• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Directional Felling Grapple

Partimelogger

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2014
Messages
5
Location
Noti, OR
Is anyone using directional felling grapples to load trucks with? I have looked at the Satco and Waratah units and it looks like it is feasible. Was wondering how well it works on a mid-size log loader compared to normal grapples. Thanks.
 

Hallback

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
2,306
Location
Aberdeen Wa.
Occupation
Gyppo tower logger
It works well. Not as well as a typical Jewell or Pierce but they are fine for 7-8 loads a day.
 

theironoracle

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
940
Location
PACWEST
Occupation
OWNER/OPERATOR MOBILE HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR
It works well. Not as well as a typical Jewell or Pierce but they are fine for 7-8 loads a day.
I have a customer that owns one he uses on a 290 link belt log loader. He would fall his "farmer patches" then switch over (helped a few times with this) to his loading grapples to shovel log it to a hand bucker or a hired Delimber. Then load also. On his it had one grapple arm from the right side to hold falling grapple against the bar saw. I would think this would be unproductive to wiggle that arm out from under a log bunked on a truck? Not to mention it had a cylinder considerably smaller than a standard grapple cylinder to holds log horizontally? Maybe a different style than hallback is referring to?...TIO
 

loggers son

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2011
Messages
106
Location
bathurst australia
Occupation
shovel logger operator
Have loaded plenty of trucks with the satco 630 felling head on a cat 330 D FM and really only struggled with lengths shorter than 4 metres, though it can be done if you take your time. I'm running a woodsman pro fh1350 head on a Komatsu PC300 at the moment and it doesn't have a stabiliser bar between the grapple arms like the satco does, so the arms can move independently which makes it a little harder to select logs from the stockpile, however can still load trucks without too much difficulty.

trev
 

getoan

Member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Messages
23
Location
Valemount
I'm looking at getting into a Deere 909 or Tigercat L870 with a harvester boom and set up for a 624c and possibly a Southstar FD750. The plan is to do as much falling/bunching for our yarder side as possible and obviously the processing as well. Great to read that the directional felling heads can load, the fact that they are so universal is what has got me looking into going that route vs a conventional buncher.
 

csquared

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2006
Messages
125
Location
BC
IMG_3679.jpg
EX400 North Vancouver Island Southstar FD750 hanging off a heel

Cant figure out how to rotate the pic
 

getoan

Member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Messages
23
Location
Valemount
That's Holbrook's ol 400 rigged up with a low cab and single bars isn't it. Makes me think the heel could sure be handy getting around in the steep and stumpy ground
 

theironoracle

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
940
Location
PACWEST
Occupation
OWNER/OPERATOR MOBILE HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR
image.jpg
I wanted to see a close up of the head and found this. Looks like it would work well to load and shovel with, obviously that was their intention....TIO
 

Partimelogger

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2014
Messages
5
Location
Noti, OR
Thanks guys for all the feedback. I have been looking at the Southstart, Satco, and Waratah. The Oregon Logging Conference (aka-Loggers Holiday) is coming up soon and I will have an opportunity to talk with the salesman. We are not a high production outfit by any means, but the ability to fall, shovel log, and load sure is attractive. We have a Timberjack 608 with a processor head to work up the small stuff, but would still have to buck and limb wood over 24" in diameter. Appreciate all the knowledge and help this forum provides.
 

Partimelogger

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2014
Messages
5
Location
Noti, OR
The only real issue I see with the falling heads is digging small logs out of a log deck. It appears the saw housing would limit the ability for the grapples to reach far enough into the deck to grab more than 1 or 2 logs.
 

csquared

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2006
Messages
125
Location
BC
You are correct.
Works good with that 400 track frame being so long, it helps get it around the stumps. The head grabs the heel and it gives 1.5ft of heel hanging out the bottom to push and pull with.
If you rigged a 909/or855 with a 600 southstar you could have quick change 750 and use the same nose cone, hoses and computer
 

getoan

Member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Messages
23
Location
Valemount
Hydraulic and electrical could be plug and play at the end of the stick to swap between a Southstar processor head and felling head!?! Very interesting information, thanks csquared
 

csquared

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2006
Messages
125
Location
BC
Hydraulic and electrical could be plug and play at the end of the stick to swap between a Southstar processor head and felling head!?! Very interesting information, thanks csquared
Haven't done it yet, but its possible.
 

NZ Engineer

Active Member
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
26
Location
Nelson
Another option would be our Trinder Felling head, it has a retractable saw box to aid shovel logging, loading out and pulling wind fallen timber. Same head is used on the ClimbMax steep slope harvester
 

Plebeian

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
432
Location
NZ
Thanks guys for all the feedback. I have been looking at the Southstart, Satco, and Waratah. The Oregon Logging Conference (aka-Loggers Holiday) is coming up soon and I will have an opportunity to talk with the salesman. We are not a high production outfit by any means, but the ability to fall, shovel log, and load sure is attractive. We have a Timberjack 608 with a processor head to work up the small stuff, but would still have to buck and limb wood over 24" in diameter. Appreciate all the knowledge and help this forum provides.

Bit difficult to make suggestions without knowing you terrain , tree size, cost structure etc. Generally go for the brand that will give you the best service in your area.
https://youtu.be/1Ukj7s54eGk (Satco 420 felling head loading) I guess you know about the satco 630E felling head so the operator can change quickly between felling and processing.

https://youtu.be/gKztcVss6u0 (Tigercat 855D with Tiger cat 5195 felling head )
 
Last edited:

OhDeere

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Vernon, BC, Canada
Occupation
John Deere Construction & Forestry Sales Represent
That's Holbrook's ol 400 rigged up with a low cab and single bars isn't it. Makes me think the heel could sure be handy getting around in the steep and stumpy ground

Getoan, I've been working on this for a few months now, from the Deere side. At the present, we have the capabilities of Factory Ordering in a 909M without boom/stick. Pierce has drawn up plans for a live heel/FD750 combo stick which would come with their standard forestry harvester boom. I take it you deal with Ray out of Kamloops?

We are in the process of getting one of these units built for our inventory.
 
Top