Had to quit first logging job after fitting in perfectly. How should I proceed?

[treeslayer2003]

you should be able to find somthing, look for exesive play at the articulation center section and front cradle.......worn egged out housing is alot of work to fix.
power shifts should be shifted up under full power and there should be no lag what so ever.......soft dirt it should almost spin the wheels at shift.

 

[northmanlogging]

Skidders, saws and trucks... many opinions and they all stink!

I'm partial to my manual tranny... partly cause I've never ran a skidder with a power shift. but then the Deere phsycho rage is a little different than the standared trannys is most manual skidders

A few names and by all means not a comprehensive list.

Timberjack now owned by Deere, old ones are off the shelf parts

CanCar/Garrett/Tree Farmer/Franklin, Garretts started it, they all pretty much use off the shelf parts, All names derive from the original Garrett licence, just made in various factorys and countries overt the years

Clark, heavy beasts that from all accounts are nearly indistructable

International, hard to find these as they didn't make comparitively many, but its still an international, also know as a houghs

Deere, the 440-540 skidders are everywhere and cheap!, the newer versions are like flys, parts on anything Deere can get spendy... (I own a 440a)

Mountain Loggers, These are an odd duck, powerfull well made machines, but a little rare, still off the shelf parts... they made one with a 6v71 detroit... ******* monster, 1" skid line breaking beasty... Really more of a regional thing, count yerself lucky to see one east of the mississippi...

Then there are the various tractor makes that never really took off, Masey Ferguson, Case, Allis chalmers, all made something resembling a skidder just not very many, Deer and Timberjack pretty much dominated, with garrett/cancar/franklin holding out for many many years (Garretts finally got sunk by old age)

Anyway they all have good points, just make sure you can get parts for whatever you end up getting, and that the winch works.

If I had it all to do again... And I had a choice of machines... I'd probably go with an older timberjack 200 series, with the funky off center super low slung cab. Or I would stick with the Deere, only get a slightly newer version with a turbo...

Then again I still have a feaky man crush for an old Garrett 15... v-4 ford power, gearamatic 9 winch, skinny little tires, slap stick steering...

As far as price, here you can get a decent machine for under 10k, sometimes closer to 5-6k. Not really skidder country

Don't be afraid to look for equipment out of state, shipping isn't to horribly bad to make a good deal not worth it.

 

[bnmc98]

dont forget CAT 518. 13k-18k around here

 

[matthew sparks]

I have found two skidders so far under 10k. They are in Virginia. I don't know if your allowed to post links on here so here are the descriptions.

TIMBERJACK 230 Skidder, runs good, tires fair, new cable on winch, new seat, new rebuilt transmission, $8,000

CLARK 666 Skidder, runs good, everything works, tires fair, winch, $8,000

 

[treeslayer2003]

that clark is twice the machine as that 230..........as long as its good.

northy, if you ever own a side winder jack, you'll run screaming back to yer 440 lol. they give alot of trans trouble.
of all the skidders we've had, a 230 and all the franklins i hated the most...........i know some folks love um, i'm just goin off my time with um.

i never had a cat.........they look good and im sure they will pull........parts are prolly high but they all are.

 

[northmanlogging]

Forgot about the Cats... helluva machine there, funky articulation though...

 

[northmanlogging]

really the only reason I like the 200 jacks is they sit so low, easy in and out...

 

[treeslayer2003]

it looks good......but once in the seat, if your used to sitting in the middle, its a pain. can't see what the right side wheels are on, dirt flyin in yer eyes from the tire.
and what seems like 20-30 levers lol.
yea the old cats roll in the back like a franklin.
i'd like to try a 300 of 400 sieries jack, they look good.

 

[HuskStihl]

Hey Matthew, how are your mechanic skills? Mike is pretty humble, but he's a hell of a mechanic in addition to being a logger (which almost seems like a prerequisite). If you're not as comfortable with diesel repair (you may be, having been a fisherman) or hydraulics, you may want to spend some extra $ up front on something with less of a "fixer upper" aspect to it

 

[bnmc98]

good advice, might want to know how to weld as well, comes in handy when your wheel is laying in the road due to a broken axle housing and that kind of stuff.

 

[rwoods]

JD440C $12,000 http://swva.craigslist.org/grd/4569738636.html
JD640E $22,000 http://eastky.craigslist.org/hvo/4565432520.html
450C Timberjack $18,000 http://knoxville.craigslist.org/hvo/4535539531.html
JD440B $10,000 http://eastky.craigslist.org/hvo/4551984152.html
Grapple for JD640 $1200 http://knoxville.craigslist.org/for/4491946184.html

Every now and then there is a JD440 for $4500 - 5000.

Ron

 

[northmanlogging]

My vote is for either 440 the b lookin just a wee bit better

the 640 is a large machine, the jack falls in the same boat.

don't discount the older deeres for under 5k, they may be old but they still pull wood, as long as they run good, Hel I paid 4500 for mine 2 years ago its moved plenty of wood since then

 

[treeslayer2003]

skidders seem to be cheap out yer way northy.................hey ups me a nice 666 grapple when ya get a chance lol.

 

[1270d]

ive got a 648 deere grapple to sell ya. brand new engine, maybe 20hrs of use since.

 

[northmanlogging]

C's list baby! although they dry up in summertime... though there is a clark 666 that keeps appearing for 7k, you worry about the shipping!

 

[northmanlogging]

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/hvo/4574619450.html nice deere 540A

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hvo/4544646330.html mountain logger

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/hvo/4554772220.html cancar C8

http://olympic.craigslist.org/hvo/4579856221.html here's the deal of a lifetime...

http://abbotsford.en.craigslist.ca/hvo/4549564650.html TimberJack

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/hvo/4570897730.html Here ya go slayer, clark 666 runner

This is all just from the Seattle C's list, there are probably more if I search the east side... although some of them might be a little dark around the edges now..

Most of these adds have been up for a month or so.

 

[matthew sparks]

I have bee very busy. Thanks guys! Its so weird how the local craigslist has nothing and everywhere else has so much listed. I am reviewing it all now.

 

[matthew sparks]

Here is the info I found on my local craigslist. Not that I need what I am listing, but this is what I saw. You made a good point above about the mechanical issues. I am a hell of a mechanic and I have a welding trailer. The only problem is I have never worked on diesels.

http://westky.craigslist.org/hvo/4579974024.html
http://westky.craigslist.org/hvo/4566307097.html
http://westky.craigslist.org/hvo/4527022893.html

That was me looking through a months worth of ads.

Thank you all so much for going through everything and taking the time to do so. Looks like I may have to go to Seattle to buy a skidder. I haven't smoked weed in 20 years. Maybe I should go out there and relax myself and pull out the checkbook. Just kidding.........

 

[matthew sparks]

http://bgky.craigslist.org/hvo/4515834765.html
http://bgky.craigslist.org/hvo/4547177858.html
http://nashville.craigslist.org/hvo/4552921234.html

Found a few more pieces of equipment here. Looks like the two skidders need work though....

 

[Hans1]

I went the route of TJ had a 225 good machine did have a lot of trouble but not more than can be expected of a 40 year old machine. Parts were easy to come by and not real expensive. I am not much of a mechanic but got by ok with this machine pay attention to the tires a new set could cost as much as some of the machines listed here. I used mine to select cut walnut good machine for that purpose.
Good luck with you choose