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Performance of a Hydro-Ax 611 Ex Feller-Buncher

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Performance of a Hydro-Ax 611 Ex Feller-Buncher Technical Release 01-R-2 FOREST RESOURCES ASSOCIATION INC. 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350 Rockville, Maryland 20852 Phone: 301/838-9385 Fax: 301/838-9481 PERFORMANCE OF A HYDRO-AX 611 EX FELLER-BUNCHER Feller-Bunchers: production/costs February 2001 INTRODUCTION: Drive-to-tree feller-bunchers have revolutionized the logging business in the United States. Accumulating heads coupled with high-speed circular saws have contributed to enhanced productivity of logging operations across the South, especially in thinning operations where tree size is small. By reducing the number of workers on the ground who historically performed manual felling operations, Workers’ Compensation insurance costs have also declined greatly. Equipment manufacturers are continually improving these machines. More engine power, increased stability, more efficient cooling systems, and better ergonomic design have all contributed to more reliable, higher performing machines. This operational research study presents a felling operation time study for a clearcut harvest of a loblolly pine plantation in Alabama. Also presented are productivity and machine cost information which should be useful to timber harvesting personnelFig. 1: Hydro-Ax operating 611 EX in Feller-Bunchersimilar pine at stands. work. OPERATION: Typically, for a clearcut harvesting operation, the ratio of feller-bunchers to skidders is 1:2. For a thinning operation this ratio is about 3:2 for a balanced system. Feller- bunchers provide an efficient way of preparing trees to be transported by skidders to a landing. During August 2000, research personnel from the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, observed a Hydro-Ax 611 EX drive-to-tree feller-buncher operating in a clearcut harvest of a loblolly pine plantation in Lee County, Alabama. The stand had a small component of hardwood that consisted mainly of sweetgum and water oak. The study area was comprised of 0.70 acres that contained 348 trees per acre with a Quadratic Mean Diameter of 7.11 inches. Mean pine tree weight was 0.14 merchantable tons. Hardwood tree weight averaged 0.05 merchantable tons. The operator had over 20 years’ experience on feller-bunchers. The feller-buncher’s accumulating head was equipped with a 22-inch circular saw. As the machine approached a tree, the rotating saw severed the tree at ground line. Trees were held in the head by an accumulating arm. Once the head was full, trees in the head were placed in bunches for skidding. Bunch size averaged 19 stems. The feller-buncher was recorded on videotape while cutting 245 previously numbered trees that were measured for DBH. Total tree heights were sampled using a hypsometer. Merchantable volumes were estimated using appropriate top-diameter limits. Time study elements were analyzed using video analysis software. Elements included move/cut, move-to-dump, and dump. APPLICATION: The model 611 EX feller-buncher was mounted on Firestone 28Lx26 tires and powered by a Cummins 6CT 8.3 engine which generated 205 horsepower. Mean productivity was 48.8 merchantable tons/productive machine hour (PMH) (Table 1). Eighty-five percent of the trees cut were pulpwood size. The remaining 15 percent were sawtimber size. Forest Operations Review / Winter 2001 • 3 Technical Release 01-R-2 / continued Table 1. Time study summary for Hydro-Ax 611 EX. Table 2. Cost summary for Hydro-Ax 611 EX. Variable Mean Range Variable US$ Ownership Costs1 Move/cut (min.) 0.68 0.38 – 1.21 Depreciation ($/yr.) 38,137 Move to dump (min.) 0.15 0.00 – 0.38 Interest ($/yr.) 12,013 Dump (min.) 0.05 0.02 – 0.10 Insurance & taxes ($/yr.) 541 2 Total time (min.) 0.88 0.59 – 1.29 Operating Costs Fuel & Lube ($/PMH) 8.42 Productivity (tons/PMH)1 48.8 12.1 – 92.6 Repair & Maint. ($/PMH) 29.34 Stems per cycle 5.2 3.0 – 12.0 Tires ($/PMH) 0.69 DBH per cycle (in.) 7.03 3.33 – 10.33 Labor & Benefits ($/SMH) 13.00 Basal area per cycle (sq. ft.) 1.40 0.49 – 2.73 Total Machine Costs ($/SMH) 63.33 1 Merchantable tons ($/ton) 2.00 1 Based on interest rate of 9%, an insurance and tax rate of 5% of the purchase price (Brinker et al., 1989), a machine life of 4 years, a utilization rate of 65%, $10 per hour labor plus 30% benefits, and 2000 SMH per year. 2 A fuel cost of $1.14 per gallon was used, with a lube and oil rate of 36.8% of hourly fuel cost, and a fuel consumption rate of 0.028 gal./hp-hr. (Brinker et al., 1989). Total machine cost was estimated at $63/scheduled machine hour (SMH), or $2/merchantable ton. Owning, operating, and total machine costs are summarized in Table 2. Of the total cycle time, 77% was spent moving between trees and felling, 17% was spent moving to dump, and 6% was spent dumping trees from the accumulating head into piles for skidding. COMMENT: The model 611 EX is capable of accommodating tires up to 34 inches wide with a standard 2503 axle. Tires 50 inches wide can be utilized with the optional 2513 axle. Hydro-Ax also manufactures a larger rubber-tired feller-buncher, the model 711 EX, which produces 215 hp and features the 2513 axle as standard equipment. REFERENCE Brinker, R.W., Miller, D., Stokes, B.J., and Lanford, B.L. 1989. Machine rates for selected forest harvesting machines. Circular 296. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. 23 pp. John Klepac, General Engineer USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station 520 DeVall Drive Auburn, Alabama 36849-5418 334/826-8700 REVIEWED BY: Bruce C. Alt Southcentral Technical Division Forester 4 • Forest Operations Review / Winter 2001.
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