Hedge trimming, a pain in the neck

[Henarar]

I have a Bomford B49 trimmer with 5 foot head and joystick armrest controls, Its a linkage mounted machine with no A frame
nart wrong with the trimmer its me, the job gives me bad neck ache its been getting worse for a few years but this year its making my shoulder and across my back hurt as well.

been thinking of either modifying the trimmer I have or getting a different one to make it a better job to do ,
options are
cutting the arm and stepping it forward to make a mid cut, good idea and quite easy but would it put to much strain on everything?
moving the whole machine forward by altering the linkage points, looking at it I could go maybe a foot but the pto maybe a problem
mid mounting the machine, someone on FWI forum done this with a B49 but he has a 6cl tractor, not sure there is room on a 4cl

Buy a mid mount machine, probably couldn't find one
buy a right hand cut machine, I think I may get on better with that but its finding one and I wouldn't want less than a 5 foot head
Buy a machine with a cranked arm, again maybe a job to find

Not got massive funds so any fancy VFR's and such like are out of the question
What do folks think would be best ? any other ideas ?
I could get someone else to do the job but I am a fussy sod and like doing stuff myself plus I can't really afford it

 

[Treg]

What about fitting a swivel seat to the tractor ? It's surprising how just a small turn with seat can take the physical stress out of the job.

 

[7610 super q]

As above swivel seat in the 40 series + clutch button on shuttle lever on RH side. Takes some getting used to, mind.

 

[davidroberts30]

On my 7480 I swivel the seat right round to the left.
Also the biggest thing that saves it is I got a linkage that hooks onto the foot throttle so I can use pedal mode and press the pedal from the left hand door way
Only then evernlooking 45 degrees left or right then not 90 degrees left

 

[farmer cen]

Do you what i felt like doing too the bomford kestrel ive got was taking up too the gof ,welder chop the beam by the head by 12 or16inches forwad so i can see hedge cuutting head better,same neck gets stiff

 

[farmer cen]

Iori gof is a bludi good welder.

 

[john432]

Could it not be seen using cameras and screens? Cheep enough these days

 

[Henarar]

What about fitting a swivel seat to the tractor ? It's surprising how just a small turn with seat can take the physical stress out of the job.

I have a swivel seat and use it but still get trouble, I think it runs in the family Dad had hassle with his neck

 

[Henarar]

As above swivel seat in the 40 series + clutch button on shuttle lever on RH side. Takes some getting used to, mind.

clutch button!! this is an old 3075 we are talking about, I can't afford new stuff like you

 

[KB6930]

Lad round here was hurt bad in a car crash and has serious neck issues he's a hedger on his front linkage

 

[Ormond]

Front mounted hedge cutter? They're probably quite a new idea so probably not cheap and rare secondhand. I find hedge cutting tiring for some reason. Not sure if it's the concentration or something. I can understand your comment about wanting to do it yourself..... I'm the same

 

[paul&mandy]

Big pillow behind my back. Got a lipomass on my back from pressure point on seat backrest doing 12 plus hr days 6 days and it really helps a lot.

 

[bobk]

I have a Bomford B49 trimmer with 5 foot head and joystick armrest controls, Its a linkage mounted machine with no A frame
nart wrong with the trimmer its me, the job gives me bad neck ache its been getting worse for a few years but this year its making my shoulder and across my back hurt as well.

been thinking of either modifying the trimmer I have or getting a different one to make it a better job to do ,
options are
cutting the arm and stepping it forward to make a mid cut, good idea and quite easy but would it put to much strain on everything?
moving the whole machine forward by altering the linkage points, looking at it I could go maybe a foot but the pto maybe a problem
mid mounting the machine, someone on FWI forum done this with a B49 but he has a 6cl tractor, not sure there is room on a 4cl

Buy a mid mount machine, probably couldn't find one
buy a right hand cut machine, I think I may get on better with that but its finding one and I wouldn't want less than a 5 foot head
Buy a machine with a cranked arm, again maybe a job to find

Not got massive funds so any fancy VFR's and such like are out of the question
What do folks think would be best ? any other ideas ?
I could get someone else to do the job but I am a fussy sod and like doing stuff myself plus I can't really afford it

Try ploughing for a month

 

[Ormond]

Lad round here was hurt bad in a car crash and has serious neck issues he's a hedger on his front linkage

Posts must have crossed or I'm slow at typing!

 

[7610 super q]

clutch button!! this is an old 3075 we are talking about, I can't afford new stuff like you

When I used the spud harvester years ago, I would kneel on the seat facing backwards.
Then someone would shout woooaaaahhhhhh !!!, and I'd have to quickly get back in the correct position and dip the clutch pedal.

 

[thorpe]

contracted out our off farm this year best thing we could have done up to date with ground work ready to start drilling.

 

[Henarar]

Lad round here was hurt bad in a car crash and has serious neck issues he's a hedger on his front linkage

I have a front linkage but I don't think it would take it also no front pto

 

[KB6930]

I have a front linkage but I don't think it would take it also no front pto

Leave the tank and pump on the back like a mid mount ? His will be a right hand cut machine as he runs a big fan on the back .

They always had mid mount machines the last one I saw fitted up was on a 4cyl claas they got a bespoke diesel tank made so it fitted

 

[Henarar]

Big pillow behind my back. Got a lipomass on my back from pressure point on seat backrest doing 12 plus hr days 6 days and it really helps a lot.

I couldn't do that, done 4 hours yesterday and didn't know what to with myself when I finished

 

[Bury the Trash]

mid mounting the machine, someone on FWI forum done this with a B49 but he has a 6cl tractor, not sure there is room on a 4cl

was in fw or pfi yrs ago, a farmer modded his bomford i think it was and mid mounted it on a leyland 262 or 272 always wanted do it myself, but would be easier conversion on a dedicated tractor ir, what about that chap that converted a forager for hedgetrimming thats was pretty cool front mounted and hydro as well.
would go on an old combine ir , would ut one on one of my old nh's but the drive belts are prone to slippage when using the variator.