim in Ma. · Oct 10, 2011

Have you seen the mowers they use on the highway for cutting behind the guardrail?
They sort of look like a backhoe mounted sideways and have either a flail or rotory mower on them. Hydro drive and come about 4' wide.
I have seen them side mount and 3 point mount.
When you use them it looks ragged it first but in about a month you will never know it.
With the tilt you can cut the sides and top of a hedge.

Chris(WA) · Oct 10, 2011

Hmmm good idea! Never thought of adding one to the loader on an extension. If it works on a skidsteer it should work on a tractor too.
What is the size of the hydraulic motor you used?

Chris(WA) · Oct 10, 2011

Looks like that is his bleed to lube the chain.
Probably be OK if the needle valve was on the other end of the copper line. Not apt to blow and cause more than a mess in this application...

rustred · Oct 10, 2011

to lube the chain and bar. i dont see a problem with that, as long as the flow control valve is before the copper line.

elmersooner · Oct 10, 2011

bout the only thing i see is you might want to have a door on the skid steer, I always drop limbs on top of myself.

IOWA NORTHEAST · Oct 10, 2011

It looks like a super nice job, but it sure looks like you can reach farther than 21 ft?

Perhaps you can reach more, just not in a safe way?

RwEny · Oct 10, 2011

I could use one of those. Great job

TWL · Oct 10, 2011

What do you use to drive the chain? Great Looking tool

quartlow · Oct 10, 2011

The copper tube is tapped into the return line for bar lube.
That's one thing I want to change but it worked for the time being

The drive, I took the drum and sprocket of of a chainsaw, didn't use the clutch. Had a blank drive hub that fit the motor. Machine shop milled me a piece to fit the drive hub shoulder and the inside of the clutch drum. Then just migged it all together

Pat, look close at the first pic, the upper arm pivots.
On the back side is a nylon sling to hod it up, when you set it on a limb the strap goes slack, By watching it you can tell how much to let it down, small limbs it never gets slack it just whacks them off. bigger stuff will get some slack in it. Then you just wait till it catches up and let it down some more.

I cut some 8 inch red oak off with today.

quartlow · Oct 10, 2011

(quoted from post at 18:18:06 10/10/11) Hmmm good idea! Never thought of adding one to the loader on an extension. If it works on a skidsteer it should work on a tractor too.
What is the size of the hydraulic motor you used?

for visibility it would actually work better on a loader tractor, since your sitting back. But on the skid steer you gain maneuverability. That's one reason I want a wireless camera

I have no clue as to the displacement of the motor, I'll get the numbers off it later this week and post them.

Tony S. · Oct 10, 2011

Been thinking about making one myself. What kind of RPMs are you getting? Wondered how well a chainsaw would cut at lower speeds.

fixerupper · Oct 10, 2011

Very nice workmanship. It's so rewarding when an idea that's been bouncing around in your mind for awhile becomes real. And WORKS! Jim

Spook · Oct 10, 2011

(reply to post at 08:45:03 10/10/11)

Nice job!!

jm. · Oct 10, 2011

Roger I needed to see directly behind my cat 315 track hoe. Found a color wirelless for under a 100 bucks in a Heartland catalog. Kinda a junk mail order place but so far it has worked flawless and is a big help. Should make working up in the trees a snap for your saw. really a slick unit.

quartlow · Oct 10, 2011

they have on at Autozone for $80

Haven't really checked around yet

Everyone else, thanks for the compliments

Stephen Newell · Oct 10, 2011

You know your biggest screw up is not getting a pattent on it before you posted pictures on the internet! Nice job.

Built a pole saw

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads