defensiblespace
ArboristSite Operative
the "x" system
FortheAction,
Hopefully the pics I uploaded worked. Here is my best attempt to explain the x system. The first pic shows the x from a distance. You can see in the center is a bolt with washers and a locking nut. This serves as an axle that allows the x to fold up or collapse. The center of the x is also high enough so that when small trees or large branches rest in the center of the x, the butts are high enough to clear the back of the quad. The tips of the trees or branches serve as a third point of contact on the ground and keep the x from tipping over. Stacking the slash on the x saves us from having to pile the slash on the ground and then lift the piles up manually to rest them on the quad. Once the x is full, we tie a lanyard around the slash, just behind the x. One side of the lanyard has a figure eight on a bite. The lanyard goes around the slash and the working end of the lanyard is passed through the bite and pulled tight. This creates a 2 to 1 mechanical advantage to get the pile tight. It is also easier than trying to pass a rope under a pile on the ground. The lanyard is then secured with a slipknot. We then back the quad under the branch butts. The back of the quad has another lanyard with a carabiner on it. The carabiner is clipped on the the lanyard which is securing the pile. In the second pic, you can see how the bottom of the x works. There is a lag eye on one end with a rope attached to it. The other side has a lag hook. The end of the rope has another figure eight on a bite. The loop of the bite attaches to the lag hook. This keeps the x from collapsing when you start stacking branches on top of it. Before you can drive off with your pile of slash, you have to collapse the x. This is done by simply taking the loop off of the lag hook. It is important that the open end of the lag hook faces up. Facing it down creates and angle that makes it nearly impossible to release the rope. Once the x collapses, all you have to do is drive off. When you get to the drop point, just undo the slipknot and drive off. Hopefully this clears up the x system for anybody who had questions. I also hope this makes the job easier for someone out there. With the quad and our low tech x system, we do with two guys what I used to have to pay a crew of four to do by hand. It works great with small trees and large branches. Once you perfect the system, get a fleet of x's and keep your quad running. We tackle some pretty rough terrain with this system and we do it very fast and efficiently. Let me know if you guys have questions. I will be sure to try and help.
FortheAction,
Hopefully the pics I uploaded worked. Here is my best attempt to explain the x system. The first pic shows the x from a distance. You can see in the center is a bolt with washers and a locking nut. This serves as an axle that allows the x to fold up or collapse. The center of the x is also high enough so that when small trees or large branches rest in the center of the x, the butts are high enough to clear the back of the quad. The tips of the trees or branches serve as a third point of contact on the ground and keep the x from tipping over. Stacking the slash on the x saves us from having to pile the slash on the ground and then lift the piles up manually to rest them on the quad. Once the x is full, we tie a lanyard around the slash, just behind the x. One side of the lanyard has a figure eight on a bite. The lanyard goes around the slash and the working end of the lanyard is passed through the bite and pulled tight. This creates a 2 to 1 mechanical advantage to get the pile tight. It is also easier than trying to pass a rope under a pile on the ground. The lanyard is then secured with a slipknot. We then back the quad under the branch butts. The back of the quad has another lanyard with a carabiner on it. The carabiner is clipped on the the lanyard which is securing the pile. In the second pic, you can see how the bottom of the x works. There is a lag eye on one end with a rope attached to it. The other side has a lag hook. The end of the rope has another figure eight on a bite. The loop of the bite attaches to the lag hook. This keeps the x from collapsing when you start stacking branches on top of it. Before you can drive off with your pile of slash, you have to collapse the x. This is done by simply taking the loop off of the lag hook. It is important that the open end of the lag hook faces up. Facing it down creates and angle that makes it nearly impossible to release the rope. Once the x collapses, all you have to do is drive off. When you get to the drop point, just undo the slipknot and drive off. Hopefully this clears up the x system for anybody who had questions. I also hope this makes the job easier for someone out there. With the quad and our low tech x system, we do with two guys what I used to have to pay a crew of four to do by hand. It works great with small trees and large branches. Once you perfect the system, get a fleet of x's and keep your quad running. We tackle some pretty rough terrain with this system and we do it very fast and efficiently. Let me know if you guys have questions. I will be sure to try and help.
