Moving Felled Trees

[joshuabardwell]

....your tractor couldn't pull more than it's own weight? I don't think that's right.

Not at all. But let's say you are pulling a 10,000 lb cart from your drawbar. How much force is on the chain? Not 10,000 lbs, unless you have a pully and are lifting the cart up a 90-degree incline, right? To put it another way: I weigh 200 lbs, but I can roll a 6000 lb car on level ground. Would you conclude that I can lift 6000 lbs?

My argument is that the tractor is unlikely, under real-world conditions, to be able to apply more force to its draw-bar than its own weight--unless you were to get a runup and snap the chain taut. Using the tractor's own weight as a guideline is arbitrary. According to BCP's post, it sounds like 132% of the tractor's weight would be a more conservative best-case estimate.

 

[k0ua]

Not at all. But let's say you are pulling a 10,000 lb cart from your drawbar. How much force is on the chain? Not 10,000 lbs, unless you have a pully and are lifting the cart up a 90-degree incline, right? To put it another way: I weigh 200 lbs, but I can roll a 6000 lb car on level ground. Would you conclude that I can lift 6000 lbs?

My argument is that the tractor is unlikely, under real-world conditions, to be able to apply more force to its draw-bar than its own weight--unless you were to get a runup and snap the chain taut. Using the tractor's own weight as a guideline is arbitrary. According to BCP's post, it sounds like 132% of the tractor's weight would be a more conservative best-case estimate.

I have no idea of how much drawbar pull my tractor has, but I can tell you this, I would be extremely happy if my tractor could pull in a straight horizontal pull as much as the tractor weighs. It might do it, I just have no way of measuring it.

 

[CobyRupert]

Not at all. To put it another way: I weigh 200 lbs, but I can roll a 6000 lb car on level ground. Would you conclude that I can lift 6000 lbs?

Maybe, I don't know, I weigh 200 lb and I can lift a 10 ton jack!

 

[GManBart]

I have no idea of how much drawbar pull my tractor has, but I can tell you this, I would be extremely happy if my tractor could pull in a straight horizontal pull as much as the tractor weighs. It might do it, I just have no way of measuring it.

The Nebraska tractor tests actually documented that figure on the older iron. As I recall, an 8N was rated around 2,800lbs of draw bar pull, and an NAA (Jubilee) was around 3,200. So, they were higher than, but in the ballpark of their weight without ballast.

 

[k0ua]

The Nebraska tractor tests actually documented that figure on the older iron. As I recall, an 8N was rated around 2,800lbs of draw bar pull, and an NAA (Jubilee) was around 3,200. So, they were higher than, but in the ballpark of their weight without ballast.

I I could pull 6000 lbs. (which is about what my tractor weighs with loader tires, loader and bucket, and ballast on 3pt, that would be a lot.

 

[Timbersawz]

I think almost any grapple is a great tool. However, this one is just a bit brutal with the load drops. It seems a FEL grapple allows for much more operator finesse.

A agree about finesse, I deal with logs a fair bit on steep ground, I prefer to keep my troubles behind me

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well On the chain snapping issue I can tell you this. If you hook a twenty foot 3/8 high-test chain between two pick ups, one stuck good in the snow bank/ditch and gun the free truck to snap the stuck truck out you might just break off the hook, or whatever you hooked to on the stuck truck and the chain now released will follow the free truck and catch it and wap the tailgate real good and might even come up over and smash out the rear window of your truck. Yes I'm speaking from experience.:ashamed:

 

[The Griff]

I have a frame mounted back hoe on my tractor. Would I need to remove this in order to hook up a clevis?

 

[94BULLITT]

Here is how you can hook a chain around a log without a choker hook. I paint my chain hooks orange for visibility.

IMO a strap is out of the question, those things are dangerous as F%@K!! LOL
They work like an elastic band which is why they are great for pulling vehicles out with everyone at a safe distance away. I've seen a guy get his leg broken by one that decided to snap in half and he just happened to be too close, after being warned to step away. Great for stuck cars and trucks, terrible for logging.
Go with a chain, 5/16 or bigger if you can find, slip hook on one end, grab hook on the other. Hitch it to the lowest possible spot you can on your tractor to keep your center of gravity low, so you don't flip over. Every year people are killed attempting this simple task so please be careful. Plan your route and be cautious of stumps catching your log. Do a search on this site as there are a lot of write ups and pictures of what to do and how to stay safe.

p.s.
Bullitt, I hope you don't take offense to my comment as that is not my intention.

I did not take offense to your post. I never gave much thought about a strap flying when it breaks. I know they stretch when you pull on then but it never crossed my mind. I think they may be safer than a chain or cable. I watched a couple videos on Youtube of straps flying violently when they broke.

....your tractor couldn't pull more than it's own weight? I don't think that's right.

We were talking about this in another thread last night. I saw an antique tractor pull on TV. The winner pulled 135% of his weight. I think it was a stock class but hard to tell what was done to the tractor.

 

[vtsnowedin]

We were talking about this in another thread last night. I saw an antique tractor pull on TV. The winner pulled 135% of his weight. I think it was a stock class but hard to tell what was done to the tractor.

It comes down to the coefficient of friction between the tractor tires and the ground. A big tractor on glare ice can't move itself but a tractor on a good surface and the right tires can pull until it runs out of horsepower to turn the wheels.