"Winchless" Log Arch Uses Tongue To Lift
When Daniel Miller's main tractor broke down he only had his old Farmall to haul logs home for firewood. To handle the biggest logs, he built an innovative log arch. It uses its own tongue to lift the front end of the log off the ground.
He looked at log arches on the market but they required a 12-volt battery to run a winch, and his little tractor has a 6-volt system. He wanted to avoid hydraulics and keep it a simple implement that pins to the tractor's drawbar.
Miller built the arch out of 2-in. sq. tubing, 2 in. flat iron and wheels from an old baler.
He explains how it works: "As the cart is backed up over top of the log, the tongue slides backward changing the position of the lifting rod and lowering the log beam. Attach a chain or grapple hook to the log, block the tires and simply pull forward. As the tongue is drawn forward it changes the position of the lifting rod and pulls the log beam upward lifting the log with it. Once the log is moved to its desired location block the tires again but on the other side, back up enough to lower the log to the ground and go get another log."
The arch has a 30-in. dia. capacity, but so far Miller's biggest log was 20 in. in dia. and 15 ft. long.
Cost to build the 120-lb. unit is less than $260 when using all new materials. It works so well Miller put it on a website and offers plans. He also has plans for a firewood processor that was in FARM SHOW in 2008 (Vol. 32, No. 3).
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Daniel Miller, P.O. Box 349, Joliet, Mont. 59041 (ph 406 962-9893; info@millerswoodcuttig.com; www.millerswoodcutting.com).
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"Winchless" Log Arch Uses Tongue To Lift WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 34-4-17 When Daniel Miller's main tractor broke down he only had his old Farmall to haul logs home for firewood. To handle the biggest logs, he built an innovative log arch. It uses its own tongue to lift the front end of the log off the ground.
He looked at log arches on the market but they required a 12-volt battery to run a winch, and his little tractor has a 6-volt system. He wanted to avoid hydraulics and keep it a simple implement that pins to the tractor's drawbar.
Miller built the arch out of 2-in. sq. tubing, 2 in. flat iron and wheels from an old baler.
He explains how it works: "As the cart is backed up over top of the log, the tongue slides backward changing the position of the lifting rod and lowering the log beam. Attach a chain or grapple hook to the log, block the tires and simply pull forward. As the tongue is drawn forward it changes the position of the lifting rod and pulls the log beam upward lifting the log with it. Once the log is moved to its desired location block the tires again but on the other side, back up enough to lower the log to the ground and go get another log."
The arch has a 30-in. dia. capacity, but so far Miller's biggest log was 20 in. in dia. and 15 ft. long.
Cost to build the 120-lb. unit is less than $260 when using all new materials. It works so well Miller put it on a website and offers plans. He also has plans for a firewood processor that was in FARM SHOW in 2008 (Vol. 32, No. 3).
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Daniel Miller, P.O. Box 349, Joliet, Mont. 59041 (ph 406 962-9893; info@millerswoodcuttig.com; www.millerswoodcutting.com).
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