Skagit Iron and Steel Works, Sedro Wooley, Washington

Contract Logger · Mar 23, 2010

Humptulips said:
RonG said:

How do they anchor the guy lines to those towers?Ron G[/QUOTE

The guylines were on drums. You can see them on the front of the machine. They went up through blocks at the top of the tower. Most models attached the blocks with shackles to the top of the tower but Skagits hung the blocks off short stubs. Not sure what size line the stubs were but big like 2" and about 2' long with babbited knobs on the ends.

Click to expand...

Here is a pic I dug up showing what he is talking about. This tower is down (in the cradle we call it) but you can see the works.......

Contract Logger · Mar 23, 2010

Humptulips said:
RonG said:

How do they anchor the guy lines to those towers?Ron G[/QUOTE

The guylines were on drums. You can see them on the front of the machine. They went up through blocks at the top of the tower. Most models attached the blocks with shackles to the top of the tower but Skagits hung the blocks off short stubs. Not sure what size line the stubs were but big like 2" and about 2' long with babbited knobs on the ends.

Click to expand...

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.

Contract Logger · Mar 23, 2010

Not tryin' to one-up Humptulips here-- he has the brains, I just have the pics!

Humptulips · Mar 23, 2010

Contract Logger said:
Not tryin' to one-up Humptulips here-- he has the brains, I just have the pics!

One up away! I thank you for the brains compliment but if It was really true I'd be able to get a few pictures up for you. Problem with my computer a guy is working on for me so maybe someday.

I've got a few nice pictures of supports but none with anything as big as a 98.
Nice picture!

Contract Logger · Mar 23, 2010

I see 739's everywhere I go.............

Well since I'm posting Skagit crap, here is another BU-739. This was in Ketchikan 3 weeks ago and belongs to Evergreen Timber. Same setup as the previously discussed 739, different machine. I know of 2 others in Ketchikan as well, one is a nice yarder and is for sale.
More on the for sale rig after while- I'm still working on getting pics of that one.

Anyway- check out the jewelry (yarder bling) on this one! Everythingfor a couple layouts hanging right there on a piece of bent drill steel-- gotta love it!

Also got a decent shot of the hoist tag...... tower tag was missing.
Serial Number 739A1-41. Date of Manufacture: 2-82. But you can see that.

Humptulips-- Moe had at least 2 739's, I'll dig up pics of them next week when I come down to Washington. I got good pics of all the yarders when they brought everything in to Chehalis. You'll like it!

Contract Logger · Mar 23, 2010

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 · Mar 23, 2010

Contract Logger said:
Humptulips said:

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.

Click to expand...

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 · Mar 23, 2010

Awesome pictures keep em comin!

Humptulips · Mar 24, 2010

RonG said:
Contract Logger said:

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

Click to expand...

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 · Mar 28, 2010

Skagit

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 · Mar 28, 2010

Bu-80

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 · Apr 5, 2010

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 · Apr 9, 2010

Skagit of Canada

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

imbzcul8r · Apr 9, 2010

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

prolog nz · Apr 20, 2010

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 · Apr 21, 2010

prolog nz said:
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 · Apr 21, 2010

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

TorkelH · Apr 21, 2010

First Grapple yarder

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.u...wer&DMTEXT= yarder&REC=8&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

trakloader · Apr 21, 2010

imbzcul8r said:
Here's one from our back forty, SJ2 ? not sure.

That appears to be a 222.

trakloader · Apr 21, 2010

TorkelH said:
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.u...wer&DMTEXT= yarder&REC=8&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

Yes, that was the link. I don't think that's the right picture, though, as it shows a "snapple yarder"....:tong 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!

Skagit Iron and Steel Works, Sedro Wooley, Washington

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