In order to reduce our outside costs and streamline our productivity I am considering putting a waratah 624 on a John Deere 959k buncher. We would like to put the buncher head back on when it is needed to cut a unit and then put the processing head back on to process under the yarder. What all would need to be done aside from the obvious hanging brackets and piping on the Boom?
I think the other option is to have a processor/ loader combination if you are seeking efficiency. The JD 959K with quadco? can be cutting at different locations ahead of the yarder and does not need to be transported or excessively tracked back to the yarder landing all the time. Depending on the contract requirements (tier 4 etc engines only) you might find a pre-loved machine for a processor. What is your current loader config? How high is the yarder tube, do you need a short machine under the wires? What are other downsides of using the 959K as a processor - boom, arm geometry, less visibility vs high rise machines. Fixed head waratah 624C Old Cat 330C with Southstar QS600- machine has the highrise cab for visibility , long boom for greater reach (less tracking between log stacks) and high lift, rear entry cab (Also have a look at the qs635? - grapple processor for loading and processing) (Madill 2850 would also handle the 624) If Linkbelts - float your boat
I have a Deere 3756G for my shovel. I was just thinking the flow, power, quad pumps and stability for processing on uneven ground also.
3756G should do it as a grapple processor loader - probably slower than a live heel grapple loader but maybe preferable to signing up for more heavy metal. Many flat base processor operators tend to put wood and slash under the tracks to level the machine, if the site has not been bulldozed with a large enough flat area. Southstar grapple processors Have the processing phase uphill so only a quick downhill rotate for the operator. Just on Facebook "Komatsu to acquire Quadco & Southstar operations Press release January 30, 2018 On January 26, 2018, Komatsu Ltd. (President & CEO: Tetsuji Ohashi) signed an agreement to acquire from Prenbec Equipment Inc. (CEO: Charles MacLennan), a company based in Quebec, Canada, the Quadco and Southstar forestry attachment operations, excluding the forestry equipment businesses of Tanguay and Forespro delimbers. The acquisition will be made through a wholly owned subsidiary of Komatsu in the United States and is expected to close in February 2018, subject to completion of the closing conditions. By adding the Quadco felling heads and Southstar large harvester heads to the existing lines of Log Max and Komatsu small and medium-sized harvester heads, Komatsu will become an industry leader in forestry attachments. This will allow Komatsu to offer its customers a full range of forestry attachments. Quadco and Southstar will continue to operate as independent companies within the Komatsu group following the completion of the acquisition and will maintain their existing sales networks. In order to offer improved value to customers, a forestry attachment division within Komatsu Forest AB will be formed, which will manage the Quadco, Southstar, and Log Max brands. Komatsu anticipates that this acquisition will have no material impact on its consolidated business results and performance for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. 1. Background and Objective of the Acquisition In April 2016, Komatsu launched a plan for growth. In line with this plan, Komatsu decided to make this acquisition and expand its forestry attachment business. Forestry attachments are classified into two categories: the Cut to Length (CTL) method, which involves the use of a harvester and forwarder and is popular in Europe, and the Full Tree Length (FTL) logging method, which involves the use of a felling head attached to a base-machine and a skidder, which is popular in North America. The global market for forestry machines, including forestry attachments, is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. It is anticipated that there will be particular growth in the North American market, where FTL is the dominant method. 2. Method of the Acquisition Komatsu will acquire the forestry attachment operations of the Quadco and Southstar brands through a wholly owned subsidiary."
Damn, That just made buying a Southstar or Quadco alot more difficult.
Pierce makes a grapple processor as well. Looks like it works well and have had a couple west coast guys say nice things about them. I know nothing about processors.
pierce gp looks like it can work well where the tree bark and tree taper do not create issues. Waratah hth624c control wrist grapple processor - looks a bit slow loading. (few years ago) http://www.loggingon.net/waratah-in...ocessor-for-large-timber_news_op_view_id_1355
I've run lots of processors over the years. Keto, strokers, Waratah, Pierce, ECT. The Grapple Processors are unable to fall due to no tilt cylinder and that is important to me as we occasionally do road daylighting.
I'm thinking the buncher has two pump flow to disk. If so I can't see it too tough to use the same plumbing to run a processor. You would have to install the processor control box and valves along with new handles. I don't know how to match the processor controls back to the buncher again when you quick change it. I might know someone who would know. Send me a PM and I can give you a phone number.
If you need to roadside, that pretty well kills the grapple processor idea.
Plenty of different colour metal used in this vid (at 10.44 big tower, tracked processor - tracks on log passes to grapple loader Roadsiding - go through with quadco JD 959 feller buncher, chainsaw fell very steep sections and tong/toss winch or shovel to roadside with JD 3756g (and change to process head) timberpro with winch on arm (need to secure the head while - winching up logs) timberpro forwarder/ harvester combo - head to grapple changeover (8 minutes) LH870 with processing head Possibly permanently remove the hot saw and go for a 625c / JD tracked base Are you likely to be moved into steeper yarding country and require a tethered felling machine - take off quadco hot saw and put tigercat 5195 felling head on 959, ( ls855d, climbmax) etc https://youtu.be/dpu4vJulDng
I currently am using an older John Deere with a Waratah dangle head. It's a 653G,they were originally built as a feller buncher and have plenty of hydraulics to run the Waratah. It only uses one spool of the existing buncher valve to supply oil to the head. the rest of the changes are the controls. My thinking is that you might want to have a second set of handles specifically for the processor head to use during the swap, and your pilot lines tagged for swapping functions. The little JD works great for thinning and daylighting roads. Only problem is John Deere no longer has parts for it even though it's a 2001, they say she's obsolete.
Interesting thread I've been thinking along the same lines. I found a timberjack 608 buncher, that comes with a logmax processor head and adapter. The guy said it takes about half a day to swap it over .
Sounds like you are on track to bunch, CTL & process!
West Coast Alex Esgate 2018 Oregon Logging Conference youtube video shows current configurations - 959 with quadco hot saw swapping to heel/ grapple and 909 with southstar. etc
Generally speaking. You can't take a buncher, turn it into a processor and go quick change. You have to start with a harvester package and go towards a buncher.
like the pics on your website, cool stuff you have!
Might be a silly question but why not just fell, bunch and process with the waratah?
Thanks guys. It is slower, we yard Tree length and they do not have the tree control a hotsaw does.
I hear you though it is not a bad solution. Plenty of guys down hear falling for tree length extraction with a processor. Advantage being you are not extracting branches so you can either pull more or do it faster. The delimbing does not have to be done at the other end either so the processor can just cut it up in one pass.
From what I've seen here the processors work fine in pre-thin on flat ground. Problem with them on clear cuts is you have to steer the tree down instead of being able to place the stems in piles for easy yarding. I've seen bunchers make three cuts to get a tree down and the knives on the processor wouldn't open enough to get around the trunk.
It’s possible to do, yes there was the one down at OLC with a hot saw with a heel and grapple for shoveling, another company down here has a 909 with the harvester boom that has a heel with grapple saw they cut, shovel, and load with. Worst part of doing the swap would be pin line up which could be fixed with a pulled and some quick connects. Falling with a processor is easier on the machine in my opinion less stresses on the boom, with something larger you double or triple cut the same bunching is no issue just takes practice like anything.
I ended up buying a Cat 552 buncher but have decided to trade my 3756G in on a 909/FD750 and sub out my 552.
Did it have the rock tillers and hitch put on it? One that has always crossed my mind is the newer 800’s so you could do all the above plus load with no tail swing.
Ya, it's the hillbilly hotrod version. I will be able to fall, log & bunch for my yarder with it.
All they forgot to put was the yo-yo sticker on it then, have you guys tried any yet?
I have not. My buddy has an 855, 909 & 552 all setup the same & likes the 909 best.
If you preferred to keep the 3756g? Did you consider changing the boom on the Cat 552 (not sure what series you have) to either a harvester/ processor boom or harvester boom? (Cat do 4 booms for the series 2 552?) or an aftermarket pierce boom (if their order book is not too long) or satco (or ems/ woodsman-pro compact harvester boom) I am unsure how or if the trump tariffs effect things now. https://goughgroup.co.nz/rsstest/615-cat-552-series-2-track-harvester (september2014) (552-2 with ems/ers woodsman-pro compact boom with woodsman-pro felling head, ers bought ems's share of woodsman-pro in 2016) http://emsnewzealand.co.nz/contact/ (kelso, wa contact) http://www.satco.co.nz (under products/ boom & arm sets) Depending the economics/ condition of the 552 - a satco compact boom with southstar 750 felling head or waratah series 2 FL95 or satco 630e might go together (or harvester/processor boom with a satco 630e fellin head and quick swap to 3 series satco processor head & safeboard.com folding ladder etc.