261: A Little Logging - Using A Utility Tractor as a Skidder

The Massey steps up again and drags out more trees. If it ever gets cold this year, someone will need firewood!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Nice job Logan. It always amazes me how much work tractors can do, even on steep hillsides like you worked on. They sure make owning a big property easier.

[@FabbedFun]

A little power and some traction can get a lot of work done fast. I should try logging a little with the Jeep just to show what a difference there is...

[@khtractors]

Excellent job! That was a steep pull for sure. I definitely would trust the Massey style parking brake on that hill more then the Kubota.

[@FabbedFun]

I don't know about Kubota, but the Massey brake holds very very well. In 4wd, I've never had it even budge on hillsides. Thanks for jumping over here!

[@OrangeismyNewGreen]

Great job Logger Logan 😉👍🏻, that was a steep hill 😳 and the second tree was a long one 👍🏻. Have a great week Logan 🙋🏼‍♂️🙂👍🏻

[@FabbedFun]

Thank you, Luc! We're in wood cutting mode and not getting much creative fabricating done... but I still get a video up once in a while :) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Great job cutting down those trees, they looked huge. Your tractor did a great job on that slop and it is great that you have confidence in the tractor

[@FabbedFun]

You need to pull some debris with your garden tractors. You were riding around in the last video I watched but you should showcase some of that old power once in a while! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@GardenTractorBoy]

@@FabbedFun Great idea thanks, we have a few jobs coming up

[@FabbedFun]

@@GardenTractorBoy I look forward to seeing the work!

[@loggerjohn01]

Those are some big trees, Logan. the Massey did great. A winch would be handy. I wish I had one. The thing with red Oak is that it requires lots of drying time even if it is partially dead. Take care

[@FabbedFun]

Yes, those logs were pretty heavy for their size. Thanks for the heads up! I'll get it split and drying soon...

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

You did a very good job dropping those trees. I have some that are leaning the wrong direction over my fences that I need to bring down. I have 2 barge ropes and a really heavy duty strap that I will use to change the trees minds of what direction they want to fall. I will take an extension ladder down with me and climb the tree about 16 feet up or so. I will wrap a chain around the tree and start chaining the ropes and strap together. I then make my notch opposite of the direction that the tree wants to go naturally. After cutting the notch, I chain the ropes and strap to the tractor and start putting tension on the tree pulling it in the opposite direction of the way that it wants to go. No need to pull hard. Just enough pressure to pull on the tree. I now cut some more from the back side towards my notch. I need to be extremely aware of everything that is taking place here and have more than one escape route. If this goes south on me, it will in a bad way. I use my plastic wedges to help hold the ground I hav e gained. At this point, I pull just a bit more with the tractor. What I am doing is changing the center of gravity for the tree. Once I am satisfied that it looks good, I make the final cut and hopefully the tree drops where I intend for it to. This method has only failed me once. I was helping my Dad drop a massive dead white ash. I still don’t know exactly what went wrong but my Dad wasn’t pulling on the tree just as I finished my cut. Instead of the tree dropping to the south as I intended, it dropped straight east right down the fence row of the neighbors fence. Driving several of the steel posts right into the ground. That was the night that our church had the annual festival and I had to help out. Needless to say,I was late. Had fence to fix to keep the cows out of the neighbors corn field 🥵

[@FabbedFun]

Yeah, I was considering some straps and chain but then realized I'd get stuck on trees I didn't want to bring down, so down the hill they went. I need to get some video doing some snatch block or snatch ring work... I like seeing that stuff done but rarely do it myself. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

@@FabbedFun there is a guy on you tube that pulls out a huge stump with a little New Holland tractor. He uses a series of snatch blocks and that stump comes right out. Probably a couple thousand dollars in rigging but quite impressive. I think the video is “Big stump,little tractor “

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

When I have one like your 2 nd tree, I leave a little material on the side that I want it to turn towards. It will cause the tree to turn just enough to change the direction of the fall just enough. I am not confident enough with this to take down trees in town between houses but it works pretty well in the woods.

[@FabbedFun]

Yes! There is a huge difference in "I'd prefer it to go here" when in the woods versus "It will cost me $50,000+ if it drops in the wrong spot" next to a barn or other structure.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Outstanding plan of attack Sir 👌👍😇 Great action tree falling 😇👍👌OUTSTANDING TRACTOR POWER VIDEO SIR 👌💪👍😇 Cheers 🍻🍻

[@FabbedFun]

More and more I learn tractor work ends up being a matter of traction and not power. But having that power is nice! Thanks for watching and commenting, mon bon ami!

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

@@FabbedFun 👌😉👍🍻

[@rockandrattleretreat5830]

Looks like your chain saw needs to be sharpened, there is a lot of dust coming off it. Nice work getting them down and off that slope.

[@FabbedFun]

I noticed that in editing. It wasn't cutting completely straight the next time I used it either. Time to sharpen! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@gowenrv3762]

I've never heard you mention this... but do you have liquid in your tires? I notice that you pulled those trees out seemly easy.

[@FabbedFun]

Yes, I think the calculation was about 740 lbs of RimGuard in each back tire. Good guess! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

Do you sharpen your own chains Logan?

[@FabbedFun]

I do, but not often enough! I noticed all the dust when editing. I need bigger chips, not powder!

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

@@FabbedFun I thought that it cut pretty well. I just figured that as handy as you are, that you probably do your own sharpening. I probably do about 50/50. They do a good job at Elkader for about $8 Per chain. I have 3 saws and that cost can start to really add up. Good wood cutting / skidding video Logan

[@ryantafoya3906]

Why do you run the tractor at such low idle. Lugging the engine so much is not good.

[@FabbedFun]

I usually keep low engine rpm for saving a little fuel (and it makes it not so jumpy when operating hydraulics/clutch). I probably should idle it up during some work situations. Thanks for watching and commenting!