Author Topic: New to us (Read 7900 times)

Corley5 · « **on:** September 10, 2006, 03:34:48 pm »

Here's a pic of our soon to be new to us Massey Ferguson Iron Mule. It's a 4500 model basically a model 50 industrial tractor drivetrain with a Perkins engine and torque converter tranny. I haven't seen it in person yet but Dad has looked it over, ran it, and likes it

so he put some $$ down on it and we're going to get it probably on Wednesday. It's near Marinette Wi. The tach and hour meter work and show 5,000 hours, it's been repinned and bushed, has lots of new hoses, 1 new tire and three very good ones, an updated continuous rotation bucket and we're also getting a full set of original manuals and a near new pair of bear paw tire chains. The owner also made up a set of plexiglas panels to enclose the cage and installed a heater for cold weather operation. We'll be the third owners. It's also had a new paint job since that photo was taken and Dad says it's a good one

Paint makes em run better

The Treefarmer we had been looking at sold before we got there

so we did a little more looking and found this not far from where Mom and Dad were this weekend. Another plus is it's small enough we can haul it ourselves which wasn't the case with the Treefarmer. This'll be way more fun than a skidsteer

sprucebunny · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2006, 03:42:24 pm »

Very cool

I've been lusting after one of those but I don't think I have quite trailer enough to move it myself. What does it weigh ?

Corley5 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2006, 03:48:35 pm »

In the neighborhood of 12,000lb according to the current owner. We'll be right on the edge of our trailer's limit

Have to trade it for a tandem dually now

oakiemac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2006, 06:22:41 pm »

Nice machine. You need to bring that on down here to try it out on some of our trees.

jackpine · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2006, 08:51:42 pm »

corley5

Just for curosity what model of Tree Farmer were you looking at? I have an old Tree farmer C5D but it's not in nearly as good of shape as you describe the Iron Mule. Gets the job done for what little I use it though. It weighs in at 16,000 lbs. so is a bear to move.

Bill

Corley5 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2006, 08:55:59 pm »

The Treefarmer was a C4D. Looked good from the pics but I think we're doing better with the Mule

jackpine · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2006, 09:32:37 pm »

corley5. I think your'e right. I was looking at a friends Iron Mule last Friday and they apear to be much easier to work on than the Tree Farmer. Small things like having hinged side covers for the motor instead of a lift off cast iron panel that weighes a ton and has to be pried out

There appears to be more room in the cab also, esp. when facing rearward. In the Tree Farmer it's very cramped.

UNCLEBUCK · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2006, 12:41:14 am »

Oh yeah !

Dana · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2006, 07:01:07 am »

Looks like a winner! I was going to p.m. you about theBobcat at the hydroseed auction (it has a grapple) but you probably aren't looking for one now?

Corley5 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2006, 09:01:20 am »

Pretty much blew my cash on this

The Bobcat will have to wait

When is the Hydroseed Auction

This weekend

I haven't got my # or sale bill yet.

getoverit · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2006, 02:12:03 pm »

Nice score on the mule Greg !

Now I know how you will be dragging out those huge beech trees this winter

Ron Scott · « **Reply #11 on:** September 11, 2006, 08:15:20 pm »

Good choice on the Iron Mule. It should serve you well.

Dana · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2006, 07:17:07 am »

The auction is Sept 16 @ 10.00 They went low budjet on the sale bill no color sale bill or sale number included in the mailer this time. There are two Bobcats, a 753 and a 843 with new hydrostat pump, grapple bucket, and tracks. Also anyone interested iapple cidar equiptment, there will be a complete system from an estate for sale.

Corley5 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2006, 03:24:50 pm »

Quote from: Dana on September 12, 2006, 07:17:07 am

The auction is Sept 16 @ 10.00 .

Looks like I'll have to miss it. I've made arrangments to process 22 pulp cords of wood this weekend. Poor planning on my part but pretty short notice on the auction too

The cider equipment sounds cool

Mike_P. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2006, 04:24:40 pm »

Greg:

Was there also a Massey Ferguson Iron Mule that was a Model 2200 or Treever? A fellow that I knew a number of years ago cut and hauled pulp wood and used a Massey Ferguson forwarder that seemed smaller than the older Iron Mules that I see around here.

Thanks,

Mike

Corley5 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2006, 06:19:23 pm »

I'm not sure just what other models were made but a place I worked once upon a time had a MF 203 Treever or Treevor. It was a bit smaller and older than the one we're getting. The newer ones made in the 90s before Valmet bought Gafner were larger. Emil Gafner began making Iron Mules in 1956

Corley5 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2006, 06:31:55 pm »

Here's a pic of a 203 I came across. If anyone happens to be interested it's in Skandia at http://www.bergdahlsinc.com/index.html

Corley5 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2006, 07:06:08 pm »

The first Iron Mule was made in 1962 but Gafner began business in 1946

Corley5 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2006, 10:12:07 pm »

Made a whirlwind trip to Wis. today and brought her home

As we pulled in the yard

My training

Loaded and Ready to go to Michigan

We made it and didn't even get stopped by a weighmaster

We were probably a bit overloaded

The old girl's been pretty well gone over. All new pins and bushings everywhere, cylinders rebuilt, sandblasted and painted. There's no old paint under the new. It's even had a new main hydraulic pump

According to the manuals it's a 5000 model. Pretty neat old machine. I see lots of uses around the farm for it besides logging. Like hauling and loading round bales, picking up rocks and slabs, demolition etc

. The torque convertor tranny is nice too. To switch directions you just step on a different pedal. It works good too and that's good cause that can't be cheap to fix

Even all the gauges work right down to the fuel one

Haven't gotten to play with it yet though. We spent the evening putting the finishes touches on an elevator for loading firewood that's needed for the custom job I've got tomorrow.

getoverit · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2006, 11:34:39 pm »

Looks like brand new Greg! I'm sure something lie that will come in handy for all of the jobs you have going on. GREAT score !

Burlkraft · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2006, 12:24:25 pm »

WOW...

That was a good score....Congratulations

UNCLEBUCK · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2006, 06:15:36 pm »

That is the coolest machine I have ever seen ! It is totally a beauty ! I bet one could even take that to the deer stand , haul em home and hang em without ever getting off !

You must be a happy camper ! I am

Paul_H · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2006, 06:26:30 pm »

That's a real load on the ol' pickup

It looks like you've got a great machine there.

sprucebunny · « **Reply #23 on:** September 16, 2006, 08:02:40 pm »

Looks GREAT

Thanks for all the pics !!!

There are SO many things to do with that loader

Corley5 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:40:53 pm »

We finally got to use the Mule some tonight. Unfortunately I got a battery exhausted message on my camera and didn't get much in the way of pics except for the not so good one above of Dad loading firewood logs out of the pile to load on the processor. The old machine works good but someone in its past reversed the hoses on the valve bank so everything works backwards

Really confusing but easily remedied by switching the hoses back. I'm not sure why someone would've done such thing. It's all backwards. To lower the boom normally you push the lever away and pull it back to raise it. Not the way this is hooked up. The same with the second part of the boom. It's all confusing

Have to stop and think before each movement. Even the bucket rotation and boom swing ops are backwards. Never seen such a thing

It was a pretty good load for the truck. I kept the over drive locked out It didn't like running in over drive with this load

The Mule has also had a new radiator installed. The old one was fine but when he was putting the new water pump on the engine he slipped with something and jabbed a hole in the old one

UNCLEBUCK · « **Reply #25 on:** September 19, 2006, 12:37:23 am »

Oh thats too bad Greg but you will get it changed I know . That would drive me crazy in a heartbeat . Get em changed and charge your camera up and knock that log pile apart ! Make that mule scream !

Corley5 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 19, 2006, 12:53:53 am »

Quote from: UNCLEBUCK on September 19, 2006, 12:37:23 am

That would drive me crazy in a heartbeat .

Oh it makes me crazy and Dad too

It's gonna get switched right away

We put a loader on a 300 Farmall this summer and before we read the book

and found out the valves had selectors for dual or single acting cylinders we could only get it to work backwards. That was bad enough with one lever off. Five of them like that is

sprucebunny · « **Reply #27 on:** September 19, 2006, 07:26:55 am »

I've run into the backwards levers a couple times because "float" was at the wrong end of the lever. That meant that the hoses to the cylinder needed to be swapped and, of course, one was TOO short

Don't think I could handle having 5 backwards.

I'm looking forward to more pictures of that classic, Greg

Ron Scott · « **Reply #28 on:** September 19, 2006, 06:25:06 pm »

Relocating the hoses should get it back to "normal'.

Some of my loggers have had night time vandals change their skidder hoses around so that everything works backwords when they go to start up in the morning. Aggrivating "down time" relocating the hoses back again.

Better than sugar or sand in the fuel tanks though.

We now hide the equipment on the jobs so that they aren't found as easy by the vandals.

Corley5 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 20, 2006, 12:05:47 am »

Quote from: sprucebunny on September 19, 2006, 07:26:55 am

I've run into the backwards levers a couple times because "float" was at the wrong end of the lever. That meant that the hoses to the cylinder needed to be swapped and, of course, one was TOO short

Thanks for pointing that out SB

The main boom hoses will need to be switched at the cylinder and they look long enough

The other valve with a "float" is the swing and it won't matter for it. We can change it at the valve body

It takes a pretty determined vandal to take the time to switch hoses and even know how to do it for that matter. I fired it up today between rain squalls and Zach and I went for a ride. He was impressed especially since he can run the blade

Ed_K · « **Reply #30 on:** September 20, 2006, 07:35:28 am »

Well I'm jealous now, I've been looking for a machine like that for a yr and can't find one here in newengland. Can you switch the in-out line from the pump rather than all the lines?

Nailhead · « **Reply #31 on:** September 20, 2006, 08:03:01 am »

Nice find Greg

How many tires on the ground does that make?

I just keep showing my wife how many "TOOLS" you have and she can't complain too much on what I bring home.

Corley5 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 21, 2006, 12:38:56 am »

We had our first breakdown with it today. The fuel line between the filters and the pump broke

Of course we don't have any ferrules that small so off to NAPA in the morning. I can't count that many tires and to replace them all we'd need to sell the farm

I didn't realize these were that hard to come by until we got this one and I've been browsing around looking for them. They aren't out there. Three other potential buyers stopped to look at it and wanted it after Dad put a deposit on it.

Corley5 · « **Reply #33 on:** September 21, 2006, 12:42:16 am »

http://www.richardsmachinery.com/ Send this guy a message. He's got lines on machinery literally all over the world. He may know of one in your area

Corley5 · « **Reply #34 on:** September 26, 2006, 10:45:28 pm »

It looks like the H Farmall and its manure loader have been replaced. We've done a couple little things to the Mule. The return line from the injector pump broke which wasn't a big deal. The new tire on it went flat which was unexpected. When it was put on the extra valve stem hole in the rim wasn't plugged so the tube worked there and went flat

We compared the operation of our backhoe's valves to the Mule's and decided that we needed to switch the hoses on the valve for the jib. Now it works like we think it should

It's amazing how one lever being off throws the whole works out of whack

The plan is to take it to the woods on Monday.

beenthere · « **Reply #35 on:** September 26, 2006, 11:19:50 pm »

That mule sure seems it is a good fit with your wood splitting operation. And as you say, many other uses you will find for it too.
Are you creaming any logs out for the sawmill?

Corley5 · « **Reply #36 on:** September 26, 2006, 11:25:08 pm »

I pull one out now and again. There's one in the pics that I probably shoulda taken out. It was a 10' white ash 14" on the small end. Sure made nice firewood and a lot of it

Corley5 · « **Reply #37 on:** October 08, 2006, 09:31:35 pm »

Finally made it to the woods with the Mule today

. Dad and I cut this timber a week ago and then a bunch of firewood orders came in

The machine works very well

It's fairly agile and has good power. The loader will lift more than it should

It's possible to tip the machine over. I'm glad I had my hand on the down lever

Sugar maple sawbolts destined to be flooring.

Firewood on the left

Basswood sawlogs. Too bad they aren't worth more

These piles grew quite a bit by the time I shut down tonight. I've got about that much more to haul out yet.

Tom · « **Reply #38 on:** October 08, 2006, 09:54:40 pm »

Isn't basswood a favorite of carvers?

Wish I'd have had a machine like that.

Corley5 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 09, 2006, 12:17:50 pm »

Carvers do like basswood. Duck decoys used to be carved from it. I'm gonna have a bunch if anybody would like some

I wish we'd have had this a long time ago

dail_h · « **Reply #40 on:** October 09, 2006, 07:31:13 pm »

THOU SHALLT NOT COVET CORLEY'S IRON MULE THOU SHALLT NOT COVET CORLEY'S IRON MULE

Furby · « **Reply #41 on:** October 09, 2006, 08:08:56 pm »

Says you!!!!!!

Corley5 · « **Reply #42 on:** October 10, 2006, 08:04:51 pm »

Other uses so far- Crunched and munched an old board fence at Grandma's, picked up and hauled away slabs from mill, cleaned up a cottonwood that had fallen in the barnyard, held logs too big for processor in bucket so I wouldn't get the chainsaw in the dirt or most importantly have to bend over

and then piled the big chunks with it

Corley5 · « **Reply #43 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:09:21 pm »

View from the Driver's Seat

Basswood Logs

Maple Sawlogs, Bolts and Firewood

American Elm Log

Elm Log and Assorted Firewood

Sorting Basswood According to Length

Adding a 12' to the Pile

So far the old machine has been good to us

We've put 130 hours on it with only minor maintenance. Today was the second day with new bypass grapple. It's a night and day difference in efficiency and most importantly safety. I'm saving almost a half hour per load

Makes it fun again

Thanks for the recomendation on the Valby Buckets.

Jeff · « **Reply #44 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:12:27 pm »

Hey greg, did ya tell em about the forum when you got your bucket?

leweee · « **Reply #45 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:18:32 pm »

Great pics Greg

Thanks for sharing

Corley5 · « **Reply #46 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:20:12 pm »

Quote from: Jeff B on December 10, 2006, 09:12:27 pm

Hey greg, did ya tell em about the forum when you got your bucket?

no

Jeff · « **Reply #47 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:25:38 pm »

I'm glad I reminded you to do it!

Quote

Thanks for the recomendation on the Valby Buckets.

Corley5 · « **Reply #48 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:27:11 pm »

farmerdoug · « **Reply #49 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:22:37 pm »

Corley,

What is the differences in the 203 and 4500?

Also what is the log length limit you have found on the 4500?

Farmerdoug

Corley5 · « **Reply #50 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:36:36 pm »

This is actually a 5000 and has a 4 cyl Perkins rather than a three. Torque converter trannys were optional on these and not on the 203s and the sheetmetal is a bit different. I don't know if the loader is the same or not. I think the 203 used the MF 203 Work Bull tractor as the base while the 5000 used the MF 50 tractor loader backhoe drive train. I haul 12 footers all the time and could haul sixteens if I had some shorter ones to stack on top of them to hold em down or if I didn't have to make any sharp turns I could slide them tight to the front

I did find some logs I couldn't pick up with it. I could get them about four feet off the ground and that was it. They're three big 8 foot beech logs. They're too big to run through the processor and worth little as anything but firewood so I was going to haul them to the neighbor for firewood. Guess I'll have to cut em in half.

Reddog · « **Reply #51 on:** December 11, 2006, 12:09:57 pm »

On the ones that it won't pick. Back the machine right up to one end. Pick the end up and drag the log on. I have seen the old timers load some large logs on a mule that way.

Ed_K · « **Reply #52 on:** December 11, 2006, 08:22:04 pm »

Glad that new bucket's work for you. On my small forwarder trailer the boom will only lift 900#s so I grab the small end and set it on the back of the trl then pick up the butt and put it on the front. I've lifted 1500-1800 # logs this way.

Chelsea Tree · « **Reply #53 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:44:06 pm »

Has the she been sold yet? I noticed the post about her being for sale has disappeared......

Corley5 · « **Reply #54 on:** January 28, 2011, 07:54:36 am »

I got zero bites from the ad I placed here so I put an ad on Craigslist and sometime in Nov. it left on a truck bound for Quebec. Selling price was 9,500.00.

mad murdock · « **Reply #55 on:** January 28, 2011, 11:22:39 am »

Nice looking 'Mule Corley 5. Congratulations. I bet the bypass bucket is a nice addition to the machine! FYI, the factory standard Gafner loader configuration is as follows from left to right #1 main boom up (lever away from operator)-Main boom down (lever towards operator), #2 Stick boom up (lever away)-stick boom down (lever towards), #3 boom swing-left (lever away)-right (lever towards), #4 rotate bucket-left(ccw, lever away)-right (cw, lever towards), #5 bucket open/close-open (lever away) closed (lever towards)- for driving the main boom and swing levers are pushed away to the float position, if memory serves. I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours at the controls of an '83 model, but the last time I did that was in 1983! I am pretty sure on the controls config. In case you were wondering.
Looks like a mighty fine old machine there, that has been looked after well.

Corley5 · « **Reply #56 on:** January 28, 2011, 11:57:43 am »

It served us well. It was also time for an upgrade

Autocar · « **Reply #57 on:** January 29, 2011, 05:03:46 pm »

Great looking machine !

Bobus2003 · « **Reply #58 on:** January 29, 2011, 07:12:49 pm »

Quote from: Corley5 on January 28, 2011, 11:57:43 am

It served us well. It was also time for an upgrade

What did ya upgrade too?

Corley5 · « **Reply #59 on:** January 30, 2011, 10:48:11 am »

[img]

It's newer than an 1986 according to an old TF guy I talked to a while back. It's got a 4 cyl Deutz for power. These pics are from last summer when I took delivery. It's got some scars on the blade and isn't clean now

I've been meaning to take some pics but just haven't taken the camera to the woods with me.

ScottAR · « **Reply #60 on:** January 30, 2011, 02:03:24 pm »

That is one sweet machine!

Chelsea Tree · « **Reply #61 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:03:51 am »

This was your Mule right?

http://www.publiquip.com/Heavy_Equipment_Truck/Massey-Ferguson-Iron-Mule-5000-Forwarder--2104734133.htm

It's unfortunately been sold again. Not to me.....d'oh!

I tried to post the pic of it but I can't quite figure out how to do that yet....

Corley5 · « **Reply #62 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:10:39 am »

That would appear to be it

News:

Author Topic: New to us (Read 7900 times)