jeff9366
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 12,377
- Tractor
- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
I have a cross drawbar stabilizer, called by OMNI Manufacturing a Combination Hitch. I have been pleased with it. Heavy duty but not totally ridiculous on my Kubota B3300SU / 33-hp. I recently purchased OMNI's "Grabhook Hanging Tree" modular attachment for their cross drawbar stabilizers. I have been skidding quite a few logs out of the woods with improvised tools and decided I was going to hurt myself eventually if I did not buy dedicated equipment....hence the "Grabhook Hanging Tree" attachment.
http://omni-mfg.com/OMNI-Grabhook-Hanging-Tree--P1924403.aspx
OMNI's web pages are pretty good but the page for the Hanging Tree is weak, in my opinion; hence this post. The four factory holes, as of May 2012, are 1" in diameter. The Hanging Tree (HT) is made to carry a Speeco Drawbar Grabhook, which I own and use for many drawbar-and-chain towing chores. However, the HT holes are 1" while the Speeco pin is 3/4". With the Grabhook mounted vertically on the HT I did not like the loose fit. So I eliminated the factory pin and bolted the Speeco Grabhook with a Grade 8, 3/4" X 2" bolt, washer, lock washer and nut. Now the assembly is secure. It would be better if OMNI made two of the four holes 7/8" rather than 1".
I also wanted a 5/16" grab hook on the HT. My default chain size is 5/16" X 10', though I keep a 9' length of 3/8" chain and a 8' length of 1/4 chain on the tractor. The 1/4" chain will grab in the 5/16" hook but not in the larger Speeco Grabhook. Also, infrequently, I skid two logs at once and a second hook is safer for a second log. So I drilled a 31/64" hole lower on the HT which fit the clevis pin on a Koch Industries chinese forged 5/16" clevis grab hook snugly. (( OMNI uses quality 1/4" steel for the HT plate. It was a BEAR drilling the pilot and finish holes. )) It would be nice if OMNI provided this hole for direct mounting of a 5/16" clevis grab hook; it would be nice if OMNI also provided a smaller hole for direct mounting of a 1/4" clevis grab hook. There is lots of room on the HT plate.
You will notice in the photos there is no log-plate lower down to prevent logs from running under the tractor when moving down a steep slope or cresting a ridge.....I live in Florida in an area that is perfectly flat so this is not necessary.
Often I can run a chain and slip hook under a log, then tighten up on the slip hook and secure the opposite end to the HT, lift the 3-Pt .....and away.
If the log is larger I lift it with the Front End Loader (FEL), set the log down on a chunk of wood, climb down and swing the chain and slip hook under, tighten up on the slip hook, remount, then reverse the tractor up to the log on the block and secure the opposite end of the chain to the HT and lift the 3Pt. <<<NEVER PUT YOUR ARM UNDER A LOG LIFTED BY THE FEL OR RESTING ON A BLOCK. Swing the chain under or push the chain out the other side with a stick.>>> A large log resting on a block can be lifted the height of the block higher by the HT/3-Pt., which can be helpful.
The point of this exercise is to prevent the front of a towed log hitting an obstruction on the ground. If your towed log hits an obstruction the tractor engine and your large rear wheels will drive the tractor VERTICAL, front wheels pawing the air, in a heartbeat and you are in BIG TROUBLE. Using the HT your skidding logs are held 10"-20" off the ground in front.
See attached photos.
http://omni-mfg.com/OMNI-Grabhook-Hanging-Tree--P1924403.aspx
OMNI's web pages are pretty good but the page for the Hanging Tree is weak, in my opinion; hence this post. The four factory holes, as of May 2012, are 1" in diameter. The Hanging Tree (HT) is made to carry a Speeco Drawbar Grabhook, which I own and use for many drawbar-and-chain towing chores. However, the HT holes are 1" while the Speeco pin is 3/4". With the Grabhook mounted vertically on the HT I did not like the loose fit. So I eliminated the factory pin and bolted the Speeco Grabhook with a Grade 8, 3/4" X 2" bolt, washer, lock washer and nut. Now the assembly is secure. It would be better if OMNI made two of the four holes 7/8" rather than 1".
I also wanted a 5/16" grab hook on the HT. My default chain size is 5/16" X 10', though I keep a 9' length of 3/8" chain and a 8' length of 1/4 chain on the tractor. The 1/4" chain will grab in the 5/16" hook but not in the larger Speeco Grabhook. Also, infrequently, I skid two logs at once and a second hook is safer for a second log. So I drilled a 31/64" hole lower on the HT which fit the clevis pin on a Koch Industries chinese forged 5/16" clevis grab hook snugly. (( OMNI uses quality 1/4" steel for the HT plate. It was a BEAR drilling the pilot and finish holes. )) It would be nice if OMNI provided this hole for direct mounting of a 5/16" clevis grab hook; it would be nice if OMNI also provided a smaller hole for direct mounting of a 1/4" clevis grab hook. There is lots of room on the HT plate.
You will notice in the photos there is no log-plate lower down to prevent logs from running under the tractor when moving down a steep slope or cresting a ridge.....I live in Florida in an area that is perfectly flat so this is not necessary.
Often I can run a chain and slip hook under a log, then tighten up on the slip hook and secure the opposite end to the HT, lift the 3-Pt .....and away.
If the log is larger I lift it with the Front End Loader (FEL), set the log down on a chunk of wood, climb down and swing the chain and slip hook under, tighten up on the slip hook, remount, then reverse the tractor up to the log on the block and secure the opposite end of the chain to the HT and lift the 3Pt. <<<NEVER PUT YOUR ARM UNDER A LOG LIFTED BY THE FEL OR RESTING ON A BLOCK. Swing the chain under or push the chain out the other side with a stick.>>> A large log resting on a block can be lifted the height of the block higher by the HT/3-Pt., which can be helpful.
The point of this exercise is to prevent the front of a towed log hitting an obstruction on the ground. If your towed log hits an obstruction the tractor engine and your large rear wheels will drive the tractor VERTICAL, front wheels pawing the air, in a heartbeat and you are in BIG TROUBLE. Using the HT your skidding logs are held 10"-20" off the ground in front.
See attached photos.
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