well, its come time i level up to a size bigger logging skidder for my small operation based out of wester MA.
i been running the old Franklin 130 for about 4 years now. and the old girls ready for replacement.
so i been looking around and found a 440D john deere. i heard lots of good things about the deere 440d.
i also found a Timberjack 230d. i run one for a family member a lot and i know/learned a lot of good things about the timberjack. i know these are 2 completly different animals in the woods. i dont know a bunch of the deere logging as ive only test drove some before. but i liked what i seen.
so if there is any insight or advice on what i should lean towards itd be great help. one thing is that the deere is about 10k $ more than the TimJack i came across. but i want to make a good decision with my $. i really want a machine ill be happy with for the next 10/20 or whatever years to come. im a one man show trying to hand cut and skid like grandpa use too.
Hope all is well with everyone these days. i been working like a monster in this heat.
go bigger, a 440 is smaller than what you have now.
X2. The 440D thogh a nice machine, is a bit smaller than the Franklin. If you are looking for a deere a 540 or 548 would be the next step up from a 440
I'd go with a 540b/d or a 230 or 240 if it were me the 440d are a good machine but some of the Trans parts are getting hard to find from what I hear. I bet a 440d would pull close to the same as a 230 tho there quite abit bigger than the 440b and a little bigger than the 440c. I've never ran a 440d tho but the guy that was cutting a lot next to me had one it had 23.1 tires and was close to the size of my 540
How's it going? Maybe a timberjack with the Cummins but older like a 240 a would do the trick. I have family down south plus I travel down there often if you want us to keep our eyes open just let me know plus I know one that is sitting in w mass that I came across. This week is looking good for getting the wood out.
I'd go with that 230 TJ . There's a lot of em out there. Parts all avalailible. A geared tranny is what I like as the hydro's are slow n costly to fix. Good luck
If you don't want fancy...Treefarmers are a good machine. I have seen some C6's really pull. The ones with the 18.4 x 34 tires were so so, the ones with bigger tires, I am thinking they were 24.5 x 32 would get down and pull. Even the smaller C5's pull good, especially with the Deutz diesel in them. Timberjacks are good machines...never owned one but have heard people say good things about them.
Ive only owned treefarmers but if it was between a deer or a timberjack I would lean towards a timberjack. Easy to fix , Napa carrys alot of parts just my opinion good luck.
It all boils down to for me a tj is a nice machine easy to work on get parts for and get on and off. A Deere is really comfortable to run and very fast. For me if I'm going to be working by myself and the skids not to far then I don't see any production difference between my 225 and 540 it just takes more hitches with the 225. On a long skid the 540 wins or when I have someone chopping it pulls a few more cord at the end of the day. Tree farmer I have very limited experience but they seem good to. Another one to consider is a 664 or 666 B or C they are nice machines.
hey things are well timberlinetree. a down south machine huh? we should talk about that sometime. ill PM you.
i have been on the hunt for the upgrade for some time now. anything is an upgrade from my Franklin 130. its pretty weak pulling. old and tired but still gets out what i need it to. i got a couple calls to make and see if i can come up with a few more skidders to look at. i know a nice 230E but the fellow is pretty hard pressed to let me take it from him haha.
I'd go with a 230 TJ because of over the counter parts.
And they're much easier to get on and off of than other machines ;) ;D If you're going to keep it 10-20 years this will be much more important later :) ;D
Both the 440D and 230 timberjack are nice machines. Ive ran both the 440 in school and my father just bought a 230 this spring.
The 440D is a nice machine easy to get around with in the woods not to hard on fuel and the cab/controls are laid out nice. Downside is parts aren't cheap. Everyone says there real tippy but from my experience they really aren't that bad. Just plain out your roads and keep one hand on the winch control.
The 230 is nice all around machine easy on fuel, cheaper parts and easier to get to. Simpler machine to work on almost impossible to roll over. The one thing is it takes time to get use to of sitting off to the side of the machine rather then sitting centered. If you get one definitely make sure you put atleast a half door on it because so much slash gets caught in the chains and always comes in the cab.
So both are good machines but I personally would go with a C5D tree farmer its a little bigger then your franklin but pulls like bear. If you can get your chokers around it, it will pull it. What ever you do stay with a small machine.
Lynde,Timberjack or tree farmer, the old John deere are just to expensive to repair and not simple enough for the average logger to get into the transmissions or differentials. the john deere engines are great engines ,but their skidders are not anywhere as stable as a timberjack or tree farmer on steep ground. If you want to pull a lot of wood on a easy to repair skidder go with a late 80's C6D tree farmer, get one with a Deutz engine great pullers and nice and quiet !Don
Loggah good advice. Actually good advice from everyone. So far the polls are saying timberjack or treefarmer. And I do like the off the shelf parts as well. I've had a lot of luck at Napa with parts for my franklin. Basically the biggest hurdle for me is what the thing weep do for me in the long run. How many years will I get out of the skidder etc. I need a good find. Something tight and dry not too many hours.
And I've heard nothing but good words of the duet diesel motors too.
If you are planning to pull big or a lot of wood per / hitch , go with a 230 E cummins , they are built by Eaton and have heavier diffs. and trans . as opposed to the 230 D like mine with the lighter PR275 Rockwells and T98 trans . J.D . 540 B are good machines but they are costly and mind boggling to repair . My buddy retired his 540 A because of too many costly repairs and is using his 664B . Or find yourself an older 518 with low hours, they will pull tons of wood , but a tad hard on fuel .
Larry --ont.
I'd be looking for a 230A or a 240A or B with a cummins 4BT. 2 cords or a 1000 plus feet no issues and parts are still reasonable. Just make sure the brakes are working in the transfer. 23.1 tires, still easy on and off and 9ft width. Still a fuel sipper also. I might have a lead on one.
I got a 230A and have owned most other types and size's , I honested hated to buy this machine as I wanted a Clark 66 or 67 , next would of been a TJ 450 and maybe a 380 but the 230A was the only machine that didnot look beat up and the price was a good deal so I bought it , After running it for 3 years I like the machine , I break very little , parts are just a phone call away or it stuff like U-joints you can buy them everywhere and cheap, easy to get in and out of which is huge for a old busted up guy like me. Cummins will start in cold enough weather you hope it does not ;D and it pulls a good size hitch behind me . I got 23.1 by 26's on it and got the tire width down to 102 or maybe 103 inches wide . Its not the biggest skidder thats for sure but I can put just as much timber on the landing as most bigger cable skidder can as its pretty good and quick going threw the bush . Maybe not a smart thing to say but if you guys need skidders look at what is in Canada , With our dollar at .75 to yours you can buy used machines quite abit cheaper I find than what there selling for in the USA
Tree Farmers are pretty hard to get on and off . Also poor design of the cage and all the controls, but like others said, easy to get parts.
Almost 12k hrs on my 440D. Knock on wood I've never been in the engine, no clutch, rebuilt winch 2x so far. Original radiator, hasn't had center pins that we know of. Got it with 4600ish hrs. Guys make it out like your wrenching on them all the time, mine gets 250hr oil changes and greased almost daily. Winch band is the worst problem on an older deere. Why not that 360C in the Want ad ? I've seen a lot of nice skidder for around 30k lately. I wouldn't jump on anything unless it's a good deal, then jump quick. I missed a low hr 540G3 @ sharps I'm kicking myself about. Wood prices are down in our area, a lot of guys are going to go out soon and just try and find something well taken care off, color doesn't matter as much as history and maintenance.
The history of the machine is a big +. Also how straight it is and price. I'm trying to be efficient. But aren't we all? I hear deere winches can be a pain. The one on my crawler is pretty good. I wish it frees pooled a little better tho.
I went and looked at a 460 dual arch the other night, can't make it with a 440D if your trying for 2-3-4lds a day. I've spent a lot of time working on my 440D winch, but you will get used to swearing at it and have a set of fancy custom wrenches. Maine logger hooked me up with his parts guy in ME, the band has been flawless with about 50lds on it so far. 440D burns almost no fuel, and I run mine hard. A 405 Franklin is a nice machine, would eat a 440 for lunch. I would bite the bullet and buy something with a deere 4k winch, I see more wood pulled with one than anything else around here.
You know the 460s are nothing but a headache barge monkey.
Quote from: ga jones on August 14, 2015, 03:41:32 PM
You know the 460s are nothing but a headache barge monkey.
I keep telling myself that. :D but sometimes I just don't know any better. help_me
why? i been playing with the idea of a 450 or 380.........
The deals are out there right now on equipment. Only reason I would buy that 460 is because it's 100% straight, 1 owner and cleaner than most 2-3yr old machines. Other than a harness I don't see much trouble. Biggest problem is an operator, especially if I throw a stroke delimber into the mix.
Is that your skidder in the Want-ad ?
stick with an older machine, its nice when everything is mechanical. (i hate electronics) iv been working out the bugs on my 94 450c a few major fixes and some small ones but still worth more then i'v put into it
No computers on equipment for me. I only hear the bad storys about those ones.
I'm a 70's 80's tractor guy.
I've heard the stories, asked tons of questions, but at the end of the day the newer stuff uses less fuel, parts aren't to bad to get, and I'm seeing more jobs spec'ed out to tier compliant work. I would try and hunt down a decent 540-B-D at the least, they hold up and still no major electrical components. When we bought our H-series 644 7-8yrs ago we said the same thing, had 10X the electronics our G-series did. Been almost flawless. Our new 644K, basically the same thing. I see the guys on here talk about the processor head issues and I'm leery of putting a new head on my Timbco out of fear of being down all the time. Only machines I've ever had deere mechanics themselves tell me to avoid where any E-series excavators, and early E-series 540 skidders. There is a nice Franklin 560 on CL not to far from you, that's got almost 0% electronics in it I believe, that's a wood pulling machine.
Theres also a 405 Franklin on CL in the northeast that is about the same size as a 540 Deere. Been on for a while. That Jack in VA looks good but probably did not last long at that price.
I found one interesting 230. It's a 1973. Rockwells. All rebuilt like motor. trans. transfer. Winch. 4 new ice chains. Needs limb risers they're kinda bent a little. Comes with another complete rearend. $17k opinions?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27145/20150820_184426.jpg)
It looks pretty good. Price is half what the one I told you about was asking. I think he's got an offer now, but he hasn't said how much; I do think it was priced pretty high.
Limb risers aren't a big deal if you have enough heat and power to lift up on them. Too bad they aren't removable to do that.
Why did he have it registered? Was he close enough to drive it from one job to another instead of trucking it?
Oh he's got a towing and recovery business. It hasn't been logged with since like 12 ish years ago. So he has tags on it for being able to drive on long dirt roads and off onto jeep trails legally.
Yea o wish it had eaton bus all those are $20k+. With out all the fresh rebuilt stuff in it.
The limb risers are removable. But I haven't seen many that aren't bent. The eatons are nice but the rockwells are fairly tough
I was told that machine has been gone right through, by the local TJ guy I deal with. Told me that it was a real solid machine set up to pull people off snowmobile trails in the winter. I guess some people cant tell the difference between a snowmobile trail and road in the winter, the people were usually looking for the ski area and not local :D
Looks good, if all those items have been dealt with that is a good start. How about the cradle and the center pins and bushings. These 200 series are getting harder to find in the northeast in good condition. Limb risers don't mean much. Cash is king and a wad of cash talks. Good luck.
What 's the rubber size, they don't look like 18.4x34 more like 18.4x26. IMO even better, cheaper tires and easier to get on and off. Chains are way cheaper when you need new ones also.
I called you on phone David L. But yea 16.930 rubber. It's tight and right. I just am anxious about buying. I allways get worked up when shopping ariound. Anyone get that? The feeling there just might be another better and bigger one come up for sale right after you buy this one? I shouldn't get bent outta shape it's only money and iron. I need it so I should pull the trigger n buy it right? Can't go wrong with all that new stuff on it. Plus it's 15 min drive from my house where it sits.
the limb risers just unbolt and you can just put new pipe back in and paint , makes machine look alot better and simple and cheap to do . I'm just like you when it comes to spending my money , I always think there is a better deal just around the corner or do I really want to spend that much cash . Got now to the point if I think its a good deal then just do it . Machine looks good and if everything is in good shape that price is good as well ,
I believe that machine is well taken care of. Heard it also was used for vehicle recovery on I 91, had a second arch shieve on the blade so the cable can run under the belly and use the blade for a stop.
I'm strongly considering it as my next big purchase. It's time I make my next move with my company. Me and David L had a good talk this morning about it and it helped re asure my confidence about the skidder.
I have owned 230 and 240 jacks, I have owned 540b, 440a, I now own a 440d and a 548gIII. I have crunched too many out board planatarys on the jacks to ever consider going back to one. I have never replaced a planetary on a deere. On deere...drop the belly pan and clean her out every couple weeks or so...try that on a jack. Steep ground...Id put my 440d up aginst any jack. A jack will keep your boots waterproof though.
I have a special hoe made up for belly pan cleaning on my Jack and takes no time at all. I am interested in knowing what planetaries you are talking about on the Jacks. Were they the older Rockwells? The bell type Eatons don't seem to mind some abuse. Never ran a 440D , like to try on sometime and compare.
a 440D will roll end over end if you have to come down anything steep without much wood behind you, seen it happen ,or if the rear tires are not loaded. the guys i worked with had 2 of them and they always had their blade just off the ground coming down steep ground. At that time i had a 1979 230 and it was a lot more stable then the 440's.I will say the john deere with inboard planetaries would go thru deep or rotten snow without axle chatter.
Yeah David the Rockwells were weaker than the Eatons, Eatons are almost bullet proof.
This is the type that really last. Eatons and with these small tires hopefully they last a long time. Never see many 225's with these.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/29166/NCM_0413.JPG)
Well i did it and bought a machine. 1977 208 Timberjack. in real good shape. runs like a top. had it dropped off this morning and i even got a hitch of firewood out and cut up for my next order. im very pleased with how well it goes and its comforts of the easy access on/off the tractor. 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27145/20150912_135844.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27145/20150912_124518.jpeg)
one question is do "18.4x26 tire chains fit on 16.9x30 tires?"?? i did some measuring and the tires are almost exact same height. even the 26'' tires measured a little taller. could be my measuring from dirt to top of rubber. but just thought id ask if anyone knew.
Was that the one for sale up in east hawley? Looks real nice.
Nope. Came from NH originally. David L knows about it. Few Years back the guy that owned mine had his 225 as well Im pretty sure.
Nice, looks like she'll pull some wood for you! I'm jealous of your tires haha
Congratulations! Looks like a nice skidder!
I like the custom windshield, looks good. Last I remember, that one had a been gone through and did not have alot of time on it.
Yes 16.9x30 and 18.4x26 chains are the same. That has Pr52 axles just like the c4 and the rims will fit also but the offset is a little different
oh thats such good news about the chains being interchangeable. i have a pair of almost new looking single net ice picks that i would think are way better than the tractor chains that are on it now.
I think that the chains that are on it in the picture would make good summer chains. I run without chains in the summer because the rear axle on my 440B does not have a diff. If the TJ has a locked rear running chains on solid ground will make it turn harder and put more stress and wear on the driveline. Chains that fit 18.4x26 should also fit 16.9 x30s and 18.4x30s
That's a good looking skidder. How did your foot heal up ?
Foot healed up great! It's a pretty gnarly scar. Doesn't bend much and it'd pretty sensitive. But its there.
Yes those will be my summer chains. I will be set for years.
Congratulations, good looking Skidder
Very smart purchase...it looks like a real nice TJ. Can't beat em. Congrats!
The 208's are nice machines,the first skidder my father bought new was a 208 after we stopped using a 310 case crawler for logging. he did have a bunch of planetary problems in one side and it was because the factory didn,t have the wheel bearings tight enough.If you take any planetarys out make sure the wheel bearings are "TIGHT" !!
thanks guys, I'm very happy with my purchase. i been pulling firewood with it and im amazed at how much BETTER it operates and manuvers than the old Franklin.
Well sounds like u decided which u prefer :)
Good luck with the new skidder.
Congratulations! Looks like a nice machine! Looks like it has awesome rubber on it
yea the tires are nearly new looking. about 95% if one was to calculate it.
i been running it a lot this week. pulling firewood for my cut/split orders and saw logs for local mill.
the 208 is incredibly stable and great on fuel. it seems so tight and responsive, all the levers are tight and work perfect.
8)
Good for you. 8)
I always wondered how people can get levers go sloppy. ;D