[Carl Russell]

So today I had a chance to use the buffered singletree in a situation where the ground is more consistent. I noticed that on a 12′ log with about 70 bf would compress the spring slightly and the drag was enough that it never really returned to the normal position until I stopped the horse.

It definitely functions as a shock-load absorber, but as far as increasing efficiency by returning stored energy it appears that this spring isn’t quite stiff enough.

I pulled a few smaller logs, and a few larger. The small logs didn’t really have any effect on the spring, but the larger ones, although not bottoming it out, created enough drag that the spring never recovered until I stopped the horse.

I didn’t have time, nor logs, enough to switch back to my standard singletree to see how the horse reacted, but he seemed to move pretty much the same as he usually does. I have to say that he must have felt the elasticity, but in this type of situation it was hard to evaluate how that affected him.

Carl

p.s. yes I was taking pictures while twitching these logs. Handy cell phone and responsive horse…..

[Carl Russell]

bivol;19138 wrote:

Welcome Russel!

for working multiple hitches, check out “The bullock driver’s handbook”, from Arthur Cannon, it’s about driving big ox hitches in Australian outback, it could be an useful reference.

Very good book.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

TaylorJohnson;18976 wrote:

I think being able to see the lay of the land and how to put your trails in is one of the biggest things modern loggers are loosing. Knowing how to start a job is as important as any thing you can do in the wood, it will be the difference of being productive or not. Being able to look at a job see how the hill , swamps, ravines , wood ,,,,, all lay out is very important. It is not as important when you are using machines that whey 50,0000 plus pounds.
Even some of the had cutters I see today just do not know how to lay out a strip , they work way harder than need be. That is one of the things I like about working horses / mules in the woods you have to work with nature to get anything done. If you fight it you will loose when using horse or mules. Taylor Johnson

I have been wanting to return to this comment for a few days… Taylor this has been a big part of my enthusiasm about working in the woods. I love to take in all the variables on a site. For me it is not about skidding wood with animals, it’s about working animals in the woods, and that has a lot to do with reading the landscape. There is no doubt that many people today don’t have a clue, or they are machine-blind because they think they can just crawl over it.

For years now I have been confused why when using machinery loggers can’t do a better job. With all that power and functionality, they should be able to take even more advantage of the land than I do. But hey, I just watch them working against the land.

It is really part of the art of working with animals, and it may also be one of the reasons some people have difficulty using animals. Growing up in a machinery world, some people think that they can use animals while disregarding the lay of the land. If you clear the right trails and cut the right trees first, then everything is a lot easier.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Buggy ………$250

[Carl Russell]

Kicker Tedder ……..$ 50

[Carl Russell]

John Deere ‘A’ Manure Spreader (Rebuilt) ……$350

[Carl Russell]

Pioneer Forecart ……..$400

[Carl Russell]

Concord Wagon chasis …….$ 100

[Carl Russell]

McCromack-Deering Hay Loader….. $200

[Carl Russell]

McCormack-Deering 2-row cultivator…….$150

[Carl Russell]

2 Sargeant, Osgoode, and Roundy landside (reversible/2way) Walking plows…$ 50

[Carl Russell]

Osbourne Mower with 4′ cutter bar(one horse) …..$ 100

[Carl Russell]

IH #9 Mower with 6′ cutter……..$ 750

[Carl Russell]

19th century painted sled…….$ 500

[Carl Russell]

Attention!!!

Attention!!!

The harnesses are off the table. The owner has had a change of heart. He figures that if he sells them then he will never get another pair.

Among all the equipment the harnesses are the easiest to move and store… so this does not bare any significance on the other pieces…. they are all for sale still.

Sorry and thank you.

I am going there today to get pics and will begin to arrange viewings.

Thanks, Carl

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