John Deere vs. Garrett... wittle skidder

[northmanlogging]

Posted this in the heavy equipment section got no response... I am currently looking to buy a used old skidder. Its got to be small. like the garrett 15 or a john deere 440 any suggestions? Oh yeah and I'm broke so brand spankin new is out of the question

 

[ShaneLogs]

Posted this in the heavy equipment section got no response... I am currently looking to buy a used old skidder. Its got to be small. like the garrett 15 or a john deere 440 any suggestions? Oh yeah and I'm broke so brand spankin new is out of the question

Have you tried a Heavy Equipment Trader magazine ?

 

[Oldtimer]

The Garrett (tree Farmer) is anvil simple. Parts are all at NAPA. Full time 4wd, they crab walk fierce, and a sidehill will give you high blood pressure it will crab so bad. If it has a 353 Detroit (and it prolly does) buy stock in a hearing aid company, and buy a case of ether....and a 5 gallon pail of oil every week.

The 440 Deere is a little more complex, but it's faster, better on fuel, has lock in lock out axles (That alone is worth buying it for) and will usually start...and usually doesn't eat oil.
The only real downside to the 440 will be buying parts from Deere or aftermarket..likely a bit more expensive.

I'd buy the Deere. And I have owned a Tree Farmer...quite a bit newer than the Garrett aged stuff...but basically the same thing.

 

[northmanlogging]

Thank you sir, thats more info then anywhere else...(i am not so good on the puter) the lockable/unlock axles would make life way easier... Most of the garretts around here have the v-4 ford a few are diesels, but i do love the racket of a detriot...

 

[northmanlogging]

whats anybody know about the old Clark and International skidders?

 

[Oldtimer]

whats anybody know about the old Clark and International skidders?

Not much, but I'd take the deere over them all day. Same issue, no locking axles.

 

[q-tip jr]

whats anybody know about the old Clark and International skidders?

always thought the Clark winch was the bomb, 2 speed automatic was nothing to go far with in a hurry - fella next block to me ( in the 90's) had an S8 International - pulling son of a....
Funk transmission, not sure about parts. My Clark was a late 70's 666 - graple with a winch very reliable but that Detroit ouch.... my .02

 

[paccity]

clarks are not to bad. this has a cummins v6. pull start the cats some times.

 

[hanniedog]

Paccity where is the steering wheel or am I blind?

 

[paccity]

Paccity where is the steering wheel or am I blind?

ha! :msp_rolleyes:. sorry .:smile2: stick on the left of the seat. side to side steer. fwd back blade.

 

[hanniedog]

Are there other makes that use that steering setup? Just used to seeing your normal type steering wheel. Seems it might get hard to control on rough terrain.

 

[paccity]

it's really not that bad. i find it easier to use when looking back .and it's got a oh sh^^ bar. if you get to wild.

 

[hanniedog]

Never driven a skidder. Thanks for the info, would surely take some getting used to.

 

[northmanlogging]

uh oh Found a skidder gonna try not to jinx it but its maybe 2 miles from the house, runs, recent new motor, under $5k, I could drive it home!!! I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight

 

[Slamm]

Do all 440's have the locking/unlocking diffs?
Because I had a 540A and it only had a locking diff on the front axle and not on the back axle unless something was broken and it just wouldn't unlock. My 540B's will out turn about anything I've seen or driven. With the diffs unlocked ......... which is always, you can walk through a woods and barely leave a track, while the locking diffs on the CAT skidder will leave huge ruts and push marks in the dirt at every turn and when turning it takes a lot of horsepower to roll a skidder with locked differentials through a turn ................. I hate fully locked differentials, I would buy Deere for that reason alone, but fortunately Deere Skidders have great engines and trannies to go with them. My two 540B skidders haven't had a quarter of the stuff that Timberjack and Cat Skidders always seem to be breaking and going wrong with them, and they always start no matter how cold it gets.

Sam

 

[Oldtimer]

I don't know for sure aboot that A, but it could be it has a good working limited or even a full locker in the back. Though I recall the A I ran being like a go cart...it acted as if the rear was not binding.
I too will choose a Deere over most any other make. They are very well designed, and designed for production.

 

[Slamm]

Your pics are just X's.

Sam

 

[northmanlogging]

So I bought a skidder! 1971 Deere 440a, runs great new motor in 2001, hasn't been logging since, just been pushing snow in the winters

 

[Oldtimer]

Good for you!

First things first! You have to name her. I called my Tree Farmer "Mona". My current JD is "Number 7" like the mule on the Grizzly Adams TV show.

Second, go easy on the old girl. Run light and fast, not heavy and slow.

 

[rwoods]

So I bought a skidder! 1971 Deere 440a, runs great new motor in 2001, hasn't been logging since, just been pushing snow in the winters

Enjoy. Ron