The welds on the grapple are from welding a stand on it. They weld the grapple to a stand when they take the grapple off so they can leave it standing up on its own on the shop floor. They probably had to rework the brakes and the pins and bushing that keep the grapple from swinging so bad. I’ve seen it done a couple times and B and G.
Happy New Year! My buddies Tigercat store has a 2014 630E with 2105 hrs on it for 209K. It’s got 35.5 32’s on it just to give you a price to compare. The main thing with the new Tier 4 crap is keeping the def tank clean and free of contamination.
This video made me realize you put out the video about you best and worst equipment on Thanksgiving 2016... So I've been watching your videos over a year now. Wow lol.
Hey Tim. Great video. I’m sure whatever decision you make will be the right one. I guess this is where the old saying that it takes money too make money comes into play. Happy and safe New Year. Later
Tim there is no money in logging in North Carolina ether. If you are not a family run crew then you can't find help. After twelve years on my on I sold out a year ago. I have went back to a full time welder and now I can sleep at night. No more worrying for me but I'm a logger at heart.
I have read a lot of articles about farmers in the mid west battling with John Deere over the right to work on their own tractors. John Deere does not want to give the farmer access to the electronics on their own tractors, meaning if you have a computer issue you have to call Deere or possibly a third party mechanic that may have access to some of computer stuff. I don't mean to pick on Deere, as I am sure other big companies may be the same way, but so far I have only read about farmers issues with Deere. I am just curious if these same issues would apply to their new logging equipment as well. Have you heard anything about these issues? Happy New Year!
From one logger to the next. I feel you on logging expenses. Equipment new and used way over priced and no one will stand behind to help you. Equipment companies should be ashamed of what they charge for stuff and not to mention field service charges!
That is a difficult decision to make financially in hard times I'm sure but I realise that you cannot stand still with regard to equipment replacement otherwise sooner or later you finish up with a whole collection of worn out kit and cannot move forward. However not so long ago you said in another video you were managing with just one operator, Chad, on the giant skidder. Why I wonder are you apparently considering another skidder? It would seem to be an expensive option to perhaps stand idle for much of the time, it might be of course that you have perhaps a special job coming up where it might be better suited to your work.
No money = no or very slim profit margins? Seems to be like trying to cross a stream, jumping from rock (problem) to rock (problem) and hoping the plan does not result in falling in the water. What is the next machine weakest link? Do you go and look over all the existing machines/ trucks with the flashlight before you purchase anything additional so there are no nasty surprises from the current fleet? what's next? the waratah 624 might be given the full factory overhaul at some point (a number of weeks down time?) versus a new head to keep up with a 635D and 630E together?
You are saying the same thing that are loggers are saying. Many of our loggers have swapped from John Deere to Tigercat or Caterpillar. Thurman Taylor is still not starving but I bet they are feeling the difference when if comes to forestry sales.
From what I have seen Tigercat is listening to the customers and John Deere says they are, but they aren't. Does it seem to you Tim. Companies are buying the smallest more maneuverable skidders over the bigger ones?
Brian Gardiner the new 602 will be a game changer I believe. Set one up swing boom with winch and it’ll do pretty good in my area and the rest of my state
Pedro Gunner because the 635 is going in for updated mods and they need another skidder to fill the gap so I'm sure tigercat offered them the 630e as a loaner and giving them the opportunity to buy it If enough interest is involved in the machine.
Don't blame you one bit for trying something you think is better, especially in today's more with less kind of economy. Y'all move more loads with less equipment so there is no room faulty equipment.