Buzz asks: How to build a skidder?

theonlybull · October 31, 2004, 04:07:58 PM

i don't have any pics buzz, but i'll see if i can grab some tomorrow at work.

basically, a rule of thumb is, 1 gallon of flow, for 1 hp. now you'll have to save some for your other cylinders, and you'll only get half the flow for each axle. you'll have to size your pump to your engine, and your motor's to your pump. don't forget to alow a little for loss, hyd, is rather inefficent.

i'm no hyd expert, but i'll give ya what i can.

KENROD · November 01, 2004, 02:02:03 PM

I'm new around here, but here's my two cents whorth. Find a farm machinery junk jard and ask if they have a hydo. pump off a combine that is the right size 'still working good of course'. Most combines are hydrostatic drive. Better yet, find an old 4X4 combine and retrofit. It won't be articulating, but they can turn in there own tracks. ;D

Buzz-sawyer · November 01, 2004, 02:19:50 PM

hey KENROD
I would like to find on at an auction sale and glean the diesel engine and hydraulic pump of it......anyone know if they (OLDER) (cheap and abundant at farm sales)
1) put out anyting like 25 gpm?
2) are directly hooked to hydro pump
they have hyd steering, and I bet other hyd functions........

Buzz-sawyer · November 05, 2004, 08:23:54 AM

Another home build...........

ScottAR · November 05, 2004, 08:42:55 AM

Lord help the operator if the cable ever breaks....

Murf · November 05, 2004, 12:06:11 PM

Scott, me thinks it would be more like.......

Operator, meet Lord, Lord, meet Operator.

SwampDonkey · November 05, 2004, 01:01:46 PM

Just get an old tree farmer for $1500 and be done with it. ;) I'de like to see your 'beast' in operation, I think it would be fun to tinker at that stuff weather it works or not. This thread is interesting.

By the way Buzz, don't ask me to sit in that home made skidder when winch'n your 40 inch oak logs. I'll watch from a safe distance. ;) Look out rock piles, ditches and gullies, here I come. :D :D

Reminds me of the old timer my grandfather talked about that haywired everything together as fast as grandfather broke it up over ledge knols and rock outcrops. Some folks get themselves into aweful scrapes. :D

Buzz-sawyer · November 11, 2004, 03:29:53 PM

Hey farmers and junk lovers.....I need a bit of info on combines it has been suggested to me several times to consider using combine hydrostatic drives...would it be suitable to use two of them to build my machine, if so what size brand would work ???

J_T · November 11, 2004, 04:11:35 PM

Hey Buzz I think most those bull gear units were made by a couple Co just need to make the ratio of front and rear the same As in differnt size tires on front as on rear.If nessary 8)

Sawyerfortyish · November 14, 2004, 05:48:59 AM

Hey Buzz do you just like building stuff out of your junk pile or what ? By the time you get all the parts put in all the time to build it you will have more in it than you could buy a old used one for. I bought an old 230 Timberjack 15 yrs ago for 8000$ and am still using it a lot. But if you want to tinker around I would try to get plantariy rears from a army truck or front end loader. That will gear you down for power. As for hydraulic power my timberjack has a small pump to work one steering cylinder the two cylinders on the blade and the winch. A big pump is not needed.

Buzz-sawyer · November 15, 2004, 11:05:58 AM

I do enjoy building, and engineering things, and sometimes they even work, and make me money (MY circle mill)
I also enjoy building on a budget, I make DanG look like a high roller... :D :D
I will invest no more than $1000 in this project if I use hydr. drive, :P
otherwise I might spend couple of hundred for rods, and bolts etc. I have ALL I need to build it direct drive for essentially free..

thats kind a the goal...use what ya got to build something cool and useful

Fla._Deadheader · November 15, 2004, 11:55:10 AM

I say, quit foolin around and just GO FOR IT 8) ;)

mhasel · November 15, 2004, 04:13:41 PM

Buzz,

Check out this site and order up a subscription it is well worth the money and you will get plenty of ideas.

http://www.farmshow.com/

Also check out http://www.surpluscenter.com they have a welth of charts and formulas to help you figure everything out or at least come close:)

Good luck and I hope to see the finsished project!!

Mike

woodbowl · February 20, 2007, 10:45:46 PM

OK Buzz, what's the story on yer skidder? It ort ta be finished by now. :

leweee · February 20, 2007, 11:09:39 PM

Buzz....found you a parts source.....check out this thread. ;D
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=24108.0

Coon · February 21, 2007, 11:23:35 AM

Hey there buzz,

Go look in my gallery. There is a hydraulic system off a Massey Ferguson 410 Combine in there. This is the pump I will be using on Critter. Those combines are hydrostatic and have sizeable enough pumps for your needs. If you get one off a combine you should be able to get the resevoir, pump, and 3 bank contorl valve set up at a decent price. You would definately need a larger resevoir that what I have got but you could use the filter and line setup's on your own tank. The control valves are currently set up as 2- 1way and 1-2way but there is the option of changing over one of the oneway circuits via a plug. If you want more info let me know as these systems are as common as flies on a gut pile in the summertime, around here. :D

KGNC · February 21, 2007, 05:02:38 PM

Buzz, If you want to do this but don't want to spring for the variable displacement pump you might consider this set:
Have one set of wheels direct drive through a transmission or what every you have laying around. Have a hydraulic pump on the output of the transmission, between the transmission and the rearend. This pump will will drive the motor on the other wheels. As the speed of the direct drive wheels increase the pump will run faster and drive the other wheels faster. Of course you will need to make sure that you are pumping enough flow so you are not just dragging the hydraulic wheels. You will need to use a larger displacement pump since it will be turning slower or gear up the speed of a smaller pump.
You will want a 2nd pump on the engine for steering and your winch.

Buzz-sawyer · February 23, 2007, 02:56:09 PM

Quote from: leweee on February 20, 2007, 11:09:39 PM
Buzz....found you a parts source.....check out this thread. ;D
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=24108.0

Sadly, I have been to spitting distance of the holy land you speak off....but was only able to get a look at Dangs portable solar kiln....... :'( :'( :'( :'(

woodbowl · February 23, 2007, 08:36:34 PM

OK ........ now what about that skidder yer building? 8)

Corley5 · February 23, 2007, 09:55:09 PM

Did I mention the piles of Rockwell top loader axles at Hooties and the winches of all sizes and the engines of all sizes and the.... ;) ;D ;D

woodbowl · February 23, 2007, 10:12:25 PM

I know how it is with stalled projects and all, I've got a hunderd of em. :-\

Look at what this guy is doing. He's building a homemade, 4WD, hydraulically driven, articulating tractor. He's gooood! http://www.weekendfreedommachines.org/discus/messages/17/63457.html?1110213280

twobears · February 24, 2007, 09:35:30 PM

your not kidding that young man did a heck of a job building it...i just found that tractor and i can,t stop thinking about it or reading about it .i can see a bigger tractor like that with a winch on the back in my future, ;D

delbert

Swede · February 25, 2007, 11:31:38 AM

I´ve been looking at a rear end from a 6x6 truck from the army to build a logging trailer. Think it would work good after a tractor with what we call "halvband". The trailer also needs "halvband" and a knuckleboom with grapple. I just need some time to take this out of my head and into the woods ;D

http://user.tninet.se/~irs543h/volvobm/400band.html
http://user.tninet.se/~irs543h/volvobm/bandare.html
http://www.fergusonklubben.se/abild40.html

The first "Halvband" was made 1952 at ÖSA, Österbergs Fabriks AB in Alfta. First out was an old truck, the owner forsed the veihcle up to 80 km/h! The first tractor to get Halvband was a Bolinder Munktell BM-10 and after that they were put on a lot of other brands, Oliver, Deutz, Ferguson. 20 set of halvband was also sent to Canada for mounting on Oliver tractors.

http://home.swipnet.se/Halvbandet/Skogsbrukets%20mekanisering/osa/osa.htm
http://home.swipnet.se/Halvbandet/Skogsbrukets%20mekanisering/osa/negercykel1.htm
http://home.swipnet.se/Halvbandet/Skogsbrukets%20mekanisering/osa/bamse/bmb_230_bamse.htm
http://home.swipnet.se/Halvbandet/Skogsbrukets%20mekanisering/osa/osa260/osa_260_skotare.htm

Swede

sprucebunny · February 25, 2007, 07:29:47 PM

Great links, Swede !!!! Thanks

isawlogs · February 25, 2007, 08:37:41 PM

Swede , my dad bought a set of those halftracks , not really sure if it was from this compagnie or not ... way back in the fall of '54 or '55 . They where put on a Massey 2085 , just like the one on one of your links. Dads did have headlights though ...
We still have that tractor at home , I dont think that there is one kid that came to the farm that did not learn to drive on that tractor ....

Thanks for the link ... I sent my dad a copie ... I am sure he will go look at that some ...

It will bring some memories back ... he hauled pin with that tractor a whole winter across a lake ... Coldess winter he ever remembers ever having ...So cold he sometimes put the tractor in first gear .. pull the manual throdle .. and jumped off and ran beside the tractor to warm up . He had ordered the cab at the same time ... it arrived in the spring ... after he had finished hauling the wood .