Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....

[Jim Timber]

I haven't felled a tree less than 10-12" diameter that I could reach with the tractor in years. Smaller trees get the root grapple treatment while the larger ones are toppled with help from my BH and ripper.

I hate digging out stumps. Much easier to uproot the whole tree. Faster. Less of a divot. I also get to choose where the tree falls more accurately by pushing. I'm sure experienced lumberjacks can drop trees safely too but I feel safer pushing than chainsawing.

I wouldn't want to push a tree over that's 12" DBH. That's 3000# of hardwood waiting to squish you in my woods.

Chainsaw is far safer and more portable. I cut a lot of trees where the tractor can't go. That's part of why I bought my skidding winch.

 

[Mikejeakins]

Hey Jim what kind of skidding winch did you get?

 

[Jim Timber]

I got a Wallenstein FX85. I've already changed some stuff on it - the chain sliders have been replaced with more midgets, and the big decal on the back was swapped out for a SMV sticker. I'm working on twin saw mounts and ammo can chain and wedge storage now. Just got a sheet of UHMW for the scabbards today, so I'll be cutting that up and building the inserts tomorrow.

The 2188 has a 28" bar on it and I was just seeing what'd happen if I put it in powerhead-in with the frame attached to the lower part of the winch chassis. I couldn't get that saw in at all with the mount higher up on the larger vertical surface, so that pretty much settled where these are going for me. It was either lower/wider, or the safety screen would've had to be removed or a new one made up. I decided the lower position had more benefits than draw backs, as it opens the opportunity for more storage in between the scabbard and the chassis. It also brings the saws down lower when loading/unloading them.

I need to find a better solution for my cable chokers. I keep having one come unhooked when driving over rough ground where they are now.

 

[Mikejeakins]

Did you get the remote control for it?

 

[Gordon Gould]

I got a Wallenstein FX85. I've already changed some stuff on it - the chain sliders have been replaced with more midgets, and the big decal on the back was swapped out for a SMV sticker. I'm working on twin saw mounts and ammo can chain and wedge storage now. Just got a sheet of UHMW for the scabbards today, so I'll be cutting that up and building the inserts tomorrow.

.

Hey Jim nice winch there. Are you sure you want to mount your saw down there. A lot go on in that area. Some times the logs hit harder than you plan. And if you are winching a second log in it often catches on the first log and can push it over and send it skidding right by the winch blade just where your saw is mounted. Just something to think about.

And to make the hijack of Piston's Grapple thread complete a couple winch videos

https://youtu.be/UivrQ7PfEtw

http://youtu.be/a0WLEYzlf0g

http://youtu.be/yosJrGCZo8o

Edit: How about some grapple videos opn this thread. I would love to see them.

sorry for the hijack.
gg

 

[Jim Timber]

Did you get the remote control for it?

No, I'm not spending $2K for a hydraulic cylinder, solenoid valve, some hoses, and a remote box. I've looked into the kit, I've got the instructions for it, so I could duplicate it if I chose to (I've found a suitable remote with 300' range capabilities), but I'm not sure I'll bother with doing it or not.

Gordon, You really have problems with logs coming in that high? The ammo can is about 23" off the ground at the bottom. If it ends up in harms way, I can always extend the winch chassis wider to protect it.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, You really have problems with logs coming in that high? The ammo can is about 23" off the ground at the bottom. If it ends up in harms way, I can always extend the winch chassis wider to protect it.

Just trying to save you some possible grief. Not being critical. Maybe I should not have mentioned it. With the ammo box hooked to your saw scabbard it just looked like things were kind of exposed to me.

To answer your question though - logs come in high quite often. If your skidding out of a ravine or up a steep bank; If they are coming in over an old down tree, stump, or big rock; if there are 2, 3, or more in the twitch and they roll and pile up on each other; if you haven't limbed them yet, especially softwood, and they are floating on the branches; if you already have a partial hitch laying behind the winch and the new logs come in and climb up over them; lots of stuff can happen to make them come in high and flare out; and then there is just bad luck.

gg

 

[Jim Timber]

I have 5 softwood trees on my property that aren't under 18" tall. I also don't plan to skid up to the edges of my steep draws. I'd be pulling up to a flatter spot to load out from.

I have thought about the can's exposure though. I can add more framing to them, or I can add plate to cover the whole area. The way I put them to hinge backwards keeps the handles out of the line of fire.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Finally had a rainy day to burn brush.

 

[Jim Timber]

We've had plenty of rain to burn with, it's been too **** wet to sort the piles of the stuff I moved with the grapple. Maybe for the 4th I'll get some progress done on the mountain of wood I accumulated clearing the road. It's so nice not having to hand stack all that crap anymore.

 

[4570Man]

I was driving down a trail in the woods and I hit a small tree. It bent the left side of my grapple. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/430314-grappling-fun-picture-thread-image-2564100794-jpg"/>

I straightened out the bent piece. It is still twisted a little, but you don't notice it unless you are looking for it. Someday ,I will weld some thicker plate on the outside tines. The jack worked fine on its side.

 

[Degolyerent]

Finally had a rainy day to burn brush.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/431041-grappling-fun-picture-thread-forumrunner_20150626_213416-png"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/431042-grappling-fun-picture-thread-forumrunner_20150626_213432-png"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/431043-grappling-fun-picture-thread-forumrunner_20150626_213445-png"/>

That's a nice grapple!
John

 

[Xfaxman]

I straightened out the bent piece. It is still twisted a little, but you don't notice it unless you are looking for it. Someday ,I will weld some thicker plate on the outside tines. The jack worked fine on its side.
View attachment 431109

:thumbsup:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Jim, I'm not sure why you would want to mount your saw and ammo can like that?? Then create even MORE work trying to protect it?? IF that was on my FX90, a log would have tore it off by now! lol

ANYWAY, I much prefer a "single" grapple...as it's much lighter, so as to not take lift capacity away from my loader,

Also, a single get's in the way MUCH less when I'm cutting firewood over my wagon,

and works better for holding my apple crate for working in high places,

AND the single grapple still works just fine for brush or small pieces,

It works just as well on brush too...

Anyway, my vote is for the single grapple...

SR

 

[4570Man]

I like the single grapple, but I think a regular grapple would work better for smaller brush and rocks. Another plus to the single grapple is it wouldn't be hard to build. Btw you look like Willie from duck dynasty.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I like the single grapple, but I think a regular grapple would work better for smaller brush and rocks. Another plus to the single grapple is it wouldn't be hard to build. Btw you look like Willie from duck dynasty.

I haven't found that to be true at all... I can push the forks together and load them with small brush, grappleing it, OR leave them further apart and driving right under brush piles, grappleing the pile as I pick it up to move it...no problem at all!

As for stones, what size ??, Smaller ones,

Medium size?,

OR big ones ?,

Heck, I can drive the forks right under the rock in the ground, grapple it and pull it right out of the ground!

That single grapple is just about perfect!

SR

 

[Jim Timber]

Jim, I'm not sure why you would want to mount your saw and ammo can like that?? Then create even MORE work trying to protect it??
SR

Because that's the least intrusive place to stick them and mounting them on my fenders puts them at arm-pit height or higher, which isn't convenient.

If I need to protect them, it's not difficult to rig something up. You can also let go of the rope before mashing the butts into your winch.

 

[4570Man]

That is pretty sweet. I want to build one now.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Because that's the least intrusive place to stick them and mounting them on my fenders puts them at arm-pit height or higher, which isn't convenient.

If I need to protect them, it's not difficult to rig something up. You can also let go of the rope before mashing the butts into your winch.

My 90 came with 2 chainsaw loops on it, if I was to put another, I'd put it up on the back side of the screen, with the saw angled to get it down easily...

Once you use a skidding winch a while, you won't want anything out in the way...period, as chit happens!

SR

 

[Xfaxman]

Any grapple is better than no grapple.