wildfire305 58 #1 Posted August 7, 2018 I'll let you know if it works or kills me. The logging mule has received its latest mod. 5 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,861 #2 Posted August 7, 2018 - VIDEO!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #3 Posted August 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: - VIDEO!!! Probably tomorrow after work. I stood on it and jumped up and down. It didn't budge and I weigh 225. I think it will handle a 600 pound log reduced by block and tackle or single pulley. Been using the mule to pull a 300 ft rope and thought it might be easier with a winch. I only have a 75ft runway so it has been multiple hitches on each pull. I've got about 60 more feet of 20" diameter wood down the hill to get. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,060 #4 Posted August 7, 2018 I’ve seen this on an suv before, and it could winch itself out of a bed of mud. Why couldn’t it skid a log? Great idea! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,709 #5 Posted August 7, 2018 13 hours ago, wildfire305 said: let you know if it works or kills me. Hope it works, hate it when someone gets killed! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,707 #6 Posted August 7, 2018 I would use low range on that for safety and easier gear reduction movement. if you can, also reduce the entire log dragging on ground, with a curved metal skid up front , that would help a lot. I have used old wheel barrel shell as a sliding skid on front of log, also used a car hood, either of those would give you the mechanical advantage, good luck ,pete 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #7 Posted August 7, 2018 (edited) Couldn't agree more on the speed Peter. I jacked it up and had one wheel spinning off the ground. And that flailing chain and everything is terrifying at anything above low 1 Edited August 7, 2018 by wildfire305 Spelling 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,060 #8 Posted August 7, 2018 1 hour ago, wildfire305 said: Couldn't agree more on the speed Peter. I jacked it up and had one wheel spinning off the ground. And that flailing chain and everything is terrifying at anything above low 1 Video? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #9 Posted August 7, 2018 12 minutes ago, pullstart said: Video? Oh that was just my test. I haven't made it home yet from work. But my boy has agreed to film it so I'll post soon. I've never put a video up here is a YouTube link acceptable? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,060 #10 Posted August 7, 2018 Yep, upload to YouTube, then Just copy and paste the link, then it’ll auto-embed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #11 Posted August 7, 2018 Rained out 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #12 Posted August 8, 2018 (edited) Ground was a little soggy but I had a break in the weather so I figured I would give it a try. Wifey helped with the video. Using my wheel horse tractor as a capstan winch. First try on the prototype. for a proof-of-concept I believe it works. Have to work out the stability aspects a little bit more. It lurched when the log got snagged so I shut it down. You can't see it down the hill, but there is a thousand pound log attached to that rope. Also down the hill is a block and tackle reduction and s-natch block. I'll get the bugs worked out and repost some progress next week. Edited August 9, 2018 by wildfire305 Word rejected. Embedded different link 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #13 Posted August 8, 2018 It moved that log about 10 ft before it got snagged. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,060 #14 Posted August 9, 2018 And how many more feet to go? Did you have the rope attached to the log directly, or did you fashion some type of sled? Looking forward to updates! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #15 Posted August 9, 2018 1 minute ago, pullstart said: And how many more feet to go? Did you have the rope attached to the log directly, or did you fashion some type of sled? Looking forward to updates! I've been using a log tong connected to the rope. It's got to move 40 feet across the slope and then 50 feet up about a 70 degree incline. Every time I've tried to make some kind of a sled they fall off or get in the way, so I've kind of given up on those. Going to try again next week when I get back from vacation. Either changing the front anchor point to the front axle or turn the tractor around to combat the wiggling, and putting a piece of epoxy plywood under the back axle to support the jack better. If it's still can't do it I might cut the log in half, and I'm pretty sure it'll pull it at 500 pounds. I want to get away from using that double pulley block and tackle setup and go to a single pulley or no pulley for simplicity. The stacked wood in the video is about 1/3 of what I already brought up from that hillside. I've been using a single pulley on five foot long logs set up, but it requires me to reattach it about every 75 feet because I don't have a lot of run way before I hit concrete and lose all the traction. I could keep doing it that way but it's very time-consuming and boring compared to the challenge of making something new. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,155 #16 Posted August 9, 2018 12 minutes ago, wildfire305 said: Every time I've tried to make some kind of a sled they fall off Loving this post. Great info and I really enjoy experimentation like this. If you haven't solved the sliding sled yet... We've had good luck with a nose Cone. Think huge traffic cone. Make your own from a 55 gallon plastic barrel and rivets. A lot of rivets. Run the pull chain through the nose to the log.... Can't fall off. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #17 Posted August 9, 2018 17 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Loving this post. Great info and I really enjoy experimentation like this. If you haven't solved the sliding sled yet... We've had good luck with a nose Cone. Think huge traffic cone. Make your own from a 55 gallon plastic barrel and rivets. A lot of rivets. Run the pull chain through the nose to the log.... Can't fall off. Nose cone from 55gal plastic drum! Love the idea! Brain needs a visual though... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,155 #18 Posted August 9, 2018 2 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: Nose cone from 55gal plastic drum! Love the idea! Brain needs a visual though... Here is one of the places we got the idea. This person used a traffic cone and cut/riveted the barrel to it. https://goo.gl/images/QepjeJ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,060 #19 Posted August 9, 2018 30 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Loving this post. Great info and I really enjoy experimentation like this. If you haven't solved the sliding sled yet... We've had good luck with a nose Cone. Think huge traffic cone. Make your own from a 55 gallon plastic barrel and rivets. A lot of rivets. Run the pull chain through the nose to the log.... Can't fall off. Wow, a quick search led me to ideas dating 8+ years back, why have I never heard of this? Thanks Eric! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,155 #20 Posted August 9, 2018 4 minutes ago, pullstart said: Wow, a quick search led me to ideas dating 8+ years back, why have I never heard of this? Thanks Eric! You're welcome! My honey and I found it when we were looking for a solution to moving some medium size logs to a better position for cut/split. Our forest is very very thick and rough ground and wet so we didn't have an option of just cutting a path in some spots. We usually use storm downed or sick trees to burn and they don't always fall where it's convenient. Or ever. We enjoy the adventure of figuring out how to move them. We used a cone and several linked chains and it works great!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,134 #21 Posted August 9, 2018 Machine needs some type of outrigger setup to enlarge it's foot print, provide some more stability. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #22 Posted August 9, 2018 1 minute ago, AMC RULES said: Machine needs some type of outrigger setup to enlarge it's foot print, provide some more stability. I agree I've got some ideas on the drawing board for just that sort of thing. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfire305 58 #23 Posted August 9, 2018 I have an almost unlimited supply of unistrut. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,155 #24 Posted August 9, 2018 19 minutes ago, wildfire305 said: I agree I've got some ideas on the drawing board for just that sort of thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
