swamp cutting

treefarmer87 · December 10, 2010, 05:56:32 PM

i just got off the phone with a man who wants to start another crew. he needs a tracked cutter man. anyone ever run a tracked feller in swamps? any tips or info will be really helpful.

Buck · December 10, 2010, 11:32:09 PM

Excavators yes fellers no but use your common sense. Keep a mat ahead of you to keep it above ground. Research shovel logging.

jim king · December 11, 2010, 03:32:23 AM

Here we consider swamps out of the question as high ground can turn into a swamp in minetes and the belly of the skidder is dragging. I hope you post photos when you get going, I have never seen a tracked skidder.

northwoods1 · December 11, 2010, 08:30:43 AM

Jim I have seen tracked skidders before there is usually one of these FMC units sitting around at one of the local equipment dealers. I found this you tube video of one at work, wow it is nothing like I have ever done or seen

he must be working the river bottoms right near the Mississippi. Looks like he could skid a lot with that thing w/ the dual acting arch he can really get the ## forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsW7pRq38MQ&feature=related

treefarmer87 · December 11, 2010, 10:04:50 AM

ill make sure to post photos if the guy starts another crew. those FMCs are expensive

pineywoods · December 11, 2010, 11:26:01 PM

Back in the early 50's there was a local company that made a set of boggie wheels and metal tracks that bolted on a standard ford farm tractor.. They wouldn't pull the load that beast would, only 40 hp. But they would go places where a man couldn't walk and pull 1 or 2 logs along with them. Lots of places like the video here in the deep south.

tyb525 · December 11, 2010, 11:28:58 PM

Gotta look at those spiral drive thingamajigs too!

isawlogs · December 11, 2010, 11:34:50 PM

Quote from: pineywoods on December 11, 2010, 11:26:01 PM
Back in the early 50's there was a local company that made a set of boggie wheels and metal tracks that bolted on a standard ford farm tractor.. They wouldn't pull the load that beast would, only 40 hp. But they would go places where a man couldn't walk and pull 1 or 2 logs along with them. Lots of places like the video here in the deep south.

They where also made for the Ferguson tractor back then, my dad had them on in 1954-55 for winter hauling across the lakes, they had ordered a canvas cab for the tractor at the same time , the cab arrived in the spring :

Dad said he would put the tractor in first gear going across the lakes and jump off and run along side of it to stay warm. I will try and find the pics of that winter when I gete back to my dads.