Where to connect a chain to pull trees/brush

[SFish]

David:

There are real world ground and tow hookup conditions that would cause a backflip primarily from torque. However, the important point is that under any traction and towing condition the front end gets lighter from torque, and this is added to the effect of most towing hookups that also tend to rotate the tractor backwards. This combination is especially potent after the front end has lifted off the ground and all of the tractors weight is on the rear wheels.

Steve

 

[Champy]

Picture of my son pulling logs out of the creek......yes we did use chains on the 3PH draw bar raised up, but this allowed us to clear all the stones etc. that would have snagged the logs and caused problems.

If the safe/correct way is to hook onto the lower draw bar, how do you keep the leading edge of the logs raise to prevent them from digging in and causing a problem?

 

[patrick_g]

There is no substitute for understanding what you are doing and the forces involved.

If the tree(s)/log(s) you are skidding are quite small compared to the tractor then raising the wood above the ground is a good thing and you won't hit a stump or rock and get into trouble.

It is when the log(s) are getting to the size/weight which require so much pull from the tractor as to constitute a realistic threat to safety through a backwards flip that extra analysis and caution are so very healthy.

Many of the arguments presented are involving "edge of the envelope" scenarios which are better avoided. B U T if you do find yourself there, try to be reasonable, go slow and be prepared to abort if the log is just too big for the conditions you find yourself in. Pulling from below the level of the axle is THE RIGHT WAY.

I like the garbage can lid idea, sort of... An extension of that idea, a little purpose built "travois" made of scrap pipe could be used to keep the end of the log from plowing dirt and hitting stumps and rocks. The sloping front of the travois would help climb the log over obstacles as well as keep it from plowing. Could take a couple dollars worth of scrap pipe and a few minutes cutting and welding.

Pat

 

[Diamondpilot]

Never never pull in reverse with the FEL. Yes, I have done it but will not after hearing the tale of my good friend with 1000's of hours of seat time on all types of farm tractors.

The story goes he had a large tree fall across the drive, maybe 24" in dia. He had his son hook up a chain and they attached it to the FEL of a New Holland TC series tractor. He put it in 4 wheel drive and proceeded to back up with the loader aprox 2' off the ground. The log hung on something and pulled the back wheels up off the ground. He quickly pushed in the clutch and the tractor slammed back to mother earth. As this happened his foot slipped off the clutch sending the tractor back up. He said this could only be compared to a bucking horse. He ended up loosing a couple of teeth to the steering wheel but could have been thrown off or crushed by the tractor so he feels he was lucky.

He will now only tow from a fixed draw bar below the axle. The same thing can happen with a 3 point mounted draw bar.

Chris

 

[ChuckinNH]

Here is a skidding cone designed for low impact logging...... I like the idea.

NovaJack

 

[jimainiac]

Reading some of these stories makes me glad once again that our new tractor has HST. The ability to stop forward or backward motion just by lifting your foot off the pedal gives an extra safety advantage, I would think.

 

[MossRoad]

...If the safe/correct way is to hook onto the lower draw bar, how do you keep the leading edge of the logs raise to prevent them from digging in and causing a problem?

Logging arch. Logging winch. Sled for the log nose. Several tools to choose from. At least you have a ROPS on your tractor. Make sure you always wear your seatbelt.

 

[Toolguy]

Champy is doing it the right way. Hook the chain short and use the 3PTH to lift the front of the log. This will prevent it from digging in and in turn transfers weight to the rear wheels for traction. Or, just pull from a clevis in the stationary drawbar. Go slow and avoid driving over stuff like stumps and large rocks. If you have a gear tractor, avoid the lowest gears. Run the engine RPMs at half throttle, or less. Half throttle also applies to a HST. That way you will not have enough power available to pull the front end up. The engine will stall if for some reason the load stops moving. Most of the time you will not have enough traction to lift the front end, anyway. The rear tires will spin in all but the most extreme situations before the front end comes up. I can imagine that a lot of accidents occur because someone was in a low gear and at WOT. 3 mph at half throttle is a lot safer than 3 mph at full throttle. That power can get you in trouble fast if you don't know what you are doing. In spite of what you may hear, tractors are pretty safe when used as intended. Go slow, be cautious and have fun. Good luck.

 

[CurlyDave]

Reading some of these stories makes me glad once again that our new tractor has HST. The ability to stop forward or backward motion just by lifting your foot off the pedal gives an extra safety advantage, I would think.

Even with HST, you have to be really careful if not hooked up to a fixed drawbar.

The thing that prevents a tractor from overturning backwards is the torque from the weight of the tractor. This torque is product of the tractor weight and the distance of the center of gravity in front of the rear wheels.

As the front end of the tractor rises, the distance of the center of gravity in front of the rear wheels becomes shorter. Essentially, the further the front end rises, the faster it keeps on going. The feedback is positive.

 

[Toolguy]

Not quite Dave. As the front end rises the drawbar goes down taking weight off the tires. With less weight on the tires they are much more likely to spin. Also, the drawbar acts as a lever to counteract the rise of the front end. The resistance to forward motion caused by the load pulls back on the drawbar which in turns pulls the front end back down. If this was not the case then how do you explain tractor pulls where the front end is off the ground on a properly balance tractor. Most tractors pullers do not have wheelie bars, either. I have a lot of experience in county fair farm stock tractor pulls. Flipping over backwards is just not an issue that causes much concern. It takes a "Perfect Storm" of conditions to make a tractor flip over.