wood cutting with garden tractors - PICS

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perry

Burning Hunk
Feb 14, 2008
139
auburn hills, michigan
been awhile since i have been on the forums.
was running out of wood and had to do something fast. I got access a few weeks ago to 42 acres a few miles away from my house. been busy hauling wood home and working the snot out of these tough little tractors :cool: .

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this area at home was empty when we started last Monday. I think we did pretty good for a weeks work. lots of nice ash and oak logs

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Nice work! No snow down there and I bet the ground is frozen solid. That sure makes it nice tooling around in the woods.
 
Sweet, Perry. Those old Allis Chalmers know how to work. You got a bunch done in short order.

I have one that is a little older, its a B1 converted to the 10 hp briggs and I also have a couple of the hydros (1970 somethings). They know how to pull. I routinely get the front wheels off the ground with my mule. This thing moves stuff around the yard for me. Trailer, boat, whatever. Probably over 3500 pounds on that trailer. It was wet White Oak.
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Hi Perry, you have the same setup as me. looks like the same exact weather too. Im in NY. All you boys seem to be from Michigan. I was reading last night about Allis Chalmers, they went out of business in 85. I also read that CAT bought Perkins Diesel. Anyway how do you keep them running? Where do you get parts? They both look pretty tough and Ive seen a few around here.
You took great advantage of a great opportunity there. Im jealous of your log pile. My weather is similar but my ground isnt frozen. And you have to make hay while the sun shines.
They had a thread here that meandered down to talking about chains. Can you tell me a little about the chains you used? Your footing...? are the tractors 4 wheel drive? did you make them?
When you are not on your own land you have to get the wood out. What kind of agreement did you have with the landowner? Did you just go for dead standing? storm damaged?
Im just curious about getting wood out here, I looked into chains but...ouch!!
 
Chains are chains. I prefer the V-link style, but that is probably more in my head than actually better function. New tire chains for GT can be had for about $40. I wish you were closer, I could set you up in short order. Chains make a huge difference on ice and even slippery yard. The set on my mule never come off. They are a year round addition.
 
Well $40.00 is alot cheaper than the $900.00 I came up with. Thats a more do-able solution. I must have been looking at some tractor parts catalogue, Northern Tool or Grainger.
Just curious how you would go about setting me up?
I studied the chains and the links from what I can see and have it in my mind to buy the chain on roll. Is that what you did?
On my horses shoes my farrier welds drillteck to the heels and toes of the shoes for winter ice traction. I was wondering if these tire chains sported the same material.
Maybe I should invest in some logging harness and put the horses to work??
 
By "set you up" I meant that I have many sets of chains and many extra cross links. Could have you a set in a jiffy. Don't buy the chain on a roll, just get a set that fits your size of tires. I doubt that you will wear the chains out in a lifetime.

The cross chains are usually a heavier chain than the "side wall" chains. Many of the V-link style actually has the "V" portion made from a tougher steel.

A picture or two is worth a thousand words:
http://www.tirechain.com/GardenTractorChains.htm
 
Impressive!
 
By "set you up" I meant that I have many sets of chains and many extra cross links. Could have you a set in a jiffy. Don't buy the chain on a roll, just get a set that fits your size of tires. I doubt that you will wear the chains out in a lifetime.

The cross chains are usually a heavier chain than the "side wall" chains. Many of the V-link style actually has the "V" portion made from a tougher steel.

A picture or two is worth a thousand words:
http://www.tirechain.com/GardenTractorChains.htm
Thank you Jags, the chains look almost exact. I see...case hardened. You are right I would not wear them out. No plans to go anywhere except the woods and fields. No pavement except inside the barn.
Id rather do the expense of trying them than going without and having to leave a piece of equipment in the woods all winter. Like we had to do with a Quad once.
Thanks for your link.
 
Yes Cat owns Perkins. Bought them in the late 90s.
Is that insider trading info?
Ive heard rumors of a link between the Challenger tractor design and Massey Ferguson and Massey had a marriage of sorts with Perkins. But this is just overheard gossip. I guess when you buy a company you are buying patents.

The evolution of the big fish eating the little fish? Or monopolizing the little fish pond?
 
Massey bought Perkins in the 60s. Cat then bought then in the 90s. Nothing "insider" about it.
 
Nice older machines there. I have a couple early 70s IH Cub Cadets to move wood around my place.

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Looks like you have a couple nice sturdy trailers too! The newer Cub Cadet trailer that I have is way too light weight for that kind of work.
 
1975 John Deere 110 with 10HP Kohler.Built like a tank.Last year of that series & heaviest one too,approx. 775lbs.Routinely haul 500lbs+ in trailer on these steep slopes.Have pulled 1500lb log with no trouble on the few flat spots on the property.Plenty of power,but lacks traction without chains.Will get a set when finances allow it.Until then I work whenever possible in all temps when ground is either dry,frozen and/or snow less than 3"deep.
 

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Plenty of power,but lacks traction without chains..

thats were i got ya :) , my tractors have a posi-traction differential hub on them . i can adjust for more/less posi. one of my tractors has been converted to full posi. pulls like a beast but steering can be tricky. note the front counter weight on above picture.
 
Very nice tractors, all around the board... Thanks for sharing

Old Steel is hard to beat.... They just don't make'em like they used to :(
 
1975 John Deere 110 with 10HP Kohler.Built like a tank..

does that 110 have variable drive on it ? I have had a few older JD parts tractors here but never had the chance to use one. I even had a blue/white patio tractor. one model JD i like is the 140 tractor with full hydraulics.
 
does that 110 have variable drive on it ? I have had a few older JD parts tractors here but never had the chance to use one. I even had a blue/white patio tractor. one model JD i like is the 140 tractor with full hydraulics.

Nope it doesnt.You can change the ground speed with that lever on the right,but to change gears you have to stop & press the brake & clutch down with both feet.Its no big deal.
 
Great tractors! I am jealous of the trailers. I really need to get one for hauling wood around the yard.
 
Nice old work tractors there Perry. Is the one with dual wheels in the rear 4wd?
 
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