Skagit Iron and Steel Works, Sedro Wooley, Washington

[YarderLover7755]

This is our BU50 mounted on a 77 kenworth currently for sale

 

[Hallback]

That's my old 50. That thing yarded a lot of logs. It still have the 472 Cadillac engine?

 

[YarderLover7755]

That's my old 50. That thing yarded a lot of logs. It still have the 472 Cadillac engine?

That's my old 50. That thing yarded a lot of logs. It still have the 472 Cadillac engine?

That's my old 50. That thing yarded a lot of logs. It still have the 472 Cadillac engine?

No we swapped it to a cummins

 

[DStaples]

Here is some pictures of the Ben Thomas BU199 yarder that I loaded under in the late 70s. I was running a really nice 30B Bucyrus Erie and later a Lima under this same yarder. These BU199s were an amazing machine.

 

[Hallback]

Gosh what I'd give to have one of those 199's. Sadly I believe there are only two left in existence and only one yards logs.

 

[Mike L]

Is it the cost that prevents these machines from still being built?

 

[Hallback]

Is it the cost that prevents these machines from still being built?

And the lack of need for a big skyline machine like that anymore. Three-piece move on the highway and honestly I don't think they're enough good men to put under them anymore either.

 

[Mike L]

what replaced the skyline machines? Tether assisted Feller buncher?

 

[Hallback]

what replaced the skyline machines? Tether assisted Feller buncher?

Oh no you will never replace a true skyline yarder with air frictions by trying to use one of these hydraulic yoyo gizmos. You just don't need a 260,000 lb 110 ft 8 guyline machine anymore that has the capability to spool 3,600 plus feet of 1.75" skyline.
Most operations have moved to using a 70-ft tower or a 50 ft swing yarder with 1.125" skyline. Speed and quickness for moving and rigging up is the name of the game these days

 

[Birken Vogt]

Of course the trees nowadays are smaller, and the size of the cut blocks is now in the dozens of acres instead of the whole landscape like the good old days. Plus there is just not that much that gets cut any more. Different type of logging for a different era.

 

[THI]

If anyone is interested in Friction blocks for a BU-84 shoot me a message. Not sure that’s what they are called but I spent a few hours chatting with a guy who is retiring last week and that’s what he called them. He told me that his wore out he found a spare set before the new ones arrived. Been on his shelf ever since. told him that not many guys are running the 84s now but I would put it out there for him. Everyone needs spare parts!
I didn’t measure but they appeared to be maybe 4”x4” and 6-8 inches long. Had to be 8 or so of them. Hopefully that helps narrow down what the hell I am talking about. I only know the internal expanding friction!

 

[Hallback]

A-1 in Yamhill has an 84 still & so do a few up north around Sedro area.

 

[Hallback]

It's too bad they went away from that cone style friction, those were the best pulling frictions ever. Even covered in grease those things would pull like the Dickens. The BU94 was probably the finest high lead hoist ever built.

 

[skyking1]

A-1 in Yamhill has an 84 still & so do a few up north around Sedro area.

That would be the bomb if those got into the right hands. So much junk gets tossed out.

 

[skyking1]

I spotted this Skagit at the top of the grade going up to Lake Cushman.

 

[Hallback]

That's actually Madill 009 hoist on a Skagit T90 6 guyline trailer with the option to spike a 7th. That was originally assembled by Ramsey Brothers out of eatonville then it went to Joe Inman logging out of Castle Rock and then Adams Timber service from Longview. From there it went to Craig Baar excavating out of Port Angeles and now it is sadly awaiting It's final destination

 

[skyking1]

I knew you'd tell me all about it
I saw "skagit" painted down that tower and I was all done. That made it skagit.

 

[Hallback]

What can I say, I'm a yarder nerd!

 

[skyking1]

I know enough to try to stay out of the way .

 

[hoechucker]

Went on an excursion today and found this gem still intact. I can remember this yarder sitting there when I was a kid. Glad to see it’s still together but would’ve loved to see it set up