International S9b Skidder

acco1840 · June 06, 2011, 04:25:11 AM

Am looking at an IH S9B skidder that a mate has for sale. Only ever used for a weekend firewood machine, It is for sale. It has a Gearmatic winch (yuck), Turbo 6 cylinder IH diesel, original shiny paint and decals, new tyres and 2 spares and had had a fair bit of work on the motor. He's asking $10000 Australian, and I'm not sure, as I'm a Caterpillar fan (Started on a 1979 518 cable at 13) and there is a rough 518 for $12000. What do you think?

Wombat · June 25, 2011, 09:30:32 AM

G'day acco. I bought an S-9B six months ago out of Victoria, in average but well maintained condition, except for the winch (yeah, yuck). With some winch modifications including conversion to hydraulic drive and a few patched up cracks it's been working lightly for a couple of weeks. Still sorting minor things out but very happy with the work capacity and fuel consumption. My main concern is spare parts, so far so good. Most winch and engine parts are available, transmission and axles apparently common to Hough H65 loaders. I have parts manuals but not the exact model service manual. Any info or tips to keep the old girl going would be much appreciated. I shelled out nearly $14000 + freight, with 40% rubber so to me $10000 sounds good buying, especially with that inside knowledge of its history.

lumberjack48 · June 26, 2011, 03:29:12 PM

I bought a new S8 in 79, it had the turbo 6, it burned 30 to 40 gals of fuel a day, she was a thirsty one.
The Funk auto is a good tran, but you can have a lot of linkage problems with them, if shift lever is on dash panel.

The Gearmatic 119 or 20 are good winches, worked with one 30yrs.

A good C5-D would be twice the skidder for up keep and operation cost, used both side by side for 30 yrs.

My thoughts

acco1840 · June 26, 2011, 11:23:35 PM

Thanks for your input. Wombat: what size tyres is yours running? this one has 18.4 x 28's. And I have been told that the S9A had a Carco hydraulic controled winch. Maybe this would be a beeter option than the gearmatic.

Wombat · June 27, 2011, 01:57:01 AM

I've got 23.1 X 26ers. Pretty good traction with 40% lug. I'm doing more stick rake work than snigging so I can put up with my slow winch setup, plenty of power just slow. I've resurrected the winch brake, pretty simple, but the clutch was beyond it so I locked it up to the spool and drive the winch with a 250 cc hydraulic motor. Preston Parts on the Gold Coast import Gearmatic Parts. I'm chasing a copy of the S-9B service manual and am happy to pay for purchase or copying costs. I have the S-9A service manual with Carco winch section if it's any use. I'd be happy to talk to other S-9B owners. We might be able to get each other out of trouble in the future.
Cheers.

acco1840 · June 28, 2011, 05:17:32 AM

I have the same problem mate!! Got the S9A book, No B sadly. Will definatly keep in contact.

Doppelganger · June 29, 2011, 04:22:48 AM

the gearmatic winch can be modified easy. this will restore the pulling performance to like new if not better.

If rest of mechanicals look OK looks good for the price.

acco1840 · June 29, 2011, 04:44:46 AM

Quote from: Doppelganger on June 29, 2011, 04:22:48 AM
the gearmatic winch can be modified easy. this will restore the pulling performance to like new if not better.

If rest of mechanicals look OK looks good for the price.

sounds good to me mate. how?

Doppelganger · July 06, 2011, 04:38:51 AM

Hi.

Your winch should have a mechanical clutch.

The clutch will have a primary and secondary clutch. This is two separate bands were the primary band gives more pressure on the secondary to give the driving force.

There is a pin and bush system that wears and this stops the pressure to make the drive.

Due to the long ago modification 20 + years I cant remember if there is a outer bush as well as an inner.

Due to the pin and bush wearing what we did was to take the slack out of the bush. Just built up the bush so the pin was a good fit. One needs to look were the greatest wear has occurred and remove that wear.

I think this is called restoring the winch, may be not what some would say is rough and crude, but getting this done just prolong a need to make great modification.

If I can get a photo of the clutch pin part may be able to give more directions to get it right. Its ome thing doing this it different trying to explane it.