Working in the NE woods with plenty of snow pack on M6800 skidding

Gus1957

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M6800, L2501 TLB, BX2370
Dec 17, 2023
61
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Cobleskill NY
Skidding out a 40ft Hemlock log coming down the hill and tried to turn onto the main road - log caught and thru tractor sideways over a rock off the edge of road. Winch was hung up on the rock so had to unhook, drive tractor out, cut log in 1/2 and then winch log forward again to re-hook and go. Had to come back for the other 1/2.
Always a good day with the sun shining in the winter when working alone.
 

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RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
10,265
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Chenango County, NY
That's an impressive hemlock log.

Chains would have helped.

Wasn't driving it, but lifting the log that high while skidding reduced front wheel traction.

Front chains, or ballast in the loader bucket might have kept the front tires planted to get it out in one piece(?).

Glad you got everything out, including the log in 2 pieces.....
 
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NordTrac

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MX5200HST, BH92, LA1065, SB78-PT, V-4021
Jan 26, 2025
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Quebec, Canada
Had a couple of close calls myself today. Forestry winches are so powerful, they can jerk the tractor pretty bad when a log gets caught.
 
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Gus1957

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Premium Member

Equipment
M6800, L2501 TLB, BX2370
Dec 17, 2023
61
50
18
Cobleskill NY
When my winch was new it could pull the tractor sideways and quickly lift the opposite side rear tire up a foot or so if you weren't quick to let go of the rope.
I used to hook all 4 firewood size trees less than a foot in diameter and bring a big bunch down.
The bigger saw logs I always cut out smaller diameter trees that need thinning like stunted Hemlocks and put them under where the bigger tree will fall so the big log can slide across something and hopefully not get caught on a stump when I have to pull up hill.
If I had the money I'd buy a remote control winch and stand farther away but being 70 soon it doesn't make sense - probably will never replace the tractor either at these prices.
 
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