New L5240 HST and lovely wife

[BBull]

After days of lurking around, seeking a decent used model (everyone must be keeping them -- except folks on ebay -- which I wouldn't touch), and dragging my wife to the K. dealership to "look" she gave me a great 50th bday present and said, "get the tractor." So tomorow I take delivery of a new 5240 hst, w/ the 854 FEL (with grapple fork). First real tractor and I'm totally jacked and also intimidated.

For those interested in comparing, I'm paying $26,900 plus another $1400 for the grapple. Took the 36 month 0% so nothing off for cash.

At some point I might be interested (be able to afford) a logging winch for it, but for the moment I'd like to know (simple question) how people "pull" a cable or loggin chain attached to a downed tree? IS there a tow bar you attach to the links? Or?

Thanks for all the weeks of your input I've been reading. I have much to learn.

(Thanks also to great wife without whom I'd still be window shopping and drooling!)

BBull

 

[lug nut]

Congrats on the birthday and the present.

You'll want to use the drawbar for any type of pulling.

 

[canoetrpr]

WOW!. That's an awesome setup.

 

[Toolguy]

For pulling logs, any tractor with a 3 pt hitch (3PTH) works well with a drawbar attached to the lower links. They can be bought at any TSC type store for under $25. Put a clevis in the middle hole and attach the chain there. Put the other end around the log and get as close to the log as you can. The closer the better. Ideally, when you raise the 3PTH arms the log will lift up off of the ground. This does two things. It transfers weight from the log to the rear wheels of the tractor for better traction and it keeps the end of the log from digging in the dirt. If you can't get close enough to the log initially to lift it, at least by raising the 3PTH arms you will be pulling up on the log which always helps. Once you drag the log out to where you have some room then you can hook it short and lift it. Good luck. Sounds like you have a nice tractor coming and a great wife.

I made a receiver hitch attachment for my drawbar. I also welded a chain link on the bottom of it so I could attach a grab hook. The grab hook makes a good place to pull from with a chain and it also allows me to hook the chain shorter with out needing to wrap the chain around the drawbar to use up the excess.

 

[BBull]

Thank you Toolguy! Great description and pics to explain to me what type of setup I need to do. I'll get the drawbar, then work my way up from there.

So much to learn . . . thanks for teaching.

BBull

 

[john_bud]

For pulling heavy loads you want to use the draw bar. Not the 3pt. Toolguy's pictures show the real drawbar with the trailer ball on it behind the attachment on the 3pt. You can buy a chain hook that uses a pin to attach to the draw bar. Chain it close to the end of the log and then to the drawbar. You want the log just behind the rear tires, but not so close that the log rolls into the tire.

For light loads the method Toolguy outlined is fine. The line between light and heavy blurs at times. You know you crossed it when the lower arms bend, the tractor flips up (or God forbid, over) or the spreader bar bends into a "U".


There are log cones you can buy that allow the butt end of the log to glide over the ground and bounce off of stumps and rocks. If you lift up a 20' x 20+" oak log with the 3pt and snag a stump, the odds are good you will flip the tractor over. It's harder to do with it attached to the draw bar as the draw bar is below the rear axle center line.

Safest way is to use a logging winch.

jb

 

[n8wrl]

A "log cone" would be the way to go. The rule of thumb for pulling is to attach BELOW the axle - that's where the drawbar is. That way you won't develop a force to pull the tractor over backward.

It's pretty easy to visualize the geometry - if you pull from above the axle, you pull the front-end of the tractor off the ground. If the log suddenly hits something it could pull the tractor completely over. By pulling from below the axle it tends to pull the front-end DOWN instead. The log can still hit something, but you'll likely lose traction as opposed to flip.

-Brian

 

[Toolguy]

I will be the first to admit that anything is possible. That said, I do not see anything at all unsafe about pulling even the heaviest loads from the lower 3PTH arms. After all, they are attached to the tractor beneath the axle. Even if they are fully raised, if the front end of the tractor comes up the arms go down and will never be high enough for the tractor to flip over. The unsafe point to pull from is the top link. That is a definite no, no and certain to cause a backflip. Never, ever pull from the top link alone. On the other hand, my setup, like so many others, is perfectly safe to pull from as hard as you want. Example: Ford tractors were the first to use a 3PTH. These tractors came from the factory with a drawbar and stabilizer bars that utilized the 3PTH arms as the main attachment point for pull type implements. The stabilizer arms attached to the top link and attached to the drawbar pins, one on each side, at the lower link ball ends. This triangle shape held the drawbar up and limited the side to side sway. The stablizer bars were adjustable to allow different drawbar heights. This was the standard drawbar on all Fords until the late '50s. Also, logging winches are attached to the 3PTH so don't worry, the 3PTH is plenty strong. As far as bending the 3PTH drawbar, you would have to seriously abuse a 50HP tractor to bend it as long as you use a clevis and pull against the wide side.

My preferred method of pulling logs with my setup is to have the end of the log under the drawbar as I am pulling it. That way it would be near impossible for the tractor to flip over as the log would hit the ground first and be under the drawbar preventing it from going down and the front end from coming up. This is the same effect as the lower plate on a logging winch. It also limits the amount that the front of the tractor can come up.

As far as hitting a stump or other obstruction while pulling a log, about the only thing that ever happens is the wheels spin and you stop moving forward. I typically pull logs at a pretty slow ground speed. You would have to be going very fast to have any worry of flipping the tractor if you just hit a stump. Besides, YOU are the driver, just watch where you are going and go around the stump instead of over it.

A log cone, or skid plate is a good idea. A lot cheaper than a winch, unless you plan on pulling a LOT of logs. For normal, occasional use though, the 3PTH drawbar works pretty good.

 

[R_Walter]

After days of lurking around, seeking a decent used model (everyone must be keeping them -- except folks on ebay -- which I wouldn't touch), and dragging my wife to the K. dealership to "look" she gave me a great 50th bday present and said, "get the tractor." So tomorow I take delivery of a new 5240 hst, w/ the 854 FEL (with grapple fork). First real tractor and I'm totally jacked and also intimidated.

For those interested in comparing, I'm paying $26,900 plus another $1400 for the grapple. Took the 36 month 0% so nothing off for cash.

At some point I might be interested (be able to afford) a logging winch for it, but for the moment I'd like to know (simple question) how people "pull" a cable or loggin chain attached to a downed tree? IS there a tow bar you attach to the links? Or?

Thanks for all the weeks of your input I've been reading. I have much to learn.

(Thanks also to great wife without whom I'd still be window shopping and drooling!)

BBull

Your price is apparently below invoice.

 

[Northland]

Nice rig! Not sure how far you need to take those trees but I have been doing a lot of logging on my land with my "little" B7800 and found that a logger's sling choker hooked to the standard drawbar is the way to go.

With your tractor and grapple you can carry the logs in sections to your landing. That's what I do with my B7800 w/grapple. Mind you I am bucking the maple trees into 5 to 6' lenghts.

see

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1187672#post1187672

you can find the cones at www.novajack.com