Skidding Logs with tractor.

[houser52]

I worked for our neighbor in his sawmill back in the late 60s when I was 15-16. We skidded everything with 8n Ford tractors off the drawbar. Each drawbar had hooks at the ends of the chains that would be hammered into the logs. We then lifted up the logs with the 3pt and dragged back to the mill. Most of the steering was done with the brakes.
Looking back I now realize that wasn't the safest thing to do but that's the way things were done. As far as I know no one was ever injured.

 

[deezler]

When I was 12 or 13, my dad found a decrepit old Farmall Super A, and had it fully restored. The next year we had a severe storm blow through the Pocono mountains in PA and level numerous trees. Not ones to leave all that good wood to rot, we cut in some skidding trails and hauled out dozen of long logs behind the super A. I think we typically chain hitched them off the hydraulic lift arms, so that we could lift the butt end. This meant we were pulling from 4 feet in the air, behind a clutch trans tractor with big rear wheels and no ROPS. Often pulling through deep mud and steering with the brakes as well.... I guess neither of us considered the inherent danger either. I can't recall ever panicking to slam the clutch down as anything got hung up, but hopefully that would have been my instinct....

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If doesn't bother me when the front end of a tractor comes up, I've had it happen many times for a lot of different reasons...

When I was young, I was plowing 10 to 12 hours a day with an IH504 with a mounted plow, It spent about 60% of the time with the front end up in the air, with me riding the brake to keep it in the furrow. Even plowing with the diesel 560 with a mounted plow, it would have the front end up a fair amount.

And yes, I do understand why the newbs here get so excited when it happens, and yes it could be dangerous if you aren't paying attention.

SR

 

[ericm979]

When I was a teen I met a man in his 20s who was paraplegic due to a tractor rollover. He wasn't dealing with it well either.

Pulling from the drawbar makes rolling over backwards less likely because the drawbar is below the axle and is a solid extension behind the axle. The load would have to move towards the tractor to allow the front end to come up. Pulling from the lift arms does not do that, so it's easier to roll over that way. I see it like cutting towards your other hand with a knife. It does not guarantee an accident but it makes it more likely. Rather than doing something the dangerous way and depending on my physical skills to prevent injury, I'd rather do it a safer way.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess it also has to do with reaction time and whether a person just freaks out at the first hint of something going wrong. Ideally, appropriate reaction should just be second nature.

I do think it's funny when some newbies think they almost rolled their tractor when a front wheel comes off the ground.

 

[trueg50]

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.........?

Dads4by I take it?

I had a chat with them yesterday looking for the smaller 2001/2501 Iglands. I'll likely be paying them a visit after Christmas when they get Igland 2501's back in stock. Essex Equipment sells Farmi's, but the prices on those were far above the Iglands/Fransgard.


For me with how hilly my area is there are few flat places to drive to pull logs, so a winch is the best/safest method I know of.

 

[bcp]

Anyone know where this load was attached?

8N Ford tractor rolls over backwards - YouTube

Bruce

 

[Industrial Toys]

What's with the guy running with his hands on his head? lol

Clearly something was done wrong and I can't believe no one caught it. Shouldn't officials notice how and where attachment is made?

 

[CalG]

Dads4by I take it?

I had a chat with them yesterday looking for the smaller 2001/2501 Iglands. I'll likely be paying them a visit after Christmas when they get Igland 2501's back in stock. Essex Equipment sells Farmi's, but the prices on those were far above the Iglands/Fransgard.


For me with how hilly my area is there are few flat places to drive to pull logs, so a winch is the best/safest method I know of.

I could have written those exact words and not moved an inch off truth! Sometimes I think a sky line is the better method, but that winching hardware doesn't come cheap.

There is a lot of useful hardware in a logging winch!.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not skidding, but utterly amazing what you can do with a small tractor and the right winch!

1 Years Ago! Pulling Tree Stumps With Modified Fordson Tractor - YouTube

 

[Liquidsilver]

Anyone know where this load was attached?

8N Ford tractor rolls over backwards - YouTube

Bruce

As much as I can see in the video, it looks like it was above the axle. Hope he's okay.

 

[bearthebruce]

and no ROPS.. I don't ever operate our tractor without the ROPS up and me belted in. Call me a wimp if you will but I don't feel safe any other way.

Logs I have skidded are lifted with the 3ph. Until I read this thread, I was not aware of the possibility of going over backward.. never thought about it. I'll make sure when dragging a log to watch the trail and keep the front of the log up as high as I can get it.

 

[Deere Dude]

I guess it also has to do with reaction time and whether a person just freaks out at the first hint of something going wrong. Ideally, appropriate reaction should just be second nature.
.

That is one of the reasons I bought a HST instead of a gear/clutch type tractor. The front comes up on a HST you just take your hands and feet off controls and everything goes static. With gear driven tractors you need to make a positive action in an emergency to stop the tractor.

 

[CoyPatton]

and no ROPS.. I don't ever operate our tractor without the ROPS up and me belted in. Call me a wimp if you will but I don't feel safe any other way.

Logs I have skidded are lifted with the 3ph. Until I read this thread, I was not aware of the possibility of going over backward.. never thought about it. I'll make sure when dragging a log to watch the trail and keep the front of the log up as high as I can get it.

Higher is not better. When you increase height greater than needed, you decrease the safety factor of how quickly the weight of the log is removed from a downward pull on your tractor.
If your tractor has 8” of ground clearance, once the bottom of the log is that high, you can nothing and possibly increase the risk of raising the front end.
Pulling from a lower point was just taught to us from early on working on a farm.
Take a lesson from guys that tow stuff for a living, wrecker services! They always hook up from the lowest point available to tow and lift just what is necessary to have clearance for road obstacles and bounce.

 

[bearthebruce]

Higher is not better. When you increase height greater than needed, you decrease the safety factor of how quickly the weight of the log is removed from a downward pull on your tractor.
If your tractor has 8” of ground clearance, once the bottom of the log is that high, you can nothing and possibly increase the risk of raising the front end.
Pulling from a lower point was just taught to us from early on working on a farm.
Take a lesson from guys that tow stuff for a living, wrecker services! They always hook up from the lowest point available to tow and lift just what is necessary to have clearance for road obstacles and bounce.

Thank you @CoyPatton. So keeping the log low yet off the ground is the idea.. 6 to 8" being sufficient. Lesson filed and hopefully fully learned.

Appreciate your correction of what I have done that is unsafe. Still learning..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That is one of the reasons I bought a HST instead of a gear/clutch type tractor. The front comes up on a HST you just take your hands and feet off controls and everything goes static. With gear driven tractors you need to make a positive action in an emergency to stop the tractor.

You have to take your foot off the pedal and I'm not sure what you take your hands off??

With a gear tractor I can just push in the clutch, no difference at all, it's all in what you are use to.

Truth is, I don't push in the clutch, I use the foot throttle and let up on that, also I keep my hand on the 3 point lever, and I have never had one problem, not one.

SR

 

[Deere Dude]

You have to take your foot off the pedal and I'm not sure what you take your hands off??

With a gear tractor I can just push in the clutch, no difference at all, it's all in what you are use to.

Truth is, I don't push in the clutch, I use the foot throttle and let up on that, also I keep my hand on the 3 point lever, and I have never had one problem, not one.

SR

More specifically, i was talking about pulling with the loader and having the rear flip up, but the actions would be the same regardless.

 

[bearthebruce]

You have to take your foot off the pedal and I'm not sure what you take your hands off??

With a gear tractor I can just push in the clutch, no difference at all, it's all in what you are use to.

Truth is, I don't push in the clutch, I use the foot throttle and let up on that, also I keep my hand on the 3 point lever, and I have never had one problem, not one.

SR

I operate our gear tractor the same... foot on the foot throttle, other foot near the clutch ready to hit it.. hand on the 3ph lever .. moving slowly. I thought I did all those things being a newbie wimp who is unwilling to take risks.. @Sawyer Rob, thanks for giving me more confidence! I have read so many of your posts that I know you have been doing tractor "things" for a lot of years. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I operate our gear tractor the same... foot on the foot throttle, other foot near the clutch ready to hit it.. hand on the 3ph lever .. moving slowly. I thought I did all those things being a newbie wimp who is unwilling to take risks.. @Sawyer Rob, thanks for giving me more confidence! I have read so many of your posts that I know you have been doing tractor "things" for a lot of years. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Yer welcome, BUT, maybe I'm just an "experienced wimp"?? lol

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think I would feel safer with a clutch. I bet my foot would be on that in less than a quarter of a second. Of course it helps if you are anticipating possible trouble.