firewood tractors

[lindnova]

Milkman - how does that BX2200 turn with the front duals? I would think it would be hard on the cylinder mounts with the extra torque as my singles struggle to turn with a load on the front and pavement underneath.

BX2200 is a good universal mower, firewood tractor. A little light, but still very nimble to sneak thru the woods pulling a trailer full of wood. One of these days I will build a skidder for the 3 point.

 

[Dascro]

watsons dozer,

I've yet to run out of winch capacity with the 8,000 lb rating regardless of the log size. I almost put a 4,500 lb winch on but used the following reasoning to go bigger:

• For the difference in cost of these "off brand" winches, the increased capacity was relatively inexpensive, and it gave me longer cable length too.
• Winching a log through dirt, rocks and such is much different than winching a rolling vehicle out of mud or snow, therefore the "extra" winch capacity may be needed. Better to have and not need type thing.
• The box blade provides a rearward cutting edge and I reverse and drop the rippers so I have a very, very effective anchor for the winch to pull against. Again, may as well go bigger.
• Electric winches have a "duty cycle". The extra capacity increases my "duty cycle".
• I was going to reinforce the box blade to accept the winch anyhow, going a size larger in the steel was not a big issue.

Not sure if that answered your question, but that's the reason there is an 8,000 lb winch there.

 

[milkman]

View attachment 387893 Milkman - how does that BX2200 turn with the front duals? I would think it would be hard on the cylinder mounts with the extra torque as my singles struggle to turn with a load on the front and pavement underneath

Good lookin' wood getter you got there. What kind of protection do you use on the underside, that HST fan and filter is vulnerable to sticks and several have had their blades ripped off, including yours truly. After replacing the HST fan, I made a skidplate that uses the mower lift arms and it was time well spent.
I don't notice any difference in the steering with the duals unless I have a load in the loader, then I just turn when moving and it works. Wood getting is the reason I made the duals, really don't have to worry about the hillsides with the setup.

 

[watsons dozer]

Answered my question perfectly. On still on fence as for size I'll go with because in theory I'll only be winching logs out of swampy places I can't get to with tractor. So in my mind its winch out of or across wet spot then grab with tongs and run, but its still just an idea.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've been told there's plastic in the steering components of a BX, I'd be careful running duals on the front if that's true...

DM

 

[066blaster]

I use these 2 , usually keep the tiller on or a scraper blade for counter weight. I always cut the wood to firewood length in the woods, and never really drag logs out. I would like to get a grapple bucket it would make things easier.

 

[milkman]

I've been told there's plastic in the steering components of a BX, I'd be careful running duals on the front if that's true...

DM

I've had them off and on for about 5 yrs and doing fine. I did replace the seals and O rings in the steering cylinder, but that was before I started using the duals.

 

[lindnova]

Good lookin' wood getter you got there. What kind of protection do you use on the underside, that HST fan and filter is vulnerable to sticks and several have had their blades ripped off, including yours truly. After replacing the HST fan, I made a skidplate that uses the mower lift arms and it was time well spent.
I don't notice any difference in the steering with the duals unless I have a load in the loader, then I just turn when moving and it works. Wood getting is the reason I made the duals, really don't have to worry about the hillsides with the setup.

Been there done that on the fan a couple years ago on a grape vine. What a pain to replace. I haven't built a guard for it yet, but am real careful to have a clear path in front of me. I have had the steering cylinder mounts bend and come off and had to rebuild the cylinder as it was leaking so bad I couldn't mow straight. Still leaks a little. I had to go thru the all the front axle seals also. The pivot bolt and o-rings seem like a poor design and it is easy for them to leak. The front axle and steering could be better designed on these, but I used it pretty hard when building the house and grading the yard.

 

[dancan]

L285 and my RonCo Lh 1.0

 

[mn woodcutter]

View attachment 387893 Milkman - how does that BX2200 turn with the front duals? I would think it would be hard on the cylinder mounts with the extra torque as my singles struggle to turn with a load on the front and pavement underneath.

BX2200 is a good universal mower, firewood tractor. A little light, but still very nimble to sneak thru the woods pulling a trailer full of wood. One of these days I will build a skidder for the 3 point.

Nice setup! Where are you in se mn? I'm west of Rochester about 20 minutes.

 

[flashhole]

This one does the hauling.



This one does the splitting.

 

[dave_dj1]

All awesome tractors! Now I want/need one.

 

[lindnova]

Nice setup! Where are you in se mn? I'm west of Rochester about 20 minutes.

North of Rochester 20 minutes.

 

[Jake Wise]

Here is the tractor I use, an a/c wd45 pulling a trailer I made out of the back of 77 f-350 . The problem I have is that the little tractor won't drag a full load out of the hills because that trailer is so heavy.

 

[Freakingstang]

Here's my firewood tractor with my converted box blade/winch. This little tractor never ceases to amaze me. View attachment 387858View attachment 387859

Anymore pics of how the winch is attached? I really like the idea of that... I was just thinking the other day about building one out of scratch and was looking at pictures and need a big huge blade to fab something up, I'll need all the anchor I can get with such a small tractor. Also, how's that winch? I have an 8500lb summit racing brand that I picked up on the clearance rack with a missing remote, so I made a simple switch. not bad for 200bucks but I haven't used it on anything significant yet.

 

[MechanicMatt]

You guys have me searching craigslist every night. When the wife asked why I was looking, she replied the quad drags the wood. Then I showed here these pics, well after 15 saws and now wanting a tractor, I don't think she is a fan of this website that much, hehehehehehehe.

 

[Dascro]

Steve,

Here is a better picture of how I mounted the winch to the box blade. I used some stout angle iron and then mounted a 12" long reciever tube to the reinforcement. That way the winch can be easily attached or removed and the box blad retains its original function when needed too. The welds aren't the prettiest but they hold.

This set-up proved its worth and strength yesterday. I felled an average sized cherry that was standing dead, but very solid. It was in a heavily wooded area and as I suspected it hung-up high. Using a snatch block, I was able to safely get this tree on the ground. It was the hardest pull the set-up has seen yet. The box blade rippers and rear cutting edge dug in deep and it pulled! I was happy I opted for the 8,000 lb winch too. I then winched it up to the tractor and skidded the 35' trunk to my work area.

Dave

 

[Freakingstang]

Steve,

Here is a better picture of how I mounted the winch to the box blade. I used some stout angle iron and then mounted a 12" long reciever tube to the reinforcement. That way the winch can be easily attached or removed and the box blad retains its original function when needed too. The welds aren't the prettiest but they hold.

This set-up proved its worth and strength yesterday. I felled an average sized cherry that was standing dead, but very solid. It was in a heavily wooded area and as I suspected it hung-up high. Using a snatch block, I was able to safely get this tree on the ground. It was the hardest pull the set-up has seen yet. The box blade rippers and rear cutting edge dug in deep and it pulled! I was happy I opted for the 8,000 lb winch too. I then winched it up to the tractor and skidded the 35' trunk to my work area.

DaveView attachment 388406

Awesome when i saw the pics I was envisioning some kind of receiver hitch setup so I could use it on the truck or car trailer also and not make the box blade useless. I still have some more grading and a driveway to put in with it.

 

[timbrjackrussel]

B414 Diesel, power steering, Norse 400 Winch, chains ,loaded tires. About 40 HP.
Always starts, good engine. Not very pretty but it works great. Picture taken 1PM Dec. 29 2014

 

[Sawyer Rob]

SR