DRIVING IMPRESSION: If you need to trim creeping briars from electric fences, then Slanetrac’s cutterbar could be the ideal tool for the job. It can be mounted on a mini digger or front loader – we tried both.
While you could be forgiven for thinking finger-bar mowers went out with the ark (or at least with grandad’s MF 35X), they’re actually making something of a comeback, albeit in a very different role. With more and more farms running their own diggers, there are increasing numbers of ag-specific attachments making their way onto the market to stretch these already versatile machines’ portfolios. Flail-head hedge-bashers have gained some popularity but unless you’ve got a big, modern 360 to run them they can suffer from oil-flow issues when other functions are operated. With a much lower appetite for oil, finger-bar trimmers offer a useful alternative where access means it’s not possible to get a tractor and reach-arm flail in or simply where you want to be a bit more
gentle on the hedge. There are all manner of such machines to be Found in the distant recesses of the world wide web – a good number looking very much like those also listed as hydraulically driven combine side-knives. But there is one particular brand that’s got an extra trick up its sleeve. Originally conceived by County Meath engineer Padraic Owens – the Slanetrac HC180L appears on paper just like all the others. However, it’s got one feature that makes it a whole lot more versatile. Not only can it be mounted on a digger, with the addition of the firm’s SwivelTrim headstock, it can also be operated on a fore-end loader or telehandler.
We thought it warranted further investigation.
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