pettibone skidders

[UN Hooker]

Logman81
If that's the skidder I think it is, it originally had a "Mico" brake caliper (surplus aircraft) for the service brakes. Years ago, seals were not available to rebuild it so they were replaced (many times) with buna-n o-rings. The caliper was removed to fab a bracket to mount a automotive caliper but was never completed. The parking brake is not strong enough to hold the machine while winching.

       UN

[logman81]

 UN Hooker I'm not sure if it is the same one or were it came from but it is currently owned by the local saw mill owner Jimmy Thompson. I'm sure why the service brake doesn't work as I haven't gone to look it over yet but I was told the parking brake does work. You say the parking brake is not enough to hold the machine so it would important to get the service brakes working than. It might be a good idea to work something into the deal to get them working before I buy it brakes are a must for me. Do you know the exact machine?   

[barbender]

The Mico is device that locks the pressure to hold your hydraulic service brakes. Its just a valve. Mine doesn't work, but my service brakes still do. The way the Mico works, you would step on your brakes and then set the valve so you don't have to manually hold them while you are winching.

[jocco]

That has been done away with in trucks and equipment as a safty problem if it leaks your toast. Kind of like standing under a hydralic load and a seal pops
Timberjack had to replace them with a band type emergency brake.

[logman81]

A very sad day today, Got to the job to move my tractor out of the way to cut some trees and decided to move a log out of the way. I began to move the log and BAAM! I lost four wheel drive took a closer look and sure enough I broke either something in the diff or the axle is broke. This is the second time I have had a problem with the front end. Tractors are just not made for woods work compared to a skidder. I guess I have no choice but to go fourth with the trade and get the skidder if it is in good shape. I'm going tomorrow to go look at it and I hope it is what they say it is and not a pile of junk I'm out of business without a way to move the wood.    

[mad murdock]

Sorry to hear about your breakdown. I hope the skidder pans out well for you.

[logman81]

Thanks mad murdock I appreciate your sympathy. Hopefully something can be worked out. 

[bill m]

What brand and size tractor are you using?

[UN Hooker]

Logman81
Yes, that is the one. Many years ago, I used it to pull my firewood for several years and when it left here it was working real well. I liked running it, it would pull a good hitch!

 I know what a Mico brake lock is, I have one on my TF. At one time Mico made calipers for aircraft (they may still ) but these were surplus parts and eventually you could not find seals to repair them. On my TF I used a rotor & caliper from a Chrysler "K" car and that works real good.

  The axles on that skidder are Pettibone , the same ones used on some of their wheel loaders.
            I hope that deal works out for you.

             UN

[barbender]

Mico has a website, and it looks to me like they are still making these systems. They were never intended to be a parking brake, my machine has a separate parking brake.

[barbender]

I just looked, their site is www.mico.com. I don't know about parts, but you can buy new ones on there.

[logman81]

Thanks guys for all the info. Bill m the tractor is a dong feng made in china. It is the 354 model 38hp With loader it's a good machine as long as you don't push it to hard. UN Hooker can you tell me more about the machine? From what I know is it has a good running 4 53, Standard trans and has decent 23's instead of the usual 18.4's. If I go fourth with it I plan on giving it a good sand blasting and a new paint jobs and fixing anything that need fixing so It will be nice and reliable. It will be mostly used for doing selective wood lot thining's and firewood harvesting and some saw logs from time to time and house lots. I will try and take some pics of it. 

[jocco]

Logman going by what unhooker said if the axles are same as the wheel loader they should be plentiful and are the michigan/clark type. (they have 3 "frost plugs")  in them over the pins. There may have been different sizes or weight ratings but they were rugged never see to many broke.

[logman81]

Well guys I went and looked at the skidder, Not to bad from what I could tell couldn't test drive it because the rad isn't in it yet. It has a gearmatic 19 winch that looks dry with a good main line and slides. It's got 23.1 tires some weather checking but still have some tread left and they hold air. Standard fuller transmission, no major leaks. All the sheet metal is their and in good shape. It does have Pettibone axles and all seals are dry on them as well. One thing I thought was neat was that it had an adjustable arch. Looks like a heavy machine a lot of iron built into it not to many re welds I think I only found two. Needs a paint job but as far as I can tell the mechanic's are good.

[jocco]

Logman: i have some sources for parts for these (you can get some stuff right from bone itself) let me know if you need help or sources. Just so that you know a gearmatic if in use every day is a good winch if it has sat for years  well in can be worse than all my ex wives What model or size was the machine.

[logman81]

Thanks jocco for the help. The machine hasn't sat for to long it has been pretty well cared for. I does have some strange short pieces of plumbing pipe coming out of the right side of the winch looking at the back of the machine not sure what that's all about. I'm still not sure what model it is but it is bigger than the 501. I think it did have the ID plate still on it by the seat I will look when I go back to test drive it and let you know.     

[jocco]

The strange plumbing in the center cover is the line to the clutch cylinder.  On top of the casting is the brake line cylinder. Read some posts on here on gearmatic 9 and 19 winches and mine  and ed k on how to fix the leaking gland seal. 501 was a good machine also. Just so you know if set up right those 19 119 will pull very good.

[jocco]

Also strongly recommend you pressure was all the belly pans and eng compartments due to fire hazzard. If it has not been done in the last 20 years. That adjustable arch was common on many machines as well as tire size options.

[logman81]

I agree, actually I plan to power wash the entire machine including the belly pans, then sand blast it and give it a new paint job including the engine. I found out that dupli-color makes high temp paint that is the right color "Alpine green." I like the fact that it has the wider rubber makes it more stable and less prone to making ruts in soft ground. The place where it is at has already power washed it pretty good and they are going through it and making sure everything works as it should they won't let it leave until every thing has been gone over and working.  

[jocco]

Sounds good logman on them ensuring its working condition. In the right areas a skidder can bring 10-20 grand puzzles me to see them in other areas for south of $6 same machine. Another fire point is top of manifold on the detroit, debries used to set in there. Nothing wrong with the wide tires, skidders were speced out like a truck one in the south was configured different than one in maine etc. Also to test that winch (there should be an aluminum hande/cylinder in the cab).  Hook up to some thing very solid and see if it slips with brake on. Do the same on cluth (under heavy load) also watch out for the cable starting to wind in itself. Why i say this all the bands bearing seals could be $1500 to fix The clutch side has a bunch of cams to adjust it. happy holidays