I got out and skidded a dead black birch and a sassafras today with my new-to-me tractor. Honestly, I spent about 80% of my time trying to make a decent skidding path. My property is on the side of a hill and the soil has all kinds of wicked boulders sticking out in all the wrong places. One I got going, I did get a chance to use my 3 pt. log skidding attachment and choker chain and got some practice skidding with ropes and blocks. Someday, I will definitely get a real cable skidder for the rear, but I don't have the cash right now. All and all a good day. Not much wood down to the processing area, but I'm just taking is slow and safe, learning as I go. Also, there's a whole bunch more firewood (20+ dead standing oaks and a smattering some other stuff) that I can access the skidding road I'm making.
Good work! I have always wanted to try one of those hitches for skidding. My plan is to use a short anchor point chain with hooks hanging from the top ring then hook multiple choker chains to it. Right now I use a scraper blade with multiple grab hooks welded to the 3pt frame. It's nice to be able to skid and grade. I would suggest you keep the tail of your choker shorter in length to the lift hook. You want to be able to lift the front end of the log off the ground fully for a better skid. You might have to choke the logs a little further forward. Also, multiple chains will let you grab additional logs much easier.
That's right, the higher you can get the butt end off the ground, the easier the skid will be. You should only have to put your chain a few inches from the end of the log-it'll grip.
Agree. I found out that it's much easier to choke closer to the end of the log. It helps to take the receiver hitch out too so it's not in the way.
Mines been off for years. This is my typical setup for smaller sticks. Not ideal, but works. My tails are kind of long on these.
Good "skid trails" are important and worth the time to plan & build them. Looks good Mike. Wow, your woods look like August compared to mine!
Now that is what I call a nice "big boy toy" . Never owned one or had the change to even be on one. I really like watching those machines do the work.
Great start to a future of using your tractor to its fullest, mike bayerl I'm anxious to see how your progress builds, and the prowess increases.
Truth. I get 80% of my wood without ever having to leave the trails with the tractor just using a couple chains. I am anxious to see it with it's first big log behind it! That tractor will pull a lot of wood.
Be careful going down hills as the logs will come forward and hit hard The ideas of moving chains forward will help. The shorter distance between the two points will limit all of the movement. Skid hard and keep the front wheels on the ground, at least 50% of the time
Another point I probably don't have to add-go slow! You will notice it if the butt of the log ever hits something. You can find your front wheels in the air in a blink of an eye! Having the butts off the ground helps guard against this, but it is always possible to bit something like a big rock or stump, especially when turning.
Careful the log doesn't come up under your hitch and smack your PTO....that's no bueno for it. If the part of the log on the ground catches on something...then quickly releases...it can come forward with enough momentum to do that...don't need to be going downhill or stopping. Since you have a ball mount on there, it might be a good spot to mount some sort of protection plate to keep that from happening. You'd have to hook up to a pretty big log for that tractor/loader to get light in the front...a big rock for the bucket is any easy solution.
