Joined the Ranks of Skidder Owner

terry f · August 25, 2013, 12:39:43 AM

Bought a Garrett model 15 Tree Farmer. It has a 4cyl gas engine, the winch doesn't work and has a few hydraulic leaks, but looks perfect for what I need. When I pick this up it will be the first time that I will be on a skidder in my life, so I won't be a skidder expert until next week. The question I have is, would it hurt anything to run it down a paved road 6 or 7 miles since its fulltime 4wd, or should I keep 2 tires off the road as much as possible.

Kemper · August 25, 2013, 01:51:29 AM

You don't want to make a habit of it, but it won't hurt anything for you to drive it on the blacktop. Remember to go slow, might want to get a flagger to go in front of you.

Quote from: terry f on August 25, 2013, 12:39:43 AM
Bought a Garrett model 15 Tree Farmer. It has a 4cyl gas engine, the winch doesn't work and has a few hydraulic leaks, but looks perfect for what I need. When I pick this up it will be the first time that I will be on a skidder in my life, so I won't be a skidder expert until next week. The question I have is, would it hurt anything to run it down a paved road 6 or 7 miles since its fulltime 4wd, or should I keep 2 tires off the road as much as possible.

terry f · August 25, 2013, 02:49:38 AM

Thanks Kemper, from the looks of things, slow is its only speed. I plan on having a car follow with flashers.

JDeere · August 25, 2013, 07:40:16 AM

You do realize that when you become a skidder owner you also become a skidder mechanic.

terry f · August 25, 2013, 11:28:34 AM

Afraid of that, my abilities are limited.

Vance in AK · August 25, 2013, 12:12:25 PM

You will soon realize you have made a HORRIBLE mistake!!! If you will deliver it I will take it off your hands & not charge you a penny. Cut your losses now! Only trying to help!!! ;D

Congrats! 8)

MEloggah · August 25, 2013, 07:57:24 PM

PICS!!!!!!

saxon0364 · August 25, 2013, 08:05:21 PM

Quote from: JDeere on August 25, 2013, 07:40:16 AM
You do realize that when you become a skidder owner you also become a skidder mechanic.

Cripes aint that the truth? Pretty soon your pickup will be full of tool boxes, wrenches, sockets, hoses, odd spare parts, broken parts, chokers, cans of hydraulic fluid, motor oil, coolant, grease gun, grease, fuel tank, work gloves, rags, and I havn't even gotten started yet. The funs just beginning. :D

terry f · August 25, 2013, 08:50:43 PM

Vance, I would bring it to you, but I hear it rains in Alaska, an it doesn't have any windshield wipers, I just couldn't do that to you. MEloggah, I'm working on it, if I ever get it figured out you guys would be sick of my pics.

thecfarm · August 25, 2013, 08:59:27 PM

Quote from: terry f on August 25, 2013, 08:50:43 PM
I'm working on it, if I ever get it figured out you guys would be sick of my pics.

That is something I would like to get sick of. ;D I like to see those old ones.Everything seems so BIG now. The small time guy and the new small skidders are getting fewer and fewer. good luck with the skidder.

cutter88 · August 25, 2013, 09:24:03 PM

Quote from: JDeere on August 25, 2013, 07:40:16 AM
You do realize that when you become a skidder owner you also become a skidder mechanic.

lol u couldn't have said that better

cutter88 · August 25, 2013, 09:25:45 PM

Quote from: saxon0364 on August 25, 2013, 08:05:21 PM
Quote from: JDeere on August 25, 2013, 07:40:16 AM
You do realize that when you become a skidder owner you also become a skidder mechanic.

Cripes aint that the truth? Pretty soon your pickup will be full of tool boxes, wrenches, sockets, hoses, odd spare parts, broken parts, chokers, cans of hydraulic fluid, motor oil, coolant, grease gun, grease, fuel tank, work gloves, rags, and I havn't even gotten started yet. The funs just beginning. :D

yep only a logger has more tools and parts in his pickup then most shops do

mad murdock · August 26, 2013, 02:45:39 PM

Congratulations terry! 8) 8) The Garrett 15 is a nice machine, I really like mine, even with the fixes yet to do, it works real well. Mine has a foot brake that is for 2 drum brakes on the back wheels, but it doesnt work. The 2 hand brakes work, just have to keep the cables limbered up. One is for the drive line as it exits the main transmission, and the other is on the driveline as it exits the hi-lo box. Mine is set up with a high/lo that is fed from the 6 speed ford truck tranny connected to the bell housing. In 6th hi, it is scary fast, compared to the steering (or the ability of the operator to steer), I have only used the high gear a couple times, scared myself, had to change out shorts, and dropped speed down a notch. the Gearmatic 8A winchdrum is not too complicated, get yourself a supply of bluecreeper to loosen up the rusted hardware, apply heat as needed, and it should come apart ok. If you need the bands relined, you can either do it yourself, or there are places that will do it for you. The engine/tranny clutch is stock ford truck, parts are not too hard to come by for most things. If you need manuals, the 172 ford engine manual is had on http://www.manuals.us/
If you want to run in the wet or any snow, you will want to chain up at least the front tires, if you chain up all 4 just be careful, as things are easier to break when the tires don't slip at all.

Decked · August 26, 2013, 07:39:14 PM

pics..we need pics! 8)

terry f · August 26, 2013, 11:56:41 PM

Thanks Mad Murdock, it took a hour and a half to move it 7 miles today, if it went any faster my teeth would be full of bugs, cause I was grinning ear to ear. This has a lever for forward and reverse, and a 4 speed tranny, the park brake doesn't work but the foot brake seems good. Like I said, when I got on it today to drive it home, it was the first skidder or anything articulated I've driven. Gearmatic 9 winch, 16.9-30 tires and a worn out spare. Decked, I tried last year with a ipad and couldn't figure it out, took some today with a tablet, if I get it figured out you'll be sick of my pictures.

redprospector · August 27, 2013, 12:16:28 AM

Quote from: terry f on August 25, 2013, 11:28:34 AM
Afraid of that, my abilities are limited.

Not for long. :D

Andy

mad murdock · August 27, 2013, 01:00:02 AM

Sounds like a cool machine terry! The 9 winchdrum is similar to the 8A, prolly a little better. You can download a copy of the manual for the 9/19/119 from paccar's website. http://www.paccarwinch.com/pdf/j-152c.pdf check that link out.

terry f · August 27, 2013, 04:10:29 AM

Thanks, looks like a good site, some of it even I can understand. I have to say, the 15 is bigger than I thought it would be.

Vance in AK · August 27, 2013, 01:19:24 PM

Quote from: terry f on August 25, 2013, 08:50:43 PM
Vance, I would bring it to you, but I hear it rains in Alaska, an it doesn't have any windshield wipers, I just couldn't do that to you.

Rain? Here???? On the Alaskan coast in the Cook Inlet????? Who told you that?

Sounds like you are in too deep now though. You actually think you are going to LIKE being a skidder owner/mechanic! You have been sucked into Never Land! :D Enjoy ;D

WH_Conley · August 27, 2013, 01:26:45 PM

Terry, get in the habit of putting the blade down when getting off the machine. Park brakes can fail. It will slow you down a little bit, but, you will still be alive. We just had a funeral here last week, skidder ran over the fellow.

mad murdock · August 27, 2013, 02:41:41 PM

Quote from: WH_Conley on August 27, 2013, 01:26:45 PM
Terry, get in the habit of putting the blade down when getting off the machine. Park brakes can fail. It will slow you down a little bit, but, you will still be alive. We just had a funeral here last week, skidder ran over the fellow.

Good advise that is! I always think of the skidder blade as the ultimate brake, it works every time it is used!

Vance in AK · August 27, 2013, 03:37:46 PM

Quote from: mad murdock on August 27, 2013, 02:41:41 PM
Quote from: WH_Conley on August 27, 2013, 01:26:45 PM
Terry, get in the habit of putting the blade down when getting off the machine. Park brakes can fail. It will slow you down a little bit, but, you will still be alive. We just had a funeral here last week, skidder ran over the fellow.
Good advise that is! I always think of the skidder blade as the ultimate brake, it works every time it is used!

+1

I ran a Clark 666 with no functioning brakes of any kind for a guy back when I 1st went to work in the woods straight out of high school & didn't know any better (as he put it the good operators don't need brakes...). The blade was it. It worked...
Same guy had me bumping knots on a landing, in a deck, in the dark by the crummy headlights, with no chaps. Got my 1st chainsaw cut that morning. Nice gash on the front of the thigh. He convinced me real loggers (I wanted to be a REAL logger) don't need stiches or to report injuries. "A few butterflies bandages will put that right back together." They did

Thankfully he went out of business not long after I found a much better logger to work for.

thecfarm · August 27, 2013, 04:18:46 PM

Good advice on the blade. Do it everytime and after a few weeks it will become second nature to lower the blade when you get off and raise it when you get back on.

Stephen Alford · September 03, 2013, 07:29:22 AM

Hey Terry, congrats on the skidder, any pics yet ? The lads are right about getting in the habit of putting the blade down and behind a stump ramps it up. My situation is the blade on the under and back side is sloped up. Combine the natural curve with the height of low stumps and hydraulics that slack off plus steep terrain ; she will jump the stump. In a way it is probably odd that someone like myself not from an area noted for steep terrain compared to what some folks on here ,who must be part "sidehill gouger", finds steep terrain such a concern.

If you find yourself on steep terrain take the time to plan your twitches. Finding a 10-12" harwood to go between wheel and fairlead works good. I know I posted these pics before but if it works for you fill your boots.

On another note the first load of processor wood for the season arrived yesterday.

The day ended well, good luck with the garret.

terry f · September 03, 2013, 10:39:19 PM

Thanks Stephen, if anyone has this game of logging figured out its you. From your past pics, it looks like you run the cleanest operation and landings I've seen. Got a chance to play with the skidder this weekend, and couldn't be happier. I didn't pull a log, but played dozer operator for a while, and with a little practice and experience it looks like it will be the ticket for what I need. Thanks to everyone for the blade advise, I don't have much for hills, but it likes to roll on any little incline. I'm still working on the picture thing, been trying, but I need picture posting for dummies.