tractor for small time logging

[slowzuki]

Just a Q, is your loader the LA513 (513 kg lift) or the LA723 (723 kg lift)?  Many dealers put the lighter loader on to save $ when pricing out a machine.  The old Ford was likely 30 pto hp and the 3130 is 31 engine hp, only like 25 pto or so.  The older compact fords were a respected tractor for sure, the 2120 was a beast and loved by all who owned it.

The other note is if you have a quick attach on your loader it cuts lift capacity about 20% or more depending on what part of the arc you're in by both sticking your bucket/forks out further and just by weighing 120 lbs or so.  I notice this a lot with my pallet forks as they have chunky angle q/a plate that pushes them out even further.

  Of course not all 30 HP tractors are created equal.  The 34HP Kubota 3400 would not pick up my test logs while the 31HP 3130 did.  I do wish now that I had opted for the 3830 38HP model tho'   As I've said here before my old Ford 30 HP 1910 would out lift this new Kubota.
Quinton
Quinton

[beenthere]

Wallys World
Can you post some pics of that Deere 445 haulin out logs?  I have that size, but never thought of it as a log hauler. Would like to see it.     I use the Deere 4300 and expect to get some white oak out tomorrow.

[Greg_B.]

i have a branson 4020 . 40 hp 20 series =heavy duty frame, frt. end ldr.,and backhoe. i have had mine in some pretty steep hills,so i decided to have the industrial tires loaded. lost some flotation but a lot more stable. i try to carry my logs out with the loader,built a set of small forks from square tube steel about 24 inches long. they are mounted to the front bucket by two pieces of of square tube slightly larger so they can ba easily removed held in place with set screws. be sure to carry the load as low as possible or have a set of chains to secure log to bucket
. better safe then sorry!!!!!

[Ed_K]

I have a model 30 w/loader, pics in my gallery.



This is my current operation for low impact logging.
 If you can afford it, get 60 to 80 hp. They have the weight to be stable. My landini has problems if I move the tires  closer in to the center. Its 58 hp. w/loader 3pt fransguard winch and forestry trailer to haul 1/2 cord or 250 bf.

[snowman]

 Im looking at a century 38 hp ive been told its a branson under another name, anyone know about this?

[beenthere]

That should work as long as it is mechanically good. But as far as size and power, you should be in good shape.
As far as brand .......  can't answer that.

[Max sawdust]

I have a model 30 w/loader, pics in my gallery.

(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

This is my current operation for low impact logging.
 If you can afford it, get 60 to 80 hp. They have the weight to be stable. My landini has problems if I move the tires  closer in to the center. Its 58 hp. w/loader 3pt fransguard winch and forestry trailer to haul 1/2 cord or 250 bf.

Looks good to me.  Do ya use the bucket to load  the trailer or do you have a grapple?
Max

[Greg_B.]

snowman

century tractors are now sold under the zetor brand name. both branson and zetor formerly century are made in korea by kukje. for more info go to www.tractorbynet.com select forums then select  zetor century branson for more info then you can imagine. if i am not mistaken branson has 0% financing now. check www.bransontractor.com they come with different size frames go with the 20 series if you get a branson.

greg b

ps my 4020 branson has taken everything i throw at it  and keeps going

[ironmule2004]

If you buy a new one, one  thing to consider no matter what H.P. you decide on, is the weight of one machine compared to another.  When I bought my New Holland I looked at another machine also.  It weighed around 2000 lbs less than the one I bought.   You might say no big deal because you don't need a machine that weighs more.  Think about this though- the other machine I looked at was missing 2,000lbs of something.  To me 2,000 lbs is a a lot of Iron to not be somewhere in something.  I always consider this aspect with pickups or whatever I am buying, unless I have a specfic reason for something  to be lighter.

IronMule 

[Wallys World]

I finally got my pictures posted of our JD 445 & arch. Also we pull it with the Gator and the Kubota BX22 (no pics yet of BX). Works great and will do 28 inches easily. I have pulled 16 foot long 12 inch with no problem.
Wally

[beenthere]

Saw your pics in your gallery. A little more tweaking and you can get them bigger so they are easier to see. 
Hope you don't mind that I dragged one in here to show what that 'little' Deere can do. 



That's a nice ash log.

[Wallys World]

I get this place figures out sometime. Thanks for moving the picture. That 445 also pulls a Bush Hog SQ42 brush cutter. I'll go thru anything I can drive over, usally 2 inch is max. It takes a beating but holds up great.
Wally

[Ed_K]

 Max, its hard to see but I have a Baileys loader on the front of the trailer. The grapple is laying on the logs. I also have a grapple from valbys that mounts on the front end loader for moving big logs. It can be set to pick up sideways or from the end to stack piles.

 Beenthere, nice log trailer. I started off with a similar setup w/ 4x4 yamaha.

[beenthere]

Ed K
Actually is Wallys World's log trailer, and I just posted it for him from his gallery. Hope we get some pics of that trailer. It looks well built and must pull easy to have the 'garden' tractor bringing in logs (although that class of garden tractor is a workhorse and has the 22HP Kawasaki gas engine in it, with fuel injection, water cooled).

Someone mentioned the potential for a unit like this, - that has hydraulics (two rams), hydrostatic forward/reverse, cruise control, and power steering - as a portable mill power source for moving through a log and hyd lift.  Seems to be worth pondering.

[Qweaver]

Just a Q, is your loader the LA513 (513 kg lift) or the LA723 (723 kg lift)?  Many dealers put the lighter loader on to save $ when pricing out a machine.  The old Ford was likely 30 pto hp and the 3130 is 31 engine hp, only like 25 pto or so.  The older compact fords were a respected tractor for sure, the 2120 was a beast and loved by all who owned

it.

The Ford was 30 engine HP and 26 PTO HP. The loader is a GB2130 (max lift 1730lb at the pivot pin to 59") and the BH is a GB2175
I'm pretty well satified with the loader but the BH is built very well but just does not have enough boom power.    I need to be able to lift the back of the tractor with the back hoe and set it over.  It will bearly do this and only if I have no down pressure with the loader.   In defence of the Kubota, The Ford's Bradco backhoe had 3" cylinders while the Great Bend backhoe only has 2.5.  I my replace the boom cylinder with a 3" and see how it does.
Quinton

[slowzuki]

Many of the new machines won't pick up the rear with the hoe, I was surprised that the manuals even warn against trench crossing.  The Bigger dedicated machines like the L48 and L35 and the JD unit seem to have this ability still.

The LA853 on my machine can pick 2930 lb at the pin to 59" and I still find it isn't enough to get the biggest stuff moved.  I think something like a LA1302 would be a better size loader for logs.

[Greg_B.]

my 4020 branson would pickup the rear end of my tracter and shift from side to side before i had the rear industrial tires filled with fluid.

[fronk327]

While I am new to running a sawmill, I am not new to tractors. An 8n is a well built and economical tractor, and will pull a good size log if it is set up properly. I own an 8n and work for one of the largest internet tractor parts companies, ssbtractor.  The 8n is an amazing old tractor that has been around for 60 plus years. It was made when Ford really had a better idea. Parts both new and used are readily available. With a log arch you could pull all day long without consuming a lot of fuel.
 First purchase and read an operators manual. Next I would put a bumper on the front, to prevent damage to the grill and radiator. I would put a draw bar with a draw bar lock across the lift arms on the 3 point hitch.
 If you do not have a log arch you can use logging tongs along with the draw bar.  Also get a set of height stabilizer chains. These will take the load off of your hydraulic pump.
 The draw back to using any of these old tractors is the fact that very few have roll over protection. If for some reason your tires get stuck or prevented from easily rotating, such as in the mud, or the tree you are pulling catches on something, the tractor(any tractor) can flip it self backwards.
 When I read  the posts on sawmills, there are many that will tell you to always read the operators manual before using the sawmill. The same holds true for tractors, yet few posts make that reference. I do not mean to scare anybody who is exploring this option, but please know how to use your machine properly.
 I guess my point is older tractors can be had for relatively low prices and be a real work and money saver, if you use them properly. Safety is always a factor.

[Ironwood]

I have had three separate 8N's here, all with loaders and have been GREAT tractors. TONS of safe and enjoyable work.

 Ironwood

[g_man]

I have a 30 hp Kabota (L3010) with a Farmi winch and an ATI grapple on the bucket.
I take out fir, white pine and firewood. It is  not a problem with 12" dbh stuff. The
biggest concern is hills. You have to stay straight up and down if its steep. I use
straps and snatch blocks to pull at 90 degrees to a steep road. It is slow work
but I've taken out 24" pine. Then it is one log at a time. I use the grapple on my bucket
to load my dump truck for hauling to the mill. Very small operation but it gets done.