• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Best equipment for house work on 3.5 acres - lots of trees, dirt to be moved, and then some.

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
15,100
Location
Canada
Very good point and wish I had that luxury, but considering I was already handicapped by coordinating availability for delivery, also coordinating someone to come with me to see the machine is unrealistic. Good machines move fast, many within a day or two.

Even with all the research I did, I will say that I was a bit intimidated when I first saw the machine. They look like go-karts in pictures and videos but in person they are what they actually are... 6,000lb of steel on wheels. I am sure there were things I could have looked at and didn't (either by choice or just lacking the awareness to), but it's a risk I knew I was going to take considering this was going to be a first for me. In the end, I think I made out well without an "expert" on site because the seller was very forthcoming in telling me what I needed to hear.
First of all glad you got a good machine. You can do more than you ever thought with a skid steer.
You were very very fortunate the seller was forthcoming with the history of the machine and repairs/issues it's had. A decent seller would take a small deposit and give you time to bring someone with you to inspect a machine. It sounds like this seller would have. A common tactic from shady sellers is they have someone coming to take a look so you better act fast. If that's the case why isn't it sold already?? If you're there first you could at least offer a small deposit for a day or 2 to have someone inspect it. It's no different than buying a used car. Did the seller determine what the leak was and fix it properly? A few minor repairs is normal with used machines.

If you've been on the forum for a while you'd have read many horror stories of people buying what they thought was a good machine or told by the seller it was a great machine only to end up with a machine needing expensive repairs.
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
First of all glad you got a good machine. You can do more than you ever thought with a skid steer.
You were very very fortunate the seller was forthcoming with the history of the machine and repairs/issues it's had. A decent seller would take a small deposit and give you time to bring someone with you to inspect a machine. It sounds like this seller would have. A common tactic from shady sellers is they have someone coming to take a look so you better act fast. If that's the case why isn't it sold already?? If you're there first you could at least offer a small deposit for a day or 2 to have someone inspect it. It's no different than buying a used car. Did the seller determine what the leak was and fix it properly? A few minor repairs is normal with used machines.

If you've been on the forum for a while you'd have read many horror stories of people buying what they thought was a good machine or told by the seller it was a great machine only to end up with a machine needing expensive repairs.
The leaks were from the axle seals. One started leaking recently, just after he listed it, and he said one other one was on and off for a little while. So he just replaced both of them. Pretty cheap and straight forward fix.

Since there is no expensive undercarriage I think my risk is a bit lower than a tracked machine. I've looked at parts for undercarriages and they can add up quick. There was a tracked JCB that I was looking at for cheap that had a leaking driver motor so I spec'd out some parts for the fix and I was at $6k. Sure I assumed some rollers and other parts might have needed replacing, but it was a worst case scenario. Not much of a deal at that point.

I think I'll be fine. Don't want to jynx myself but the engine is solid, and it's likely the most costly repair *if* something did go wrong. I've heard nothing but good things about the Kubota engine too. Lines and other oddball things are tough to plan for so they'll get addressed as time goes on. The machine was pretty tight from what I was able to gather from the seat too. No risk of egged bores where the bushings/pins seat.

I think I'll make another thread once the machine is at my house. I'm sure there'll be some repairs to discuss along the way. We're in this together at this point lol.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
15,100
Location
Canada
Make sure the axles aren't leaking because the drive motors are leaking fluid into the chain cases. You can tell because the hyd. oil level would go down and the chain case oil level would rise. That's how I discovered the drive motors needed fixing or replacing on my skid steer. The first motor needed replacing and I replaced the 2nd one because in most cases if they leak it's due to an internal problem with the motor. All motors are different though and have read of just the seals needing to be replaced. Best case scenario is just leaking axle seals. I put a speedy sleeve on one axle.

I think you were smart to pass on the JCB. They are a bit odd and I've heard not the best for support. The pins and bushing on the bucket are the highest wear point and it's common to replace them. Daily greasing helps but they are in the dirt and rotate the most so eventually need replacing.

Kubota is a great engine! Never use starting fluid though and always keep the rad. full. Have heard of cracked heads due to overheating. Kubota engines in Lincoln welders are advertised for 10,000 hours before needing the 1st basic overhaul. Many in light plants and reefer units have gone thousands of hours past that. Have fun with your new skid steer!
 
Last edited:

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
Stupid question... maybe.

The CID grapples (and others for that matter) that have two cylinders that "operate independently to adjust for uneven loads", is there a T-fitting or something on them that equalizes the pressure between the two grapples to allow for this?
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
15,100
Location
Canada
Yes they just Tee the cylinders together. Unless each side has a seperate control they operate on the principle that what ever side requires the lightest force will close first until the force for both is equal. It could alternate between each side. Some grapples don't have 2 independent pivoting sides. Those type operate like the lift cylinders on the loader boom that are joined together.
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
Yes they just Tee the cylinders together. Unless each side has a seperate control they operate on the principle that what ever side requires the lightest force will close first until the force for both is equal. It could alternate between each side. Some grapples don't have 2 independent pivoting sides. Those type operate like the lift cylinders on the loader boom that are joined together.
Ok that's what I thought. :cool:
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
Man this has been a long week. Ever since I committed to buy the Bobcat the days have been dragginnnnnnng. I feel like a 12yo a week before Christmas.

I made a decision on a grapple too. The seller has a grapple that he purchased a couple months ago (to do some cleanup after Helene) and it's too small for his tracked loader so he's parting with it to upgrade. It probably only has a few hrs on it at best.

It's the 66" CID Standard Duty Root Grapple. Nice and beefy, but still leaves a good amount of room to do some lifting of all the logs/brush.

1737737796704.png
 

Georgia Iron

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
1,036
Location
USA - Georgia
Occupation
Concrete building slab and grading contractor
Man this has been a long week. Ever since I committed to buy the Bobcat the days have been dragginnnnnnng. I feel like a 12yo a week before Christmas.

I made a decision on a grapple too. The seller has a grapple that he purchased a couple months ago (to do some cleanup after Helene) and it's too small for his tracked loader so he's parting with it to upgrade. It probably only has a few hrs on it at best.

It's the 66" CID Standard Duty Root Grapple. Nice and beefy, but still leaves a good amount of room to do some lifting of all the logs/brush.

View attachment 330275
Thats great be sure to load the grapple evenly. Long logs off balanced to one side will rip those light duty claws off, if your machine has good clamping hold pressure.
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
I'll get some good updates in the next week or two. I'm trying to divy up my work a little bit to get the property back in order. It's run amuck the last couple years and I feel like I am in a good spot to bring it back. Sometime between this weekend and next Wednesday I have an individual coming over with an 18k lb excavator - he'll push about 13 or so trees over for me and haul the stumps away. Being that I have (err, will have) a skid-steer I can buck the logs myself and clean them up no prob!

Maybe I can make some money back from the trees... I don't have a use for them. They're all oaks so would make some nice firewood for someone.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
15,100
Location
Canada
Man this has been a long week. Ever since I committed to buy the Bobcat the days have been dragginnnnnnng. I feel like a 12yo a week before Christmas.

I made a decision on a grapple too. The seller has a grapple that he purchased a couple months ago (to do some cleanup after Helene) and it's too small for his tracked loader so he's parting with it to upgrade. It probably only has a few hrs on it at best.

It's the 66" CID Standard Duty Root Grapple. Nice and beefy, but still leaves a good amount of room to do some lifting of all the logs/brush.

View attachment 330275
Be very cautious with the grapple. It's not built for heavy duty use. Std. duty equates to light duty. Like was mentioned could twist with uneven loading. Should be OK for light brush and smaller tree's. Try not to put too much pressure on the outside corners when pushing into piles or lifting heavy loads.
 

aighead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
2,886
Location
Dayton, OH
How big are the oaks you are taking down? You could likely get way more for them for lumber. The longer and straighter the better. I can ask around on the Forestry Forum and see if anyone wants to make a deal with you, if they are nearby.
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
How big are the oaks you are taking down? You could likely get way more for them for lumber. The longer and straighter the better. I can ask around on the Forestry Forum and see if anyone wants to make a deal with you, if they are nearby.
At this point, not big. The two larger ones - which are about 18" in diameter - are red oaks which are a little less desirable than white oaks.

I also spoke to a neighbor yesterday and told him that he can have all the hardwoods that we're taking down. They'll be perfect for splitting so he wants them. Better for me, less wood to deal with in the yard.

Wish he asked for all my stumps lol.
 

HarleyHappy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
997
Location
So NH
Occupation
Welder/Mechanic
Around here with all the building going on, tree stumps are sought after as a few of the bigger outfits have tub grinders and green stump chips are bringing a premium for erosion control.
I looked into buying a few loads for erosion control around the river and you would of thought I was asking for screened loam for what they wanted per ton.
If you can truck them, we have a place less than a half mile away that will take them for free.
Of course they want 800 for a tri axle load, after they are chipped.
 

houseprojects

Active Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
42
Location
Western NC
Around here with all the building going on, tree stumps are sought after as a few of the bigger outfits have tub grinders and green stump chips are bringing a premium for erosion control.
I looked into buying a few loads for erosion control around the river and you would of thought I was asking for screened loam for what they wanted per ton.
If you can truck them, we have a place less than a half mile away that will take them for free.
Of course they want 800 for a tri axle load, after they are chipped.

I would find a way to do that if that were the case. I am constantly trying to find the best way of dealing with them.

Pay someone to grind them?
Pay someone to remove them?
After they're removed, burn them? Pay someone to haul them? Load them on my 8ft truck bed and make 10 trips to the dump? Rent a debris container and just fill it to the brim?

Anyways, one day at a time!

On a positive note, I did some work this weekend. Machine was dropped off early in the morning on Saturday and by noon I was out doing some work. Already feeling the perks of having a machine. Got some logs moved, cleared my giant chip piles with the bucket. Slowly developing the mind-muscle connection for the controls.
PXL_20250125_161052388.MP.jpg
PXL_20250125_183946116.MP.jpg
The grapple is awesome! I think I will need to source a straight blade for the bucket come time to grade the yard after all the trees are removed.

All in all happy with the machine. I am starting to see some things that didn't stand out to me before the purchase - the cab is a bit rusty under the seat, the seatbelt is seized so I can't use it... small things. I'll do what I can to keep things tip top so she lasts me.
 

MG84

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2023
Messages
918
Location
Virginia
I would find a way to do that if that were the case. I am constantly trying to find the best way of dealing with them.

Pay someone to grind them?
Pay someone to remove them?
After they're removed, burn them? Pay someone to haul them? Load them on my 8ft truck bed and make 10 trips to the dump? Rent a debris container and just fill it to the brim?
Burn the stumps. Get a good hot fire going with all the debris, brush, tops etc from the trees and throw the stumps on it. Be sure to get all the dirt off that you can. It will take some time and you'll have to tend it often by re-stacking them, maybe adding more dry fuel, but you can completely burn them up if you are diligent enough. One thing to note, be sure you clean the machine well before using it to tend fires (especially the belly pan.) Lots of leaves, sticks, hay and other debris end up in the belly of skid steers, gets soaked with oil etc and is ripe for a machine fire if you aren't careful.
 

BC Placer gold

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2014
Messages
525
Location
Enderby, Bc Canada
Burn the stumps. Get a good hot fire going with all the debris, brush, tops etc from the trees and throw the stumps on it. Be sure to get all the dirt off that you can. It will take some time and you'll have to tend it often by re-stacking them, maybe adding more dry fuel, but you can completely burn them up if you are diligent enough. One thing to note, be sure you clean the machine well before using it to tend fires (especially the belly pan.) Lots of leaves, sticks, hay and other debris end up in the belly of skid steers, gets soaked with oil etc and is ripe for a machine fire if you aren't careful.
That’s just how we do them…if done carefully will burn everything without excessive smoke. Get as much dirt off as possible…
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
14,446
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Only thing I'll add is I like to dig a pit to burn in with the pit spoils used as a berm on the back side. The berm helps creates a "turbo" effect for lack of better term with the heat and air flow.

A pit like that will burn very well, a pit like that with an air curtain blower is an incinerator that will damn near burn anything once it get's going.
 
Top