Got a little carried away...

[IH782]

We took down a 2nd growth Red Oak and, me being me, wanted the longest lengths possible. Well, as I was lowering the biggest log (second from the back) in the picture it got stuck in the grapple and rolled forward about a foot. I heard a loud pop, it came from where the loader arms mount to the posts. Other than the sound I cant find anything wrong, loader is still level. Anyone else ever had this happen? From the log weight chart it weights about 5,200 lbs. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

 

[Sysop]

I personally would drop the loader off for a full inspection of the main uprights, especially the 'saddles' the pins rest on. Look for tiny stress cracks and fractures. Look down the main beams at all the welds to the subframe. Inspect around all of the bolts mounting the subframe to the tractor (good time to also put a 4' pipe on a breaker bar and put some torque on all the loader mounting bolts).

It is also entirely possible the noise sourced from farther up on the loader and with all of the weight out front, the noise simply sounded farther back at the main pivot/joint.

 

[RNeumann]

Could be anything.....my SWAG is the loader frame and engine mount bolts are known to need retorqued at 50 hours. I've seen several posts reminding folks to check those after finding one or more lose. That could/would cause a pop sound.

PUT YOUR ROPS BACK ON ;^)

 

[Musdalen]

5200#! Dang, that's a big one. I would have guessed more like 2k. HOw long was it? How many horses is that tractor and what is the loader rated for?

 

[aarolar]

Methinks that don't weight 5200 lbs considering your tractor managed to get it off the ground.

For example a 7' long log 2' in diameter weighs 1400lbs at 64 lbs per cubic foot which is what red oak is supposed to be wet.

 

[Code54]

I would also start checking everything, including bolts. Also check the front axle, and every mounting point.
I also doubt that is 5200lbs - that loader is strong but not that strong - have to figure in the weight of the grapple as well as it being out from the pivot point. Which is a good thing as it should not have hurt anything. Sometime you do get a weird noise or pop on Eqpt and never really know what causes it.

 

[IH782]

Loader is rated at 3400 lbs. for some reason this machine is a Pit Bull when it comes to lifting. That was as high as I could lift it in that picture.

Log was 11'
40" at big end 36" at small so averaged at 38"
Sherrill Tree log weight chart says around 475 lbs, per foot, for Red Oak at that diameter, multiplied by the length, comes to 5225 lbs. could it be lighter, absolutely.

Tractor is a 2555, 55hp Mahindra, rears filled.


This was a Live Oak around 3800 lbs.

 

[IH782]

Could be anything.....my SWAG is the loader frame and engine mount bolts are known to need retorqued at 50 hours. I've seen several posts reminding folks to check those after finding one or more lose. That could/would cause a pop sound.

PUT YOUR ROPS BACK ON ;^)

Thanks for the tip. I try to keep the ROPS on as much as possible.

 

[Code54]

If you are able to lift almost 2000lbs over your rating please check the hydro pressure and the relief. Something is WAY off and that will cause serious damage (and a safety hazard). Something is going to give with that much weight over rated capacity.
Cool photo however!!

 

[IH782]

If you are able to lift almost 2000lbs over your rating please check the hydro pressure and the relief. Something is WAY off and that will cause serious damage (and a safety hazard). Something is going to give with that much weight over rated capacity.
Cool photo however!!

I have been meaning to, it lifts a little to well. Thanks

 

[SandburRanch]

Some charts show red oak weighing about 60lbs./cu.ft. at 70 percent moisture.

 

[IH782]

Some charts show red oak weighing about 60lbs./cu.ft. at 70 percent moisture.

Their are many variables with weight charts, they were invented to keep OSHA happy. Like I said, it could have be much lighter. Even at 60lbs it comes in at 4,665lbs.

 

[4570Man]

Water weighs 62 pounds per cubic foot and wood floats.

 

[MossRoad]

Loader is rated at 3400 lbs. for some reason this machine is a Pit Bull when it comes to lifting. That was as high as I could lift it in that picture.

Log was 11'
40" at big end 36" at small so averaged at 38"
Sherrill Tree log weight chart says around 475 lbs, per foot, for Red Oak at that diameter, multiplied by the length, comes to 5225 lbs. could it be lighter, absolutely.

Tractor is a 2555, 55hp Mahindra, rears filled.

View attachment 500094
This was a Live Oak around 3800 lbs.

According to this calculator at woodweb, its 7600+ pounds.
Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

 

[Looking4new]

Water weighs 62 pounds per cubic foot and wood floats.

I think you missed a decimal point there. 6.2 lbs/cubic foot.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I think you missed a decimal point there. 6.2 lbs/cubic foot.

Nope. 62.4 #/ft3 for water. A totally fresh, wet log may float (some don't), but (for oak) isn't very much lower density than water...maybe 58 to 60 or so #/ft3.

 

[4570Man]

I think you missed a decimal point there. 6.2 lbs/cubic foot.

Nope. It's 62.4 pounds and I left off the .4 because I figured it's more of a appropriate number.

 

[CobyRupert]

Their are many variables with weight charts, they were invented to keep OSHA happy. Like I said, it could have be much lighter. Even at 60lbs it comes in at 4,665lbs.

At 36" (avg) diameter = 4665 lbs.
At 38" (avg) diameter = 5198 lbs
(when using 60 lbs/cu.ft.)

 

[CobyRupert]

Hope the "pop" was nothing.

Seeing how thread is already a bit distracted on wood density and log weights, may I also ask OP, what is the value ($) of a log like that is? As a log, and as rough cut lumber? I turned a nice oak into fire wood (many, many of those logs. I still feel guilty, but I don't think I lost too much money, compared to the time and hassle to sell one tree as logs, or get it cut up into lumber, and finding substitute for the firewood.

 

[RNeumann]

When I did the weight calculator from MossRoad above I got a number less than water. To be blunt- if you are getting a weight higher than the weight of water you will need to verify your source and or math.
If the dimensions are correct and the calculator is close the log was at or near the max the loader is designed to lift- which makes sense right? In order to lift near double the FEL capacity as some charts or math have suggested you would need near double the hydraulic pressure or bigger cylinders or different geometry- right?
I'm enjoying the discussion and honestly had no idea they had log weight charts- so I'm learning too. Good luck finding the pop sound.