The "Not So Pro" discussion thread...of course Pros are welcome!

[1270d]

That's no fun the far side of the machine doesn't even get light when unloading. The power company down here either has one or contracts it out. I saw one laying out swamp mats a few years ago so they could work on some lines in a wet spot.

I did some mats a couple weeks ago with our Buffalo. I can tell you for that one hour I sure wished I was running a timberpro.

 

[Skeans]

I did some mats a couple weeks ago with our Buffalo. I can tell you for that one hour I sure wished I was running a timberpro.

When I do mats I do then with our fabtek head and 653E.

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[Skeans]

Clark 282v36

Had a 285v, didnt really need to use the 2 spd rear before (often didnt cause it kept breaking...) pretty much have to use the rear now even unloaded, big differences in the gearing

That's a good transmission I have one sitting in the shed actually I doubt I'd use.

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[Skeans]

Overdrive is for hippies!

Matt I hope that's for pulp with the busted end.

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[Skeans]

I did some mats a couple weeks ago with our Buffalo. I can tell you for that one hour I sure wished I was running a timberpro.

Speaking off Buffalo's and Buffalo Kings what do you think of us taking long logs out on them? As well as cutting the stuff with a scorpion king?

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[northmanlogging]

Matt I hope that's for pulp with the busted end.

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Busted end? think maybe yer seeing an essavator bite, the bucket isn't as nice to logs as a proper grapple is, tears the bark and first layer of wood up pretty bad at times, but no breakage (well I did break one on this job, but I bucked most of the junk out)

 

[northmanlogging]

And I knew I should have put a flag up about parts...

while I'm at it, anyone got a self loader grapple fer cheap (like nearly free) I'd be willing to go to OR, or ID fer one if it was super cheap and mostly complete. (rotater is optional)

 

[1270d]

Speaking off Buffalo's and Buffalo Kings what do you think of us taking long logs out on them? As well as cutting the stuff with a scorpion king?

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Tell me more about the diameter and length. The king is supposed to be rated for 17 ton I think. 15 for the regular machine. Bogie bearings are a fact of life expense.

I think the scorpion would have trouble with wood in the 24"+ class if you were cutting 30 and 40 foot logs with minimum taper. I believe the Ponsse guys would be very straight with you about their machines capabilities.

For example they won't sell me a scorpion with a bigger head due to the size wood I could fit through it.

 

[rwoods]

This is what we low tech firewooders call a self-loader:





The crew - 39 10th graders. About half assigned to my truck. The rest loaded trailers on level ground. Too bad they don't unload.



Ron

 

[rwoods]

Now I see why loggers don't complain about flippy caps.



Contractor friend loaned me his CAT 299D. I assume other CATs are equipped the same.


Ron

 

[northmanlogging]

This is what we low tech firewooders call a self-loader:

View attachment 569715
View attachment 569716
View attachment 569718

The crew - 39 10th graders. About half assigned to my truck. The rest loaded trailers on level ground. Too bad they don't unload.

View attachment 569720

Ron

I a think... other folks would call that um... slave labor?

 

[Skeans]

Now I see why loggers don't complain about flippy caps.

View attachment 569725

Contractor friend loaned me his CAT 299D. I assume other CATs are equipped the same.
View attachment 569726

Ron

It's mainly the lighter stuff I've been around that has had that, the worst fuel cap I've been around is on our High track 4 have to push down just right to unscrew then rethreading is a pain with the location.

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[northmanlogging]

The skidder has a normal tab lock type fuel cap. But... its protected by some cleverly exposed piece of 3/8's plate secured with a single 5/8 bolt. So about every 3 months I need to bust out a crow bar and pry the protection away from the fuel cap so that my fat fangers can wiggle in and feebly unscrew the damned thing. On a good day I can get my thumb and middle finger on it, on a bad day just a pinkie and pointer, ever try and move anything with the pinkie finger of yer less dominant hand?

Flip tops would be kinda dandy on days like this.

 

[Skeans]

Tell me more about the diameter and length. The king is supposed to be rated for 17 ton I think. 15 for the regular machine. Bogie bearings are a fact of life expense.

I think the scorpion would have trouble with wood in the 24"+ class if you were cutting 30 and 40 foot logs with minimum taper. I believe the Ponsse guys would be very straight with you about their machines capabilities.

For example they won't sell me a scorpion with a bigger head due to the size wood I could fit through it.

I'd average is 3k some heavier some lighter but interesting loading truck with long logs with a forwarder.



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[rwoods]

... Flip tops would be kinda dandy on days like this.

I would have to say it was easy to operate, but I am one of those who doesn't complain about Stihl's flippy caps beyond why take something simple and make it complicated and prone to breakage. I would say the same here. I assume the field fix is the same as for a lost cap - stuff a rag in it.

Ron

 

[northmanlogging]

Yup, though i have never lost a fuel cap... oil caps though...

 

[1270d]

I'd average is 3k some heavier some lighter but interesting loading truck with long logs with a forwarder.



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With our buffalo the crane mats are about all it wants to lift. Couldn't do two. The Buffalo King is available with the bigger crane, same as the Elephant. I cant speak for loading trucks, no experience with your style rigs.

As far as processing there is a lot of utility poles cut here in lengths up to 53 ft. They are almost all done with Scorpion sized machines or less. That would be the most similar sort to yours that comes to mind. the only complaint about cutting them (that Ive heard) is how much of a pain forwarding 50 foot wood on a 16 ft forwarder is.

 

[Skeans]

With our buffalo the crane mats are about all it wants to lift. Couldn't do two. The Buffalo King is available with the bigger crane, same as the Elephant. I cant speak for loading trucks, no experience with your style rigs.

As far as processing there is a lot of utility poles cut here in lengths up to 53 ft. They are almost all done with Scorpion sized machines or less. That would be the most similar sort to yours that comes to mind. the only complaint about cutting them (that Ive heard) is how much of a pain forwarding 50 foot wood on a 16 ft forwarder is.

The operator doing that out here has the extension but on short wood they normally get 10 to 12 out of the bogie drive cases these guys are hard on stuff. They're scorpion I had heard they had pulled out of this farm to go into younger smaller wood doing 18 ft lengths, I know falling our longer heavier wood our here will test a machine quick. Also remember we're thinning doing these long logs not Clear cutting where it's be easier on stuff.

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[1270d]

The operator doing that out here has the extension but on short wood they normally get 10 to 12 out of the bogie drive cases these guys are hard on stuff. They're scorpion I had heard they had pulled out of this farm to go into younger smaller wood doing 18 ft lengths, I know falling our longer heavier wood our here will test a machine quick. Also remember we're thinning doing these long logs not Clear cutting where it's be easier on stuff.

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A couple of the Ponsse guys have said that in the taller bigger diameter stuff the biggest harvester (bear) had all it could do to move the trees. I think the scorpions and ergos are doing smaller growth and early tsi thinnings. I honestly believe a scorpion or ergo could do everything your 653 can, and do it faster.

Now, the technique would be considerably different switching from a fixed to a dangle. Some guys try and just cant do it. Or more likely are so stuck in their ways they refuse. If you are of the mind that a dtangle head just won't work thats a pretty good indicator that you fit in that group. There are proven fixed heads that are in the same league as far as speed, like the logmax 7000 fixed.

If you need a head that will work wood in the 30 inch range all day, the wheeled machines won't do it. Thats Waratah, southstar, keto etc on a tacked carrier territory. And volume I can only dream about.

 

[Skeans]

A couple of the Ponsse guys have said that in the taller bigger diameter stuff the biggest harvester (bear) had all it could do to move the trees. I think the scorpions and ergos are doing smaller growth and early tsi thinnings. I honestly believe a scorpion or ergo could do everything your 653 can, and do it faster.

Now, the technique would be considerably different switching from a fixed to a dangle. Some guys try and just cant do it. Or more likely are so stuck in their ways they refuse. If you are of the mind that a dtangle head just won't work thats a pretty good indicator that you fit in that group. There are proven fixed heads that are in the same league as far as speed, like the logmax 7000 fixed.

If you need a head that will work wood in the 30 inch range all day, the wheeled machines won't do it. Thats Waratah, southstar, keto etc on a tacked carrier territory. And volume I can only dream about.

I've done done both and being around them I wouldn't have a wheel harvesters in a thinning the same reason they don't around 20 the rows are to wide a ponsse. Pm we will talk extra. Jared Skeans

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