The X20 XB is ideal for less aggressive clearing with better debris containment and safer operation when the side curtains aren’t installed, while the X30 XBC is built for fast, aggressive cutting with more open blade exposure and easier material engagement, especially when cutting trees.

The XBC has a heavier-duty build with a thicker deck, bolt-on front and the ability to grub stumps, but it also requires a larger excavator with higher lift capacity (9,000–26,000 lbs vs. 6,500–15,000 lbs for the XB). Always verify that your excavator can safely handle the cutter weight at full reach before selecting a model.

Provided there’s a hanger bracket suitable for the excavator it will be mounted on, the cutter is ready to use. The cutter includes 90” hoses and ½” couplers. However, if it’s being attached to a long arm excavator, the standard 90” hose length may be too short to reach the excavator’s auxiliary hydraulic circuit.

To access the teeth for replacement, you need to remove 6 bolts on the bottom of the flywheel and take off the flywheel. Please note, the flywheel is 145lbs or heavier. Flywheel removal instructions can be found in the operators manual. It may be faster to leave the flywheel installed and use a crowfoot wrench if only a couple teeth need to be replaced.

A side curtain can be installed or detached by adding or removing the nuts and bolts.

It depends on the material and where you’re cutting.  

Here’s what Virnig recommends: 

• Using both bolt-on sides provides the best material containment and is intended for cutting small brush and grass.  

• Using only one side installed on the left, cuts larger material easier on the open side while reducing ejected material coming toward the operator. Most material discharges from the front left of the cutter deck.  

• Not having any side curtains works well for larger diameter material and hedge trimming.  

• The front cutter deck frame with can also be removed if both cutter sides are detached. The cutter will be the most aggressive with all three bolt-on items removed. The completely open configuration is not intended to be used for cutting close to the ground as it will be very difficult to keep the blades out of the dirt and they’ll dull quickly.

All Virnig cutters have USA-made blades, which are forged using American 5160 spring steel and are heat-treated for high impact toughness.

The X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter uses a high torque Eaton® motor and heavy flywheel system with three blades for more rotational energy to power through thick brush and 4” diameter trees. Virnig cut capacity is what diameter material an operator can efficiently cut without getting frustrated with performance & durability.

The Virnig X30 Mini Excavator Cutter was the preferred choice over many of the major brands on the market during testing, largely due to higher performance, deck configuration options and not needing a case drain line.

All excavators share flow with the other excavator functions to some degree and it differs depending on machine. All brands respond differently when operating attachments, based on operating pressure, flow rate, number of pumps and pump type. Some mini excavators utilize a single hydraulic pump, which means any multifunctioning while using a powered attachment (raising/lowering boom, traveling) is likely going to slow production.

The mini excavator’s powered attachment and movement rely on the same hydraulic oil coming from the pump(s), which can limit performance. When a bucket is in use, the undercarriage and boom can utilize full hydraulic flow, ensuring the excavator’s movements are not compromised. However, when operating a powered attachment, like a brush cutter, the extra hydraulic oil needed to run the cutter may decrease excavator ground speed and cycle time when booming up or down. Booming up is usually more impacted than booming down.

Mini excavators usually lack the hydraulic flow and horsepower of a skid steer, until the standard (10-ton) excavator size range. Even with the mini excavator at rest, the primary auxiliary circuit for most 5-8 ton mini excavators cannot produce hydraulic flow rates exceeding 25 GPM. Consequently, cutting performance is unlikely to match that of a skid steer.

All Virnig hanger brackets have an Epiroc Hammer bolt pattern with six holes. It’s one of the more common hole patterns in the excavator industry.

To provide the correct hanger bracket, Virnig needs the excavator make and model and these four measurements from the excavator bucket:

• A: Distance between bushings 
• B: Distance between bushings 
• C: Distance between the centers of the pins
  • Measure from the front edge of the first hole to the front edge of the 2nd hole 

• D: Pin diameter 
  • Measured in inches then converted to metric since most pins use metric system 
  • Common sizes for mini excavators are going to be (~1.5-2.0” diameter) 38, 40, 45, and 50mm
    

Virnig has various pin grabber and wedge style hanger brackets available to fit most mini excavator brands – like Kubota®, John Deere®, Bobcat®, CAT® and more. Hanger brackets can be ordered with or without machined pins.

The X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter is compatible with many mini & midi excavators. The excavator must have enough lift capacity to safely maneuver the cutter over the side at full reach. Consult Virnig, excavator manual or dealer for more information.

The maximum operating pressure is either 3,500 or 4,000 PSI depending on the model. 

• 3,500 PSI Max Operating Pressure: XBC42-25, XBC42-28, XBC48-22, XBC48-28 

• 4,000 PSI Max Operating Pressure: XBC48-35, XBC48-38

No, one-way (hammer mode) auxiliary hydraulic flow is needed to operate the X30 Brush Cutter. The mini excavator cutter is designed to operate and spin in one direction (counter-clockwise).

The X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter is specifically designed to spin and cut in the counter-clockwise direction. Attempting to run the cutter flywheel in the opposite direction (clockwise), will result in subpar performance. The cutter will have difficulty sustaining operation, with a higher likelihood of stalling and torque will be reduced by about 75% compared to operating it in the counter-clockwise direction. It’s crucial to use the X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter correctly to ensure optimal results and avoid potential damage.

A pressure relief valve protects the motor and the loader’s hydraulic system from damaging pressure spikes. When the maximum pressure point is reached, the valve opens to prevent pressure from rising any further. This prevents seals or other internal components from failing due to excessive pressure.

No, the cutter flywheel will spin for up to a minute before it comes to a complete stop. Never exit the cab until the flywheel comes to a complete stop.

The X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter utilizes an Eaton® Geroler motor which is made in the USA. These motors have a proven track record of delivering superior performance and longevity.

Geroler motors are less susceptible to contamination and cavitation compared to piston motors, making them more durable. Furthermore, they are more cost-effective to replace than their piston counterparts.

Also, piston motors require a case drain line which is expensive and time consuming to add to an excavator. The X30 Mini Excavator Brush Cutter doesn’t require a case drain line. The relief valve in the manifold relieves excessive pressure.

No, the X30 Mini-Ex Brush Cutter doesn’t require a case drain line. This saves both time and effort during setup. The relief valve in the manifold relieves excessive hydraulic pressure. Most mini excavators don’t have a case drain hookup and retrofitting one is time consuming and expensive.