Skagit Iron and Steel Works, Sedro Wooley, Washington

[Contract Logger]

For those who haven't worked around these, here are some other items to note:

Pic 1: You drive it looking out this window. Notice steering hoses outside door, steering wheel inside. That is the windshield while driving.

Pic 2: The raising line for the tube, and telescoping line for the upper tower section, are run from winches located obove the steer axles, below the fuel tank. Lines run under the hoist to tower end of the frame, inside the rails.

The 8 guyline, 1 raising, and 1 telescoping winches are hydraulic. The 5 yarding drums are chain/clutch driven.

They are: Slackline, Mainline, Haulback, Strawline, and Tagline.

[RonG]

[QUOTE=Contract Logger;224486]

And here's a shot (also, tube in the cradle) of the guyline drums on a Skagit.
Also in this pic you can see the raising line for the tower really well.

I didn't phrase my question very well although I didn't have a clue how elaborate the rigging on the tower end was either but I was wondering if you had to dig a hole to bury a deadman or what held the cable on the anchor end.
A big stump would be ideal but I was not thinking far ahead enough.Thanks.Ron G

[DiamondLTruckin]

Awesome pictures keep em comin!

[Humptulips]

[QUOTE=RonG;224521]

I didn't phrase my question very well although I didn't have a clue how elaborate the rigging on the tower end was either but I was wondering if you had to dig a hole to bury a deadman or what held the cable on the anchor end.
A big stump would be ideal but I was not thinking far ahead enough.Thanks.Ron G

Ron,
Mostly you use a stumps. Big ones if available, smaller if not and then tie back the smaller stumps to other stumps. If no suitable stumps then deadmen come in or if you happen to have a spare unused cat you can hang on that. One reason I liked the trailer mounts. They had to leave your cat alone and you alweays had it for use when needed.
Sometimes it takes some figuring to make it work. You might have to move the guylines around out of normal position to bridge a dead spot and occasionally I have resorted to a crows foot. Sometimes on steep ground a deadmand is not doable and I have had out tremendous long guylines at times which create their own problems but you do what you have to to make it work.

[trakloader]

Skagit really did have the best advertising! I have the brochure on the 444,555, 777, etc. and it's enough to make any logger want one. Their exclusive "astronaut cab" with Skagit's exclusive "astronaut air controls"..... "built using the same technology used by NASA to build space capsules!" Too funny! Seriously, though, their mobile loggers changed the industry, they were way ahead of their time. My friend, 90 years old, worked at Franklin River way back when, and he told me that the top producer at that division was a little SJ-4RT. Skagit produced some of the most unique machines ever used in the woods, they probably tried more new ideas than all the other manufacturers combined. Many of their machines may have not been the best, but they certainly got the ball rolling, encouraging others to develop new machines. Does anyone have the records on their production? I've often wondered how many 555's were sold in BC. It seems like there were at least ten TL-6's for each 555.

[trakloader]

This plate came from one of the early Madill spars. Madill only built the spars in those days, the yarders were often Skagit or Tyee machines. I replaced the paint as it originally appeared on the Skagit logo, but I must admit, I'm puzzled by the colours.

[landtekk]

Man does this bring back memories.This is what my dad had in the late sixties. The sj4 (one of two that he owned) was traded off for a Lorain grapple loader soon after this pic was taken. He was kind of proud of the little yarder mounted on the tracked carrier. I believe it was cummin's powered and was always bragging about it. Scott

[trakloader]

This decal is on an old M&B BU-80 yarder, on a Madill steel spar.

[imbzcul8r]

Here's one from our back forty, SJ2 ? not sure.

[prolog nz]

I am looking for the specs for a gt3 skagit rubber tyred swing yarder, can anyone help? and if anyone has run them are they any good? looking at buying one to run with our 123 madill.

any info is greatly appreciated

[Contract Logger]

I am looking for the specs for a gt3 skagit rubber tyred swing yarder, can anyone help? and if anyone has run them are they any good? looking at buying one to run with our 123 madill.

any info is greatly appreciated

There are lots of them around, and they are cheap! For what they were they are heavy- 90,000 lbs on 3 axles is alot. Line speeds are very slow compared to your 123. Notice the sales brochure wont even offer them.
No water brakes- frictions only. No live boom, and difficult tomover over the highway.

I never owned one but worked around a few. in the late 70's and early 80's they were OK- even desireable. In today's world they are really slow.

I have attached the spec sheet for you and a few pics.

[Contract Logger]

As long as we're on the subject of Skagit GT-3's, Ihad better post some track mounted machines as well.

[TorkelH]

This is what I was told (maybe from a book?) the first grapple yarder ever, anybody know something? And trakloader, was this the library you had lost the link to?
http://digitalcollections.library.ub...B=1&DMROTATE=0

[trakloader]

Here's one from our back forty, SJ2 ? not sure.

That appears to be a 222.

[trakloader]

This is what I was told (maybe from a book?) the first grapple yarder ever, anybody know something? And trakloader, was this the library you had lost the link to?
http://digitalcollections.library.ub...B=1&DMROTATE=0

Yes, that was the link. I don't think that's the right picture, though, as it shows a "snapple yarder".... That was certainly one of the first in BC, if not THE first. However, Cypress was selling a GY built around American components in 1968, and grapples were used on steel spars even before that, so it's hard to say. It is much like Madill claiming to have invented the steel spar, when in reality, it is almost impossible to pin down the first one. If I ever find out for sure, I'll let you know!