RUT MFG Tree Slayer Brush Cutter on Kubota KX040-4

Brush cutting on the riverbank with a ‪@RutMFG‬ Tree Slayer 36" brush cutter with carbide teeth. Using a Kubota KX040-4 Mini Excavator.

[@FesterLandMaintenance]

Awesome content Neal. Got a chance to use the tree slayer on another job today, so far no blown seals after capping it. Looking forward to your next brush video!

[@CopperBarnHomestead]

Nice job. Cool place on the river. Be safe

[@NealORussa]

Thanks for the comment! We really like it here. I am in the process of building a steel wired shield for the front of the machine. I haven't had the cutter throw any thing back at me really, but better safe than sorry. I also wear a hard hat with face shield and safety glasses and ear muffs.

[@stephentucker3837]

You’ve got skills. I love my tree slayer.

[@NealORussa]

Thanks for the comment! It is a good unit, but I think it's kinda like a backhoe. It can cut thick stuff and thin stuff, but doesn't do cut thin stuff as well as a dedicated long blade brush cutter or thick stuff as well as a drum mulcher.

[@georgehofgren6123]

GREAT review, Thank you. I've got a nice spot by the river up here and this Really instilled me to get enjoying it ♡. If i ever have enough cash, i'll likely pick up the Brush Cutter economical version of yours. It's a good deal, and i can figure out how to tote my saw along i suppose. (Plus, only have a 24hp machine so need a lighter duty cutter). Gotta admit that toothbar looks handy and you put it right to good use, w/o having a bucket along 👍

[@NealORussa]

Thanks for the comment! What river do you live on?

[@georgehofgren6123]

@NealORussa I live on the Kennebec river in central Maine ~

[@pfeifferized]

That looks to be way better/quicker than a multcher attachment!

[@NealORussa]

Thanks! Yes it will definitely cut brush faster than an mulcher I'd say. But I think a mulcher would grind up wood and stumps better.

[@rusty1569]

I just received my Rut mower Thursday and am going to try it out this weekend on my Kubota KX40

[@NealORussa]

Nice! Did you have to install a case drain? I've heard they went to a newer motor that requires a drain.

[@tdf4089]

I just picked up a used Volvo 5 ton. My salesman said he wouldn’t recommend a mulcher head for anything under 6 ton. I’m looking at clearing similar areas to what you were doing but also maybe a bit larger diameter wood. Are there any units you have heard perform better?

[@NealORussa]

I would check with Jordan at Mongo Attachments if you're looking for a drum mulcher. He also sells flail cutters, but that won't cut large wood. I've never used a disc mulcher like RUT sells, but i imagine they would sideload the boom and make the house want to spin away from whatever you're cutting.

[@jeffmayeux1692]

Neal, now you got a better view of the mighty Green River! Looks like the Kubota handled the Rut Tree Slayer well. What other cutters or mowers did you also consider before deciding on the Rut Tree Slayer?

[@NealORussa]

Thanks for the comment Jeff! Yes the 40 does well it's only a little tippy out over the side fully extended. I basically ran across a deal to buy both a tree slayer and a 42" rut brush cutter for a combo deal price from a guy and they were both new still strapped to the pallets. I decided the keep the tree slayer and sold the brush cutter because I thought it would work better. Now I'm not so sure, the brush cutter might have been better for most of this with the longer blade cutting edge.

[@justingeorge8988]

@@NealORussa I asked rut this question specifically, their response was they all cut grass and brush the same, the advantage goes to the tree slayer because it can also take 6” trees.. However, maybe they were trying to upswell the tree slayer on me.

[@NealORussa]

@@justingeorge8988 hmm yea I dunno to me a brush cutter with 8-10" of blade cutting edge on each blade would cut grass better, but maybe not

[@inksexcavatinganddemo]

How does it work on high grass? Great video!

[@NealORussa]

Hey thanks for the comment! It does ok on tall grass. Probably not as good as a regular bush hog with longer blades and cutting edges. It's kinda like a backhoe. It does grass and larger brush/trees up to 4". But it's not as good as a bush hog blade style cutter at grass or a drum mulcher on trees.

[@dustiniverson3014]

Did you get rid of the kx161? How many hours did it have? How does it compare to that 40?

[@NealORussa]

Yes I sold the kx71 and kx161 to get the kx040. I don't recall the hours on the 161 honestly. The 161 definitely had more power and the buckets were much larger and deeper than the kx040. But it was also 3000lbs more machine. I wish I still had it because I am doing septics more now and the larger machine would make things go faster like digging for the tank. But the good thing about the kx040 is that I can haul it and my asv rt40 skid steer on my 20k gvwr trailer at the same time. I would be overweight on the axles with the 161 trying to haul both.

[@brianjennings1975]

Wonder if a skid steer mount was welded on this.. If my loader tractor could run it. I have 2200lb lift and 16 gpm flow.

[@NealORussa]

This machine has 17.3gpm flow. I wouldn't go any lower. But I think rut can put different hydraulic motors on them.

[@RutMFG]

Thank you for reviewing the Tree Slayer! We would love to use some of this footage to show customers our attachments in use. Would you be willing to send this video to us?

[@NealORussa]

Thanks for the comment and products! This video is probably 15-20gb so I don't have any easy way to send it to you. You can definitely link to this video on your site if you'd like.

[@RutMFG]

@@NealORussa Okay, thank you so much.

[@adamgallaher1]

How does it do on larger brush/saplings

[@NealORussa]

It mows right through anything in the 2" range. Larger than that it will do it but you can't just swipe and mow. Have to go a little slower

[@raynelson3404]

I have a tree slayer on my kubota kx121-3 and the return jic 90 on the pump keeps coming loose after maybe 10 mins and starts leaking. Have you had a similar problem with yours?

[@NealORussa]

No I haven't had any leaks on mine. You might consider cleaning the threads really well with brake cleaner then torquing it down with loctite.

[@raynelson3404]

@NealORussa Thank you for the fast response. Tony from rut has been very helpful. I am waiting to get back in town to change some fittings.

[@justingeorge8988]

Did you need to add a case drain? If so was it easy

[@NealORussa]

No this model doesn't require a case drain. I do switch a valve on the excavator to drain the return direct to tank instead of going through the valve block. Video on that here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWWaWWoi9iDo9U

[@justingeorge8988]

@@NealORussa just watched that thanks Do you know if this is the same setup as the 057-4

[@NealORussa]

@@justingeorge8988 I just googled a little and see that the kx057-4 has the same valve. I'm not sure about the new 057-5 but I'd assume it does.

[@johnlewis777]

Any issues running this mulcher with open station machine?

[@NealORussa]

Not yet! I wear a hard hat, Safety glasses, face shield and ear muffs. Along with jeans and long sleeve. Nothing big has came at me yet but I am always weary of which way the blade is spinning and what angle I have the cutter at. I do have a frame made up for a shield (the kx040 has mounting points for a forestry shield). I just need to weave all the 3/16" rod I got together and weld it to the frame.

[@domenicdisantis5002]

What size is the cutter, 36 or 42? Thanks

[@NealORussa]

It is a 36" cutter with the carbide teeth.

[@domenicdisantis5002]

@@NealORussa thank you