“Big Helper” Designed To Fit Tight Spaces
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The Big Helper from Eltschinger Industries is ideal for arborists, tree services, and landscapers. The unit’s narrow 47-in. profile gets into tight spaces, and with its three points of contact, the hydraulic claw system holds onto whatever it grabs. The design has proven even more useful than expected.
“The Big Helper was designed to get into tight areas and pick up sections of log, carry them away safely and load them onto trucks,” says Paul Eltschinger, Eltschinger Industries. “One day we discovered it worked to grab branches and feed them into a chipper. Our crews went from five to three immediately. At $40,000 per crew member, the savings were twice the cost of the Big Helper.”
The concept grew out of Eltschinger’s uncle Phil’s 20 years of tree service. After seeing the damage done by articulated loaders and full-size skid loaders, he wanted something better.
“The damage just made extra work for him and his crews, and tree removal was often dangerous as materials were lifted high into the air,” says Eltschinger.
His uncle and sons, along with an employee, designed the machine they needed and wanted to use in their business. After working their way through three prototypes, it’s now available for sale.
“The first three were very simple, belt drive machines, made with surplus parts we had on the place and are still in use,” says Eltschinger. “For our production model, we invested in forestry grade hydraulics with hydrostatic drive. Currently, we offer a gas engine, but plan to go to diesel.”
Initially, they experimented with turf tires versus treads and weighted tires versus no weight. “Eventually we realized that with the engine in front of the operator and just behind the drive wheels, plus 500 lbs. of steel in the claw system, no extra weight was needed,” says Eltschinger.
Some things were not negotiable, such as the zero-turn style with front-wheel drive and rear swivels. Safety was key to the design. The front-drive wheels with their 47-in. width can telescope out to a 63-in. wheelbase for greater stability.
The operator platform is a chariot design with a pressure sensor/weight plate under the operator’s feet. Should a problem develop, the operator simply steps out and away from the machine. The sensor immediately activates brakes to stop the machine. However, the claw can continue to be operated.
Another safety feature counters what the Eltschingers saw as an opportunity for risky behavior. Other tree handling equipment could raise material 10 ft. or more in the air. The Big Helper is limited in height to reduce the risk to the operator and overbalancing.
The design of the claw ensures the load is carried almost directly over the wheelbase. It’s mounted over the center bar of an H-shaped frame. Two tines or hooks are mounted near the bottom of the frame. Hydraulic cylinders on the claw raise and lower it and tip the tines upward. Other cylinders pivot the frame up, tipping it back up to 45 percent.
“As the claw comes down, it puts tension on three springs connected to the tines, helping to tip them up toward the claw,” says Eltschinger. “As the claw grabs material and pulls it toward the frame, the tines grab from below and secure the material. The three points really grab everything.”
Movement of the claw and tines’ frame up and to the rear adds another safety factor. The load is carried almost directly over the wheelbase.
The Big Helper weighs in at 2,500 lbs., is 52-in. high and 100-in. long. It has a maximum load rating of 1,500 lbs. and a maximum speed of 5 mph loaded or 8 mph empty. It’s powered by 23 1/2-hp. Kohler engine and priced at $40,000, equipped with the claw and tine system.
Eltschinger points out that while the Big Helper was designed by and for arborists and tree services, it fits other industries as well. In addition to the claw and tine system, the Big Helper can be equipped with buckets and forklifts.
“Buckets can be made to order and are ideal for moving mulch or dirt,” says Eltschinger. “We’re working on a stump grinder and have ideas for other attachments as well.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eltschinger Industries, 960 East 1000 Rd., Lawrence, Kan. 66047 (ph 785-840-6513; PaulHaulUSA@gmail.com; www.paulhaul.com).
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“Big Helper” Designed To Fit Tight Spaces MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous The Big Helper from Eltschinger Industries is ideal for arborists tree services and landscapers The unit’s narrow 47-in profile gets into tight spaces and with its three points of contact the hydraulic claw system holds onto whatever it grabs The design has proven even more useful than expected “The Big Helper was designed to get into tight areas and pick up sections of log carry them away safely and load them onto trucks ” says Paul Eltschinger Eltschinger Industries “One day we discovered it worked to grab branches and feed them into a chipper Our crews went from five to three immediately At $40 000 per crew member the savings were twice the cost of the Big Helper ” The concept grew out of Eltschinger’s uncle Phil’s 20 years of tree service After seeing the damage done by articulated loaders and full-size skid loaders he wanted something better “The damage just made extra work for him and his crews and tree removal was often dangerous as materials were lifted high into the air ” says Eltschinger His uncle and sons along with an employee designed the machine they needed and wanted to use in their business After working their way through three prototypes it’s now available for sale “The first three were very simple belt drive machines made with surplus parts we had on the place and are still in use ” says Eltschinger “For our production model we invested in forestry grade hydraulics with hydrostatic drive Currently we offer a gas engine but plan to go to diesel ” Initially they experimented with turf tires versus treads and weighted tires versus no weight “Eventually we realized that with the engine in front of the operator and just behind the drive wheels plus 500 lbs of steel in the claw system no extra weight was needed ” says Eltschinger Some things were not negotiable such as the zero-turn style with front-wheel drive and rear swivels Safety was key to the design The front-drive wheels with their 47-in width can telescope out to a 63-in wheelbase for greater stability The operator platform is a chariot design with a pressure sensor/weight plate under the operator’s feet Should a problem develop the operator simply steps out and away from the machine The sensor immediately activates brakes to stop the machine However the claw can continue to be operated Another safety feature counters what the Eltschingers saw as an opportunity for risky behavior Other tree handling equipment could raise material 10 ft or more in the air The Big Helper is limited in height to reduce the risk to the operator and overbalancing The design of the claw ensures the load is carried almost directly over the wheelbase It’s mounted over the center bar of an H-shaped frame Two tines or hooks are mounted near the bottom of the frame Hydraulic cylinders on the claw raise and lower it and tip the tines upward Other cylinders pivot the frame up tipping it back up to 45 percent “As the claw comes down it puts tension on three springs connected to the tines helping to tip them up toward the claw ” says Eltschinger “As the claw grabs material and pulls it toward the frame the tines grab from below and secure the material The three points really grab everything ” Movement of the claw and tines’ frame up and to the rear adds another safety factor The load is carried almost directly over the wheelbase The Big Helper weighs in at 2 500 lbs is 52-in high and 100-in long It has a maximum load rating of 1 500 lbs and a maximum speed of 5 mph loaded or 8 mph empty It’s powered by 23 1/2-hp Kohler engine and priced at $40 000 equipped with the claw and tine system Eltschinger points out that while the Big Helper was designed by and for arborists and tree services it fits other industries as well In addition to the claw and tine system the Big Helper can be equipped with buckets and forklifts “Buckets can be made to order and are ideal for moving mulch or dirt ” says Eltschinger “We’re working on a stump grinder and have ideas for other attachments as well ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eltschinger Industries 960 East 1000 Rd Lawrence Kan 66047 ph 785-840-6513; PaulHaulUSA@gmail com; www paulhaul com
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