Skidder Decision-Need Advice

JDeere · January 27, 2010, 01:23:39 PM

Hello All, I have been looking for a good cable skidder for the past few months and have found what appear to be two good low hour machines. One is a 97 John Deere 540G and the other is a 96 Cat 515. Does anybody have any experience with these machines and if so, was it good or bad? Thanks for any info.

240b · January 27, 2010, 05:47:22 PM

I'll assume your talking about cable machines. I had a 515 a '96. It was a super tractor it will pull more than the 540e ( I ran my friends) They are both hard to get in and out of, the cat will diffently be harder on fuel, but the tork converter is the way to go imo. The lufkin winch is pretty soild if the updates on the dry side have been done. Call cat and the service dept. will be able to tell you everything they have done to it. the front cradle is very pricey to rebuild (6grand) I sold mine @ 13,000 hrs and the guy is still running it @ 16,000hrs. (motor and tranny still factory). The cat equipment seems to hold its resale better around here. I boils down to how the last guy took care of it. The 28L tires didn't give alot of clearance - 24.5's would be better -in the snow also. While either one is probably good, just too much electrical wiring and computer stuff for my liking in the woods. ( get an o-ring kit and multimeter you'll need both. And my nieghbor is selling a nice 518 too.

Mark K · January 27, 2010, 06:12:48 PM

I ran a 515 for a while last year. I liked it, had alot more power then my uncles 540d. I dont know how a D compares to a E. Was pretty hard on fuel though but im also used to running a 225 that burns 10 gallons a day compared to 30 in the 515. They both have a great parts network so I guess it comes down to preference and what shape the machines are in. Good luck.

timberjack240 · January 28, 2010, 12:56:02 AM

515 cat is no comparison to a 540d thats lik comparin a timberjack to a horse ;D . 540d is a 4cyla nd the e should be a 6 cyl. . ive never personally rana 515 but my dad had a 540G the bad tehings about it they didnt like was it used btw 30 and 40 gal of ful compared to 7 in the 440C. the winch was geared super fast the design on the boom was different and high speed winch broke at least one chain a day we have over 2 five gal buckets full of spare links. 540s are 4 steps up in. the traction wasnt the best when you got on hills that had moisture had 23-1 tires. theres more i jsut can htink of em . things they liked.. 8spd powershift 8) .worked great for pushin logs up pulled like a hog you could hook a load to it. quick hydraulics roomy cab very stable there s more i cant rember them tho haha both are easy to get parts for both cost alot both use a lot of fuel and both pull the world. and both are well known for bien good machines good rep behind them liek they said depnds on the guy that had it before you . if i think of anymore good/bad stuff il let you kno

captain_crunch · January 28, 2010, 01:22:39 AM

I have not been around any of the newer JD's But I have ran a Cat 515,Clark 667 and own an old 404 T-J And the thing I liked about the Cat was #1 the air brake system and Maxi parking break That thing would stay put anywhere you parked it unless tires slipped. Could Never trust parking break to hold on the others. #2 was the general lay out of machine

Bobus2003 · January 29, 2010, 12:34:29 AM

Quote from: captain_crunch on January 28, 2010, 01:22:39 AM
I have not been around any of the newer JD's But I have ran a Cat 515,Clark 667 and own an old 404 T-J And the thing I liked about the Cat was #1 the air brake system and Maxi parking break That thing would stay put anywhere you parked it unless tires slipped. Could Never trust parking break to hold on the others. #2 was the general lay out of machine

My dad had a CAT 518 Swing Grapple Skidder w/Winch and we couldn't keep brakes in it.. We had the machine 6 months and the brakes were fixed 4 times by CAT.. had to put the blade into the ground to slow/stop and as a parking brake

captain_crunch · January 29, 2010, 11:57:36 AM

Don't know what the problem was I been around both 518 and 515 and you wanted to be Stopped before poping Maxi valve or it would darn near eject you from skidder ;D ;D

Mark K · January 29, 2010, 01:48:51 PM

The 515 I ran had an excellent braking system, had air brakes similar to a truck. I know the owner went through it 2 or 3 years ago and replaced the brakes. Its been in the woods since with no major break downs. This one has a dual arch grapple with a winch. It spoiled me because my personal machine is a 225 TJ.