another boom pole attachment

[wvhillbilly]

Here is an attachment that I built that I am pretty proud of. Sort of a catch all implement, It serves as both boom pole, receiver, log skidder and anything else I can think of. I do not have a welder so the whole thing is bolted together with 1/2 inch grade 8 bolts. Should hold together pretty well. The frame is made from an old weight bench I had that happened to be made out of 2 inch square tubing. With a few dollars spent at TSC and the local scrap yard and some junk metal I had laying around, the whole thing cost less than 75 dollars. So what do y'all think??

 

[wvhillbilly]

Another view. The addition of a set of skidding tongs and I have a Log skidder that does a pretty darn good job.

 

[wvhillbilly]

and when I have to move my trailer around......

 

[KiotiJohn]

Hey that looks great. Are there different lengths that you're putting into a receiver? The first pic looks really long and the second really short. If possible, you may want to put a hook in the middle of the long pole for those times that the distance causes you to lose too much lift, but otherwise, it's a great job and appears to be a great tool. John

 

[wvhillbilly]

they are actually two different pieces of tubing. In the first picture, the tube is 6 feet long. I had thought about putting a hook in the middle. I just need to take it to a welding shop to have it done. (since I do not weld YET).
Dave

 

[DaveNay]

Hey...nice looking rig there! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I just noticed where you are from too. Where abouts around Grafton? My dad, uncle and Grandma live around there. They are out on Rt 50, west of 50 & 251. They are accross the road from the "White Front" bar. My dads wife has a dog grooming business called the "Taj-Ma-Paws".

It's a small world! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dave

 

[Slamfire]

Looks better'n the one I built, my log tongs hung on a beam that was an extention of the top link, and tended to lift the front end of the tractor. Your's takes advantage of the 3-points ability to push the front end of the tractor down. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jdmar]

Nice job...very useful and all without changing the three-point!!

Now if you could just add a coffee cup holder, a radio, and a hook for an extra pair of gloves.....hmmm the possibilities

great job!

Peter

 

[wvhillbilly]

Dave Nay,
It is a small world!! It gets even smaller because the White Front Tavern is about 4 miles from my house. I live just a piece out RT 250 away from the 50/250 intersection. I have never been to Taj-Ma-Paws but I have heard of it. Next time you are in for a visit we'll hook up and have a beer at the tavern.
Dave

 

[DaveNay]

Dave,

Well, that means you are "behind" my dads property (they are on the north side of the road). I have probably wandered over pretty close to you during dear season....lol /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Looking at the map, that puts you near McGee I think. I have seen lots of nice houses up that way on the way up to Fairmont to hit the Sams Club.

Have you/your family been in the area for long? My Dad and uncles all gre up on that farm, so you might know the family.


Dave

 

[Yankee]

Hmmm - where does the weight fall on this design - is it at the lift pins, or where the pole attaches at the top, with the pins as a pivot point? In other words, does this design create any kind of backwards roll-over hazard? A conventional boom pole clearly puts the weight on the pins only.

Bill

 

[wvhillbilly]

DaveNay,
You are right on the money.. I live between McGee and the Taylor county line. To be exact, I live 1 mile past the county line...In Taylor County. Yes.. Lived here all my life. I actually bought the property 2 doors down from my parent's house. Fancher's old property. I actually bought it off your parent's neighbor.... Camilla Gawthrop. She was the administrator of Fancher's estate.
Dave

 

[wvhillbilly]

Yankee,
on a "store bought"boom pole, you still have the brace that attaches to the top link. I do not see how this design would be that much different in a safety aspect. On a purchased boom pole, the boom extends out - up high...Near the top link. It is still pivoting on the lift pins. The only disadvantage that I can see to the one I built is the fact that I can not get as high of a lift from the center of the boom. For my applications it seems to be working well. To help out the roll-over pucker factor, I have about 225 pounds on the front bumper. That sure makes me feel better climbing up and down these West Virginia hills /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Dave

 

[jtcweb]

Where did you get that frame you are attaching things to?

 

[wvhillbilly]

It was the head piece of an old weight bench. Luckily the spacing (width)was just right for a category 1 lift.
Dave

 

[EddieWalker]

I've seen the skidding tongs in the Northern Tool catalog and thought about buying them, but wasn't sure how well they work.

How are they working for you?

I ususally loop a chain over the log, drag it, unhook the chain and push the log into the burn pile.

Can you hook up to a log without getting off the tractor?

Can you unhook from the log without getting off the tractor?

How well do they hold onto the log?

Thanks,
Your boom pole looks great!

Eddie

 

[wvhillbilly]

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately, I have to get off the tractor to attach it. Other than that it works great. Just the other day I skidded a 15 foot locust tree pole that was close 18-20 inches in diameter. The tongs grabbed the pole at "10 0'clock" and "2 0'clock". Picked it up and drug it around like a rag doll.
Dave