aint she pretty!!!

road_monkey · March 10, 2012, 08:14:43 AM

picked this 1974 franklin 130 AXL up this week. the 353 detroit took water down the exhaust, and the block already has 2 patches on it, so I'm looking for a replacement. I got there just in time, they were prepping it for the scrapyard, removed blade ( which I got) drained the fluids. any opinions on this machine?

rick f · March 10, 2012, 10:48:46 AM

put a fresh 3-53 back in. You can if them rebuilt.

lumberjack48 · March 10, 2012, 11:17:41 AM

Yes she is pretty, nice straight machine. Take the motor out, have the head checked out, the motor its self might be all right you never know May be you can put a rebuilt head and on, your off an running.

logman81 · March 10, 2012, 03:13:23 PM

Nice machine good look like the same condition my Pettibone is in except for the motor. Good see another old skidder saved from the scrap yard! ;)

road_monkey · March 10, 2012, 04:51:08 PM

I have a line on a low hour 353 from a paver. I wont rebuild this one because it already has a patch on each side of the block.

jocco · March 10, 2012, 06:26:38 PM

I worked with a coupe guys that had them. Very good little machine I understand some parts are getting scarce now. Some had a cradle in the back and was very stabile. You will be ahead to put a differnt motor in if it is that bad. Some had lite planateries some were franlin others put rockwell in them. Some had odd gearing in the tranny and rearend guess that could be the biggest problem. The franklin winch was very stout. If you got it right you can fix it up and have a nice machine. ;D

tapper2 · March 10, 2012, 07:53:32 PM

Where are you in upstate NY.? I have an old Franklin that I put a Chevy engine in. I love that skidder you've got there. ;D

thecfarm · March 11, 2012, 05:24:12 AM

I have skidder envy!!!

lumberjack48 · March 12, 2012, 08:42:28 PM

road_monkey i love those old skidders, heres a little different pace, all you guys grab your wife an dance to road_monkeys skidder. Thats one thing i really miss, is dancing, we went every weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it20dB3ohCY

road_monkey · March 12, 2012, 10:11:23 PM

ha ha.. not sure if she's ready to be danced to......

looks like #2 wanted to get out

zopi · March 12, 2012, 10:19:15 PM

it'll run better iffin ya paint it orange.

road_monkey · March 12, 2012, 10:24:03 PM

nope....she's gunna be GREEN!! 8) 8)

sandhills · March 12, 2012, 11:12:10 PM

Thanks for posting that lumberjack, I got my wife out in the kitchen and she tried, she really tried to teach me the jitterbug but I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to dancing. I hope one day we can all meet (at a pig roast maybe) I think you'd really like her. Now back on the subject at hand, not real familiar with skidders around here but after watching a lot of videos of them I can't believe how straight she is, fix her up and run her, I've never bought anything I didn't have to work on before I could use it ;D.

bushmechanic · March 13, 2012, 07:57:36 PM

Alpine green is the only way to go!Are you going to rebuild that engine?Whoever did the patch work did a good job-not pretty but there is no sign of any oil seepage around the welding,do you know how hard that is to accomplish on a Detroit.Don't be scared off by those patches-take it down and see what is exactly wrong with it.Good luck.

road_monkey · March 13, 2012, 09:36:16 PM

nope, not putting money into a patched block, as I may want to sell it when I get it done. people (including me ) run the other way when they see a patch on a block. I have a buddy with a salvage yard, he says $1500 for a low hour, good runner from a paver. just gotta wait for him to get back from florida......

road_monkey · March 25, 2012, 10:36:15 PM

todays progress:

should have it up and running in a few days

lumberjack48 · March 26, 2012, 01:49:04 PM

Looking good, your having all the fun. Thats the way to pickup those Detroit's cheap out of road equipment.

DeerMeadowFarm · March 26, 2012, 03:44:52 PM

Looking good!

road_monkey · July 04, 2012, 01:57:42 PM

things have changed here. my buddy upgraded his dozer, so I bought his old 450B with winch. guess I dont really need a dozer with a winch and a skidder, so she's gotta go. I'll post pics/details in the for sale section shortly. (315) 269-0181

road_monkey · September 13, 2015, 08:10:18 AM

adding on to my thread from a few years ago...I bought this tree farmer that needs work.

4 days later my neighbor was over, and offered me his timberjack 225.

so I had to have that too. 8) 8) that is why the tree farmer is in the for sale section.

lopet · September 13, 2015, 09:08:00 AM

It's like a addiction. Isn't it ??????

BargeMonkey · September 13, 2015, 01:13:12 PM

Quote from: lopet on September 13, 2015, 09:08:00 AM
It's like a addiction. Isn't it ??????

The equipment addiction is still cheaper than the female addiction, and you've got something to show for it. :D :D :D.

ga jones · September 13, 2015, 08:03:43 PM

Did you find a home for the c5 yet? I talked to you about it but decided I've got enough on my plate right now. great project for someone.

road_monkey · September 13, 2015, 08:45:58 PM

Nope. She's still here

Warped · September 13, 2015, 11:23:16 PM

That tree farmer looks like it has axle problems........................ok, so I read it in all his craigslist ads. I think he posted it in every area of NY :D :D :D

road_monkey · September 14, 2015, 05:29:34 PM

"That tree farmer looks like it has axle problems........................ok, so I read it in all his craigslist ads. I think he posted it in every area of NY"

haha.... that tells me you were searching in every area of NY for a skidder!!