Using ATVs for logging

[RSteiner]

I have to agree with Ed about the Ford 8N (or older tractors for that matter). You have to be able to fix it yourself, and be good at fixing things to run an old tractor. I usually go by the mentality that if the farmer decides to sell equipment, its done. Farmers in my area will change parts, customize and modify machines to get the most life they can out of the machines/parts.

If you can find an old unmolested tractor, it will do more work then a ATV. A small newer compact tractor would be my personal choice. They can do more work then a ATV, and are generally bought by hobby farmers or people with bigger then average properties, therefore are not run hard.

I use my ATV (polaris 400 2wd) to carry my chain saw to go travel the woods. When I'm ready to haul the wood out, I go with a 40HP 4WD John Deere. I don't do much work, mostly clearing of brushes to maintain the land.

My 2 cents (CAD )

Having owner an 8N for 20 years and using it for wood gathering work I can attest to the fact that you may have to repair something now and then.  The however of this is all the things I had to fix were due to pushing the tractor beyond the limits and that all the parts I ever needed were readly available.  The steering can get loose and sloppy and is not power steering.  I have broke a lift arm pulling too much sideways with the winch, my fault.  I have changed a water pump, replaced the steering box, exhaust and intake manifold, rebuilt the carb and done yearly tune ups.  Never changed over to a 12 volt system and my generator did not work for 20 years but that was never a big issue. 

They are an amasing machine considering the 50+ years of age and the amout of work they have done during that time.

Randy

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

Great input, folks! 

I was really happy to see the photo Jeff posted of his quad/Logrite combination -- very nice indeed!  Is that a fetching arch you've got there, Jeff?

I also like the 6-wheel drive photo as well, Ed.  That thing looks like a real workhouse indeed.  Great reply!

I grew up around old tractors, so I've been down that road before.  We used them on the flatland, however, so sloping terrain and a tractor make me a bit nervous.   Some of our saw logs are definitely difficult to get to and we only have narrow trails to use for the most part, which is why the concept of "low impact logging" appeals to us.  We have a CAT loader with forks for the established skidding roads, so the arch would only be used for fetching on the slopes and forwarding on the narrower trails and such.

I also forgot to mention that we have some trespass issues, so being able top "intercept" our poacher friends would be a big plus for an ATV.

 

[Jeff]

That is the Mark7 arch.  I'll post a few picture here in a few minutes of Burlkraft and I working with it. I dont know what I'd do without the blue arch.

[JimMartin9999]

Mooseherder ought to consider getting a helmet

[Burlkraft]

I know he's got one...I seen it     

[Mooseherder]

Fact of the matter is I always Ride with a helmet in the trails.
In that clip I was adding to my trail system, made a log bridge over a ditch and had just taken off my bright orange logging helmet, put down my chain saw and took off my chaps so I could go 3 miles per hour to try it out.

[Jeff]

I dont where my helmet when I'm on my property.

 

[Ironwood]

Are the legs on those chairs bowing out? Waiting to buckle? Take some of that wood and build ya some adirondack style chairs. Looks like more fun than work in those pictures. 









          Ironwood

[ex-Engineer Wannabe]

Nice photos, Ironwood! 

Which JD model do you have there?    

Great job on the logging arch, too.  It certainly looks like it'll be around forever ... and those racks -- great idea! 

I'm really happy to see that I'm not the only one trying to "go small."

[Ironwood]

That is a 2005 HPX diesel. An arch will REALLY move some weight, go with the hydraulic surge brake, it would be a REALLY COOL addition to a small scale arch operation. Here is a BIG one, modeled after the Tractor Arch by Logrite, but sized in between the Tractor model and the discontinued Hugo. Logrite's stuff is ABSOLUTELY top notch if you don't have acess to welding and the like. 





 Ironwood

[zackman1801]

with these logging arches if you built one to be used with chokers could you put on 3 or 4 logs in one choker and haul them out that way. im talking about firewood sized things probably tree length but not more than 12-16" DBH. im interested because its probably only worth my time to build one if i can get more than one log on because it would take far too long to get alot of firewood out.

also would it be possible to use some kind of hand powered winch with them? i really dont have hardly any money to spend with everything going on.

[Ironwood]

If you are "chokering" I would rig up some sort of 12v powered winch. I dont even like hand winching one like in that picture. Major pain. If it is effiecency your are after then try to power up the cable, this would speed things up a good bit.
 Ironwood

[RSteiner]

On the arch I built I mounted a two speed hand crank boat winch with about 20 feet of cable on the back of the arch.  The is used to drag the log to the arch at times and also to lift the log off the ground so it can be chained up off the ground.

Randy

[Dom]

I have to agree with Ed about the Ford 8N (or older tractors for that matter). You have to be able to fix it yourself, and be good at fixing things to run an old tractor. I usually go by the mentality that if the farmer decides to sell equipment, its done. Farmers in my area will change parts, customize and modify machines to get the most life they can out of the machines/parts.

If you can find an old unmolested tractor, it will do more work then a ATV. A small newer compact tractor would be my personal choice. They can do more work then a ATV, and are generally bought by hobby farmers or people with bigger then average properties, therefore are not run hard.

I use my ATV (polaris 400 2wd) to carry my chain saw to go travel the woods. When I'm ready to haul the wood out, I go with a 40HP 4WD John Deere. I don't do much work, mostly clearing of brushes to maintain the land.

My 2 cents (CAD )

Having owner an 8N for 20 years and using it for wood gathering work I can attest to the fact that you may have to repair something now and then.  The however of this is all the things I had to fix were due to pushing the tractor beyond the limits and that all the parts I ever needed were readly available.  The steering can get loose and sloppy and is not power steering.  I have broke a lift arm pulling too much sideways with the winch, my fault.  I have changed a water pump, replaced the steering box, exhaust and intake manifold, rebuilt the carb and done yearly tune ups.  Never changed over to a 12 volt system and my generator did not work for 20 years but that was never a big issue. 

They are an amasing machine considering the 50+ years of age and the amout of work they have done during that time.

Randy

I agree, they are amazing little tractors that changed the tractor industry in my opinion, but they still may not be the optimal tool for everyone. I actually saw 2 8N for sale locally, I'll have to stop and peak at them.

Piece of Rottne Industri history: The first Rottne machines used Ford tractors (I forgot the model) minus the front axle. The only modification to the powertrain was a better clutch.

Back to topic, those log arches are nice. I now have a new project to do.