(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10451/371/P1010013.JPG)
A farmer near me has this skidder for sale . He has had it for several years and has logged about 100000 ft a year with it . Tires are like new and he says it works fine . He is asking 16000 . I don't know anything about CAT skidders and would appreciate any advise
look for cracks were the front axle bolts into the frame. air brakes?
Have a close look at the pin and bushings that make up the steering pivot point.
Cat 518's are notorious for loosing brakes.. The 3 I have ran haven't had brakes, They are a bit hard on fuel. At least compared to my JD 440 and the TJ 450 At work. A thing I have also noticed is they tend to crack out where the blade cylinder meets the blade
If the frame and pins check out motor tranny and winch are sound i would say go for it! My father-in-law used one for many years. Absolutly swore by them. He pulled about 15000 ft of ozark hardwood everyday. Good machine.
Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I will go back and inspect it looking for the things you all have suggested.
My Grandaddy made a living with one from 1974 until he shut down his operation in 1981. Never had a major problem that I remember, but he always maintained his equipment very well. Usually got top dollar for everything he sold.
Don
that is a good looking machine :) i notice there is a tarp over the winch-good sign :)
The 518 is a good machine but you had better have the wood to yard as they will do 30 to 40 gallons a day with serious yarding, I spent 2.5 years on one with grapples and winch, very good machine but they don't seem that noisy,don't let that fool you,it sure did me in in the hearing department. The biggest concern to look at is where the two halves ocelate, that ring has a tendincy to crack. One thing nice though is I put a air chuck fitting on the treddel valve and used a air powered grease gun and could grease it in half the time.
They are tough machines we have a 518 turn around feller buncher and a Grapple skidder both we converted them both to landfill compactors. The thurn around had a 7000 pound blade instead of a buncher head. It runs on rubbish 7 to 10 hours a day.
I drove a 77 518 cable of my cousin's for 5 years. VERY heavy on fuel if you belt it, but they do compensate with mega power. Gearmatic 19 winch was a bit of a pig, but they are great if you cover them over and dont let them, get wet. Fuel lift pump primer can wear badly...... :'(