Harvesting machine

[scraiga]

Hi All,
Is there a harvester, be it a whole machine or just the head configuration, that would make it possible to push the tree over first before cutting the log? Just looking to harvest and clear 500 acres of hardwood and need the stumps out as part of the logging gig.
Cheers

[RookieLogger]

Rotobec makes a grapple saw that would be an option for that situation. To push large trees over you would probably want it on a 350 sized excavator, and even then it would probably struggle with pushing bigger trees over depending on what kind of soil you're working in. Also you'll end up leaving a few extra feet on the stump because the grapple will struggle to cut right at the base of the stump if it's flared out or much over 36 in+/-. And they aren't very good for digging so you'll still be left with roots and such in the ground to get out. If the soil is really sandy you might be able to make it work with the grapple saw only, but more than likely for a good finished product you will still have to come behind and rake with a dozer or large track loader

[barbender]

 A Forum member, 1270d, had on their operation a Timberpro track feller with a barsaw fixed head that went ahead of their cut to length operation. When I asked him why they used a barsaw instead of a hot saw, he said they did exactly what you're talking about- tipping whole trees over with roots to get them out of the way and build nice skid trails for the forwarder, iirc.

 Even with a machine of that size, there's going to be a limit on what you can tip. Start getting into medium and large hardwood, I don't see it being too effective. Maybe Barge will comment, he has a Timbco barsaw machine.

[BargeMonkey]

Good friend of mine travels the northeast doing BIG clearing work for solar farms and pipeline jobs, this guy LEVELS ground FAST. Small trees I will rip them out, anything decent sized no, hard on the head and machine. What iron I would use depends on the logistics of your project ? Is the wood being harvested / stack burn / grinder ? Is it larger stuff or smaller ? What kind of budget do you have for iron ? 250-350 class excavator tends to knock stuff over, could follow behind with a rotobec dangle, my buddy actually has a nice low hour 320D for sale right now all set up on single grousers. 

[Riwaka]

Impossible to write a reply without knowing the background etc of what the story is.

A lot of jurisdictions will have their industrial health & safety staff fine/ prosecute etc people operating heavy machinery without machine operating qualifications (the machine operators need to have passed official courses in how to safely operate chainsaws, properly fell trees, maintain & operate heavy machinery) from recognized and audited etc training course providers. 

https://www.nmcc.edu/industry-customized-training/mechanized-forest-operations/  (maine 2025)

This is the steelwrist multi quick hitch - one swing base can run dig bucket, fixed rotate log grapple, processor head (waratah 624) and option on a dangle head bar saw felling head (waratah, satco, woodsmanpro, duxon donaldson, ryans etc)
Steelwrist (NZ rep is Synergy Equipment, Tamahere, Total Hydraulic Solutions -rotorua, AB Equipment involved) The old guy in the high viz talking at the end is Rob Prebble - who was involved when one of the Dancer cable logging crews shipped their gear to NZ during the Spotted Owl issues era on the West Coast, USA in the early 1990s. 
Sumitomo SH300 (highly modified) with multi hitch
https://youtu.be/Ki3zVW1AFeo?si=DEAMZ26Bcxhrbwdn 

Often see 'Road Builder' spec excavators with good operators dig and push fell trees when punching a logging road along a ridgeline through a forest etc. With bucket and thumb grab to shift trees.

CAT 568 road builder
https://youtu.be/UJOO5j4DzY0?si=yW8ELcAYYDq_IaHw


 

[Riwaka]

Part of the tech for teaching old machines new tricks or doing the same work with less staff in the forest etc.

Identified the fullsize remote control at a distance skidder that I saw in a clip.

Kodama Systems. Skidder run with 'autopilot'. Also putting highspeed internet in the forest etc.

https://youtu.be/2_t_nKMssUQ?si=eOQ7fVd2q45CdsG2

https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/newsroom/articles/tech-startups-innovate-to-snuff-out-wildfires/