ol Doll in for annual physical

[treefarmer87]

stephen, what kind of motor is in your C5. im am looking at a newer model C5 like yours, and am thinking about buying it

[Stephen Alford]

 Hey Treefarmer, the ol Doll has a Detroit 353. Did you notice how after spending so much time next to the woodstove this winter she looked just a tad more like a John Deer when she came out, maybe its just my imagination.  
  Spent the day turning the winter snow bumper blade into a spring mud bumper rake.  What do you think ?  

[treefarmer87]

yea, that is a nice skidder, good looking setup on the tractor too

[snowstorm]

Hey Treefarmer, the ol Doll has a Detroit 353. Did you notice how after spending so much time next to the woodstove this winter she looked just a tad more like a John Deer when she came out, maybe its just my imagination.  
  Spent the day turning the winter snow bumper blade into a spring mud bumper rake.  What do you think ?  

(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

  that it would work better on the back. put a set of wheels on it back about 2' that you can adjust up down mount it to the 3pt hitich. the wheels ride on the ground thats already been graded. i reworked a york rake set the wheel back 2' works very well

[treefarmer87]

I got a 3 pt yoke rake for my JD, they are  handy

[Stephen Alford]

   Hey Aerojay considering the temperatures in your area I should think more than the smurfs are blue.  
  
   Treefarmer 87 considering your tenacity I have no doubt you will find what you want. Your experience with the treefarmer will make decisions easier down the road for sure.  

  Snowstorm thanks for taking an interest.  I had been looking at smaller excavators when I picked that rake up. Had considered a quick attachment  for the landscaping I was doing at the time.
   It is held to the bumper with a pin so I can take it on and off easily. It turns left and right and will swing under the bumper. The bumper was was to save time and fuel when ploughing. The scraper blade on the back is used for ploughing the heavier pass and the bumper blade allows snow to be moved in both directions. Because of the firewood shear I built there are usually chunks of wood around which are hard on a blower. The bumper is for  backdraging the road and landing.  When I go to a site I usually load the scraperblade, grapple and shaper on the log trailer which is hitched to the 3pt hitch . I am hoping the rake will help to tidy up where the wood was piled and for site cleanup around new construction where you want to get close to the structure. The digger teeth are for "extra stop".  I must admit it is a work in progress but so far the cost has been a chop saw blade and some gas.  

[ga jones]

hey treefarmer Ijust did the center pins in mine its the same setup as yours .Its very easy.Knock the pins out And there will be A bearing in there.Knock that out. You may have to build up the flange Just weld on big washers .Davco has the pins and bearings in stock.

[treefarmer87]

i need a new steering/blade valve/spool, mine has a crack and is leaking . im going to pick up a 80's model C5 within the month. i has a new 3 cyl deutz, Can-Car rears and axles, gearmatic winch, i also found another c5 for $1500 with 3 brand new tires, a can-car 20 winch,and deutz motor. it still runs too but needs work, and hasn't  been run since last summer.

this is the one with the new 3 cyl

[ga jones]

I need 2 8 lug wheels 18.4x34 or 4 tires and wheels 16.9x30 or 18.4x26. Davco can help you with that valve.

[treefarmer87]

i went to see a local mechanic today about the valve, and he gave me a brand new one

[Stephen Alford]

     Well ga 18.4 34's are getting harder to find here too. Good luck with the hunt.

     Treefarmer , I hear those are good engines not sure if they still make them. Da boys tell me a pressure washer will keep them runnin a long time.

     The ol doll is back were she belongs, just wanted to share a look back and a look ahead.  Be safe !!  

[redlaker1]

yep deutz still makes that same engine,  nothing has changed with them either.

where I work we run a huge fleet of deutz powered underground equipment,   and they run em screamin hot and full throttle all day long. and they last so long its crazy
for sure you want to keep them clean and make sure the fins arnt clogged up,  you just take the shroud off the side and blow them out with a air gun or a pressure washer.
the other thing to keep an eye on is the belt for the cooling fan,  make sure its in good shape and replace it if its looking ratty.   all the ones we run have an electric belt shutdown on the tensioner in case you blow a belt.

a deutz will serve you well   they are really tough,   and burn surprisingly clean for a mechanical fuel system.     which is another nice thing,  no electronics to screw up.    the engine in that machine probably even has a mechanical shutdown.

and as a plus I think the 3 cylinder sounds good too,  maybe even better than the big V8s

[treefarmer87]

better on fuel

i have three choices, they are all franklin/treefarmer

Franklin 170

 http://www.tylosales.com/index.php?/FORESTRY/69-FRANKLIN.html

Franklin 132 with floatation tires

http://www.tylosales.com/index.php?/FORESTRY/70-FRANKLIN.html

and the c5 in my earlier post. i think the c5 is my best bet though

im trying to take snowstorms advice and buy a prehauler, but im having trouble finding one and they are so far away

[Stephen Alford]

   Hey folks, thought I should mention how the digger teeth worked out,  great as a park break and helpfull for piling slash around stumps.  The ol doll did start one of her romp and stomps and they did the job but like most breaks they will require some maintenance from time to time.    I am going to try them in the middle of the blade  under the arms next.  She steers like a moose on a good day, so with the extra width unnecessary damage to residual trees can result.

 

[mad murdock]

Stephen, thought I would update you on my garrett treefarmer. I dug into the engine in late spring. Replaced all 4 pistons(3 were broken), rings, cleaned the injectors, hand lapped the valves, overhauled the f I pump.  Required the electrics, and it has been running like a dream. Starts up without ether, which was a prerequisite goal for the old girl. I won't be givin her any in the future either. That is why I had the broken pistons in the first place. As far as the winch goes, haven't tore into that yet. I am going to get that going next, and hunt me down a used set of chains at least for the front. 

[Stephen Alford]

   Hey mad murdock, thank you for the update. Thats a lot of work but now you know what you have, makes her a keeper.   I have always felt that the relationship between a logger/skidder is akin to  cowboy/horse. When you have work to do its nice to know whats under your feet.  If you have to replace the winch, I wonder how a hydraulic one would work. Spool out/spool in/freespool is a nice combo.  On the chains choice I am a big fan of the ice chains.  Out over the side of the tire allows her to climb over rather than spin on a stick of wood.  Thanks again for posting it is great to know how these projects turn out.

[mad murdock]

Thanks for the tip on the style of chains. Besides being able to work. In wetter weather, not spinning out on brush is the other reason I want to put them on. I began a thread on Igland 2 spool winchdrum, to get more feedback on my options. I like he idea of a 2nd spool that way I can high lead logs out of some tougher terrain I have here on the homeplace. I have almost a 400 ft elevation change from one end of the forty to the other, with some steep draws in a few spots as well. Plus if I ever quit the day job, I know I could make a decent go of custom logging with a setup like that. The other cool add on available is a remote control box for the winch. It would have the potential of making the old Garrett a lean mean wood-gettin' machine! ( not that it isn't that already), it would really make it a lot better I would think.

[Stephen Alford]

  Sounds like your on the right track.  A good paying job that you like has a tendancy to leave you as opposed to you leaving it.     Having a backup plan is a must with things the way they are today.  One thing that has helped me a great deal is what I call the "Mr. Beenthere survival tool " ; question everything, especially the things that improve the bottom line and cost you nothing to do so. Let me give you an example that has worked for me.  I sell firewood and work alone.  Went from an eight foot format to a twelve foot format. Used to start work at crowpiss till about 5pm.  Now start around 10am and go till 9pm. Difference was  pocket money in more than one way. Keep those pics coming your world is so different from mine.  IF you have a need to pass some time I recently added a bunch of pics to my gallery. Be safe.