Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[John_Mc]

Gordon - are you at all concerned about the stress on the toplink attachment point?

I've always heard that Kubotas are better than most in terms of the strength of the toplink mounting point on the tractor, but that is a pretty good-sized lever there.

 

[2manyrocks]

I guess that lowering the Farmi (?) winch to the ground would help to reduce the stress on the top link when using the new boom arm.

 

[goeduck]

late last week, I was out clearing blowdown off our trails and on some of the neighbors' properties. I ran out of gas (me, not the tractor) so called it quits and went home. I finally got a chance to get back out today, hoping to pick up where I left off.

I got part way out there and ran in to this new blowdown. If you look closely, you can see my chainsaw helmet sitting on top of the lower blowdown for scale.

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Cleared that one, then two more where I had been working last week. Unfortunately, on the third one, I caught a hydraulic hose on my loader while picking up logs with the forestry grapple and tore it off. I've replaced worn hoses before, but this is the one I've blown out in the woods. Fortunately, it was the curl function, so I was able to limp back home. I quick trip to get a new hose made up, and I'm ready to go again.

I did that once. The open end of the dang hose flipped around and pointed straight at me before I realized what happened. I figured it out when I took a hydraulic bath.

 

[John_Mc]

I did that once. The open end of the dang hose flipped around and pointed straight at me before I realized what happened. I figured it out when I took a hydraulic bath.

Similar experience here: the fitting the hosed came apart at was pointed almost straight up. Since I was headed up hill, that aimed the stream slightly backwards, resulting in a nice hydraulic shower for me and for the tractor.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon - are you at all concerned about the stress on the toplink attachment point?

I've always heard that Kubotas are better than most in terms of the strength of the toplink mounting point on the tractor, but that is a pretty good-sized lever there.

No, not really. It's a small set-up for small logs from thinning, like in the picture with the wood boom. The boom is 7 feet horizontal so if I pick a 500 lb log, which I may never do, that is less than 2 ton on the top link. Lifting a bush hog can give you that and is well within the 3ph specs for my L3010. My boom is a channel made up from 3/16 stock that I made up. I would think that the bottom would spread and it would fold first before anything else broke. But, that is all seat of the pants figuring.

gg

 

[arrow]

No, not really. It's a small set-up for small logs from thinning, like in the picture with the wood boom. The boom is 7 feet horizontal so if I pick a 500 lb log, which I may never do, that is less than 2 ton on the top link. Lifting a bush hog can give you that and is well within the 3ph specs for my L3010. My boom is a channel made up from 3/16 stock that I made up. I would think that the bottom would spread and it would fold first before anything else broke. But, that is all seat of the pants figuring.


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gg

I’ve logged w many techniques. Skidders, forwarders, tractors and even a couple mules.
By far, forwarding is the most efficient method in my mind.
If l were just starting the wood chuck game, l’d invest in one of those forwarding trailers similar to what you made.

 

[Jstpssng]

If l were just starting the wood chuck game, l’d invest in one of those forwarding trailers similar to what you made

What would you pull it with? I believe that retired TBN member BrokenTrack had one he used behind a cable skidder.

 

[arrow]

What would you pull it with? I believe that retired TBN member BrokenTrack had one he used behind a cable skidder.

You wouldn’t need much of a tractor. Anything that would pull a 6 to 8000 lb load.
A wheeled load is way less strain. You could pull in almost two cords at a time.

 

[kozal01]

For the guys doing tree work for people, I need some input. I was at a friend's house today with my tractor and dump trailer helping cleanup storm damage and an elderly neighbor came over and asked me if I would take care of some of his trees. Hes got a couple that broke off out in the woods, told him Id be comfortable taking care of those and explained I was not comfortable taking down trees near his house and garage as I do not do this for a living. He wants me to fell four 10"-12" diameter oaks, clean up a couple that fell in the storm and I will buck into firewood length chunks and chip what I can. Question for you guys is how to price it. Im not looking to get rich but Ive never done this for pay and have o idea what a reasonable price would be. Any of you do this on the side? What do you charge?

 

[arrow]

For the guys doing tree work for people, I need some input. I was at a friend's house today with my tractor and dump trailer helping cleanup storm damage and an elderly neighbor came over and asked me if I would take care of some of his trees. Hes got a couple that broke off out in the woods, told him Id be comfortable taking care of those and explained I was not comfortable taking down trees near his house and garage as I do not do this for a living. He wants me to fell four 10"-12" diameter oaks, clean up a couple that fell in the storm and I will buck into firewood length chunks and chip what I can. Question for you guys is how to price it. Im not looking to get rich but Ive never done this for pay and have o idea what a reasonable price would be. Any of you do this on the side? What do you charge?

The tree ppl l still know are getting 400 bucks an hr. They have millions in equipment and have to pay good money to employees for hard and dangerous work.
On another hand, other foresters l know are paying land owners $25 stump price per cord.
I would think your idea of fairness falls in between.