Pulling with the Drawbar

[newbury]

Found a pic:

View attachment 397037

Looking good. Cut one of the larger diameter logs so it just fits in your bucket and carry it at the same time so you keep your front end on the ground.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I agree with Arrow, if it will lift it, then you're good to go. Just balance the load properly.

 

[mccash40]

Found a pic:

View attachment 397037

Just what I needed to know. Thanks a bunch. Now if the snow will hold off for a couple of weeks....

 

[Coyote machine]

As some have stated the lower the load and the closer the load is to the tractor's center of gravity the better. Kioti, for instance, states that any towing should be done from the drawbar. This makes sense since it is at the lowest and closest to COG as possible, and is designed by the manufacturer to handle loads up to max towing capacity. Having a load in the bucket to balance the overall weight can't hurt the outcome either, as stated.

 

[boggen]

grade school levers and fulcrums or rather a kids playground tetter totter.

hook low up low, and in center, below the axle. "swinging draw bar" some manufactures / dealers may skimp out on the actual swinging draw bar. the bar itself, and/or possible frame work that is needed to attach the swinging draw bar.

a 3pt hitch is good at pulling / dragging stuff. BUT, it is only good at pulling straight (driving forward), go into a turn, and you can easily twist the 3pt hitch linkages up (bend them and like). granted a 3pt hitch is rather rugged, and can take some abuse. other words if you have anything ground engaging (tiller, box blade, rear blade, disc, etc..., etc...) you generally want to raise the stuff up and out of the ground before taking a turn. more so a sharper turn.

another thing about 3pt hitch, is they are kinda in "auto float all the time" meaning if you started going up a hill, or rear tires go down into a hole or like. the 3pt hitch will raise up on you. this shifting the weight / load and were the pulling point is. causing a higher risk of flipping the tractor back onto itself.

i have seen it many times, and have come close myself, of flipping tractor back onto itself. it doesn't take much. one good sudden bite of traction and BAM! this is with either weights on front and/or having FEL (front loader) on. the tractor still has enough power to do a wheelie and keep on going backwards.

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one thing i like about the old allis chalmers CA tractor (1954) i have, with snap coupler vs 3pt hitch system. there is a spot underneath in front of the rear tires. were i can hook stuff up to. this location causes the front end to want to come down into the ground for kinda of a traction control vs the front end wanting to do a wheelie like on 3pt hitch tractors.

and in above, a swinging draw bar for a 3pt hitch tractor. hooks up in near location like the old allis chalmers i have. it is underneath the axle, and also more in front of the axle "hopefully" so as you are driving along. the weight of what ever you are pulling can be some what placed on the front tires. (though most tractors i have seen that is an extreme stretch of wording)

 

[Loadstar]

Use a tractor not a riding movwer

You will spin out before you do damage pulling logs. (usually)

 

[s219]

To alleviate any concern about wheelies, I used to run a short (less than 2') section of chain from my choker to the drawbar. So the 3-pt was doing the lifting but the pulling load was mainly taken up by the drawbar. Somewhere along the line I stopped using the extra chain. But it's certainly an easy and practical way to increase safety.

 

[MHarryE]

To get your answer answered look down the threads to "Lebanon Oregon Woman..." which links to 2 rollover backward deaths from pulling high instead of from the drawbar. There is a warning that 3 point implements are designed to prevent rear rollovers but even that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. In our area we have had multiple fatalities from rear flip-overs pulling from Aberdeen the lift arms instead of the drawbar.

 

[arrow]

To get your answer answered look down the threads to "Lebanon Oregon Woman..." which links to 2 rollover backward deaths from pulling high instead of from the drawbar. There is a warning that 3 point implements are designed to prevent rear rollovers but even that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. In our area we have had multiple fatalities from rear flip-overs pulling from Aberdeen the lift arms instead of the drawbar.

Much has to do with the size of the tractor and the leverage fulcrum larger tires create. What I do with my mid size cut I wouldn't dream of doing on my bil's 5000 series Deere when we're logging at his place.

 

[pat32rf]

And the ability to lift your toe off the HST pedal and thus stop all motion will do more for you safetywise than trying to find a clutch in a hurry while your front wheels start to climb ...