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Log Skidding II

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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-12-09          70630


I remember seeing somewhere on one of the tractor boards, may have been the "OTHER" tractor board a picture of a log skidding set up where it looks like someone took a John Deere I-Match frame and fixed a set of log skidding tongs to it. I think that would work much better as it would allow you to at least pick up one end of the log and drag it rather than skidding the entire log on the ground. Does anyone else remember seeing something like this and if so, can you post a link to it? I am trying to get a ballpark estimate on price to make one. Thanks!



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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2003-12-09          70633


Chief, have a look at my picture # 9.

I think that's what you were talking about.

Building these is not that tough, let me know I can give you the designs.

Best of luck. ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-12-09          70635


Thanks Murf! I was looking at those yesterday and they look like a sweet piece of equipment. Only problem is they cost huge amounts of wampum. What do you think of the mechanical log tong mounted to an I-Match? ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2003-12-09          70638


I designed a smaller less expensive (or complicated) version that merely goes on the sub-frame for a rear blade a few years ago.

It is a hydraulic powered log tong that has a shank the same diameter as that on your rear blade. you undo the big nut that holds the blade in place and forms the swivel, the tong has a shank that bolts in the same place. That way you're not paying for a second sub-frame, you utilize the one you already have.

Best of luck. ....


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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-12-09          70679


I don't recall that one myself. I do recall somebody describing kind of a sleeve that fit over log ends and acted as a skid to keep the butt ends from digging in. Ability to lift the end a bit also cures the problem. ....


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shortmagnum
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 848 Wisconsin
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2003-12-09          70685


Murf, those tongs sound like a great piece of equipment. I don't suppose you would even have to get off the tractor to hook up. Also giving the butt end a little lift gives you a huge amount of traction. Do you have an estimate of cost for steel and hydraulics for someone who has a backblade?
Dave ....


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harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY
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2003-12-10          70703


I use a 3ph boom and keep the chain and tongs in tight on the boom.

I do not hear to much about the 3ph booms here. But it is one of the most handy pieces of equipment I have for small tractor. I do use my bucket a lot now but the boom still has its advantages. ....


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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-12-10          70708


I think Northern Tool has or had them. I asked a dealer about them once who said that there aren't many suppliers or call for them. Most everybody who wants one just makes it. The one I remember seeing at Northern Tool didn't look heavy enough for log skidding. I'm not sure if 'gin-pole' is another name for them.

There also are booms that mount on a loader bucket but they won't lift much or very high since they place a lot of leverage on the loader and the choice is between 'light' or a short boom. When I was looking for such things I wanted to take a large satellite dish off its pole. I was thinking to pull it from the top but I discovered that my forklift went high enough to lift it off from the bottom. I got that job done but a 3ph boom still sounds like it'd be useful. ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2003-12-10          70718


The big advantage of a hyd. powered log grapple is exactly that, you never have to leave the seat.

You just back up, lower the grapple over the log, grip it tight, lift and drive away.

If you already have a rear blade, the most expensive part is a variable, can you do the fabricating yourself or do you have to pay someone. If your CUT already has a remote outlet the only hydraulics are a tie-rod cylinder and some hoses, under $100 for both. Generally you should be able to make one from scrounged pieces of steel, several people have made the entire unit from odds & ends for under $100 in TOTAL.

The grapple is not complicated and can be made with nothing more than a cutting torch, grinder, drill & stick welder. It is made up of several pieces of 1/2" plate with spacers between, this makes them stronger since the seperation forms gussets. I have also seen them made from several pieces of 1" square bar and I saw another made from two thick plates with inter-meshing teeth that opened & closed the jaws by a gear to gear type action.

As Harvey mentioned, manual tongs will work but you have to be VERY careful to keep the chains short or the log will pass the boom and rear-end you.

With a mechanical grapple the log is held firmly and cannot do this. Also, with short pieces they can be picked up and carried comnpletely off the ground, or loaded straight onto a splitter, truck or trailer.

Best of luck. ....


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DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2003-12-10          70719


A word to the wise: I have a boom pole from Northern Tool made by Howse. It is bent like a pretzel and slowly rusting away.

It was a cheap piece of doo-doo before I bent it. Look at another brand. ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-12-10          70720


Thanks for the feedback Mark, I was looking for that as well. How is the wood splitting coming along? Have you finished splitting it yet? How is the new splitter working out? ....


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DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2003-12-10          70735


Finished splitting? Heck no! Between the Thanksgiving holidays and the nasty bug the next week, I have maybe a cord split.

I am glad I have it rather than a free standing unit, mostly because it only requires a corner to stand in for storage and I don't have to worry about the gas getting funky in the carb.

I think the cycle times might be a bit slower, but I haven't put a stopwatch to it yet. With the nearly 2500 psi available in the 4115's hydraulic system there is certainly no lack of raw power. It just drives through whatever is on the plate, including 1/2 inch bolts.

I ended up with a ding on the cutting edge after that one. I am screening the the stuff I put in it more carefully now. ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-12-10          70738


My neighbor just finished logging about 35 acres and said to come and cut all I wanted of the tree tops left. There are some mighty big tree tops and pieces left and I will have my work cut out for me. ....


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