Skidding Logs with tractor.

[Richard]

FTG-05 Any chance you live close to Maryville Tn? Thanks

I just want to make sure I understand this.... you've been a member for 15 years and you just hit your 4th post?!!

(I live in Greenback! so Howdy Neighbor)

 

[John_Mc]

Then what is the “draft control” lever for the 3 point hitch for?

If your tractor has draft control... I've never seen it on a modern compact tractor. At any rate, Draft control is not the same as down pressure.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Then what is the é›»raft control lever for the 3 point hitch for?

Draft use to be an option on compact tractors, I've had them with it.

Draft is for ground engagement tools that are hooked on the 3 point, usually smaller tools by todays standards...

Let's use a plow for example, lets say you have the plow in the ground and set as the depth you want. When the tractor hits a tough spot like a clay knoll, the draft will lift the plow a little at a time to keep you going and when you clear the tough spot, it will lower the plow back to where you had it set.

That's a very simple explanation of how it works...

SR

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes, it was a redundant question (about draft control) regarding pulling with the 3 (or 2) Point Hitch. That’s what tractor are designed to do. I’ve seen many older “compact” tractors (e.g. 8N’s) that don’t even have a drawbar.
One can still pull low with a 3 (or 2) point hitch and keep the end of the log raised out of the mud, or otherwise dragging on the ground where it can snag on roots, rocks or stumps and bring everything to a sudden stop (or worse).

 

[WranglerX]

This is the first time I am hearing about the blade stabilizing the tractor. I always thought it was just a blade in case you needed it or would keep winched logs from going under the tractor. The fact that the winch pulls quite high up had totally escaped me.

Good to know.

Consider ..Pulling with a winch tractor is usually "stationary" dragging a log tractor is in motion and spinning wheels and hp/torque is what causes back flips...

Dale

 

[CoyPatton]

Yes, it was a redundant question (about draft control) regarding pulling with the 3 (or 2) Point Hitch. That’s what tractor are designed to do. I’ve seen many older “compact” tractors (e.g. 8N’s) that don’t even have a drawbar.
One can still pull low with a 3 (or 2) point hitch and keep the end of the log raised out of the mud, or otherwise dragging on the ground where it can snag on roots, rocks or stumps and bring everything to a sudden stop (or worse).

It is still not down pressure! And with plows, front ballast is a must! Also note you are talking about a ground engaging implement of relatively small size and you are lifting and pulling a resisting load. You use grapefruit to justify your apple example. Talk about a stretch!

 

[CalG]

Well

It's a good thing I didn't drive up to buy the Igland 3501 yesterday. The dealer doesn't have any, and won't have any till after Christmas.

So is it A Fransgard 3507, or a 3004? Two of each in stock, and they have a $150 rebate! ;-) Or "wait till Chrstmas.........?

 

[John_Mc]

Consider ..Pulling with a winch tractor is usually "stationary" dragging a log tractor is in motion and spinning wheels and hp/torque is what causes back flips...

Dale

This is what a lot of people miss about flipping a tractor over backwards. It's not so much the pull itself tipping the tractor (if it was, the wheelie motion would stop once the rear end of the tractor lowered close enough to the ground that the vector of the pull was now coming from below the center of the wheel.)

The flip comes from when the tractor is in gear and pulling and something happens to stop it from moving forward, such as what you are dragging jams on a stump and locks up, preventing the tractor from moving forward. There are two not so dangerous possible outcomes: the rear wheels will break traction and spin, or the engine will stall. The dangerous possible outcome is that the tractor keeps running and has the power/torque to keep applying torque to the rear wheels, and the wheels have enough traction that they don't slip. If the wheels can't move over the ground or slip on the ground, that motion from the turning engine is going somewhere. The only place for that motion to go is lifting the front of the tractor.

It happens faster than the operator might think, and the shock factor can tend to cause a momentary freeze in their reactions. Hopefully, they recover before really bad things happen. Being prepared for it and keeping that possibility in mind goes a long way toward reacting in time and properly.


Winching the logs in with a 3 pt hitch logging winch carries almost no risk of flipping the tractor over backwards during normal, proper winching operations: the engine is not applying torque to the wheels during this operation. It's when the logs are actually being skidded (towed) behind the tractor that the danger presents itself. (If you are winching at too great a side-angle, it is possible to pull the tractor over sideways, or damage the 3 pt hitch.)

 

[John_Mc]

Draft use to be an option on compact tractors, I've had them with it.

Draft is for ground engagement tools that are hooked on the 3 point, usually smaller tools by todays standards...

Let's use a plow for example, lets say you have the plow in the ground and set as the depth you want. When the tractor hits a tough spot like a clay knoll, the draft will lift the plow a little at a time to keep you going and when you clear the tough spot, it will lower the plow back to where you had it set.

That's a very simple explanation of how it works...

SR

That's a good description of draft control. That same function can also for to help keep your plow at a constant depth when plowing in hilly or uneven terrain: without draft control, then the front wheels go up a rise, that would tend to drive the plow in deeper. As the front wheels crested the hill and started back down, it would tend to lift the plow, making for a shallower cut. (This is something those of us who have used a box blade or rear blade on uneven terrain are probably familiar with). Draft control will adjust to keep the amount of drag constant. If the soil conditions are consistent (no big rocks or no sudden shift to hard-packed clay from soft loam), the plow depth from the surface will remain constant.

 

[Gordon Gould]

This is what a lot of people miss about flipping a tractor over backwards. It's not so much the pull itself tipping the tractor (if it was, the wheelie motion would stop once the rear end of the tractor lowered close enough to the ground that the vector of the pull was now coming from below the center of the wheel.)

The flip comes from when the tractor is in gear and pulling and something happens to stop it from moving forward, such as what you are dragging jams on a stump and locks up, preventing the tractor from moving forward. There are two not so dangerous possible outcomes: the rear wheels will break traction and spin, or the engine will stall. The dangerous possible outcome is that the tractor keeps running and has the power/torque to keep applying torque to the rear wheels, and the wheels have enough traction that they don't slip. If the wheels can't move over the ground or slip on the ground, that motion from the turning engine is going somewhere. The only place for that motion to go is lifting the front of the tractor.

It happens faster than the operator might think, and the shock factor can tend to cause a momentary freeze in their reactions. Hopefully, they recover before really bad things happen. Being prepared for it and keeping that possibility in mind goes a long way toward reacting in time and properly.


Winching the logs in with a 3 pt hitch logging winch carries almost no risk of flipping the tractor over backwards during normal, proper winching operations: the engine is not applying torque to the wheels during this operation. It's when the logs are actually being skidded (towed) behind the tractor that the danger presents itself. (If you are winching at too great a side-angle, it is possible to pull the tractor over sideways, or damage the 3 pt hitch.)

Very good description of the cause of back flips John. To me that is the very reason that there is a strong argument that pulling a log from the 3ph with the butt end off the ground can be, or even generally is, safer than dragging the log from the draw bar on the ground with the butt digging in making a furrow just begging to catch on stuff.

gg