Author Topic: Got a skidder! (Read 5009 times)

Maineloggerkid · « **on:** July 16, 2008, 05:13:57 pm »

WEll, today I got my first skidder. I am leasing a 1989 franklin 105 with a 6 cylinder cummins. THis is only a temp until I get the machine I wanted, a 540B Deere. I will be running this for a couple weeks until the Deere is ready.

Are there any suprises to watch for? Can someone give me their experiences with these machines???

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2008, 05:06:09 am »

I guesss not??

Mr Mom · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2008, 07:27:02 am »

Give them some time they will answer.
I dont have a skidderbut it is one on the wish list.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom

Reddog · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2008, 06:47:34 pm »

Quote from: Maineloggerkid on July 16, 2008, 05:13:57 pm

I am leasing a 1989 franklin 105 with a 6 cylinder cummins.

Are there any suprises to watch for? Can someone give me their experiences with these machines???

Sorry I have never run a Franklin. Is it a power shift or a manual trans?
Is it a part time 4x4 or full time?

669 Clarks and 440 Johnny D's were what I put most of my time on. Oh and an old Mountain Skidder brand.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:15:25 pm »

Full time 4wd and is is a manual. The clutch is worn, so its a little slow to shift gears. I will be glad when I get the 540B, though. Get back on a machine that I'm used to. It will have a little more umph, too

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2008, 09:09:36 pm »

How much oomph do you need? That B Cummins can give you all you will ever need, just have to know what to do to it.

Dave

sparky · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2008, 10:10:39 pm »

My present skidder is a 3020 John Deere. I have a real skidder on my "Bucket List", however. I wish I had the resources to buy a skidder. I expect that I may be needing to build one from scratch, or modify a salvaged 4-wheel drive farm tractor.

Sparky .

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2008, 04:42:12 am »

I don't know if it is just the way they have the machine set up, but it doesn't seem to have that "get up and go" power when it has a twitch of wood on.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2008, 01:24:48 pm »

The worn clutch may have alot to do with that.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2008, 05:01:27 pm »

I suspect your right about the clutch having somethingf to do with it. Oh well, I just found that they are going to bring me the 540B on tuesday next week, so i will have a good machine to work with.

zackman1801 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2008, 10:41:21 pm »

well when your finished with the old franklin feel free to send it my way! ill take good care of it i swear!

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2008, 05:45:25 am »

I would, but its not mine, its just a lease machine. I'll keep my eyes open for ya, though

zackman1801 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:45:35 am »

yeah, id have my own by now if i had any money.....too bad it doesnt grow on trees

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:44:21 pm »

It grows "in" trees

thedeeredude · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2008, 04:08:37 pm »

You're both wrong, it grows in cotton and flax fields

Any pictures of your skidder?

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2008, 04:50:03 pm »

NO, but is you go to machinerytrader you can see one like it. I will be getting the 540B soon, so then i will get pics and try to figure out how to post them.

Stephen Alford · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:54:22 pm »

Hey A ! congrats on the skidder,good machine,just wondering what you run for wheel chains and chockers

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2008, 05:23:17 am »

I use regular choker cables on the back,and for chains- standard rings on the front, double diamonds on the back.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2008, 04:31:20 pm »

Quote from: thedeeredude on July 19, 2008, 04:08:37 pm

You're both wrong, it grows in cotton and flax fields Any pictures of your skidder?

Money *DanG sure don't grow in cotton fields around here not anymore at least. Growing corn is profitable but only if you market the liquid version. Maine, congrats on the new Deere I hope it serves well.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2008, 04:38:40 pm »

thanks. it should, i've always been a john deere man

zackman1801 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2008, 09:19:02 am »

Quote from: timberfaller390 on July 20, 2008, 04:31:20 pm

Money *DanG sure don't grow in cotton fields around here not anymore at least. Growing corn is profitable but only if you market the liquid version. Maine, congrats on the new Deere I hope it serves well.
[/quote]

i think you missed it, he was talking about what the bills were actually made of.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:28:42 pm »

yeah I guess your right

BUt us farmers take stuff like that for face value.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:53:45 pm »

money isn't made of paper- its made out of hemp cloth.

zackman1801 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 21, 2008, 11:59:55 pm »

well where does the other half of the hemp go?

Coon · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2008, 12:16:23 am »

zackman where is that smoke coming from?

zackman1801 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 22, 2008, 09:33:34 am »

smoke? what smoke?

i have no idea what your talking about

smiley_rainbow_colors

Coon · « **Reply #26 on:** July 22, 2008, 12:01:15 pm »

Isn't that what is rolling out of your ears?

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 22, 2008, 03:07:35 pm »

Well Maine did the johnny popper come today.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2008, 04:51:41 pm »

NOt today, but tommorow. THe repairs on the other are taking longer than expected. THe place I lease the skidder through has VERY slow mechanics. $:-\$ . I will have to run the franklin one more day before I get the coveted DEERE.

Ed_K · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2008, 07:28:26 pm »

With the rain we're getting down here, you may want to think of trading the deere in for an FMC with 3 foot wide tracks

. Sure hope it don't snow like this in Dec.

.

woodmills1 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2008, 07:31:00 pm »

YES rain every day but three for months and yet we drought?

??

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #31 on:** July 23, 2008, 04:53:22 am »

I think you'd need 40 acres just to park one of those FMC skidders. Cool rigs, though.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 23, 2008, 03:36:38 pm »

Alright its tomorrow now, did the new play pretty come?

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #33 on:** July 23, 2008, 05:25:16 pm »

anxious are we???- no, it didn't I have to call them and find out what is going on, it was supposed to be here. BUt, this place will not be hurried. I really wanted to go through someone else, but there are no other equipment leasing places around.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #34 on:** July 23, 2008, 06:44:33 pm »

I just got a call from the skidder place, and it will be here around 12 tommorow

He is even gonna throw a set of chains (used, but still chains) on it for me. I may not get the chains for a couple of days, but I can use the skidder without them for now.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 24, 2008, 06:08:46 pm »

Yeah I am a little i guess. I'm just proud to see guys our age doing well enough in this industry to warrant buying/leasing equipment like that and of course it helps that you went with a Deere. I found a 440 setting behind a guys house the other day looks like it hadn't moved in 10 years but he told me in no uncertain terms that it was not for saleeven though his wife was standing there telling him to gat rid of "that piece of junk". Oh well he got added to my list of people I'm waiting to die so I can buy thier stuff from thier kids.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #36 on:** July 24, 2008, 06:30:45 pm »

Haha- thou shalt not covet thy neighbors skidder. Im guilty $:-\$

IT came today at noon. Its a pretty good machine. Not the prettiest, but it runs good and its mechanicaly sound. I will be getting a set of rings for the front soon. It has 8 chokers, a new seat, and the tires are at about 50%. If this machine turns out good, I might buy it in the spring. Next week I am going to talk to H.C. Haynes about going behind the harvestor crews and cutting the "oversied wood" (typically 20" on the butt). Then I won't have to find lots, and when I get to them, the trails will already be mostly taken care of.

I know what you mean about guys our age getting into it. They are few and far between. This coming year will likely be the last year for the forestry program I just graduated. The instructor is semi- retiring and they have deemed the program to be not " cost effecient", even though we are they only tech program at the school that earns income for the school.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 24, 2008, 06:34:56 pm »

of course get rid of the only program that pays its own way, Thats logical. How are you going to move your machine from job to job? wil you have to hire a low boy every time.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #38 on:** July 24, 2008, 06:37:19 pm »

Haynes might haul it for cheap, but I have my class A liscence, so if my neighbor will let me borrow his lowbed, I might be able to do it for the price of the fuel I use. Right now it costs me about $100 a move.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #39 on:** July 24, 2008, 06:52:40 pm »

thats not as bad as I would have thought. but the borrowed lowboy would be even better

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #40 on:** July 24, 2008, 07:27:52 pm »

Yes, it would. That, and I just like to drive the trucks.

zackman1801 · « **Reply #41 on:** July 24, 2008, 08:16:36 pm »

then what better excuse do you have to move it yourself?

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #42 on:** July 24, 2008, 08:28:24 pm »

My neighbor not letting me borrow his play thing.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #43 on:** July 24, 2008, 09:37:48 pm »

yeah that'll do it every time. thou shalt not covet thy neighbors skidder mover

zackman1801 · « **Reply #44 on:** July 24, 2008, 11:30:10 pm »

possibly late at night you could "barrow" it.....without total permission...you know just test it out.
or you could just take the chains off the skidder and take it for a joy ride...

im zack martin and i DO NOT approve this message!

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #45 on:** July 25, 2008, 07:06:52 am »

yeah the joy ride could work too. here we can move ag equipment on a public road but not industrial equipment so throw a choker around the hitch of an old bush hog and drive your "tractor" anywhere

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #46 on:** July 25, 2008, 07:34:33 am »

Ill pass. Ive roaded the 540B at school alot, and its not that fun when you get big rigs passin ya.

Sawyerfortyish · « **Reply #47 on:** July 25, 2008, 12:43:06 pm »

For all it's worth 100.00 a move isn't worth hooking a trailer up for and then chaining the machine down. Pay the guy 100.00 and let him worry about the DOT.

Ed_K · « **Reply #48 on:** July 25, 2008, 08:32:13 pm »

Cost me $75. per hr time starts when he starts the truck till he's back in the yd

. Last 2 time I roaded and left the chains on. You just wait till its snowing real good an go.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #49 on:** July 25, 2008, 09:39:37 pm »

yeah 100 bucks is well worth not worrying about the DOT and everything else that can FUBAR while moving equipment

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #50 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:17:55 am »

ya, 100 bucks isn't bad compared to the money you can make off of one job site.

Sawyerfortyish · « **Reply #51 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:24:11 am »

Hey Ed I know the stores want you to do the christmas in july thing but I don't think I could handle waiting for that july snow storm just to move my skidder

jokers · « **Reply #52 on:** July 26, 2008, 08:32:53 am »

Here`s some more food for thought. About ten or so years ago a local guy was roading a big, newer John Deere skidder between jobs on a late summer afternoon. Along comes this little old lady in her Buick, on a straight and level section of road no less, and she proceeeds to drive right into the back of this skidder.

Based on the accident analysis she didn`t even try to swerve until she was only feet behind it. Her husband, who was the passenger, died at the scene. She lived and proceeded to sue the owner of the skidder for everything that he and his business had....and she won. Put the guy right out of business and that was all she wrote for the guy because alot of his equipment was financed, although he would have lost it in the suit anyway, just that he lost it and still had to pay for it while the little old lady swallowed his liability policy whole.

Don`t do it. You have enough liability just entering the roadway, never mind travelling on it.

stonebroke · « **Reply #53 on:** July 26, 2008, 08:39:43 am »

Did he have a SMV sign on the back?

Stonebroke

jokers · « **Reply #54 on:** July 26, 2008, 09:50:53 am »

Quote from: stonebroke on July 26, 2008, 08:39:43 am

Did he have a SMV sign on the back?

Stonebroke

I don`t recall if he did Stonebroke, but I do recall that he had some sort of flashing transport lights that he claims were on and working and the driver claimed otherwise. The police documented that he did have the lights that the operator referred to, but it wasn`t established whether or not they were on, as I recall. I don`t recall any issue being made of a lack of an SMV sign so I`m going to guess that he had one. This was all pretty big news within certain circles for awhile.

I understand the legal ramifications of being properly placarded or lighted which may have resulted in V&T fines and some greater bias of the liability toward the operator of the skidder but it seems pretty clear that this woman did not see the skidder in broad daylight on a clear stretch of road, so an SMV sign wouldn`t have helped her see any better. None the less, the fact that this woman was probably legally blind and should not have been driving was not considered as a factor in the civil trial. That is my point, a person may be operating in a safe manner and still have a jury arbitrarily decide that ALL liability rests with them rather than sensibly assigning blame proportionately.

BTW, I`ve seen this skidder probably a hundred times, don`t remember if it was a 640 or 740 but it is a good size grapple skidder which was somewhat unusual for this area at the time. Not that the old lady would have known that it was unusual to see a grapple skidder around here but it is a big machine that you can see from a mile away and she essentially drove into the back of it on a straight, clear section of road in broad daylight and she bore no responsibility in the resultant civil trial.

Meadows Miller · « **Reply #55 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:00:21 pm »

Gday Mainelogger

Its good to see other young blokes having a crack in the forest industries

.I dropped and skidded my 1st tree at 14 yo when I brought my 1st chainsaw

. Dad said Id have to buy my own if I wanted to use 1

and i was sick of Limbing with the axe so I saved my money and we went shopping and I got a 2055 jonsered. Im a older Timberjack man myself but JDs would be my 2nd choice.

I wish you all the luck in the world with Your new Buisness . remember Safety First out the Bush . and just get it floated to the job Fines are Bloody

$$$$$. save the coin and get yourself that truck ( I did ) instead of looking over your fence .you can be looking down your driveway at your own Rig

. It all takes time not many of us start at the top in this game mate.

reguards Chris McMahon

zackman1801 · « **Reply #56 on:** July 26, 2008, 02:44:07 pm »

basically if anyone wants to sue for anything they could these days. I saw an add on tv for lawyers looking to sue ATV companies for rollover accidents that were apparetly their fault, reguardless of how the operator acts. I also remember a suit where a guy won a substantial ammount of money by crashing his RV while he went in back to make a pot of coffee. he apparently left it on cruise control and after it crashed and almost killed him he sued because in the manual it didnt state that cruise control isnt auto pilot.

i sometimes wonder how people like that can even live that long!

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #57 on:** July 26, 2008, 09:05:25 pm »

Quote from: zackman1801 on July 26, 2008, 02:44:07 pm

i sometimes wonder how people like that can even live that long!

There is such a thing as natural deselection. Give 'em long enough and they will weed themselves out. Take a look at the Darwin awards if your not already familier with them. I guess you just have to look at how much traffic the road you would use for a certain move would have on it. We have had a few tractor vs. car accidents around here and the tractor operators were never found at fault so the drivers of the cars wouldn't have a leg to stand on in a civil case.

zackman1801 · « **Reply #58 on:** July 26, 2008, 10:49:05 pm »

it never makes sense to me, all of the great thinkers usually get killed off in unfortunate accidents, i had a friend who got killed in a car accident, probably one of the smartest people i knew, a great thinker too. then there are the idiots who drive drunk at night and throw firecrackers at peoples cars who are probably going to live untill they are 80. makes sense.

beenthere · « **Reply #59 on:** July 27, 2008, 12:19:35 am »

Quote from: zackman1801 on July 26, 2008, 10:49:05 pm

it never makes sense to me, all of the great thinkers usually get killed off in unfortunate accidents, .............

zack
You're makin me a bit nervous being as old as I am....but sometimes I do think I'd like to be a great thinker...

zackman1801 · « **Reply #60 on:** July 27, 2008, 09:56:39 am »

hehe

sorry bout that.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #61 on:** July 28, 2008, 04:13:03 pm »

Well, the skidder guy said that he is gonna get me a set of BRAND NEW ring chains still in that shrink wrap stuff!!! CAn't wait to get them on there and see what it will do. It does pretty good even without the chains, but is an uphill yard all the way, so the chains will make a big difference.

Ed_K · « **Reply #62 on:** July 28, 2008, 08:21:16 pm »

I'd try to talk him into double diamond ice chain. The ride is so much nicer

.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #63 on:** July 29, 2008, 04:45:56 am »

I would, but the ring chains are already in, and I need them bad. Especially since we had another downpour last night. The rain just hates to quit. Despite not having chains, it pulls pretty good. Im just looking forward to winter.

zackman1801 · « **Reply #64 on:** July 29, 2008, 10:16:13 am »

Quote from: Maineloggerkid on July 29, 2008, 04:45:56 am

Im just looking forward to winter.

me too bud me too!

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #65 on:** July 29, 2008, 01:34:36 pm »

Winter is so much better. Im picking up a set of Norse "tight" ring chains first thing in the morning, still in the crate.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #66 on:** July 29, 2008, 02:10:42 pm »

Got any pics of the poppin' john yet?

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #67 on:** July 29, 2008, 03:12:16 pm »

Not yet, im waiting to get the chains on 'er.

By the way, when I do get some photos, how do I put them up? I tried some once before, but it wouldn't work.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #68 on:** July 29, 2008, 04:17:27 pm »

It took me forever to figure out how on the homade skidder thread and I really don't remember so maybe one of the photo gurus will jump in and tell us how again. I think there is a thread on posting pics too so you may try there.

ADAMINMO · « **Reply #69 on:** July 29, 2008, 04:38:12 pm »

Try this .... it isn't as hard as it seems.

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,12416.0.html

Just follow the instructions.It is pretty simple once you get it.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #70 on:** July 30, 2008, 09:49:29 am »

hey maine I'm just curious, what is the average size of your job sites, like how many acres? and how do you load the trucks?

zackman1801 · « **Reply #71 on:** July 30, 2008, 10:27:15 am »

most trucks around here have their own loaders right on them. even the 18wheelers usually have a loader in the middle of the 2 bunks.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #72 on:** July 30, 2008, 11:07:54 am »

thats what I figured. You don't see any self loaders around here.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #73 on:** July 30, 2008, 01:52:34 pm »

My average job site? So far it has been anywhere from 40 acres to 170 acres. I like the bigger ones alot.

AlexHart · « **Reply #74 on:** August 01, 2008, 09:45:45 pm »

I hope your new skidder works out well for you.

One of my best logger friends is a 23 year old kid here in CT and he has a 548D grapple skidder. Its not exactly the same machine obviously but 540 sized skidders are a great size machine. Especially for a one man operation. Its big enough to pull a really good load and heavy enough when you need to push something but its not a total beast to turn around and its not hard on fuel.

jokers · « **Reply #75 on:** August 02, 2008, 07:23:44 am »

Quote from: Maineloggerkid on July 29, 2008, 01:34:36 pm

Winter is so much better. Im picking up a set of Norse "tight" ring chains first thing in the morning, still in the crate.

Quote from: Maineloggerkid

.........the ring chains are already in, and I need them bad. Especially since we had another downpour last night. The rain just hates to quit.

You`ll till the surrounding countryside with those babies!

Any way that you can avoid skidding until the ground firms up some?

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #76 on:** August 02, 2008, 07:31:16 am »

ITs actually no that bad. I work the high spot during wet times. Only the top 1" is actaully slippery. When I go with the chains, it doesn't churn the ground at all, really.

On the other hand, the truck driver got stuck in the yard so bad the other day that the 540 couldn't push him out. He was right next to the road, and we didn't have anyone to stop traffic, so pulling him was out of the question. He ended up having to unload, then I had to push him out. After he has out, he had to reload sitting in the middle of the right right under the powerlines. It was not a good seen.

timberfaller390 · « **Reply #77 on:** August 02, 2008, 08:29:17 am »

Just another wonderful day at the office right Maine

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #78 on:** August 02, 2008, 08:38:28 am »

Ya. THe guy should've known better. IT is uphill out of my yard. He backed in and put 10 cord on an 8 cord truck, then tried to get up the hill. When He couldn't make it, he kept trying and trying until he went up to his axles and couldn't move. When I got there, it was pouring rain and there was already water in his ruts. I couldn't get enough traction to get him out loaded, so I ended up directing traffic for 1/2 an hour while loaded in the road. I would have thought that he would have known better than to try it, but he didn't.

And so is life.

jokers · « **Reply #79 on:** August 02, 2008, 09:35:40 am »

Quote from: timberfaller390 on August 02, 2008, 08:29:17 am

Just another wonderful day at the office right Maine

I`ll posit that for anyone who this is a typical day for, they aren`t very productive and they won`t have to worry about being in that office too long. Challenges arise but virtually none of the concepts are difficult, most problems can be foreseen and eliminated before they become major show stoppers. Penny wise and pound foolish or "doesn`t know when to come in out of the rain" are two phrases that come to mind for people who face huge struggles and lack of production on a regular basis.

Maineloggerkid · « **Reply #80 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:54:13 am »

I don't have problems like this on a regular basis, just everynow and then something goofs up. But I guess if you really work, something is bound to happen sometime.

News:

Author Topic: Got a skidder! (Read 5009 times)