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Log Loading Tractors
I've built three of these log loading tractors over the past 42 years to use for commercial logging. They work great in deep snow or on rough terrain and use a 20-ft. treetrunk as a lift mast for a log lifting winch. I use a home-built log carrying trailer to trans-port logs out of the woods and pull the trailer behind the log loader. I also use the log loader as a log skidder by hooking onto groups of logs from the base of the lift mast.
I made the winch, which mounts at the base of the lift mast, using a 3/4-ton pickup rear end differential and a winch drum that holds up to 125 ft. of 3/8-in. steel cable. To make the winch, axles and housing were cut down to leave only 3 to 4 in. to hold the winch in a steel box frame. The brake] drums are left on. The winch is welded to the box frame. The spider gears are welded to the ring gear so both drums turn together. A car transmission installed on the driveshaft line leading to the rear end is chain-driven by the truck pto.
When used to load logs onto the trailer, the lift pulley is positioned near the end of the lift mast. When used to skid logs, a chain is wrapped around the bundle of logs and then run to a clevis near the base of the mast and then over to the truck frame.
The lift pole is mounted in a triangular-shaped frame. The base of this frame is welded to channel iron which is welded to frame rails on the tractor. It must be constructed strong enough to handle 1 1 /2 tons. The driver sits beside the base of the mast so that if anything does happen, he'll be out of harm's way. (Howard Parkhurst, 11 Veterans Rd., Amherst, N.H. 03031)


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1995 - Volume #19, Issue #1