Tracks and phragmitis

[ARGOJIM]

Consider this as well.
I'll send a picture later as it will be more involved.

[dirtdobber]

ArgoJim you beat me to it. That is exactly the concept I was thinking about, but yours is more refined as I've never seen an argo axle, bearing, hub configuration.

[Cupwalker]

Cup I do things a little different with the phrag then most. In the winter when it’s cold it is brittle so I have from dec to feb to get as much down as possible then I flood the area with sluice gates then when any new shoots start coming up around may I spray the area, that keeps it from growing taller then in September the plant has to make a seed head whether it’s 2’ high or 15’. That’s when we spray again. After the seed head is made it sends all the energy it makes from the sun, to the root, at which time it will take in the herbicide. From April till September it uses the stored energy from the root/ rhizome to make a seed. I’ve worked with the UofD and ducks unlimited on some projects but they are all about the cost per ac, and politics. I deal with people that want waterfowl habitat and not worried about the rest of it. Is far as others doing it, PSE&G in NJ have Argos but they go from point A to point B there not driving all over. The guys that sika deer hunt in MD use the machines to make paths out to the marsh so they can hunt deer but then they are driving over the same paths during the season. The people at marsh masters are great people with tons of knowledge. We have one of there floating swamp excavators BUT to spend $100,000 dollars for the marsh master 2. I’m not ready for that. We have a guy that comes down every year and cuts about 3/4 ac and makes tepee looking things so it dries out then he uses it for roof thatch for teaching displays across the country.

Although I consider myself an outdoorsman I've only duck hunted a couple times and know very little about it. That said, my interests and loyalties have nothing to do with staying under budget or political agendas I can assure you that. I think it's safe to say we see the same "big picture" when it comes to wildlife and the outdoors. PSE&G...took me a minute or two but I knew I'd seen that acronym before... Public Service Electric & Gas?? I know less about PSE&G than I do duck hunting but if they're anything like the power generation company I work for then I can only imagine what their interest in phragmites is. If I had to guess I'd say their interests have nothing to do with yours but I could be wrong. As far as the Marsh Master is concerned I wasn't suggesting it as a solution to your problem it just happened to be part of the observation I made regarding the vehicles that kept popping up online. Couldn't find brand new prices but found used ones that sold at auction...holy cow they seem to hold their value! An '03 sold for $30,000!! Do you use Glyphosate or Imazapyr when you spray? Haven't used the Imazapyr but I've used Glyphosate numerous times and it's some good s***!
As far as a solution to your problem goes I've rethought my approach. Instead of trying to cut the phragmites that's built up/wrapped around the axle I'm thinking a large deflector of sorts that diverts the phragmites away from the tracks and axles. A "mud flap" of sorts but more rigid that acts as a nose cone/ferring on the front and hovers over the entire length of the tracks like a fender. It would have to be rigid enough to not buckle under the weight of the phragmites so it wouldn't interfere with the tracks. It may not eliminate the buildup 100% but I think it would eliminate a lot of it. Sounds complicated but I don't think it would be that bad. I'll think on it some more and see what I can come up with for building it...Cup

[john swenson]

hey friends ....just wanted to say how much i have enjoyed being a part of the creative ideas and designs to address delducks grass challenge . thats whats so fun about this site , sharing ideas together . i look forward to seeing how the final solution works out for him . thanks , johnboy va.

[Cupwalker]

Well I've tried to chime in several times this evening but I keep getting logged off and losing what I've typed so I give up lol. Maybe this post will go through...Cup

[ARGOJIM]

Well I've tried to chime in several times this evening but I keep getting logged off and losing what I've typed so I give up lol. Maybe this post will go through...Cup

LMAO
If you are going to type them long replies you have to check the remember me box or your session will time.

[Delduck]

Guys I really appreciate all the feedback, I never thought I would get so much, and greatly appreciate it from all of you. Cup PSE&G just use there machines to go out to the power lines that cross the swamp so they do get phrag in the machines, but only a little bit since they are driving from a to b. Our world is drive over everything. Glyphosate is what I use, and it’s all about when. You can spray threw out the summer and it will stun it, but after it goes to seed you can whoop that a$$. And if you can be within 1 week of going to seed you can see it kill the plant within 2-3 days. After a couple weeks of going to seed the spray takes longer. This year we were able to spray all the way out till nov because of the warm weather but it didn’t show any affect until the second week of December. I’m going to run down 1/2 ac tomorrow and see how packed it gets, but I do think a pipe or even a angle bar across the front will help. Just funny how my max4 didn’t get wound up as bad. Just want to thank everyone for the replies and please keep them coming. About the first week in February we are going to video with the drone and use the go pro’s, hopefully I can download them to the site, if not send me a pm and I’ll send them threw email. Duck season ends on the 20th and we’re hoping to have cold weather by then.

[Delduck]

Cup it’s a bit h typing with 1 finger. I know

[Ruffus]

I have no experience with the issue, but I did have an idea pop into my head from reading all the posts. What if you made aluminum tubular cup's, that bolt on behind the bearing retainer on each axle. They would extend from the hull to within almost touching the back of the axle flange wheel hub. It would prevent anything from wrapping up on the axles. It may be a pain getting the bearing bolts in (long extensions needed) but once done it should be good for quite a while.

[Cupwalker]

LMAO
If you are going to type them long replies you have to check the remember me box or your session will time.

LMAO...I had no idea it would do that or what the remember me box was for. I'm literally laughing out loud because that proves how little I know about this stuff and well...it's funny! I told my kids about it and now they're teasing me lol...Cup

[Cupwalker]

Cup it’s a bit h typing with 1 finger. I know

That's what I do on the rare occasion that I have to use a computer. For this I use my phone which is a hair faster but not much lol.

[ARGOJIM]

Guys I really appreciate all the feedback, I never thought I would get so much, and greatly appreciate it from all of you. Cup PSE&G just use there machines to go out to the power lines that cross the swamp so they do get phrag in the machines, but only a little bit since they are driving from a to b. Our world is drive over everything. Glyphosate is what I I’m going to run down 1/2 ac tomorrow and see how packed it gets, but I do think a pipe or even a angle bar across the front will help. Just funny how my max4 didn’t get wound up as bad. .

Perhaps it did and you dont remember? Are you accomplishing the same area between clean outs?

It could be the difference in the size of the bearing cage as the max are nearer the rim diameter.

The PVC in the middle should greatly help and the split collars would help keep weeds out of the seals of the old machine and new one if it has them.

[Delduck]

Jim tomorrow we are going to run both machines over to the 40 ac. My hunting party and my partners canceled, due to COVID so we figured we start this next adventure. The phrag is 14’ high and very dense. We plan on checking or should I say cleaning the machines after 15 min of ride time. Hopefully I can get some video of how the phrag is going up into the machines. Once we know how bad it’s going to be we’re going to use everyone’s ideas to see what we need.

[john swenson]

just curious ... after you drive over the phrag does it stay down much or bend back up some ? seems if it's taller than the length of the machine it wouldnt get caught going , but if it sticks up some ... on the way back over the same path it's going to jam right up against the axles . of course i don't know what it looks like so a video will really be interesting . johnboy

[john swenson]

i just watched a u tube video showing driving on and mowing phrag . very informative , now i see what your dealing with . one guy was cutting it down with a big tractor with a rotating cutting cylinder like a forestry mulcher . thick stuff !! j.b.