Seeking Logging Plate & Winch

[PILOON]

On lottery tickets.

Yesterday within 2 minuets of moving my car a live birch tree fell over that would have crushed my car. My wife saw it happen.
That tree was on my 'to do' list.
The surprise was the top was leafed and healthy plus there was no wind at all.

So I bought a lottery ticket!

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I have a Wallenstein FX85 on a Kubota L3301. I have worked it very hard and it has never let me down. Still looks like new. Its been bulletproof and has worked flawlessly. I think its sized very well for that tractor. No complaints other than maybe instead of a ferrule end on the cable I sometimes think a hook would be better as could use for more things other than just choking trees but understand why the professional/big loggers use this setup when choking trees..

 

[CoyPatton]

A new forestry winch sized for your tractor is in the $3700-5000 range. There may be used ones where you are but they're probably not much cheaper. They seem to hold their value well.

You can get a 65' cable sold as a replacement for a truck winch from HF, some clamps and a ferule to make a loop and use that to get more reach with your tractor. It's a cheap way to get a cable that long with a fitting on one end. Or buy a longer cable and the fittings for both ends. The problem with using chains or cables is that the tractor has to travel the same distance as you need to pull the log. If your woods are steep or thick that can be tough.

Add in snatch blocks with the purchase of the winch line.
By doing this, you can redirect your line. For example if your log is roughly 90 degrees off of your pull direction, 1 snatch block allows for the direction change, but your log advanced 1 foot for every of travel distance in your pulling source (tractor). If you have the cable length, add a second snatch block inline with your tractor’s travel direction and then pull back toward the 1st snatch block. Now you move your log 2 ft for every foot of tractor travel.
Of course the issue with this setup is 1) cable length (you can use up lots of cable feet quickly) 2) watching the cable for potential issues 3) damage to snatch blocks or cable if fail to avoid issues

Snatch blocks are great additions, but do add some additional potential issues. More can be added to the above example to change to greater distance pulled for less distance traveled.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

I bought a slightly used one from my landscaper. The rigging adds up fast and a self releasing snatch block wasn't cheap but I figure it was a lot cheaper than breaking some glass in the cab or ripping something out from under the machine.

Union Farm Equipment has supplied me with some pretty decent deals and they are very nice people to deal with. Keep an eye on their web site or better yet drop your name off in person for a heads up call. if one comes in. I delayed calling on one and when I did call it was gone. My 72" rotary mower and Salsco chipper came from them. Both were in very nice shape and it saved me thousands. Zero regrets.

 

[Oldtoad]

"Getting old, don't really want to do it" I'm in the same boat, just bite the bullet and hire it out.

Ha! Would really love to.
Got an old buddy, older than me, that needs help, all I can find is drunks, sweet but still.
Stepped down a ramp and the knee folded, gee I hate face plants, getting punky.
I agree though, $200 an hour for a 350 excavator, gonna put in some decent food plots.

 

[K Arno]

Old enough to remember my old man complaining about a Nickle a gallon fuel oil. Stuff costs more today. There are times when Nature is the best way.

 

[Jstpssng]

This is in the current issue of Uncle Henry's. It's light enough to go behind an ATV, so probably would work better on your Ford than the Kubota. Not very far from where you are, either.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Yesterday within 2 minuets of moving my car a live birch tree fell over that would have crushed my car.
>>> <<<
Some what similar situation here once... A 20 cm limb came down driving it almost 40 cm into the ground...

I chose to pay a professional dangerous tree person to put the tree on the ground where I could handle it.. NOT wanting to start a felling cut and find it was hollow and everything else dangerous that goes with that... Good thing as it was all those dangerous things with out showing any of the signs it was..
Keep safe..

 

[Oldtoad]

Thanks for the Uncle Henry's post Jstpssng, still got one of those from when the kids did firewood, I should sell it.
The excavation contractor is still busy. I could and might rent an excavator for a week of stress and fun. Heard fuel might be in short supply this winter, heads up all.

Wyobuckaroo, got a neighbor that dragged his feet buying a generator, cost him a week of listening to his wife when the power went out for 10 days. Now he has a dying tree looming over his very expensive lake home and he does not want to pay for the tree removal.
Some people never learn.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I just kept looking on CL and FB Mkt daily until a Norse 450 winch showed up in the next town.
It was a little beat up but still fully functional. Got it for $2250, had to replace the cable after I buggered it up but still a good deal and it has more than paid for itself as I am using it to harvest 8 acres of hemlock to sell.