Timberjack 225 ?

[Puffergas]

Took another look at it after work today. I'm sold on Timberjack after getting in and out of it, getting old ya know. Nice small size. But this one might be a basket case. Some times I think I should walk away but Monday I'll give it a test drive if I can.

Sounds like the winch works about like how my doodle bug worked.



Here's the name plate.



Both axle pads look welded up, maybe because of the smashed arch. Or was this factory? Not the long weld but the piled weld around the axle pad. Sure don't feel good about the smashed arch.




Looks like the planetary axle was replaced.



Here's a walk around video.

https://youtu.be/a5_ax8gXjQs

I think I'll make one offer and if they don't take it I go home with my check book until the next Timberjack shows up.

Thanks everybody..!!

[Puffergas]

Oh, I forgot. The steering cylinder pin has a ton of slop. You can see it in the video. And judging from the brake pedal, there is not a drop of brakes unless the engine needs to be running.....

[North River Energy]

^That's not wear on that pin. It's the factory 'free-range' steering option. Save fuel by letting the machine find the path of least resistance.

[Maine logger88]

Those steering cyl pins and bushings are fairly cheap to do as long as the hole isn't all egged out. What would scare me the most about the whole deal is the farm tractor tires

[danbuendgen]

After looking at your little video.... That skidder doesn't even have a seat left in it. I bet its got 100,000,000 hours on it. I could see dumping 10-15k into it easy. Unless you do all the work on your own. And even then... you will be in the garage for days and days. Weeks even. And with that kind of money/time, you could get something much better. I would offer no more then 5k. Remember, I bet they got it for cheap as a trade in. Like $500-$1000. You would be very surprised what dealers buy for a trade in. They make money selling new, not selling old. They take anything for trade if they can sell something new. What the heck, offer 2k and I bet that dealer is making money!

[timberlinetree]

After taking a look at the video, I wouldnt pay that much,but up here they do bring good money. On Craig list the cheapest 225 is just about 10k ( a stripped one,just frame 2k) and as high as 18k. Must be everything is expensive in New England.

[Mooseknuckle]

Thanks Barbender!! Put a lot of work into that old jack but well worth it. Always keep my eye open for a decent set of tires.....hell maybe win the lottery some day and really deck it out!! 8)

As per the 225. From the serial number its a 1964 probably the 394th machine made? And as Neilo filled me in about my 230H the 225H....."H" for Herculese.

Gonna take a look at the video now if my internet is working.  Always have issues with this Rural Wave Internet service.....nothing but trouble! :-\

[barbender]

I know a guy up here that completely restored an old Tree Farmer, but he just couldn't  pull together the dough for new tires.

[Mooseknuckle]

Looked at the video and i dont like the play in that steering cylinder. I would say that will need some work. I Bet that winch worm and brass gear have some wear.  Not worth the 10k they are asking. 5 or under as im sure you will find some hiden gems once you get into it.

[Mooseknuckle]

Yes Barbender, 4 new logging tires alone would increse the value by 10k!!! Just cant beleive the price of them.....1k a peice is what i thought they would be, but nope 1600 to 1800 plus the good old tax!!
Better to buy a set if chains for the front but they arnt cheap either!

[Mooseknuckle]

 

  

 

I tried to crop the pics to getbthe price and listing out but couldnt figure it out. Anyways the top one is a 1968 TJ 330 with new rubber and in good running condition for 12500 and the bottom is a 520 TJ for 8500 in working order. So as you can see the price for the 225H is a tad bit on the steep side for the condition its in.

[Puffergas]

I'm thinking 4500 set in my yard, 5500 tops.

I can stock up on used ag tires from auctions around here and that seat just needs a nice aspen plank sawed out for it.

Can I babbit that steering pin hole?

[Neilo]

I don't think there is a bush left in that pivot at all. I think you can make it a lot better without having to weld it and ream it again. There isn't a float amount of play in a tj from factory.

If I was you I would check other things before offering price, like operation and broken cradle.

Broken axle plates are common as you described.

Neilo

[ohiowoodchuck]

It's a 50 year old machine. I don't think your going to find a perfect 50 year old machine. I paid 10k for my 440b it's a 73 model. It needed some work. I would of bought a jack if I could of found one for that price. I kept a open mind when shopping. There all going to need work. The question is how much do you want to spend.

[barbender]

IMO,  unless there is a shortage of old cable machines in your area, and you are really desperate for one, stay away. If they let that steering cylinder get that bad, which is in plain sight, what of the mechanical issues you can't see? That bent arch, I don't know how you would do that even if you were trying to. I'd have to get that for next to nothing to invest any time and money in it.

[Spartan]

Here's the hard fact.
Most likely because it is at a dealer, you will pay the premium for it.  If you want to get one for what it's really worth, private seller.
Always been that way, always will...

[Spartan]

So most old cable machines are on firewood duty around here. That's all mine does. 

Why don't they get cut with the harvester and forwarded out? I can see the need for a cable skidder in larger wood, but just for firewood?? Why not cut it and handle it mechanically? I don't get it.

Also, my 240 has the Gearmatic winch with the "brake master cylinder" type control, that takes brake fluid, and it can free spool with machine on or off. If it is powered by hydraulic oil, the machine needs to be running to free spool the winch.

Don't know how it is out there, but around here if you were to go out and cut firewood only with a harvester, and forward it, you would go broke so fast it would make your head spin.
Not enough money in firewood for the demand out here...
Most firewood guys buy from loggers or the mill, and the only wood they sell is the left over junk that won't make a saw log.  And you have to have a self loader haul it out, so that's load and unload fees for the logger on top of the trucking fee that they have to pay the trucker too.

But that's here.  So if a guy were to bid a cut area for firewood only, naturally he would go with the cheapest equipment he could find that runs, which is an ancient line skidder that would no longer really be able to fulfill high production needs.  Newer grapple equipment would be out of the question. 

I run an older line skidder behind a buncher FWIW.  It's ok, grapple would be tough in our terrain to make productive(probably wouldn't get out of a lot of areas, so it would need to have a winch anyways) but would be easier on the body.  So a lot of variables as to what machine you run where and the budget you have.

[Puffergas]

You know guys, I really like the old TJ design and this machine would be nice to have for parts only. And here's why. After I fix it all up and paint it the arch would still be an eye sore.

Deal off and thanks for all the insight. 😀

[Neilo]

I gathered that you wanted it neat. I thought you would cut the arch off, straighten it and weld it back on.

[danbuendgen]

I bet someone dropped a tree on that arch.
I have a rugged tree pusher on my 240, I have pushed hard on trees before, and the arch is not bent one bit.

[Puffergas]

I did think about cutting it up into small enough strips that I could straighten in my press but the list of problems might never end. I might be better off to spend the money on stuff for my skid steer. I don't have to have a skidder but in time that irresistible machine could show up. Might find an older historic machine that trips my trigger. Like the blue ox or early articulated machines.

[Puffergas]

I bet ya that old Jack when over a bank and hit a big old maple tree. What else could bend that arch..

[Puffergas]

Is the 230 about the same machine as the 225? I don't know the year yet.

[coxy]

I would make an offer on it if they go for the money you told them so be it as far as the arch goes big deal its bent it don't have to be pretty  pretty don't pay the bills in my house old and ugly does 

[North River Energy]

What else could bend that arch..

Chuck Norris. Roundhouse kick.