Home built Log Skidder,

Im thinking of making it out of smaller old tractors. Im thinking of getting two equal rearends with tires, trannies. some how putting them together and have articulated steering, Have the engine mounted over top of one rear end, some how having the power from the engine going to the tranny by chain. The other rearend would be the driver's platfrom and winch/logging arch attatched to it. I guess the rear axle would be powered by the pto shaft of the first axle, some how??

Its just a wild idea in my brain now, Has any one ever tried to tackle a job like this?? I can't be the first one to think up this idea. Ive seen scaled down models of Steiger Tigers But im going for something that will handle skidding a 40 ft log out of the bush.

Any thoughts

Both machines were full hydrostatic, all wheel drive articulated steering. If you found a used or junked one, it might be a very good frame for what you want to build.

What kinda transmisions do trenchers have on them, ??

I think that would work out good If i found a decent sized one and stripped it down and added on what I wanted on it, like a push blade and hydrolic winches.

Both machines I ran had small blades -- actually both had a 4 way blade - up/down and angle right/left. Everything was hydraulic, transmission, steering, braking, trencher drive, blades, backhoe. With higher floatation tires and a winch, I would think it would be a good platform for what you want to build.

Both of these machines were Case-Davis brand. We also had a Vermeer trencher, but it was not in the same league as the others. It was a very clumsy machine that didn't work nearly as well. But in all fairness, it was pretty old at the time, and all of this was 20 years ago.

This sounds like the idea ive been searching for.
What did he use for Tires, what type of ground clearnace did he have, what was used to create hyrdrolic power and what was it driven off of??

Id better get right over to teh neighbours, teh ygot heaps of car and truck parts.

Tom R

I like the Idea of using Hydrolics to power each axle, Im just wondering how well they will hold the skidder on a hill going down. Hopefully the log will slow up the skidder, if not tehy im going to have to add on a blade.

So do you think your idea would have worked out and do the job you wanted it to do???

To answer your questions it sure looked good on paper: but I never completed it so even though I am sure it would have worked I don't have a working machine to prove it.

On a bi-directional motor setup you can plumb in 4 check valves and an adjustable relief valve to make the motor pump back into it self and provide self-braking. This braking works very well and would hold back your load. This circuit is often used in mobile hydraulics and winch circuits. My problem was I was looking for a large affordable variable displacement pressure compensated pump so that I could use only one pump for all hydraulics and not use an automatic transmission on the back of the engine.

My Bobcat skid loader uses a hydraulic motor on each side with a chain drive to couple the wheels together and it sure brakes effectively even with a load on the machine.

Tom R

• Logging Winch from Archives

I look forward to that info about horse logging,
Will check out the link,
Thanks
C.C.

If you look at the more modern tandem construction equipment (twin-engine scrapers, for example), they use air controls for the throttles and shift, and are exclusively automatic transmissions. Rigging up the remote clutch and transmission controls for a manual transmission has to be pretty complicated.

Ive seen a small skidder (50hp). but its $20 +, sure i could get an old tree farmer for next to nothing, put a decent diesel motor in it and go but its to big.

My target merket will be property owners who don't want big machies tearing up there wood lots for a few a load of logs. I thought of a mfwd tractor, used them to log with, a kubota L3350, it did a good job but to get one sewcond hand is close to $15ooo.oo

Next option try making my own.

This is a photo of a skidder made out of two Farmall 400 Diesel tractors. It is a skid steer setup. It sits in front of the Garrett dealership in Enumclaw, WA. Don't know who made it, when they made it, how they made it. I plan on getting some more photos of the driveline details this spring or summer, and will post a link to them at that time, or you can check my photopoint album around July or so.