Plans changed

[lopet]

Some of you guys may know that I mostly work with tractors but I do have a C5 parked in the shed for a few years.  Always had the intention to get her fixed up and back in the woods.

Now plans have changed when I went on a Europe trip a couple of weeks ago and came across this.

I drove it and tried everything and just fell in love with it.     Long story short, i ended up buying it and right now it's in the belly of a big cargo ship on the Atlantic somewhere between the Netherlands and the UK.   In a week or so it should be in Halifax.

Yes I am a little exited and can't hardly wait for the arrival.  8)



 

It's called a Welte Junior skidder . The machine is about 25 years old and has 17000 hrs on the clock.  Has a replacement 5 cyl Deutz in it with about 5000 hrs, a dual drum winch  with a mechnical PTO drive. Clutches are controlled either from the cab or from a little radio controller.
Good rubber, front and rear hydraulic blades and a Patu swing grapple boom, which was added about 5 years ago.



    

Shipping isn't cheap, but I figured by the time I have my C5 fixed and rigged up the way I want it or the way this one is, I have as much or more money tied up.  Just hope I have enough years left in me to get my money back. ;D



 

[luvmexfood]

Good looking rig. You will love the remote control for the winch.

[thecfarm]

That would my car into the ditch. Meaning I would be looking so hard at it,I would drive off the road.  ;D  But I do know that would get me to turn around and look at it again.

[gww]

To the uneducated eye (mine) it looks clean with good glass and good rubber for that many hours.  I know nothing but sure like the way it looks in the picture.
gww

[Corley5]

Interesting  8) 8) 8) 8)

[sprucebunny]

Yes, very interesting.
Is there a trailer ?
Are there any feet to keep it from tipping ?
How wide is it ???

[Bruno of NH]

The is cool looking rig !
Jim/Bruno

[bushmechanic]

I've looked at the Welte products on you tube and they look great. Only problem you may encounter are replacement parts in North America. Well now then what's going to happen to that C5 you have in the shed??? Good luck with the "new" machine! 8)

[lopet]

Yes, very interesting.
Is there a trailer ?
Are there any feet to keep it from tipping ?
How wide is it ???

No, it didn't come with a trailer, but there is a built in hitch in the rear blade.
Lifting on your side will be limited, but you can press both blades on the ground and get a little more stable.
It's about 96" wide with the tires turned inside.

[mad murdock]

That is a very cool looking "swiss army knife" of a skidding rig there!! I bet you ate chomping at the bit to get it into some wood!! 8)

[lopet]

I've looked at the Welte products on you tube and they look great. Only problem you may encounter are replacement parts in North America. Well now then what's going to happen to that C5 you have in the shed??? Good luck with the "new" machine! 8)

I know parts might be a issue.  For the Deutz  diesel I am not too worried and the standard 5 speed is probably not much different than the one in my C5 and supposed to be bullet proofed. Parts for the axles  might be a problem but they're supposed to be bullet proofed as well. The winch controls are all electric over hydraulic, that might be fun to trouble shoot.

Yeah all in all it looks like a very clean and well taken care off machine.  The dealer I got it from said he knows the previous owner and he was a very picky guy.

I was kinda debating between a forwarder or a " do it all machine ". I know it won't be as nice to work with as with a forwarder but I can also skid with it and I also plan on feeding a chipper with the grapple sometime down the road.

As far as the old C5 goes probably going to gut it, pull engine and tranny , tc, drive shafts, eventually axles and planetaries, has two new 18.4-26 forestry tires on and the Can Car 20 will go free to a good home. If anybody interested can pm me.  I am not really too attached to that winch, but that's just me. ;D
Was joking to my wife, maybe I could make a lawn ornament out of the carcass and call it " money pit for ever "  :D :D
Well she didn't like the idea.

[David-L]

seen these on you tube. a trailer set up would be sweet on that bad boy. nice rig and good luck.

[ehp]

looks pretty neat , Someday once your up and running I might have to come over and watch her in action

[celliott]

I always thought those European style dual drum winches with remote controls were pretty cool. Wonder why it never caught on here? In North America it's rare to not see a single drum winch.

[coxy]

that's neat   good luck with it  and we need lots of pic of it working and you working on it  :D :D :D :D :D

[lopet]

More pics will come, as soon as it gets here.

[larry1]

Nice looking unit , keep us posted on how you like it .

[teakwood]

Very nice Welte. I would love to have remote controled dual drum winch! and a loader on the same machine! and a turning seat, no more stiff necks!
Can we know how much you payed for the machine?

[lopet]

Price is probably equal with a twenty years old forwarder. If you want to know details, you can pm me.

Ship supposed to be in Halifax at August 17 and then I don't know  if they gonna ship it on rails or on a truck to Toronto where it should custom clear.

I taped a piece of  paper inside the cab with instructions how to operate it. Hope everything goes well and with no damage .

Will update.

[Dom]

Nice machine.

It will go through Customs in Halifax, right off the boat at the dock.
I hope for your sake that the machine was exceptionally cleaned of any dirt/wood debris. Any type of organic matter can have the machine either ordered to be washed by Customs, or refused entry.

When we shipped machines, we would also tape instructions inside the machine.  Never had any issues to my knowledge.
Looking forward to seeing this machine work!

[teakwood]

 Did you baby arrived?

[lopet]

Unfortunately no, it's still in Halifax.  Got bad news from the shipping company, told me the unit didn't pass inspection because they found wood debris and organic matter in or on the machine. It would need to get it power washed and disinfected at cost of $ 1000- 1500.
I asked if they would take a picture of the area so I can show it to the vendor, as I think he should cover that. He assured me that everything will be clean when ready to ship.
After that I got a message from the agriculture inspector who said there will be no pictures taken as they always run in to discussions and arguing.
We have three options either we get it cleaned and treated, or it gets sent back or destroyed .      Wow......

Buddy asked me if they gonna send some vaseline along.    Well, didn't think that was funny, but when I heard the shipper is gonna cover that,
I calmed down a bit.

Dom, you were right.      Lesson learned, but nobody really told us.  Also when I asked around for info about importing equipment, nobody could answer my questions and now I am getting hammered with fees and charges.

- terminal charge
- customs inspection
- delivery order fee
- courier fee
- cartage charges.

So it's really turning in to a costly adventure and even if would know now,  how to do it, I am NOT going to do this again and for anybody who's even considering.   Don't  do it !!!!!!!!! Let somebody else do it and buy it when it's here.

At least the taxes weren't too bad . 5% GST which I can claim again, thought they want 13% HST. The foreign countries are not allowed to charge any taxes on equipment what gets exported.

Tons of paperwork, e-mails and phone calls.  All in all pretty nerve wrecking and I think I've got a few more grey hairs.

What I heard the unit is ready for re inspection and I hope it will go on the truck next week.

I also delayed it a bit because I mailed them a copy of the shipping document instead of the original one.  My fault.

Let's  hope for a happy ending  .    Pfffffff......

[teakwood]

Im sorry to here that. a stressful situation! they are a PITA

Look at the bright side: you will have lots of happy hours driving this machine! cheer up. ;)

[gww]

lopet
Next time you go on vacation, make sure you leave logging at home
gww

[lopet]

In hind sight we are always smarter, aren't we