Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Kodiak Kid]

I'll take maintenance over repairs, every day of the week. But really? I'm not selling you one either..... BUT. Its not about maintenance or repairs, its strictly about buying the machine for the tasks, and I'm telling you I've seen enough of your scrounging wood pics to know you're going to bash your head against the ROP cage enough with a tracked machine, that when I tell you the Wheeled machine would be ten times more often, Im not exagerating. You just aren't going to be happy with a wheeled machine in those Off road conditions you have. Heck- you could go cheaper and buy a tractor/FEL and do better in the offroad scrounging, than with a wheeled skiddybopper, but you'd have a lot of mud on your wood, constantly.

You have all the skills you need to maintain an undercarriage- you dont need to get scared about it, its not that tough. People that complain about it, are probably beating on their equipment, not maintaining it, and are beyotching about REPAIRS.

I run my ASV on half throtttle. You know how many experts have told me its not good for hydraulic pumps? SO many. Yet here it sits, with ZERO pump issues after 17 years. My Bobcat went almost 20 years, 10k hours, and never once opened up the motor or the hydro pumps, never. 8 sets of tires at 2k per set. My ASV just got new tracks at 15 years with ZERO tightening, and had tons of tread- and they were not loose in the slightest, which is why I recommend ASV. The molded lugs sheared off due to dry rot in one weekend all on one side. (the Rubber lugs are 90 durometer and integrated into the 70 durometer track at the molding process) I didn;t complain, I had the new tracks in two days from one state away at $2k OEM.

I'm a bit of a "expert" on equipment, because ( I am lazy) I have a background of using all kinds for many different construction experiences. Marine construction, residential and commercial construction, land clearing, environmental construction and remediation, road and bridge construction. Lots of specialized iron have passed my hands. I've never done anything by hand I can find a piece of machinery to do for me. I've bid and taken jobs solely to pay for the piece of equipment I wanted to use on the job, paying for labor from another business or out of my own pocket- thats how lazy I am (and creative at business financing).

You will not be happy with a wheeled unit off road, it will simply beat your ass to death. Another thing to consider- the cost to ship being what it is, you'll be paying for it twice when you have to buy a CTL after buying a wheeled unit. PLUS, when you go to sell the wheeled unit, the market is going to be tough to find the buyer IMO.

Im listening, Im listening!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

What do you think about a track over wheel skid steer fir woods applications Sean?

well, for me, all i can say is i hate mesquite thorns!.... how many tires does the skidder have?

 

[Logger nate]

Not that wheels can’t get it done but way easier to get stuck and way rougher.
I could see how a tractor could better for ground clearance and skidding though. And can get the same quick attach setup that skid steer’s have and not sure why you’d need high flow unless for something like blowing snow. Sorry if that has already been mentioned.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Gonna be hard to do with tracks or wheeled units .

!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have used tire tracks once. Bear claws i think they were called. Steel tracks. I wasn't a huge fan of them. Couldn't seem to get them tensioned right, had the tires spin in them a few times. It could have very well just been me, but my Forman (excellent equipment operator. ) hated them as well and we ended up renting a tracked machine for that specific job. Won't lie, once you've used a tracked machine it's hard to jump back in a wheeled one and get the same work done. (Off road specially, on road is a different ballgame all together)

sounds like some good skidder exp here! interesting, glad i din't miss AS FS's The Great Skidder vs Tractor Debate... !

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Im working flat flat ground with the exception of root swell from stumps. As far as logging terrain is rated? Its as flat as a pancake! Plus skid roads can easily be dressed up smoother with a little time and bucket work. You guys have seen some of my War Wagon "OVERLOADS". Ive flopped one load out of well over 100 in the past few years. That's with squishy tires on a trailer loaded high and heavy.

 

[The Shooters Apprentice]

Kid, I’m with the guys saying good out for a good tracked machine, and something at least 65hp with high flow.

I’d just run the tires before ever running a OTTs. Those are such a pain in the ass it’s not even funny. If you do get a tracker machine just get some foam filled tires and run it.

Other issue wirh the OTT that I haven’t seen mentioned is no bogies so it doesn’t help with the ride at all, just floatation.

Something else to think about with a tracked machine is you can get steel tracks like a dozer.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

!

You guys both underestimate my a**!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have to agree with some of your point, but only when working around people, which you, (we, I'm just as guilty) shouldn't really be doing in the first place. Other then rear view you'll get just about as good a side view (lift arm type can be a factor.) And much better frontal view with the skid steer. I 100% agree about roading skids or tractors suck. Did a lot of both at the township. You don't realize how long it takes to get somewhere till your going sub 20mph .

i see them all the time up along the FM when shredding my DOT easement along it:

 

[The Shooters Apprentice]

The Quad is a speadbore carb . You will either need an adapter or change out the manifold to put a square bore carb on the motor . I have 2 trucks with the quad still as they were professionaly rebuilt and run well , my 72 has an edelbrock 1406 which I prefer over the quadrajet. The quadrajet is a great carb when it's set up correctly.
What's you truck doing ?

Flooding out as bet as I can tell. Smells like raw fuel and no power.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

You guys both underestimate my a**!

he might! but i sure as he** don't!!! i am pretty sure u can do anything or close.. with nothing and in no time at all!

 

[kyle1!]

that is just it! i have run into it, too. part is obsolete! or over priced. i made my own tach drive cable... and skipped the $175 MF over the counter sc-w job! $12! but, i know i am only one part failure away from a boat anchor... sans a scrounge at a tractor junk yard...

I have a small 542B bobcat, late 80's, that had the waterpump go out. It is a simple 4cyl ford engine. I couldn't find a replacement from NAPA or elsewhere. Went to the local bobact/kubota dealer and the part was NLA. I am in a panic.

I went to the bigger bobcat/kubota dealer in Des Moines and they said a company bought out all of Bobcat's old parts. I was thrilled they could get me a water pump but the price was $250. The dealer said there was only 3 water pumps left in existence and I decided to buy an extra one. More but the machine is still doing work today. Pushed snow this morning with it.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

You guys both underestimate my action!

fixed it for you....

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Hmmmmm? Decisions Decisions!
I thank all you guys with skid steer experience on your info and opinions. I guess I'll have to hold off fir now and research it some more!

 

[The Shooters Apprentice]

You guys both underestimate my a**!

I’m not underestimating you man. I just want you to have the highest amount of success, and a tire machine is not gonna do that for you.

Think of it this way. The money spent on maintenance long term with a track machine will pay for itself because of higher production.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

fixed it for you....

Action"s"

 

[artbaldoni]

I have used tire tracks once. Bear claws i think they were called. Steel tracks. I wasn't a huge fan of them. Couldn't seem to get them tensioned right, had the tires spin in them a few times. It could have very well just been me, but my Forman (excellent equipment operator. ) hated them as well and we ended up renting a tracked machine for that specific job. Won't lie, once you've used a tracked machine it's hard to jump back in a wheeled one and get the same work done. (Off road specially, on road is a different ballgame all together)

I have used EEL Tracks over the wheel tracks for years on my 7753 Bobcat. I foam fill the tires and don't overly tension them. I woiuld rather have the tire slip in the track than to put excessive forces throught the drive train. I will admit they are a rough ride on any kind of hardpack, no concrete or asphalt on my mountain. They are also somewhat of a pain to tension when needed, which isnt that often, luckily! One of the advantages of the tractor is the ability to get off with the bucket raised, kinda hard to do with the skid.

Pictures below show the foam filled tires that I ran under the tracks for 15 years. Also some logs that I loaded in a tight area where a tractor would have been a real hassle.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have a small 542B bobcat, late 80's, that had the waterpump go out. It is a simple 4cyl ford engine. I couldn't find a replacement from NAPA or elsewhere. Went to the local bobact/kubota dealer and the part was NLA. I am in a panic.

I went to the bigger bobcat/kubota dealer in Des Moines and they said a company bought out all of Bobcat's old parts. I was thrilled they could get me a water pump but the price was $250. The dealer said there was only 3 water pumps left in existence and I decided to buy an extra one. More but the machine is still doing work today. Pushed snow this morning with it.

hi k1 - i hear ya. my MF came with 2 keys. of course, i eventually lost one of them!

then one day i got a bit worried. not an easy key to make. impossible to source, other than MF over the counter. bit out of town, i found a dealer. yes, i have them! how many? 3.... i gave him the CC over the fone and picked them all up.....

better safe than sorry!!! lol

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Hmmmmm? Decisions Decisions!
I thank all you guys with skid steer experience on your info and opinions. I guess I'll have to hold off fir now and research it some more!

! i thot that one with the slick cab was a dung deal!!!!

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Action's"

naw!, action is an adverb, action's merely statement of several events. possesive, actually. the adverb is macro.... all inclusive! i hate to miss the thread's pix and ur fishing trip adventures!! i had u covered!