Skidding Logs with tractor.

CalG · Dec 7, 2020

LouNY said:
It's hard for some people to realize that not that many years ago 14 to 20 hp tractors were something to be desired over a team of horse or ox or mules.
I was fortunate enough to not have to work with the last teams of horses on the farm, and can recall the Case VAC getting loaded on the same truck that brought the Farmall 400,
that took the Allis WD from being the "big" tractor to being the small one.

IIRC My E27n Fordson is rated at 24 HP. It's a heavy thing, and will pull the britches off many 45 HP tractors in the slow going.

CobyRupert · Dec 7, 2020

LouNY said:
I very seldom use the foot throttle on any tractor.
Many of the tractors that I use do not have one.
Especially when I'm working them hard or in tight quarters one foot ready to clutch and the other is ready to use the brakes either one or both.
I can reach up and adjust a hand throttle easily, then get my hand back to the hydraulics were it may be needed or the control box of the implement which is usually in the right of the tractors operating station.

Lou,
That’s sounds like the talk of someone from the south end of the county where Salem Farm Supply sold all those red tractors missing foot throttles.

Most of the green ones from Stokowski’s up on this end always had them.

LouNY · Dec 8, 2020

Yep, mostly red growing up.
Tried a few green different times, just never found one to be a good fit for us back then.
Two green ones on the farm now, and one of the funny orange ones, and an old blue one and a newer blue one.
Traded my good green one (Oliver) when I got the Branson. :drink:

Johnb0311 · Feb 4, 2021

I don't need an expensive hyd. claw grapple so was looking for a setup to hang a grapple tong. I too was thinking of the added weight on the three point hitch with a logging boom attachment till I came upon the Small Wood Lots setup. It has a choker set up to to it that lets your drawbar do the pulling and the 3PH just lifts it. Seems to be made for 25 to 50 plus hsp tractors, but especially friendly and safer to smaller ones. It's a little expensive, but unless you like welding and are a fair hand at it. this seem like the way to go. At least for me.

tractorcrazy · Feb 4, 2021

Get you a used three point back blade put a clevis in one of the holes on the rear where you adjust the angle I always had mine turned around backwards so you can push them in place when you get them where you need them. The back blade will greatly reduce your chance of flipping over backwards I would never skid a log without one if that log catches something solid while skidding without a back blade that tractor will be over backwards on top of you before you can push the clutch in

Gordon Gould · Feb 4, 2021

Johnb0311 said:
I don't need an expensive hyd. claw grapple so was looking for a setup to hang a grapple tong. I too was thinking of the added weight on the three point hitch with a logging boom attachment till I came upon the Small Wood Lots setup. It has a choker set up to to it that lets your drawbar do the pulling and the 3PH just lifts it. Seems to be made for 25 to 50 plus hsp tractors, but especially friendly and safer to smaller ones. It's a little expensive, but unless you like welding and are a fair hand at it. this seem like the way to go. At least for me.View attachment 685350

If you've read this thread you know there are tons of ways to skid a log. I made a rig similar to the one that caught your fancy w/o doing any welding. I used a draw bar from TSC, a couple pieces of angle, and a plate with a slot cut in it to make an A-frame.

I used a choker hook and slider on a short length of chain for the top link. The pin on the tractor goes thru the slider and the skidding tongs hang on the choker hook. The chain sits in the slot to give a slight leaning out angle to the A-frame and it's length is adjusted with the slider keyhole.

Pretty cheap for me because I only had to buy the draw bar which is also useful for other stuff.

You have to get off the tractor to set the tongs the way I described but later I made it so I could pic a log w/o getting off the tractor but that took some minor welding.

Tongs Grapple - YouTube

gg