Author Topic: tractor for small time logging (Read 10700 times)

snowman · « **on:** January 18, 2006, 08:13:37 am »

I'm looking for a tractor to log my 40 acres. Don't need high production just want to drag stuff to my sawmill.My trees avg 12 inch DBH and most of my skiddings downhill but not real steep. Great system of old skid trails are already in so moving dirts not a problem. At the moment im thinking 40 hp is what i need but they arn't cheap. Anyone ever try light logging with a small tractor like 20 - 30 hp? I also need it to be able to handle a backhoe attachment. My concern is id tear up a small tractor trying to drag logs so if any of you have experience with this micro logging thing id appreciate input.

isassi · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:18:09 am »

All depends on budget. If I were you, and had no other use for the tractor (like agriculture work), I would search e-bay and locals for an older backhoe like an early 530 Case, ect. Gas engine and direct drive, low maintenance and they will hold there value. When you are done, sell it...My 530 will move about anything with one downside: groundclearance under the backhoe unit...but like I was always told, you can't have everything.

Ironwood · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:20:17 am »

8N ford with a front loader (for counter balance), there are hoes out there for these as well. They are cheap and take some abuse. They are everywhere! Also, try to find a Sherman Hi lo Aux. tranny ($500 usually) I have drug lots with mine. GOOD CHEAP TRACTOR. Bullet proof clutch, I've easily toasted newer tractors clutches. Parts are Cheap Cheap, Electronic ignitions are out there and 12 volt conversions are easy. Reid

Max sawdust · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:38:47 am »

I have a John Deere 855 wich is a 24 HP Yamar Diesel. I keep it on very level ground and do not drive it off trail with a load. I have a Farmi winch to skid log length or tree length to the trail where I pick them up in a modified bucket to be stacked at the landing. Personally I do not like skidding larger logs behind the tractor, the flip over factor on hills scares me. I have much better control with the bucked log in the bucket.

For what you are looking at doing I would consider getting a winch. If you have too you can then get away with a smaller tractor, but if you have the funds get the 40HP you will not regret more HP.

My thoughts on the ideal set up for micro logging would be: 30-40 Hp tractor Farmi winch on the front, small forestry trailer with grapple on the back.

Burlkraft · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:40:03 am »

The 8N's are a great little tractor.....Built like a tank.

With the right leverage you can do just about anything.

I have a friend who has a 30 horse Kubota w/loader and an arch and he moves some huge wood with that

He can't lift it but he sure can move it

The Farmi winch is also a great suggestion

Cedarman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2006, 09:03:24 am »

Get as big a tractor as you can afford. I would recommend 45 to 55 horsepower. There are a lot of good used tractors some 30 years old that will work fine. A logging winch will pay great dividends in time saved and protecting the woods. Also make sure you build a heavy duty roof and roll bar over the seat. All it takes is for one pulled log to hit a tree with a dead top that comes down on the tractor to make a believer. Also, make sure its wide front end. Make an expanded steel mesh to cover the front to keep bent poles from skewering the radiator.

slowzuki · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2006, 09:29:37 am »

Almost anything over 20 hp will drag a 12" dbh log in dry conditions. I recommend a logging winch for the 3 point hitch. If you are clearcutting on level ground you could go with a grapple on the hitch instead.

I use a 50 hp kubota for my own logging work with a borrowed farmi winch. I pull from the tops, in snow I can drag about 1/2 to 2/3 the weight of the tractor, on dry ground I can drag almost the tractor weight.

If I choke the butts and lift I can drag even more than the tractor weight but I prefer pulling from the tops since they winch with less hangups.

nurseb · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2006, 10:58:40 am »

I logged 10 acres of pine with a 19hp kubota about 10 years ago. I'm doing a fuels reduction project now where I am using the same tractor to yank out fir and pine dbh 6" and 40 ft tall. Kubotas are amazing!!!!! I weave in and out of very tignt spots with that little rig. It leave no ruts even in fairly wet ground. I am skidding down hill however. Any tractor is better than no tractor. Any 4x4 will likely be better. A 4X4 with loader better still. A 4x4 with winch and grapple better still. Intelligence, finesse, and patience combined with even small tractors can do amazing things!!!

That said, I'd give careful thought to what and how much I wanted to do. How much logging will you do? HOw much log yard work? Will you be farming at all or feeding livestock? How much income are you generating? Do you need to expense the tractor in one year or are you going to depreciate it? When I get all my digging done, road work done, etc I'd like to be using a 50-60 hp with grapple and winch. Till then I'm using a JD 555

woodmills1 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2006, 11:55:47 am »

I have a kioti LK3054 30.5 hp 4 wheel drive. Could I use more power......of course.....does it do a good job.....yes it does. I dont skid though cause I have a metavic forwarding trailer that I tow. Don't know what your budget is but check out payeur.com. They package the kioti's with the metavic setting the tractors up with skid plates, FOPS and more. If you can find one used at the right price like I did you will get good production.

Ironwood · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2006, 12:29:09 pm »

Woodmills,

My Dad has that tractor. It is the one I smoked the clutch on. I wish new tractors could be as well made as my old 8N. My Dad has had some other issues as well, castings and such. I snaped the rear main pin on a Kioti Backhoe rental unit (it was cast!!! What the #$%% is that about) I haven't been real impressed with most newer tractors quite frankly and some the parts are OUTRAGOUSLY EXPENSIVE, for that matter even costly on some older ones. I have big arms and a small budget, GIVE AN 8N!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reid

Grappletractor · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:24:25 pm »

Snowman ,,,

What you need is something just like I have .......

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I would not try the case 530 w/ the 31 backhoe attachment for logging, ground clearence too low plus no protection for YOU unless you made some kind of hood for it that could take a large tree falling on it .

Grappletractor · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:37:17 pm »

This is a Massey Ferguson 31 with a Timberwolf factory installed logging attachment . Can easliy unbolted to return tractor to original condition.As you can see it has a grapple but not easliy seen is the winch.
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Here's the winch
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slowzuki · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:45:23 pm »

That massey is interesting, never seen or heard of one before set up like that. Still looks like it would get stuck pretty easy, what type of ground do you run it on?

I'm from and area where skidders get stuck sometimes although they can obviously pull themselves out usually.

Grappletractor · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:45:24 pm »

More pics of Mr. Grapple The Beast

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Grappletractor · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:51:28 pm »

Quote from: slowzuki on January 18, 2006, 01:45:23 pm

That massey is interesting, never seen or heard of one before set up like that. Still looks like it would get stuck pretty easy, what type of ground do you run it on?

I'm from and area where skidders get stuck sometimes although they can obviously pull themselves out usually.

It would not be too good in swampy ground. If stuck I believe the winch could assist in getting her out. I cleared my lot for the new house with her and the grapple gripped onto a couple of 18 and better dia logs each some 70 feet or better in length and she pulled em down the hill pretty good .

Ironwood · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2006, 02:02:09 pm »

Snowman,

Actually, contact Dangerous Dan he has a NICE Massey with a loader. No three point, but truely nice. Price is good. He had it listed in the for sale section.

Reid

RSteiner · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2006, 02:06:01 pm »

I used a Ford 8N and a Farmi winch for over 25 years of weekend logging and firewood gathering. As many have already said it works real well in that role. The center of gravity is low enough to take into the woods without having to worry about side hills and uneven ground. If you cna find one equiped with a Sherman Hi-Lo transmission you will have a very nice machine.

The one draw back in using any farm tractor in the woods is a good cage over and around the operator. Also, a floor pan to protect the operator from being speared from the ocassional stem that finds it way up is a good idea. When pushing trees and brush with the loader many people have been smacked in the head by a branch or stem that slips off the bucket and up the loader arm, a good freind just about ended his life that way.

I now have a 30 HP Kubota with the same Farmi winch. Four wheel drive is nice along with power steering but the one thing the newer tractors lack is weight an important ingredient when looking for traction. Also the modern compact utility tractors do not have the wider wheel base as the older farm tractors of the same horse power, or less did. This makes them a little less stable on uneven ground and side hills.

I do not know of one person who was ever sorry for buying a bigger tractor. The older iron holds its value pretty good, the prices will sometimes seem pretty high. Check out the used market there are some good deals out there.

Randy

Murf · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2006, 02:12:54 pm »

Grappletractor's pictures of, well, errr, his grapple tractor

bring up a very good point, one Reid touched on too.

The tractor in the pics has a massive frame that connects directly to the equally beefy rear axle housing.

If you use a standard, compact or small tractor for hauling logs, chances are the pull will be from the 3pth, and since you are trying to hoist and drag at the same time, a good part of the pull-power comes from the upper link.

This is not good.

The upper link is designed to be pushed against, not pull on. It will take relatively little pull-power compared to what the tractor is capable of producing to rip it off the tractor.

I've seen those upper brackets ripped off from as little as hitting a frozen bump of dirt while clearing snow with a rear blade. It has no more strength than the cumulative shear strength of the few bolts that hold it in place.

The older tractors were a little stronger, but it's still pretty easy to bust them doin it wrong.

Grappletractor · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2006, 02:31:58 pm »

Hey, you laughing at Grapple ? I'll put her up against some of these wimppy looking little modern tractors any day .

Murf · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2006, 03:57:03 pm »

Laughing? Me? At poor ole' Grappie? Perish the thought!

The only adjective I used was massive.

Nothing but tractor envy there.

Obviously built in a day when a dollar went further, and steel & diesel was cheaper though.

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Author Topic: tractor for small time logging (Read 10700 times)