6 wheel John Deere skidder

Yes John Deere is Developing a 6 wheel skidder. I was one of the few operators that got to test one of their mules for the month of February. It's a beast on roids.

Here's what i know and think of it.

Their in the testing stages, one of the engineer said their hoping to have it ready for end of 2020.

Their planning on calling them and releasing 3 models 768L 868L 968L from what they told me. I got to test their 768L.

Floation and Steering. It's got the floation of the 6wheel tiger cat but got the steering radius of a four-wheel, u can turn on a dime, and it got a pile of steering power.

Engine and Transmission. Its got more then enough power they just need to fix the CVT transmission in my opinion. Cuz when Id fill the grapple all the way it just slip and sit their sometimes.

Ride Quatily and Hydrualic Power. Its the nicest and smothest skidder I've ran to date (6 seasons). This thing got enough hydraulic power to lift the front end of the ground without moving and wheelis super easy, also the way the rear tracks are gears and set up it glides over everything you throw at it.

Climbs. Yes this thing climbs better then a tigercat, theybuild it with a slightly lower center of gravity which makes world of a difference in hills. I was running circles around the tiger cat. (Also have a bit more experience then he did but I was pulling at times twice as much as he was, three to four when we was texting every drag)

All and All I hope John Deere Fixs the cvt transmission (love the old 848h with the locking trouque converter) and keep everything else pretty much the same. Cuz then they got a very serious contentder in the 6wheel world. Once I get confirmation that I'm allowed and won't get sued, I'll post some pictures of it. If you got any questions feel free to ask.

team 527 said:

Tree length, to a processor on a skid site. Doe any one have any experience with the timberpro clam bunk? They look like the goods on YouTube but what are they like in the steeper conditions.?

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I ran a timbco clambunk about 12-13 years ago for a couple days, it was pretty impressive but a lot of moving parts. Too much to go wrong, it was very high maintenance. I was around it for a while and it was replaced by a Morgan which was a great machine while I was around it. I couldn't tell you how long it lasted as I came home from the island a few months later

Tigercat 1085 clambunk. Might have a lower center of gravity than some other clambunks. Might not be as agile compared to the timberpro clambunk with 360 degree rotate.

https://images.app.goo.gl/wrBNAJHw826Ez8wu8

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Look up DC Equipment on facebook it shows with the skidder on a winch cable. If the terrain allows it, grapple skidder on a wire is probably quicker? than a clambunk. Skidder is grapple and go.

Must be getting close to a release date

JD 6 wheel skidder gets on screen & dirty in this JD commercial.

In Chile

petepilot said:

well now i know what a clambunk is

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A clambunk is a fair bit faster than a grapple skidder in hand felled timber but much slower in well bunched timber. A clam bunk does move more weight forward and keep more tree off the dirt than a grapple. Its true that every different piece of equipment has its places to shine and flounder.

John Deere 768 L-2 with a Brazilian promo blurb and sign languagette.

Any updates on this?

Hallback said:

Any updates on this?

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I can get you one in 1/50 scale by the end of the month. Can't find any news newer than November for the fullsize version.

I will be interested in one when they arrive. I am in a lovers quarrel with Triad right now.

Any one got any news or opinions on the 768 yet.

I have one coming next month.

It's taking longer as I ordered it with a winch & tethering lugs.

Did you demo one? What did you think? How does it compare to the tigercat?

I did not. The way our local tigercat dealer has treated us has pushed me away from them. I think Tigercat is an excellent brand but I really like the 5000 hour warranty and 5000 hour preventative maintenance services provided by JD. Manufacturer financing at 2.15% is Very attractive also.

The iron itself is only part of the decision on purchase these days.

Is tethered skidding as cost effective as just grapple yarding it? I know when we set up a road line with the grapple yarder we have anywhere between 3-6 tree lengths in about 3 to 5 seconds.(well that's what it feels like on the receiving end anyway). I couldn't imagine a skidder bombing a landing like that,but I've only seen a video or two of a few turns at a time.

That is a difficult one to answer.
Grapple yarding takes a crew to rig, usually only beings in a log or two at once and is very expensive (true grapple yarder is still $1m for 20 years old) very maintenance intensive (splicing, road changes, ect.
The plus side is that you have a nearly indestructible grapple and can skid over rock, ect.

Tethered skidding takes a larger landing, you can't drop over rock faces and the high initial cost (1.1M)
The plusses are, usually a full grapple per turn (8-12 tons) and the wood has been mechanically cut. No crew needed to rig or haywire to pull.

Wyss was getting 900-1000 tons of 12-14" dbh treefarm garbage with their tethered 635 in 8 skidding hours.

That's a pretty decent day for a skidder, even if it's hanging like a yoyo. We're using a couple 855s to deck road lines so road changes are minimal just a hook tender and a helper that get freed up to do other things after road changes.But we usually don't get much of a landing, pretty much just anywhere along the road. But definitely maintenance intensive

I have sold my 855 & Falcon winch machine.
I have had enough of $25k per month for them to sit.