Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Rockbadchild]

Now that 1st cutting is complete, I’ve been putting some time into taking down dead ash trees (emerald ash borer) littering fields with broken branches.

This one is dead as a doornail and constantly dropping branches.
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Time to go to tree heaven

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Moving in with the grapple

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All the trees are going across the RR tracks.

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Just in time for a work detail to show up time to add ballast.

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Back to start another. My helper is up at the next 2 ash trees waiting to come down.

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A few hours later and they’re gone.

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how did you feel about dropping the one in the fist picture ?

 

[Hay Dude]

Pretty good, why do you ask?

 

[Rockbadchild]

.

right on, it look pretty hairy, seems like some branches could've fall on itself on the way down.

 

[Hay Dude]

right on, it look pretty hairy, seems like some branches could've fall on itself on the way down.

I made sure to wear my helmet and my spotter was watching for falling branches. No close calls but it was definitely something to think about.

There’s still lots of dead trees from the straight line wind storm we had last summer combined with dead ash trees.

 

[square1]

my spotter was watching for falling branches

Humor, right?

 

[Hay Dude]

Humor, right?

Not really. I watch while cutting, but I also have him in my line of vision to warn me to bolt should a big one cut loose.

 

[goeduck]

right on, it look pretty hairy, seems like some branches could've fall on itself on the way down.

That is always a risk with falling dead trees. Sometimes doing it after a big windstorm makes sense.

 

[kozal01]

I have the 6" model. Pushing 200 hours on it. You will always need to do some branch trimming. Especially hardwood branches coming off the stem at right angles. More spring tension can help rollers grab and pull harder to prevent slipping. But not much in my experience. And more tension makes it harder to push a large stem under the roller.

After putting a few more hours on my chipper over the weekend I can say now that it does perform very well now that I know what it likes. I did tension the springs a bit but not much. I spent some time before hand with my saw cleaning up some of the limbs to accommodate the chipper and things went much smoother. Now I know when Im limbing to be more selective of how I cut the limbs up. I do still wish I would have gotten the 6" model though, even the largest oak limbs went through this chipper with no problems and the tractor never bogged at all.

 

[MadJack]

I'm finally getting to clean my logging trails and cut out a good bit of pecker-poles (under 6"), leaners, and blowdowns. Mornings in central Maine are cooler for now, and skidding out 4-5-6 at a time is as much fun as it is work.
Dry ground is almost as nice as skidding on frozen ground though dusty. What little dirt that sticks to the logs usually washes off in a light rain, so they stay fairly clean.

I still need to re-pack one lift cylinder, and find the correct voltage regulator, but the old '86 Ford/Shibaura 2110 only requires charging once per week. And the old 1993 Norse 180 logging winch sure lessens the work.

Wood I'm cutting lately is for winter '25/'26. I'm trying to stay ahead of the firewood game!

 

[Hoobie]

After putting a few more hours on my chipper over the weekend I can say now that it does perform very well now that I know what it likes. I did tension the springs a bit but not much. I spent some time before hand with my saw cleaning up some of the limbs to accommodate the chipper and things went much smoother. Now I know when Im limbing to be more selective of how I cut the limbs up. I do still wish I would have gotten the 6" model though, even the largest oak limbs went through this chipper with no problems and the tractor never bogged at all.

Great. You will get a feel for what will feed easily and what needs a little " saw nipping encouragement".
Another issue is the discharge chute plugging. Engine bogging down, noise, smell and even smoke are signs. And of course no chute discharge. This usually happens for me with small branches and twigs like birch tops if bunches are fed too fast...especially with leaves on. And thorn bushes are worst. These can easily pass the blades whole and when one or two get cross piled in the chute the next ones get caught and jams up. And it happens in seconds. One instant all is well and suddenly it isn't. Shut down immediately. Open and dig out the mess. And it will be packed really hard.
I am impressed with my Woodland Mills chipper. About 200 hrs and not one issue.