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Any Feedback on Pierce GP?

Chopper95

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Jan 27, 2014
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195
Location
Colorado
Curious if anyone has some first hand or reliable feedback (good or bad) with Pierce's Grapple Processor?

Mostly would be in Lodge Pole and occasionally some Blue Spruce or Douglas Fur. Do some CTL but mostly whole tree processing as small as 8-10" and up to 24" usually. Generally don't get into trees much bigger than that.

Pierce claims it will work 3" up to 28", which would be just about perfect.
 

Plebeian

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
432
Location
NZ
My understanding is the GP processor is liked by operators in the PNW. Probably in larger wood. Running a gp on a live heel boom in larger wood is a 2454 JD track loader size/ weight base combo.
http://piercepacific.com/products/forestry/grapple-processor/

Are the measurements you have given the stump height diameters? (Bottom log large end diameter?)

In the LP pine you might comparison with the processors that can be used to load with rebel, southstar etc
http://www.redpinectl.com/uploads/1/1/6/0/11604031/x25-rebel_brochure.pdf
http://www.southstarequipment.com/products/qs605-grapple-processor/ (qs 635 etc)
Quick changeable knives, still grapple load, can be used to fell with if the disc saw? feller buncher breaks down. Variety of feed rollers https://en.mense.fi/page/17/steel-feed-wheels
 

Plebeian

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Apr 2, 2009
Messages
432
Location
NZ
Pierce GP

Southstar grapple 605 on eltec (processing on road) (the madill with the southstar qs635 is another illustrative vid - loading truck)

If you have cat/ weiler(in future)/ tigercat close dealers/ equipment preferences there might be other options.
 
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John C.

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I don't know what to think when looking at those videos. Neither processor seems to be as fast as a Waratah or even a Keto. Both look just as heavy and I always thought that cutting the butt end off the log to establish zero was a waste. I've seen a Southstar used for falling before and thought it was a fair idea if you couldn't afford a feller buncher and needed the ability to shovel log and load trucks as well. The shovels though are kind of impressive. The Madil travel was fast behind the truck. It wasn't tippy even with the head installed and a log in the hooks. I haven't heard of Eltec before and am curious about where it comes from and what anyone know of it.
Thanks for the videos.
 

Plebeian

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Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
432
Location
NZ
Eltec is the logging machine brand of Element Technologies. My understanding is the Element family are a french canadian logging industry associated (roads, hydraulics, machinery) family who have moved into making machines as well. Quebec machine logging can be 24/7 with as few as people as possible moving as large a volume of wood possible with as few a number of machines as possible. Eltec is relatively new - the total machine build total is probably still in the hundreds compared to Tigercat's over 20 000 machines made. Eltecs are made of the common component suppliers' parts - cummins engines, usual hydraulic, track gear, etc
Val d'Or, Quebec HQ - dealers/ service agents through North America and other forestry areas of the world that use medium to larger size swing/ leveller logging machines(Feller Bunchers, shovels, processor bases, log loaders).
http://technologieselement.com/about/history/?lang=en
 

Chopper95

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Jan 27, 2014
Messages
195
Location
Colorado
Diameters I provided are butt ends of the stem, so smallest trees having a 8-10" butt up to a 24" give or take - sometimes bigger.

Hadn't seen the Eltec video of the GP, that one is new to me. Didn't get to see any of the Eltecs floating around in NZ, just spent the winter down there working in the bush. Plebeian, where abouts are you stomping around? I assume North Island.

The crew I was with ran the Southstars, one felling head and then a 630 processor. Some features I liked, other things were a toss up. I think I prefer the Pierce design in theory over the Southstar, but application is the real tell all. Mainly saw positioning and two sets of grab arms versus the standard two; more of a grapple versus a processor. Keto is floating around in my head too, but would be a processor only.

If the buncher ain't running, nobody is gonna make money in my neck of the woods. Processor is too slow to keep production up. We're also generally not allowed to delimb outside of the landing, or it is practice not too. Slash piles are burnt afterwards and need to be in a single spot. So as nice as it would be to fall and limb in the same spot, it's a no go.

I'm a fan of the Madill loaders, real simple design and great to work on - the new ones look even better with the Volvo motors. Great swing power and pretty stable if you're on decent ground. LOUD machines though, not unbearable, but not great... A 2850 would be a bit overkill size wise for me, but could be doable if one came up for the right price. The 3800 and new 3000/ 4000 would be way too much machine.
 

hvy 1ton

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Jul 24, 2006
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Lawrence, KS
Both look just as heavy and I always thought that cutting the butt end off the log to establish zero was a waste.
I think both operators are cleaning up the hand felled butts. I know the Pierce has a laser end finder and I doubt Southstar is building a processor without one.

Found this video of a Southstar 605 loading a truck with small logs. Seems like the feed wheels are in the way a lot. They've sped the video up, I think 4x, so 25 minutes to load a 6 axle truck.
 

Hallback

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Jun 1, 2011
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Aberdeen Wa.
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If you are set on getting a grapple processor don't even look at the Pierce in comparison to the Southstar. The Southstar is light years ahead, far more durable and shows up to work every single day. I have worked around both and there is no comparison. You see lots of Pierce GP heads installed on machines for sale in the Thousand to 2,500 hour range because people realize they just do not work and are far too problematic. You rarely ever see a Southstar grapple processor for sale used.
 

Hallback

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The new 3000 is actually smaller than the 2850. There are a couple guys around here that have the new 3000 and 4000 series and say they are nothing like the old 28 and 38 series. They do not like them and the only thing they have in comparison to the 28 and 38 series is the name.

Diameters I provided are butt ends of the stem, so smallest trees having a 8-10" butt up to a 24" give or take - sometimes bigger.

Hadn't seen the Eltec video of the GP, that one is new to me. Didn't get to see any of the Eltecs floating around in NZ, just spent the winter down there working in the bush. Plebeian, where abouts are you stomping around? I assume North Island.

The crew I was with ran the Southstars, one felling head and then a 630 processor. Some features I liked, other things were a toss up. I think I prefer the Pierce design in theory over the Southstar, but application is the real tell all. Mainly saw positioning and two sets of grab arms versus the standard two; more of a grapple versus a processor. Keto is floating around in my head too, but would be a processor only.

If the buncher ain't running, nobody is gonna make money in my neck of the woods. Processor is too slow to keep production up. We're also generally not allowed to delimb outside of the landing, or it is practice not too. Slash piles are burnt afterwards and need to be in a single spot. So as nice as it would be to fall and limb in the same spot, it's a no go.

I'm a fan of the Madill loaders, real simple design and great to work on - the new ones look even better with the Volvo motors. Great swing power and pretty stable if you're on decent ground. LOUD machines though, not unbearable, but not great... A 2850 would be a bit overkill size wise for me, but could be doable if one came up for the right price. The 3800 and new 3000/ 4000 would be way too much machine.
 

Plebeian

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
432
Location
NZ
Cummins but def engine, bit small
Eltec 317 Log loader

www.dohertydirect.net/
Are working on a quick changeover coupler for processor to grapple in less than a minute.

Could use fixed tops.
Tigercat 855 riser and fixed waratah 624 processor
Swap to fixed grapple
Tigercat 875 with fixed grapple


Just an example of medium sized swing machines that have the swing reach,
Fixed grapple Sumi with Madill 124, high track Cat etc

Tigercat LX830D being silly (nitrocircus missing someone?)
 
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