Using lifting tongs on bucket

[sdef]

How about something like this: Amazon.com

 

[CoyPatton]

Sounds like OP is ok with dragging logs. If it very wet, ruts from tractor tire or the log are likely to happen just part of life.
Ruts from dragging can be reduced by lifting the front end of the log, probably why OP is looking at tongs.
An old timer (now I guess that is me) some 30 years ago, taught me to do a simple mod to my rear blade—add a few clevis hooks. So you spin the blade so cutting edge faces out from tractor. Drop the 3ph with blade against the long (at least very close). Wrap a chain around the log, at least 2 wraps, pull chain tight and hook into the clevis hook, lift 3ph and drive forward pulling the log with front slightly raised. Cheap mod and blade protects those expensive parts on backside of tractor. Not as nice as some as some units, but many of us already have rear blades. Or they can often be purchased for a reasonable price.

 

[Paul_M]

I have exactly those tongs in the picture. The problem I continually have with them is that they reduce the amount you can lift a log by the length of the tongs. If you have to lift a log up onto a trailer, for example, or if the machine is lower than the trailer, you can easily run out of lifting range to get the log high enough.

 

[Fields_mj]

This is what I started off with. The 3pt receiver adapter I bought off ebay. the little boom is made from some scrap 2" sq tube I had left over from another project (1/4" wall), and it drops in the vertical post on the adapter. I've since made another one that has some other features for holding/transporting chains that aren't in use, but the basic concept has worked great. In the one pic, my top link had backed out quite a bit, but you get the idea on how its used. If tipping is a concern, you can always lift with the boom and pull with the drawbar. Personally, I've never had an issue with just pulling with the boom. Later on, I made my own adapter for the 3pt that I could add forks to. I used a piece of 2.5" sq tube on it so that I could still use the little boom. It just drops in and lifts out by hand.

 

[IansG]

you guys might want to check out these, love mine
Timber Talons, small wood lot tools

 

[Fields_mj]

you guys might want to check out these, love mine
Timber Talons, small wood lot tools

I made something similar out of some 1/4"x2" bar stock and a couple of grade 8 bolts, but I like yours better. With mine, I need to attach them to the log by hand, and often have to tap the spikes in slightly with an axe or hammer in order for them to stay put long enough for the tractor to get some tension on them. Do you find that you have to get on and off the tractor much with those? Any comments on the min and max diameters of logs they work with?

 

[masscity]

I don't burn wood anymore, but we always dragged as many logs as the tractor could handle.

When bucking them up, just touch up the chainsaw at each gas refill.

Why waste fuel skidding one log at a time.

 

[WinterDeere]

I don't burn wood anymore, but we always dragged as many logs as the tractor could handle.

When bucking them up, just touch up the chainsaw at each gas refill.

Why waste fuel skidding one log at a time.

Same. I’ll wrap a choker chain around four full tree lengths at a time, if they’re under 10” diameter. I don’t care about the ful so much, but it’s a long wait in the woods, while my buddy skids a load of 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile out to our staging area, and comes back for the next load.

He was old, and I was young, so he got to sit on the tractor while I hustled with chainsaw and chokers.

 

[ruffdog]

I would rather have a hydraulic log grapple.

 

[RayIN]

How about something like this: Amazon.com

Why spend that amount of money when a simple 10' log chain attached to the log "choker style" will do the job just as well.