tree farmer good and bad

logman81 · August 24, 2012, 11:25:20 AM

Not sure still waiting for this guy call me to come and look at mine this weekend.

lumberjack48 · August 24, 2012, 12:39:28 PM

Quote from: DDDfarmer on August 23, 2012, 11:41:13 AM
so what is the difference between the C5D and my C5C ? sounds like the same machine 353-4 speed-gearmatic 20 and built like a tank...

I have never seen a C5-C , i see you have one. I found a good pic of one, i've looked an looked at it. All running gear is C5, the only thing i see, it looks like its all put to gether on a C4 frame.
Take a good look at a C5-D frame, then compare them. Its really hard by looking at a picture, i'm probably a 100% wrong.

logman81 · September 08, 2012, 07:06:15 AM

Hey LJ48 what can you tell me about a '76 TF c4d? I found what I think is a decant machine in NY. It has a air cooled 4 cyl duetz don't know much about those engines good bad? Has 16.9x 30 tires at 95% with double diamond chains gearmatic not sure what model? Just wanted opinions on that machine and how it is set up good bad ect. Finally getting some bites on mine so figured it was time to starting checking things out and seeing whats out there.

Mark K · September 08, 2012, 07:18:01 AM

I dont think you will have to much trouble with the Duetz. Mine has a six cylinder turbo charged in it. Sips fuel and is quite. Had a detriot in my TJ before which dont get me wrong is a good motor but I dont miss the noise. Just make sure you keep the cylinder fins and oil cooler clean. I've run mine on the hottest days this summer and she stayed cool.

logman81 · September 08, 2012, 10:49:05 AM

Thanks Mark K I myself would like a quieter machine.

barbender · September 08, 2012, 10:24:01 PM

I would love to slip a 3.9 cummins in my bone.

Okrafarmer · September 09, 2012, 12:01:35 AM

So-- the different models of Tree Farmer, what size models of JD and TJ skidders did they compare to?

logman81 · September 09, 2012, 07:14:30 AM

I guess what I asking about this tree farmer is it a good setup. Would it be a good stable machine? How much smaller is it compared to my pettibone. Are they easy to repair and maintain? I do like the fact that all four tires are new and has chains.

mad murdock · September 09, 2012, 08:32:35 AM

The Deutz engine is probably the most fuel efficient diesel option you could get on a TF. They are a solid engine, and run real quiet! A C4 is probably close in size to your 'bone.

mad murdock · September 09, 2012, 08:38:59 AM

Quote from: Okrafarmer on September 09, 2012, 12:01:35 AM
So-- the different models of Tree Farmer, what size models of JD and TJ skidders did they compare to?

I'll take a stab at your ? LJ48 may have a better read on this than I.....
TF C4-TJ 205-JD 440 all comperable machines. TF C5-TJ 230-JD 540 similar classed machines. TF C6-TJ 330?(not sure on this one)-JD 640 similar sized machines.

Okrafarmer · September 09, 2012, 08:50:24 AM

Sounds like they followed the John Deere numbers. So there was a 7-- so, like a TJ 450 or something? Were there any TF's smaller or bigger (like a C3, or C-8)?

Mark K · September 09, 2012, 09:25:11 AM

I know my C7D is half a foot wider and a foot longer than a 640d I looked at around the same time. Both had 23.1-26's on them. I dont know how horsepower compares. Mine has a tag on the motor that says 173 hp at the flywheel.

PAFaller · September 09, 2012, 09:58:36 AM

OkraFarmer, I think Mark K has one of the biggest TF made being its a C7. I have never seen anything bigger than a C7 or smaller than a C4. Somewhere in the TF history is the merger with Franklin too, and the C7 sort of melted in to Franklin 170. Friends of mine down here actually had one that had gone back to Franklin for the factory overhaul, and when they bought it there were two manuals, as it had c7 running gear underneath but was Cummins powered like the Franklin 170s of the time period. Good machine nonetheless and they pulled a lot of wood with it. Deere did similar things with some of Timberjacks stuff when they bought them. The Deere 753 feller buncher, very common today, is a lot like the TJ 608s that were real common in the northeast and Canada. AS for the size of a machine a lot is dependent on how they are set up and what they run for rubber. As time has gone on everything has gotten bigger. For instance, my early 80s 240 must have been built to be a bit cheaper, as it only has a turbo 353 detroit in it. By the late 80s and early 90s the 225, which has a smaller frame and narrower stance, could be had with a 5 cylinder deutz or a 453 detroit. And the frames were not as small either. What would have been a 230 size machine in the 70s and 80s was now the 225, the late model 230 was more like an older 240, and the 240B and 240C models are a bit longer and wider than the older 240s. Same for Deere, the older 540s were 4 cylinder, if you wanted the big motor you needed to jump to a 640. Now a 540GIII or 540H has the same high output 6 cylinder that its big brothers have just not turned up as much, and weighs in at even more than the 640s of the 80s and 90s. I guess what I am getting at is that much has changed over the years and the badges may not necessarily reflect what you think you are getting.

logman81 · September 09, 2012, 10:04:51 AM

Thanks mad murdock for the info. I heard those duetz diesels are good on fuel and are quieter than detroits which is somthing I want to get away from.

barbender · September 09, 2012, 12:20:31 PM

My experience with Duetz engines has been good, fairly quiet and definitely easy on fuel. They can be a bugger to get parts for from what I hear, though. Good thing is you rarely need them. Logman, I don't know how your Pettibone compares to my 501, yours is a master 6, right? Mine is definitely bigger than a C4, way longer and it weighs #17000 full of fuel.

logman81 · September 09, 2012, 12:41:54 PM

Barbender my bone is a msster 15 and I think is a little bit bigger than a c4,but never had a side by side comparison. Thanks for the info!

mad murdock · September 09, 2012, 06:09:12 PM

Okra, PAFaller gives you pretty good rundown on the evolution of skidders from the 70's forward. If you are looking smaller than a C4'you have to look towards Garrett or early TJ, Franklin, etc. my model 15 is the transition where CanCar started with the C4 based off the Garrett 15 and went up from there. The model 10 Garrett takes you back to the beginnings of articulated skidders. For modern small skidders you have to go to an accessorized 4wd tractor, or the Awassos. Both options will cost you plenty by the time you accessorize a tractor
For woods work or buy a off the shelf purpose built machine like an Awassos.

Okrafarmer · September 09, 2012, 08:53:27 PM

The John Deere 440 is also a good size. I was noticing on its spec sheet that most, maybe all, 440 models featured a solid rear axle with no differential. Interesting. We're looking for one around 6 tons or less, and less than 8'6" wide for easier hauling. Then again, I'm not sure we should be getting a skidder right now, as there are other things that would probably be better investments for the business.

logman81 · September 10, 2012, 06:42:30 PM

Getting lots of interest now in my skidder hope fully it sells soon!

I got my eye for a new machine to replace it. ;)

logman81 · September 11, 2012, 04:44:36 PM

Whats the D stand for on the c4d tree farmers? Axles? Engine?

Okrafarmer · September 11, 2012, 07:13:26 PM

Quote from: logman81 on September 11, 2012, 04:44:36 PM
Whats the D stand for on the c4d tree farmers? Axles? Engine?

Deluxe?

logman81 · September 12, 2012, 03:56:51 AM

Maybe not sure don't know much about TF's.

HiTech · September 12, 2012, 05:01:59 PM

Never saw one but heard TF made a C-3. I did see a TF C-8. What a monster! I believe it had a Big Cummins motor. I had to take my shoes and socks off to count the sliders, then I had to borrow my buddies hand. lol I just couldn't imagine what that machine would pull. The cable on it looked huge. I think it was better than an inch. I couldn't imagine pulling that around all day. It looked like it had a grapple on it at one time. The guy running it said you could more than fill a 10 wheeler with one hitch. I really wanted to operate it for a hitch or two but not being part of the crew all I could was watch. It must have been at least 11' wide. It was impressive.

logman81 · September 12, 2012, 07:08:58 PM

Sounds like a beast!

ga jones · September 12, 2012, 09:45:19 PM

I have i c4 early 60s .It has a c3 transfercase. The c4 is very short it fits on a 16 foot deck trailer. Mine has 18.4x34 tires its 8 feet wide.about 9000 LBS.Its not very stable with the tall tires. It has a 353 detroit.Uses 5 gal a day.pulls 3 16 inch DBH red oaks 5 hemlocks.tree lenght.It has a 4speed trans Pr 67 rockwell rear axle pr 52 front. the rear is alot heavier axle. Ive rebuilt both axles, planitarys, transfercase, engine.repind the whole machine. The steering pins center pins blade cylinder pins are all the same.Parts are easy to get.Timberjack frankiln Uses alot of the same stuff. for the tree farmer specific stuff I get from davco.pins, clutch slave.the cylinders i had a local hydraulic place repack.