Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Two Tractors

From my observations of the real farming community, it's become apparent that whilst most jobs can be done with just one tractor, the vast majority require at least 2 tractors to be completed in the most effective manner possible.

After our success of getting the DB working we were keen to put it to use and find out if it really made all the difference having a second tractor. After a little manouvering and sliding about on the ice outside the top barn we had the wood cleaver connected to the DB and the trailer, still full of the unsplit logs that our parents help load up during their "Christmas break" hitched up to the Zetor.



As you can see we carefully placed the cleaver and trailer to give minimal transport distances of both unsplit logs to the cleaver and spit logs to the stacking place inside the car port. The only way it could have been better was if the DB fitted in the carport, then the chute from the cleaver would have dropped the split logs right beside the stacking place. Sadly it's to tall, saying that I do know of another tractor.....



Yet again, I got to spend realatively little time operating my new toy, London son was very quick to take the controls. Mind you, he did his fair share of the hard work, so he deserved to have a bit of fun!

It turned out that we had plenty of spare space for 40cm logs, so once we finished that lot we set to work on the unsplit logs which have been lying in the pig house for the last year or so.

To our pleasent surprise we found out that the chute from the cleaver is just higher than the trailer so we were able to set up as shown.



The job was finished in no time with minimal handling of the wood. As promised, here's a little video of the system in action

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's looking much better!

Interesting to see how you optimise the new kit on fresh stocks of wood once you are through the older piles.

Any idea on the number/volume of logs per gallon (or liter) of Diesel?!!

Viking Longship said...

Got some forks for the DB now as well, just need to modify them so they'll pick up pallets, that'll be another step in the right direction

Funny you should mention diesel... Never really had to think about it before, just drove the Zetor down to the petrol station and fill up once a year! Had had so much fun in the DB last weekend that it ran out on Tuesday. Now I have to bleed the system again!

Anonymous said...

At last I'm on a computer that allows me to send comments. Our Father and I are so enjoying the various blogs and are really pleased that you are getting on so well with all the modifications on the wood cutting and DB front. Also hope that the baby's room will be done in time and that in between whiles you are doing a little work! Hope its going well for you and for Mrs VL's last few weeks.