I have a 345BL and a bunch of cut-down trees on my property, 24" in diameter and some as long as 20'. I want to preserve the length so I can utilize them in the future. But moving them around has proven difficult with my standard bucket. Is there any innovative way to move these things or some type of clamp that works well? I've thought about putting a thumb on the machine but it seems like overkill. Thoughts?
hey thumbs are nice. Not cheap, but they are the easy button for moving logs. You could get some tongs and a cable, and tong them around. That is one possible solution. a 20' is short enough you can keep it out of the cab glass with a 345.
Get the thumb. You will wonder how you ever lived without it.
Make up a choker chain? Choker it round one end of the log and hook it to your bucket. If chain length is just right (or adjustable) you can use the bucket as a heel to control the log.
This is exactly what I needed, thanks. Any tips on how to grab large boulders? Like 5ft in diameter?
Bigger thumb. Large tire chains. Joe H
Sling your 2 or 3 logs tight with a chain to the lifting eye on the back of the bucket about 8’ from one end, long end away. Lift the stick and uncurl the bucket to tighten the chain and the bundle will stick out ahead of the machine.
you have to decide if you have enough work to justify a thumb. You can paw logs and boulders around without a thumb, and we do. We roll big rocks that we can't balance on the bucket. If you don't have many big rocks and big logs then that is what I would do. If you have a bunch and will continue to have them to deal with, get a thumb put on. It is worth it. These guys have one, call them and find out the cost. 345 thumb
Obviously, you need a genuine, made in Oregon, Pierce live heel forestry boom attachment if you want to lift heavy tree logs.
These double tongs look like they could be handy. Once you get proficient you can set the tongs on the log yourself from the seat. Take a tape measure and a paint can before you ever get started and mark the log centers as best you can. Add a little Kentucky windage for the butt end. Northern tool tongs
What ever you do, don't set it up so you can heel the log on the back of the bucket or be VERY gentle if you do. those tongs would be easy to destroy.
I'm just a guy with a little bit of dirt. This is way overkill
A thumb for moving big logs is a serious piece of equipment with serious risk of damage to the machine and operator. Picking up brush and rocks is one thing, logs are a whole nother level. For a small quantity, loop a chain around the bucket and drag from the end of the log, simpler and safer, and probably quicker for small quantities.
I'd use a chocker chain or a longer chain to go around the log twice so the log can't slip then take a rope and tie one end to the butt of the log the other end to the eye on the carriage,lift and put tension on the rope to keep the log steady. Use the bucket to steady it too.