Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[fruitcakesa]

Expensive way to move logs, but it for sure gets the job done.

I'm stuck, back at rotary cutting!!

SR

Just a test pull as that tree was in my way, I will be using it more seriously once I actually start logging the site and I have the Norse 450 on the Kubota where the terrain permits as this site is extremely steep and wet in spots.

 

[John_Mc]

To me there are so many variables working in the woods there is no one winch braking system that is always the best. There are times when applying the brake immediately and automatically is good or convenient but there are also times when applying the brake automatically when you when you stop pulling is the last thing you want to do. For instance just one example is when working in a thick softwood stand I will sometimes cut a tree and purposely lean it against it's neighbors not having anywhere else to put it. Then choke it as low as possible and winch the butt off the stump towards the tractor letting the top slide down the thick neighbors as it is winched out. If the top should start coming over instead of the butt pulling off the stump you better let the line go slack in a hurry and allow the top to lean back again instead of coming over towards you.

On Norse winches (which I do not own) you can select if you want the automatic pawl brake or not by moving a lever . I think that is a nice feature. Helps keep your options open.

gg

I agree, Gordon. There is no 1 best way. I was not attempting to say this is the way all of them should be. I was just attempting to explain the logic. Whatever way they are set up, an operator should think it through ahead of time. When I'm in the situation you described, Both ropes are in my hands.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just a test pull as that tree was in my way, I will be using it more seriously once I actually start logging the site and I have the Norse 450 on the Kubota where the terrain permits as this site is extremely steep and wet in spots.

Having a dozer around is VERY handy, sometimes when I'm pulling loads like this,

and I run into wet or muddy spots, I use my 450 to pull the loads through,

It will pull a BIG load, even in soft or wet spots no problem at all, and it doesn't cut my roads up like wheels do.

SR

 

[BackRoad]

Quick story: Mentioned to my BIL, who has an auction addiction, that I was looking for a 100' cable to add to my chains to extend pulling logs out of the woods, (old school style, tractor without a logging winch).

He won on a lot of (2) 100' cables from a local on-line auction last week and we went to pick them up yesterday.

They were 3/4 inch by 100' cables from a wrecker. Big enough to tow ocean liners, and heavy enough to require his Case backhoe to pick them up!

No way this 65 year old could ever drag one back into the woods. It weighs more than the logs I pull out...

His comment - "It was a good deal, I only paid 30 bucks for 'em!"

...//Terry

 

[Jstpssng]

Quick story: Mentioned to my BIL, who has an auction addiction, that I was looking for a 100' cable to add to my chains to extend pulling logs out of the woods, (old school style, tractor without a logging winch).

He won on a lot of (2) 100' cables from a local on-line auction last week and we went to pick them up yesterday.

They were 3/4 inch by 100' cables from a wrecker. Big enough to tow ocean liners, and heavy enough to require his Case backhoe to pick them up!

No way this 65 year old could ever drag one back into the woods. It weighs more than the logs I pull out...

His comment - "It was a good deal, I only paid 30 bucks for 'em!"

...//Terry

That does seem like a good deal though...

 

[Eagle1]

Hey got a thousands of feet of 3/4" and 1" cable laying around the woods here. Only monkey with it when I need some or it is in the way. No good reason for it being there, guess either logging or mining operation many years ago. If someone wants it I have a big spool of 1 1/2" or 2" cable in my way. My BX was not the tool to move it, the new LS may do the trick if I get bored enough to try. Still flexible but heavy......

 

[Jstpssng]

Hey got a thousands of feet of 3/4" and 1" cable laying around the woods here. Only monkey with it when I need some or it is in the way. No good reason for it being there, guess either logging or mining operation many years ago. If someone wants it I have a big spool of 1 1/2" or 2" cable in my way. My BX was not the tool to move it, the new LS may do the trick if I get bored enough to try. Still flexible but heavy......

If you REALLY get bored you can cut it up into 5 foot pieces and sell it for scrap... maybe even make enough to pay for another bottle of acetylene! We have it scattered all over the woods here, also. It apparently was common practice to just take it off and leave it when replacing the cable. Often it's still attached to the tree they hooked onto when pulling it of the winch; eventually it girdles the tree.

 

[Eagle1]

Yup pretty much the same here. I figure one day I'll shuffle the big spool onto a trailer and haul it for scrap and let the big crane unload. Some of the cable is from the lead mine under my feet. I have one piece going down a 1000' hole and lots of core drilling holes. All on federal or mine property, I've got my 90 mostly cleaned up. Some of that scrap comes in handy.....

 

[Loaderman22]

I do not have a tractor skidding winch, but I do have some choker chains I made up for dragging logs. I bought a bucket of 5/16" chain online for $2.50/foot, tractor was asking $6.50/foot. Yes what I bought was likely Chinese steel but I am not using it for overhead lifting and I highly doubt I will break cheap 5/16" chain with anything I log with. If I break out the dozer, I'll make sure to use only the better chains! I also bought a four pack of the red binder hooks, four of the large slip hooks with the spring latches so they don't fall off. Locally I bought a good quality diamond cut-off blade for my grinder and made up some 8'-0" long chains, and a 10'-0" chain. The last 15'-0", (yes I know, but I figured I lost about a foot with all the links I had to cut) I kept in the bucket in case I need to add a length for that one log that's just out of reach.

 

[Jstpssng]

I kept in the bucket in case I need to add a length for that one log that's just out of reach.

And it seems like there's always one of those which is just out of reach. I have 230' of cable, which I only pull all of the way out in winter... yet still sometimes find myself wanting a bit more.