Farm tractor mounted skidding winches

[TnAndy]

How many of ya'll use a farm tractor with a skidding winch for you 'get-logs-out-of-the-woods' tool ?

Bunch of different companies make them, seems most from Scandinavian countries....they be must more into that type thing.

I bought this Igland from a dealer in Maryland probably 20 years ago now....BOY has it been handy !  And stout.  If it can't move the log to the tractor, it can mover the tractor to the log.  Pic shows it mounted on my previous tractor, a 33hp New Holland.  Now I've got a 41hp Yanmar.

[furu]

I have a Farmi 501 will have to dig up some photos.  Real nice unit.

[4x4American]

Nice, will proberly get one one day.  How do you like the yanmar compared to the NH?

[TnAndy]

MUCH better tractor. Much heavier built, far better loader.

I broke so many things on the Model 1925 NH it wasn't even funny.  Cracking the bell housing was the last straw ($1300 part + had to virtually disassemble the whole tractor to get to it).....I sold it.

[4x4American]

Woof.

We had a NH TN75 bought brand new at a farm I worked at.  That thing had nothing but problems.. split the thing three times, electronics always going bad and the dealer had to come out to do the electronics stuff.  The electronics would inable it to move.  Ended up bringing it to the dealer and said its your headache now and the boss traded in for a brandy new T 4.75 with a cab that has been so far so good.

[Pinesawyer]

I have an old Farmi. Wouldn't be without it in the woods.

[lauztuvass]

Why in yours countrys is so populars skidding winches? In my country all workers is using something like this http://m.skelbiu.lt/index.php?mod=m&action=showPhotos&id=19221305
Intrsting, diferencys in countrys.

[furu]

If the terrain is flat then a forwarder or a machine like yours works great and is used often.  It is also more expensive in general.  In steep and or hilly terrain a skidding winch or skidder is very useful as the forwarder has trouble with the inclines.
There is a big difference between our western states and the mid-west central states and the northeastern states as to equipment that is favored.

[bandmiller2]

I had a dandy Farmi winch until a friend talked me out of it. I don't do much logging now logs are just dropped off next to the mill. Best rig I ever used I built from the back of a cable crane truck, cut it off behind the cab. I pulled it with a JD 830 diesel. ( the big one not lawn tractor) The trailer had a heavy wreaking winch PTO driven. Would back the trailer agenst a tree play out the cable and keel haul to the trailer and load the bunks. The trailer was the perfect hight to roll the logs on the dead deck. Frank C.

[kbeitz]

I got this one from the junkyard for $75.00... It's PTO driven.
I'm going to change it over to a gas engine unit so then i can
use it behind anything that can pull it.

[bandmiller2]

TnAndy, I've got a green Yanmar a JD 1250 and your right their a heavy duty tractor I am well pleased with it. Its old simple three cyl. diesel no electronics nice loader. Frank C.

[moodnacreek]

I had a dandy Farmi winch until a friend talked me out of it. I don't do much logging now logs are just dropped off next to the mill. Best rig I ever used I built from the back of a cable crane truck, cut it off behind the cab. I pulled it with a JD 830 diesel. ( the big one not lawn tractor) The trailer had a heavy wreaking winch PTO driven. Would back the trailer agenst a tree play out the cable and keel haul to the trailer and load the bunks. The trailer was the perfect hight to roll the logs on the dead deck. Frank C.

A John Deere 830? Biggest I ever had was a 60. Did you ever saw with it?

[bandmiller2]

I always wanted to try the 830 0n the circular mill but have always had dedicated diesels on both mills I've owned with Vee belts and it was too much hassle to hook up. Traded the 830 and now have a 70 diesel. I'm quite sure it would run the mill especially if I didn't get too frisky with big oaks. Those old two cylinders diesels are like Thors hammer and have roughly the same displacement as a 6-71 Detroit. Frank C.

[Ox]

The 70 diesel enjoyed the title of most fuel efficient diesel farm tractor for something like 29 years if I recall properly.  Fantastic achievement.

I love the old tractors, love the old Poppers, but can't stand using the hand clutch while trying to back up or when threading through tight woods.  If I was to ever own another one it'd be getting a power steering upgrade.