Log skidding machine!

[Bday]

She's an ugly beast, but works great minus the wide front we need to add. The bale carrier was converted to skidder attachment that I welded up. My son has skidded 24" x 60' whole oak trees. We added the loader yesterday. Should keep him from lifting the front end up as bad. He had 400 lbs. of weight on the front for counterbalance before the loader. He still was bringing the front up on some trees. Good old equipment!:thumbsup:

 

[MIKE R]

Looks good. If it works thats all the counts.

 

[arrow]

She's an ugly beast, but works great minus the wide front we need to add. The bale carrier was converted to skidder attachment that I welded up. My son has skidded 24" x 60' whole oak trees. We added the loader yesterday. Should keep him from lifting the front end up as bad. He had 400 lbs. of weight on the front for counterbalance before the loader. He still was bringing the front up on some trees. Good old equipment!:thumbsup:

Skidding an entire oak out of the forest is quite the feat. How well do the tongs work ?

 

[Bday]

Skidding an entire oak out of the forest is quite the feat. How well do the tongs work ?

Chinese stuff! So far they have held up. We skidded around 40 trees with them. USA made tongs were $250. I hate buying foreign, but $80 was a no brainier. They make replacement inserts for the spikes, probably need to get a set for future repairs!

 

[smiley]

Just wondering if those bale forks are intended to prevent backflips or ?? Several years ago friend did that skidding with his 8N and luckily only broke his leg. Another guy a few miles away did the same but wasn't as lucky.

 

[Bob77064]

That's a powerful machine, I can't imagine skidding a 60' tree with my tractor.

 

[Bday]

That's a powerful machine, I can't imagine skidding a 60' tree with my tractor.

Just think you could do with a new front wheel assist tractor and a loader!
We drop the tree , pull it to an area where we cut all the smaller limbs out of the top, then pull it out into an open field. We can save time not needing to drag brush. Some of the larger trees had to be cut in two pieces, but most were able to be pulled out whole.

 

[Bday]

Just wondering if those bale forks are intended to prevent backflips or ?? Several years ago friend did that skidding with his 8N and luckily only broke his leg. Another guy a few miles away did the same but wasn't as lucky.

If you don't raise the log up very high from the ground it's really stable. Just need to keep your hand on the 3 point lever to drop her quick, if you think your in trouble.

 

[Tony S]

How hard is that to put on and off the tractor.

 

[Bday]

How hard is that to put on and off the tractor.

It's just a 3 point bale attachment modified with a piece of 2x6x3/8 walled tubing made as a top link. It's easy to hook up. We skidded out another 15 trees today, the loader made a big difference on stability. We have a wide front we are rebuilding to replace the narrow front.

 

[kboggs]

My father in law made a simple setup that is the basic idea. Just a mount hand made to fit 3 point hitch and about the same length pole to attach the tongs to. He has absolutely skidded and used the daylights out of it on the farm and had no problems or breakage yet. I plan to fiddle around one day and maybe make me a set to. The way you made this one using the bale fork could counter act as a log carrier with 8' logs while still skidding one!

I like yours though!

Kevin.

 

[Bday]

My father in law made a simple setup that is the basic idea. Just a mount hand made to fit 3 point hitch and about the same length pole to attach the tongs to. He has absolutely skidded and used the daylights out of it on the farm and had no problems or breakage yet. I plan to fiddle around one day and maybe make me a set to. The way you made this one using the bale fork could counter act as a log carrier with 8' logs while still skidding one!

I like yours though!

Kevin.

We have been using the tongs to lift the log enough to hook a chain around it. Our tongs aren't the best you could buy. The trees that are larger than 20" across are hard on the tongs , if you are pulling through heavy brush. I welded 1/2 plate spaced to hook chains in. We run the chain through the clevis on the end of the lift arm to the log. Works really well on the larger trees. The forks of the carrier are in the way since we added the lift arm. I may end up making them shorter.

 

[Tony S]

Bday I think I'll make one also. Could you tell me about how lone the boom is on your log skidder. I'm going to buy a new tractor that is alot more heavy that the one I've got now so I think I could handle something like that.

 

[Bday]

The tubing is 5' long. I welded a heavy duty nut and threaded part of a top link end into the tubing. Then reinforced it with 1/2" plate. The assembly is adjustable like a regular top link. If you need any pics let me know.

 

[20 20]

Just wondering if those bale forks are intended to prevent backflips or ?? Several years ago friend did that skidding with his 8N and luckily only broke his leg. Another guy a few miles away did the same but wasn't as lucky.

The old fords were noted for being light in the front. We used one for a few years back in the 80's that thing loved comming off the ground. Pulled pretty decent but we had to really watch what we were doing.

 

[20 20]

Bday; I was wondering if those forks might have been a little on the long side, guess you answered that question

 

[Tony S]

Bday thanks, pictures would be great. Is there a reason for it to be adjustable or did it just work out that way?

 

[Bday]

Bday thanks, pictures would be great. Is there a reason for it to be adjustable or did it just work out that way?

Just thought at some point adjustment may be necessary. If you want the forks to be adjustable as far as tilting up or down, you would need the top link adjustable.

 

[CobyRupert]

Until you get that wide front end on, and even after, just don't be turning or on a sidehill and find a stump with your back tire. Amazing how a little 10" stump on a sidehill can really give you a pucker or worse. :shocked:

 

[Bday]

Until you get that wide front end on, and even after, just don't be turning or on a sidehill and find a stump with your back tire. Amazing how a little 10" stump on a sidehill can really give you a pucker or worse. :shocked:

Luckily it's all flat land!:thumbsup: