Buying a Used Skidder?

[SteveB]

I am new to the forum, so you may all know this already, but FERIC (Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada) has a "buying a used skidder" article.  I'm not sure when it was published, but it was a few years back.  They basically go trough the things you should look out for and how you should evaluate any candidates.  While working for a memeber company I stumbled on this.  You need a password to look at their stuff online,  but non-members can buy a hard copy of most of their stuff.

This is FERIC's website:

www.feric.ca   

And the article is:

Golsse, JM Purchasing a used skidder or forwarder for use in small-scale operations, 1997, TN-260 (pdf) .

[isawlogs]

 Steve .
  They also made a case study of ower operated band saw mills back in the late 80 's or early 90's . I got the hard copy and a vedeo from them at the time just prior to buying my mill . It sure did get a few question I had about bandmills answered in the book .

[SwampDonkey]

Don't you need an account and a fist of cash to access reports at FERIC? That document asks for username and password.

[SteveB]

You're right that you need an account to open up any of their articles online.  It wasnt' always like that.  The newer ones used to be "restricted to memebers" and the older ones were downloadable.  I used to have a password, but it stoped working on January first ( I stoped working for the memeber company a few months earlier).  I phoned them yesterday about regaining access and they said that they didn't have a suitable consultant/independent memebership, as they start at a few grand a year!  Non-members can still purchase individual hard copies of "selected" articles.  I woudl imagine the article I refered to would be somethign that they'd be willing ot share.  It's not exactly proprietary info.  From memory, I think the buying a used skidder or forwarder article was prety interesting for anyone interested in the subject.  If I remember right it was a few pages and prety extensive. 

[SwampDonkey]

The forestry library carries their stuff at UNB, but you have to be a student with ID to sign stuff out I think. Some of the city public libraries may have some and I think possibly Forestry Canada Libraries have them. But you may need to be a student or have a pass since 9/11. I always laughed to myself thinking anyone would threaten a Forestry Canada building. :D :D :D

www.INFOR.ca may be a source to order them also.