The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Forestry and Logging => Topic started by: Corley5 on June 16, 2025, 07:47:15 PM
Picked up a 544 Valmet to clean up my sugarbush after the ice storm of the century the end of March. It's mid 90s model. Ford diesel with the webbed block. Pretty tight overall. Good rubber. One new tire. I looked pretty hard @ forwarders last fall for my wood yard when my skid loader needed to be replaced but went with a skid loader. Should have checked my crystal ball for long range forecast catastrophic ice storms.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10027/1000004279.jpg) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=359698)
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Nice! That looks fun!
First time I've loaded the live deck with it. Got to get used to levers again. Lots of hours in joystick machines since I had my lever machines. Hundreds of hours in a 344 Fabtek, 1210G JD, and just few in a 1910E JD. And this machine has 6 levers with the squirt. Mine all had five.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10027/1000004290.jpg) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=359738)
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(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10027/1000004291.jpg) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=359741)
That looks like a very nice, lightly used and well maintained 544 Valmet. Take darn good care of that BCD Ford engine as it was made in Brazil and discontinued many years ago so parts are a real issue. Also because that loader is mounted on the front half of that machine you have to be very careful where and how you set the boom and grapple down when driving. Also be very aware of overhead clearances when you set the boom down on a load of logs as that jib cylinder is high and exposed. I bent the rod once on my 644 Valmet single bunk when I was not paying attention to overhead limbs.
Nice find.
That looks like a nice, straight little forwarder, Corley! What a great machine to have around the firewood yard👍👍
Mid 90's,so no emissions!!! Corley, I don't know how you scored something so clean and capable, but ya done good!
And it was close enough to home that I was going to drive it to my place. The seller had his buddy deliver it and paid for it. It was considerably less $$$ than comparable machines I found. I think I did alright. If do decide to flip it I won't lose $$$.