225 timberjack vs 540 b

millcreek40 · October 17, 2015, 03:09:09 PM

Thanks ken for the great post . Think I will go & try it out

millcreek40 · October 18, 2015, 11:01:18 AM

The 240 with the Deutz The asking price was 19k. Has a gearamatic winch that needs bands

tj240 · October 18, 2015, 08:48:50 PM

i own a 240 with a duetze, gearamatic winch. very stable and powerful. i also run a 540b with 18.4-34 tires. the deere is faster, more user friendly, but it is very ass end light. if you load the tires no problems. Once you know what you can and cant do with the 540, you wont have problems until something breaks, they arent cheap to fix. i really like the 240, if you have ran a c5, the 240 will out pull it hands down, i believe the had the same winch. the 240 with the duetze is a 6 cyl. the c5 with a duetze is a 5 cyl. good luck i run them both, tj and deere, and like them both, but bad ground go with the tj. good luck

Ken · October 18, 2015, 09:00:26 PM

I've owned and run several different types of TJ's (225, 230, 380, 450) and can not say anything bad about them. Although I loved my 225 with 16.9-30 tires for ease of getting on and off it was a bit small to haul big wood or yard any distance. The philosophy of "loading light and going often" is a good one though. I would like to find a very well maintained 230 or 240 with a Cummins.

Bill_G · October 21, 2015, 05:53:50 PM

Have you considered a John Deere 640 D ?

millcreek40 · October 21, 2015, 09:24:00 PM

Hi bill. No I have not considered the 640d. I just think it's to big for what I normally do. I did purchase a 1984 540b today. It's going to be delivered Friday or Monday . I can't wait to try it out. I decided to keep the 225 at least until I decide if I like the 540

Decked · October 21, 2015, 10:18:18 PM

If/when I ever get another skidder, I will search long & hard for a "D" series...they rock

OH logger · October 22, 2015, 09:54:48 PM

had a 1981 540 B and it was a good strong skidder and pulled a lot for me. the only problem was a pulled a lot for it. (winch cable that is) :(. gets old in my book

millcreek40 · October 22, 2015, 10:16:19 PM

Pulling the cable does get old. But cutting by hand & working alone, I don't think a grapple would be much of a help. Could be wrong. Never used one

millcreek40 · October 25, 2015, 03:37:00 PM

Well I bought a 1984 540b. It was delivered yesterday. I went & pulled a couple hitches this morning. I really didn't care for it that much. Sure is a little more tippy than my 225. Hopefully I just have to get used to it. Time will tell

lopet · October 25, 2015, 05:32:04 PM

Good luck with your purchase.
Maybe you gonna let us know after a while what you like about it and what not.

Spartan · October 25, 2015, 11:17:09 PM

Quote from: millcreek40 on October 25, 2015, 03:37:00 PM
Well I bought a 1984 540b. It was delivered yesterday. I went & pulled a couple hitches this morning. I really didn't care for it that much. Sure is a little more tippy than my 225. Hopefully I just have to get used to it. Time will tell

If the tires are decent, fill them with fluid, (at least the rears)

Nemologger · October 26, 2015, 10:09:12 PM

Quote from: millcreek40 on October 22, 2015, 10:16:19 PM
Pulling the cable does get old. But cutting by hand & working alone, I don't think a grapple would be much of a help. Could be wrong. Never used one

Don't knock a grapple till you tried it. Working alone myself at times a 540b with a grapple is a mans best friend. Cut a couple tanks then climb on the skidder and rest while you drag them out. Soft ground, when a log really sinks in the ground...no problem. Cut ahead when its too muddy to skid, maybe a few tops get on other downed trees...no problem.

tom h · October 26, 2015, 10:57:05 PM

I also have 540b with a grapple and winch.I cut and skid by myself.Like Nemologger says the grapple makes my work a lot easier.

Nub121 · October 27, 2015, 07:07:20 AM

I would go with the 540 B but it has to be newer then a 78!! A 540 can pull 1200 bd ft at a drag if you push it and if you put a set of 28L tires it'll have pretty good flotation also!! As far as comfortably operation the deer wins hands down!!

millcreek40 · October 27, 2015, 08:19:58 PM

Well sad to say but I bought a machine with issues. The man I bought it from promised it was woods ready. Pulled two hitches to find out it has a blown head gasket. Now I am not sure what to do. Did he get it hot & do unseen damage?? Cylinders , warp the head. I just don't know . Should I pull the motor & have it rebuilt? New clutch then if your in it that far should you go through the transmission. Then your going to spend ten grand but you would know what you have. I just paid 20k for this skidder . Or should I sell it for 15 or 16 & be perfectly honest about the head gasket.i cannot believe people can live with themselves knowing the screwed someone out of there hard earned $. Any thoughts would be appreciated

David-L · October 27, 2015, 08:35:01 PM

That is bad news. makes me just want to keep my Jack as I know what I have. always a risk in this used equipment. good luck.

millcreek40 · October 27, 2015, 09:19:11 PM

I still have my jack. Good thing. I didn't get to run the Deere much but I don't think I would have dared to put it on the steep hill I was on today. The Deere looks nice sitting on the landing. Just not sure what to do with it

snowstorm · October 27, 2015, 09:43:11 PM

how many hrs on the motor? deere dosent usually have head gasket trouble except on a high hr motor the reason being the liners are worn. the gasket seals on them. why pull the motor to rebuild?? if the rear seal is not leaking and the crank is fine do an inframe. they are an easy motor to do. what makes you think the gasket is bad??? as far as the head goes that would need to go to a machine shop to be surfaced and grind the valves. and all this is just part of owning equipment it all breaks

millcreek40 · October 27, 2015, 09:57:01 PM

I say head gasket because it's building pressure in the radiator. Not sure of hrs. No coolant in the oil. I had a mechanic look at it today. He said head gasket. I am not a mechanic & don't pretend to be. Lol. Motor does have some blow by but I had a cat with a lot of blow by,it was still running great when I sold it

snowstorm · October 27, 2015, 10:03:19 PM

it may be head gasket if its making pressure in the coolant. call deere and price liner kits gaskets and maybe rod bearings depending on what they look like have the head done and you will have a new motor. i would buy deere parts

North River Energy · October 27, 2015, 10:05:53 PM

Condolences on that. >:( Some people like to use the rationale of 'buyer beware' as a license to steal.

treeslayer2003 · October 27, 2015, 10:13:30 PM

Quote from: snowstorm on October 27, 2015, 10:03:19 PM
it may be head gasket if its making pressure in the coolant. call deere and price liner kits gaskets and maybe rod bearings depending on what they look like have the head done and you will have a new motor. i would buy deere parts

i did mine with deere parts. it didn't cost any more than after market if you buy the whole kit. i had one tiny pinhole in a liner that filled the base with coolant over night. good thing i check oil every morning.
i agree, they are easy to inframe.

lopet · October 27, 2015, 10:17:02 PM

Years ago I worked part time for a guy who just bought a older 440B. Same story, it came off the truck and he did a few hitches, getting hot and losing power, it kept stalling on him, changed the fuel pump,but that wasn't the problem . He ended up having it rebuilt, was around 4K.
Thought that wasn't that bad.
I bought mostly used except a very few items. Made my fair share of mistakes, but also made some pretty good deals. I think it evens out at the end.

Spartan · October 27, 2015, 10:20:50 PM

Welcome to the club. There are reasons people sell their stuff. I kinda got burned on a "woods ready" skidder too.
Pull the head and look at everything you can, do what you need to to get it making money. Put as little into it as possible nothing more. It doesn't have to be perfect it just has to work. About the time you rebuild the trans, or engine especially if it doesn't really need it, the hyd. pump will fail, or you'll lose a ring gear. Don't play the fearful precautionary game. If you are not a mechanic, and you don't plan on learning, be prepared to pay through the nose for everything.

If he told you it was woods ready, and it wasn't, more stuff will show up. You do not want to be another 20K in debted to this thing do you?
Fix what breaks when it breaks. and not much more than regular maintenence.

That's just my .02 as an owner operator on a budget. I could write a book on all the stuff mine needs, but, it still pulls wood til the end of the day.

Make sure there's no oil in the coolant and rule out an oil cooler failure. (if it has one, not sure on the deeres)