My new project!

etroup10 · August 09, 2016, 01:14:56 PM

Last week I picked up a Gafner Hydra loader. It needs some work but i got it for a good price. I'm planning on mounting this on a road legal trailer, for moving logs and lumber too and from my mill. It doesn't have a power unit, but I got two wisconsin tjd engines to build a power unit for it. I'll have this parked close to the mill and add some quick attach fittings to run the hydraulics on my mill instead of my current 5hp honda.

I also managed to pick up some log decks for $75 from the same guy, I will have to replace the chains, but one deck already has a hydraulic motor.

I also bought another hydraulic motor and a couple valves from the same guy for another $100. All in all I got some pretty good deals and I'm looking forward to getting everything going. He also had a hudson mill there that someone had made fully hydraulic, two plane clamp, chain turner, hyd. backstops, up/down, carraige movement and board drag back. He was only asking $5000 for it, and it makes me wish I would have found that mill before I bought mine!

Satamax · August 09, 2016, 05:14:48 PM

Etroup10.

I don't know how you work, nor how most of the people work in the us.

But i think this would be better mounted on a truck, than a trailer.

All the cranes i see on trailers over here, don't seem to get much use.

I think it moves faster that way. You need it in the other side of your yard, you don't have to attach the trailer, maneuver around the yard with a trailer etc?

JMHO.

ozarkgem · August 09, 2016, 09:33:45 PM

Good deals you got there. Some serious stacks of logs also. Are they at your place?

etroup10 · August 10, 2016, 12:30:26 PM

Thanks, not my logs, I have it sitting where I work because we have more tools and a welder there. You should see the whole log yard!

I'm thinking the first thing I'll do is add a seat on the loader itself and move the valves.then replace lines and give it some new paint

Ljohnsaw · August 10, 2016, 12:58:40 PM

Quote from: etroup10 on August 10, 2016, 12:30:26 PM
Thanks, not my logs, I have it sitting where I work because we have more tools and a welder there. You should see the whole log yard!

I'm thinking the first thing I'll do is add a seat on the loader itself and move the valves.then replace lines and give it some new paint

Nice finds! Are you just replacing some bad lines or are you going to do them all (because they are really old)? I found a hydraulic shop that gives a hefty cash discount. With what you have there, it would almost pay for itself to get yourself a hydraulic crimp tool and buy all the parts! I see $1,500-2,500 in hoses!

Kbeitz · August 10, 2016, 03:55:14 PM

You can also buy Reusable Hydraulic Fittings...
You dont need a crimper to use them.

etroup10 · August 10, 2016, 06:48:18 PM

I'm just planning on replacing a couple short lines that are in rough shape, primarily around the grapple. All the lines are 1/2" and the loader only has a 9' reach. So it shouldn't be too bad to replace them. And by moving the valves to the top of the loader, I shouldn't have to buy very many long hoses. Hopefully I'll be able to convert the swing of the boom to foot pedals instead of the valve handle.

eastberkshirecustoms · August 10, 2016, 07:11:02 PM

A few guys around my area have loaders like mounted at the front of the trailer. Then the logs are stacked at the rear-like a log truck.

never finished · August 10, 2016, 07:51:47 PM

Man! I want one.

Bandmill Bandit · August 10, 2016, 09:24:03 PM

Quote from: Kbeitz on August 10, 2016, 03:55:14 PM
You can also buy Reusable Hydraulic Fittings...
You dont need a crimper to use them.

These fittings work well BUT you MUST use the correct hose or they dont work so great.
Any supplier that has the fittings will probably have the hose too.

Ljohnsaw · August 10, 2016, 09:59:31 PM

Quote from: etroup10 on August 10, 2016, 06:48:18 PM
I'm just planning on replacing a couple short lines that are in rough shape, primarily around the grapple. All the lines are 1/2" and the loader only has a 9' reach. So it shouldn't be too bad to replace them. And by moving the valves to the top of the loader, I shouldn't have to buy very many long hoses. Hopefully I'll be able to convert the swing of the boom to foot pedals instead of the valve handle.

If you are not in a huge hurry and you know the exact fitting style, I ordered some off of eBay that were pretty inexpensive and look like they will last. I don't know all the fitting types by name so I usually have to take them in to the shop to have them duplicate. When I replaced all the hoses on my backhoe, they replaced them with EXACTLY the same size hoses. Somewhere along the line, a previous owner replaced two hoses on the end of the crowd arm for the bucket with the above "reusable" fittings. Apparently they only had 3/4" hose/fittings. All the other hoses are 1/2". My new hoses are all 1/2" except the bucket hoses. Looks a little goofy.

larrydown60 · August 10, 2016, 10:35:54 PM

I am watching this build very interested

etroup10 · August 12, 2016, 09:37:21 AM

I'll probably just get lines from surplus center. I should be welding up the seat mount tonight after work and I just heard back from a guy about an equipment trailer that they put log uprights on, going to look at it next week!! If I buy the trailer, I'll have about $2100 in it altogether! Looking forward to getting it put together!

fishfighter · August 12, 2016, 05:28:56 PM

When I replaced all the hoses on my backhoe, I went to a coop farmer store and the prices were half the price compared to other places.

etroup10 · August 17, 2016, 08:21:48 PM

I was able to get a little work done lately. I added a seat to the loader and raised the valves up to the seat. I disconnected some of the junk lines. I'm lucky to have a good boss and he is allowing me to take some lines from a worn out prentice loader that is heading for scrap, a lot of the lines on it were replaced within the last 5 years and hasn't been run the last two, no dry rot on them. So I should be able to replace all my lines with that and only have to buy fittings.

azmtnman · August 17, 2016, 11:16:03 PM

Quote from: etroup10 on August 17, 2016, 08:21:48 PM
I was able to get a little work done lately. I added a seat to the loader and raised the valves up to the seat. I disconnected some of the junk lines. I'm lucky to have a good boss and he is allowing me to take some lines from a worn out prentice loader that is heading for scrap, a lot of the lines on it were replaced within the last 5 years and hasn't been run the last two, no dry rot on them. So I should be able to replace all my lines with that and only have to buy fittings.

Score!
I'm watching your build. I have been thinking about and how to build something similar. Parbuckleing is getting old quick and takes too many people.

slider · August 18, 2016, 07:38:59 AM

i like your project as well but it would serve you well to have this boom on a truck,except for tags and insurance.I have had one for 10 years and it has been one of the best investments i have made so far. good luck.al

tacks Y · August 18, 2016, 08:03:45 AM

Good move on the trailer. I was there earlier this summer looking at something else, he would no sell the trailer then. Is the brick loader still there? I was looking at that to mount on a trailer. Thanks Tom

etroup10 · August 18, 2016, 09:09:15 PM

Quote from: tacks Y on August 18, 2016, 08:03:45 AM
Good move on the trailer. I was there earlier this summer looking at something else, he would no sell the trailer then. Is the brick loader still there? I was looking at that to mount on a trailer. Thanks Tom

He still had the brick loader when I got this! That was tempting to buy too for what he wanted, but I really had no way of using it. Where are you at in PA? I'm about an hour south east of him.

It would be nice on a truck with a 16' flatbed, but I'd probably have to change the outriggers. And it only has a 9.5' reach so it's not too big.

I also got to look at a trailer last night. It's too big for me but a good deal for someone. Dual axle dually equipment trailer, in really good shape and hardly used, he only wanted 1k for it, but didn't have a title. Also had air brakes, so id have to change that to pull with my 250.

ozarkgem · August 18, 2016, 09:19:53 PM

I would love to have the equipment trailer. I have air brakes on my dump truck. They always bring big bucks here. Hard to gt a good buy on one of them.

etroup10 · August 25, 2016, 12:20:59 PM

A little paint makes a big difference!

Didn't do the grapple yet because I might be changing it. It was modified to pinch at the ends instead of close on on itself. But I'm going to try it this way first.

ozarkgem · August 25, 2016, 07:34:10 PM

Quote from: etroup10 on August 25, 2016, 12:20:59 PM
A little paint makes a big difference!

Didn't do the grapple yet because I might be changing it. It was modified to pinch at the ends instead of close on on itself. But I'm going to try it this way first.

Is that some sort of a burner behind the loader? Maybe you need to give us a tour of the place you work.