Swiss Army Knives for Small Farm

 
NoSmoke
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Post by NoSmoke » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 7:31 pm

I had a problem this summer, as I cleared my land in anticipation of converting more forest into fields, my bulldozer would snap chockers every time the trees I was trying to twitch hit a rock, stump or root since I was dry-dragging them on the ground. I needed a way to get them off the ground yet was limited by my bulldozers lack of hydraulics, pto or 3 point hitch. When I saw this log trailer at a dealership, I saw potential far beyond a log trailer.

What a handy rig! It is ideal for the small farm. I have run it a lot, got some numbers figured out, and got the powerpack unit for it, which intensifies its usefulness 10 fold. For those that do not know, the Wallenstein is a Log Trailer with a boom and grapple attached to it. The log stakes can be removed and a dump body put in its place. The grapple can be swapped out for a small back hoe bucket, and it can also be used as a post hole driller too. Because of the powerpack; a small engine driving a hydraulic pump, it can be attached to anything with a hitch; tractor, bulldozer, SUV, truck, or even an ATV.

The trailer can handle 5000 pounds (1 cord) but only has stakes for 1/2 a cord. I am going to extend the stakes a bit higher so that I can at least get 3/4 of a cord on it, that way I save a few trips out to the wood yard. With it however I can get 4 cords out per day cut at 8 feet. I get $80 a cord for my 8 foot pulpwood making for a decent work day pay off. As for fuel, I consume about 2 gallons of fuel doing so as everything is run at an idle. In that respect it is a very efficient mover of wood and I have pulled out 100 cords with it so far. Normally I pull tree length out at 1/4 cord per turn, in 5th gear in 4 wheel drive. With the trailer I can do so at 1/2 cord, in 7th gear (out of 8) and in 2 wheel drive.

I have also pulled out a few truck loads of 12' spruce logs, many large in diameter at about 500 bf per twitch. It has done really well at this and the log loader, though small, handles the big logs easily. Clean logs, making 3 trips to the yard per day instead of 10...$1200 in 3 days time using less than 8 gallons of fuel...what is not to love?

Here are a few pictures of it at work. A pretty handy rig. I even use it to move big round bales as it can easily grab them, pick them up, and put 3 on the trailer and roll away with them.
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johnjoseph
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Post by johnjoseph » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 8:43 pm

That's an awesome rig....sounds like it has paid for itself already. :)
Last edited by johnjoseph on Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 6:43 am, edited 2 times in total.

 
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009to090
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Post by 009to090 » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 9:09 pm

Nice rig. Looks really versatile.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 5:49 am

Nice setup. It sure helps when you have a dozer to pull it. :)

 
NoSmoke
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Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun. Oct. 14, 2012 7:52 pm
Location: Mid Coast Maine
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: New Yoker WC90
Baseburners & Antiques: Woods and Bishop Antique Pot Bellied Stove
Coal Size/Type: Stove/Nut/Pea Anthracite
Other Heating: Munchkin LP Boiler/Englander Pellet Stove/Perkins 4.108 Cogeneration diesel

Post by NoSmoke » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 6:46 am

johnjoseph wrote:That's an awesome rig....is that you in the dress? :rofl: toothy
Yep sure is; I took advantage of Obama Care's little known paragraph that allows for sex-changes and had one done. Came out pretty good I thought! (Well...that is actually a lie, that is my wife, but the part about tax payer paid sex changes is not).

There is an interesting story however about the chainsaw in that photo. A few years back a friend of mine from church had retired early and was really up against it, I was working at the shipyard at the time and was doing well, so I helped him out financially. Then like him, I retired (both of us in our 40's) and then in one week I crushed my saw under a falling tree and ran over the other accidentally with my bulldozer.

A few nights later my friend called me up and said "pick your saw up at the dealership tomorrow". When I walked in the guys there said, "You must have a really good friend." He knew I cut wood commercially so I needed a big saw; it was a Stihl 461; a $1023.00 chainsaw! Pretty nice gift, and just kind of shows, our needs will always be met.
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NoSmoke
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Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun. Oct. 14, 2012 7:52 pm
Location: Mid Coast Maine
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: New Yoker WC90
Baseburners & Antiques: Woods and Bishop Antique Pot Bellied Stove
Coal Size/Type: Stove/Nut/Pea Anthracite
Other Heating: Munchkin LP Boiler/Englander Pellet Stove/Perkins 4.108 Cogeneration diesel

Post by NoSmoke » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 6:53 am

Rob R. wrote:Nice setup. It sure helps when you have a dozer to pull it. :)
The bulldozer was a nice addition to my tractor. That is quick and nimble; has pto and a 3 point hitch, but is small at only 25 hp. The bulldozer, that has twice the HP but has gobs of traction and thus brawn. The two work well together cutting wood, and other general farm work.

The former owner used it to put in roads for housing developments so it was not really worked hard, and not all welded up like most dozers of this vintage. It also had brand new tracks...chains, track rollers, track pads, sprockets, etc so I was pleased with that. I bought it from a family friend so I got a pretty good deal on it, but only paid $10,000. It was one of my smarter buys.

 
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johnjoseph
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Post by johnjoseph » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 7:22 am

NoSmoke wrote:
johnjoseph wrote:That's an awesome rig....is that you in the dress? :rofl: toothy
Yep sure is; I took advantage of Obama Care's little known paragraph that allows for sex-changes and had one done. Came out pretty good I thought! (Well...that is actually a lie, that is my wife, but the part about tax payer paid sex changes is not).

There is an interesting story however about the chainsaw in that photo. A few years back a friend of mine from church had retired early and was really up against it, I was working at the shipyard at the time and was doing well, so I helped him out financially. Then like him, I retired (both of us in our 40's) and then in one week I crushed my saw under a falling tree and ran over the other accidentally with my bulldozer.

A few nights later my friend called me up and said "pick your saw up at the dealership tomorrow". When I walked in the guys there said, "You must have a really good friend." He knew I cut wood commercially so I needed a big saw; it was a Stihl 461; a $1023.00 chainsaw! Pretty nice gift, and just kind of shows, our needs will always be met.
DSCN4292.JPG
Outstanding sir...thanks for sharing your success....stunning saw, equipment and of course your prized mrs. Nosmoke. ;)


 
NoSmoke
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Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun. Oct. 14, 2012 7:52 pm
Location: Mid Coast Maine
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: New Yoker WC90
Baseburners & Antiques: Woods and Bishop Antique Pot Bellied Stove
Coal Size/Type: Stove/Nut/Pea Anthracite
Other Heating: Munchkin LP Boiler/Englander Pellet Stove/Perkins 4.108 Cogeneration diesel

Post by NoSmoke » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 3:51 pm

Yep, I noticed there was more views of Katie than me, but that is understandable. :-)

A few years back I bought a used wood/coal boiler and the guys on here gave me advice along the way on its refurbishment. It came out good, but they wanted to see a picture of the boiler, then a picture of Katie, for comparison of course. :cheers: I told Katie about the request and she was agreeable to it and posed for some pictures. I posted them on here, but many die hard coal burners could not seem to find the boiler in the picture. :inlove:

With four daughters and a limited income now, we don't go out to eat like we used to, but when we do go out, we typically are the best dressed people at the restaurant...not really difficult to do in Maine. Tonight we got a Soil and Water Conservation District banquet (she is on the board) so she should look petty good (miniskirt).

One question for you though, do you sell coal?

 
coalnewbie
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Post by coalnewbie » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 4:12 pm

Nice setup. It sure helps when you have a dozer to pull it. :)
and if you don't but have a Bombardier SW48 as I do with a Perkins 100HP motor then ...


 
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johnjoseph
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Post by johnjoseph » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 5:31 pm

NoSmoke wrote:Yep, I noticed there was more views of Katie than me, but that is understandable. :-)

A few years back I bought a used wood/coal boiler and the guys on here gave me advice along the way on its refurbishment. It came out good, but they wanted to see a picture of the boiler, then a picture of Katie, for comparison of course. :cheers: I told Katie about the request and she was agreeable to it and posed for some pictures. I posted them on here, but many die hard coal burners could not seem to find the boiler in the picture. :inlove:

With four daughters and a limited income now, we don't go out to eat like we used to, but when we do go out, we typically are the best dressed people at the restaurant...not really difficult to do in Maine. Tonight we got a Soil and Water Conservation District banquet (she is on the board) so she should look petty good (miniskirt).

One question for you though, do you sell coal?
I wish I sold coal...lol...your a fortunate man....i will leave you with this...the winters are long and cold...your lady keeps your heart warm...you coal is only a body warmer. ;)

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 8:50 pm

A Stihl 461 is one heck of a saw. I hope you aren't one of those tough guys that thinks PPE is for sissies.

 
NoSmoke
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: New Yoker WC90
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Other Heating: Munchkin LP Boiler/Englander Pellet Stove/Perkins 4.108 Cogeneration diesel

Post by NoSmoke » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 9:12 pm

I am a sheep farmer so I am used to being called a Sissie, but so far I have only been bit twice. Once when I was 15 years old, and then in my mid-thirties. Luckily both times have only been minor cuts; one to my shin and the other to my thigh.

The first was when I made the back cut on big spruce and there was a little sapling that shot up the back that made my saw jump and kick back into my leg, and the other time I was cutting in really deep snow and as I was treading through waist deep snow, brought my left thigh up at the same time I topped a tree off and was bringing it down; a bad combination.

I wwear a hardhat though with ear muffs to protect my head and hearing.

 
NoSmoke
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Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun. Oct. 14, 2012 7:52 pm
Location: Mid Coast Maine
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: New Yoker WC90
Baseburners & Antiques: Woods and Bishop Antique Pot Bellied Stove
Coal Size/Type: Stove/Nut/Pea Anthracite
Other Heating: Munchkin LP Boiler/Englander Pellet Stove/Perkins 4.108 Cogeneration diesel

Post by NoSmoke » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 9:16 pm

johnjoseph wrote:I wish I sold coal...lol...your a fortunate man....i will leave you with this...the winters are long and cold...your lady keeps your heart warm...you coal is only a body warmer. ;)
You be the judge...
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 6:11 am

NoSmoke wrote:
Rob R. wrote:Nice setup. It sure helps when you have a dozer to pull it. :)
The bulldozer was a nice addition to my tractor. That is quick and nimble; has pto and a 3 point hitch, but is small at only 25 hp. The bulldozer, that has twice the HP but has gobs of traction and thus brawn. The two work well together cutting wood, and other general farm work.

The former owner used it to put in roads for housing developments so it was not really worked hard, and not all welded up like most dozers of this vintage. It also had brand new tracks...chains, track rollers, track pads, sprockets, etc so I was pleased with that. I bought it from a family friend so I got a pretty good deal on it, but only paid $10,000. It was one of my smarter buys.
What was the cost of this miniature cherry-picker? Seems like for the cost of the dozer and your new picker you could have gotten a decent log skidder? It would not be as versatile though.

On a different note, I have always been surprised at how the small dozers hold their value compared to the big iron. Lot more demand for the small ones I guess, and MUCH easier to truck.

 
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johnjoseph
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Post by johnjoseph » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 6:25 am

NoSmoke wrote:
johnjoseph wrote:I wish I sold coal...lol...your a fortunate man....i will leave you with this...the winters are long and cold...your lady keeps your heart warm...you coal is only a body warmer. ;)
You be the judge...
DSCN1713.JPG
You got me...you win the blue ribbon on all fronts sir. :D


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