New member here.
Looking for your input.
I'm looking at a used 540a that's in working condition and a TJ 230 super E.
My budget is 15-18k.
Both machines are in that range.
I'm cutting 150 acres and clear cutting almost 18.
Mostly flat but with a few rolling slopes to deal with.
I upgraded my woods tractor to a cab tractor so it's not going into the woods.
A skidder is a better option here.
Looking for you guys out there that have dealt with both of these models.
Thanks for your help.
I would go with tj
TJ all the way. Cheapest machine in the woods to run and at the end of the day after your on and off 35 times you will be glad you are on a Jack. Parts are readily available , alot of stuff at your local auto store. Good luck. Search the site as theres alot of good info about what to look for when buying a Jack. Pics if you buy the Jack please.
Thanks for the input.
Power wise should they be the same?
The 540a seemed to have a lot of power down low.
I'm trying the Tj out this week.
Hope to make a decision by the weekend.
well jmop but I would take a little less power over high price parts and have to wait a few days to get them I have jd dozers and its like you wait days for parts I also have a cat skidder and 98% of the time the parts are here the next day if I order them by 3pm the day before BUT cat parts aren't cheap most of the older tj ujoints are the same as a 1ton dodge truck maybe that's why they don't hold up there parts from a dodge :D sorry had to say it :-X
I run John Deere tractors now.
Parts are a little pricey. But they always have what I need.
Are the skidders much different parts wise than the tractors?
There is some brand loyalty for me in that case.
Timberjack all the way!!! I bought a 1985 John deere 540b I didn't keep it very long.the deere is definitely more operator friendly and very fast. Mine had 18 34 tires. I think you could tip it over on level ground if you ran over a frozen can of beer while turning . One of my timberjacks has 18_34s. You would have to be somewhere that you shouldn't be to tip it over. You can spend ten grand on a deere transmission or 1500 on a jack. Just my opinion. Good luck on whichever one you choose.
Not hearing much about the 540a.
More guys liking the Timberjack.
I'm going to try one out this week.
See how it goes.
Both good machines. Although the deere may be a bit more powerful it will most likely break your wallet if it breaks down. I run a 648 D john deere and a 230 D timberjack. I will 8/10 times run the tj due to very low fuel usage and reliability. Timberjack is also relatively easy to maintain and repair. Hope this helps.
I have owned both and I would take the Deere. That's what I run now is a 540a. They pull really good it would out pull my 230 hands down. They will also out pull 540b's the a's were the only 540 with a 6 cylinder engine. Parts are more money but not much more and I breakdown way less then when I had my 230. U can't beat a jack to get on and off from but Detroit motors r finicky and drive shafts and hoses are hard to change because the only belly pan on them is a little one under the oil pan. Both have good and bad points but I think the Deere is far better.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Are the 540a's prone to any major failures I need to worry about.
How about the 230's.
I've located two nice machines.
Tried the Deere and liked it. It was quiet. Had a lot of power but it is an older machine.
Haven't tried the Timberjack yet. It's a newer machine than the Deere.
That will be this week.
Go with the Jack...I had a 540a...it will break you. Front frame is weak...constant troubles.
Either one will do a good job but the 230 will do it cheaper. I really like my 540b it will pull like a son of a gun and is very fast I also like my 225 it does a good job costs very little to operate and easy on and off
I won't have long pulls for the most part. We can drive a log truck easily to most of my landings.
I'm not going to run it hard all day long.
Just want something reliable that I can do firewood with when I'm done logging everything.
Seems like most guys are saying to go with the Timberjack.
if your only doing it part time and go with a jack don't get one with a gearmatic winch you will hate us all :D they don't like to sit for a long time other wise they rust up iv tried to cover them but the moister always get in them
I agree with coxy 100%. I have a gearmatic in my C-5 D treefarmer and it is a pain. I have the Hercules winch in my tj and it has never given me problems in over 20 years. Not sure if the E model comes with them but I believe so.
The 230 should have the eaton/Hercules winch its mostly 240s that have the gearmatic. The eaton on my 225 doesn't give much trouble it's my spare skidder so sometimes it sits for a few months at a time if I don't have a side job or my 540 isn't broke. Sometimes the cable will pull out hard for the first hitch or two but after that it's good to go!
Thanks guys.
I'm starting to sway to the Timberjack side.
Appreciate all the info.
Great site for information you have here.
Now I just have to find the right machine.
Found another 230d that I'm going to look at also.
Might have to paint it green and yellow so it can stay in my yard.
Lol.
What engine does the TJ have in it?
Did that model come with a detroit?
If it does, make sure you like noise all day
I have a detroit in mine, and every day I say to myself I would like to replace it with something quieter.
I don't like the deere transmissions though. I work a lot of steep stuff and do not like clutches.
Somebody painted my TJ green.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/19539/225D-frontLeftCorner.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1471569946)
Didn't JD buy TJ ??
yes
They did.
But I won't be owning one of the new ones.
Out of my league for sure.
Some yellow stripes on yours would fit along with my john Deere tractors for sure.
Both Timberjacks I'm looking at have detroits in them.
The 540a sure was quiet.
Just too nervous about availability of parts for it.
Quote from: Stoneyacrefarm on February 07, 2017, 09:19:10 PM
They did.
But I won't be owning one of the new ones.
Out of my league for sure.
what the banks have millions you haven't got yet :D 8)
I wouldn't worry about parts availability on the 540 I have done the transmission and engine in mine And the only thing I had to buy used was the transmission input shaft. If the one your looking at is in good shape and you run it like it is a 40 year old machine you will bee fine. Mine is a 1975 and it runs almost every day I've had it for 8 years or so. With any old machine there will always be some part that's not available new anymore.
How much did it cost to rebuild the transmission?
I can say I'm not very hard on my equipment. I usually go overboard with the maintenance.
Grease and oil are cheap compared to a major overhaul.
Quote from: Maine logger88 on February 07, 2017, 05:55:28 PM
The 230 should have the eaton/Hercules winch its mostly 240s that have the gearmatic. The eaton on my 225 doesn't give much trouble it's my spare skidder so sometimes it sits for a few months at a time if I don't have a side job or my 540 isn't broke. Sometimes the cable will pull out hard for the first hitch or two but after that it's good to go!
Mainelogger 88, do you cover your Eaton winch if not using for a few weeks? I hear it is best to cover the Gearmatic but not sure if needed for the Eaton?
Mountain D
I don't remember off hand how much just the transmission cost I did it the same time as the engine. From what I remember it was like 3500 to do the engine and trans. I had a retired Deere machenic help with the work. He said while we have the engine out we should do the clutch packs in the transmission. It didn't need them but it is nice to know what u have when it's done. I used aftermarket parts when I could and it has lasted very well. Manintenice is key I change engine oil every 200 hours and transmission filter every 400. Plus greas every 10 or so.
Jdeere540a.
Thanks for the info.
No problem. I hope the info helped. I do like timberjack's too I just have had way better luck with my Deere and I think the 540as and all deeres from that era were pritty advanced for that time.
yes they where back in the day most loggers and contract cutters all had 440s or 208-225 and afew big guys had 230s or the case 300 don't ever remember any one having a 240 till way later then treefarmers came along
I never knew case made a skidded until I found the forum. One machine I would love to have i parts were easyer to find would be a late model international s8 pay logger with an in motor. My father has an excavation business and we always have had ih dozers and hough loaders, my grampa also work at the local ih hough dealership as a mechanic and the salesman.
Quote from: Mountain_d on February 08, 2017, 12:06:36 AM
Quote from: Maine logger88 on February 07, 2017, 05:55:28 PM
The 230 should have the eaton/Hercules winch its mostly 240s that have the gearmatic. The eaton on my 225 doesn't give much trouble it's my spare skidder so sometimes it sits for a few months at a time if I don't have a side job or my 540 isn't broke. Sometimes the cable will pull out hard for the first hitch or two but after that it's good to go!
Mainelogger 88, do you cover your Eaton winch if not using for a few weeks? I hear it is best to cover the Gearmatic but not sure if needed for the Eaton?
Mountain D
I never have. Probably would be a good thing to do tho
Ok all you Timberjack guys that have given me good advice.
Where did you hide the steering wheel?
Lol.
I've cut a lot of firewood and skidded a lot of timber with tractors.
Drawbar on the 3 point hitch and also with a farmi winch. now it's time to put my big boy pants on and get a skidder.
I test drove the 540a and liked the power and how it pulled.
I checked out 2 Timberjacks this week.
When I looked at the first one I was like where's the steering wheel. ??
You guys on the forum have given me a lot of insight on what to look for and I've re read all your comments to try and make the right purchase.
I should be a new owner within the next 2 weeks.
I'm going to decide by then.
Thanks for everyone's comments.
lever in the middle?
Thats what mine has, up is left down is right.
I like it better than the steering wheel I used when I ran a cat 518.
I can feather it at high speeds much easier.
You get used to it.
Clutch packs, is this a power shift 540A or a syncro tranny.
Lever? Only way to go in the woods. Makes reverse a snap..!
The 540a is a synchro trans.
The Timberjacks both had levers.
I was joking on my last post about where did they put the steering wheel.
Have to admit there was a lot of room in the cab area.
I can see where it would work good.
Just a little weird to get used to going from a wheel to a lever.
Both were nice machines.
I ran them without a hard hat and earmuffs on.
They are quite a bit louder than the john Deere.
Going to look at a 440 this weekend also.
Think I'm steering towards one of the Timberjacks.
Now I have to pick one.
Let's see who does what with their numbers now.
Sorry
It was a power shift.
Not a synchro.
a power shift slush a matic is the only way to go hold it to the floor and go forward and reverse twist knob for 1st 2nd 3rd I like tj but way to many moving levers for my little brain :D
I bought a 440 Deere less then a year ago, but I would of bought a jack if I could of found one close, but I couldn't find one. I don't know what a timberjack steering valve cost but a John Deere will cost 1200.00 for a re manufactured one. Heck I bought a 3" splined coupling and it cost me 145.00 ridculous. With John Deere your paying for the name and the fancy box.
Quote from: coxy on February 10, 2017, 06:21:30 PM
a power shift slush a matic is the only way to go hold it to the floor and go forward and reverse twist knob for 1st 2nd 3rd I like tj but way to many moving levers for my little brain :D
I like the way the power shifts are set up but being old school I opted for a synchro range and I have been happy with it, but I don't run it for a living like most of you guys. I just use it on my place.
I found 2 nice clean Timberjack 230's.
A d and a E.
Might go with one of them.
David-l I think all 540's were power shift. Some of the a series had no turbo six cylinder engines and some like mine were turbocharged.
I have a 540A (without a turbo) with a powershift and it has been a great machine, did some hoses and leaks, had some problem with the winchvalve but after that it has been working excellent. The powershift is outstanding, your always coupled to the engine! uphill pulling and downhill holding, no leg force required for clutching all day long. I have no experience with timberjack though
I have run John deere tractors with power shift and power quad and yes they are nice. Its a pocket book thing if you have to rebuild. that said if they were serviced theres alot of original 4020's and 3020's with the original powershifts still rollin. The Jack would still be my choice as they are so simple and stable. The Detroit thing can be dealt with. Muffler and a resonator can around it. I had a 440B as my first skidder, It served me well but parts were pricy when I was fixin it. Make sure the Jacks have the eaton drive train at least, the e model should and late D models from maybe 77 on did. Good luck, and check all the pins center and cradle on the jacks.
the eaton drive train are nice little pricey to fix the pr75 Rockwells aren't bad but the older smaller jack rears wasn't much if you got digging and pawing ;D