Log Loading Tractors

Log Loading Tractors TRACTORS New Tractors 19-1-37 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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