Moving logs with the GT-14+2

[Stigian 1,234]

The time of year had come again to order a load of logs to keep the shack warm this winter... Should it ever arrive!

 

For as long as I can remember (which isn't that far these days) log moving duties has been given to my 312-8, but as it's in semi retirement known as "grass cutting duties only" and is now missing the big fluid fill ag rear tires/tyres log moving has been now passed on to the GT-14+2.

 

The snowplow A frame hung underneath needs lengthening and narrowing to make it work and is held up at the front by a ratchet strap.

 

 

 

Even though the GT is a very heavy machine, it still has the original rear grass tyres/tires fitted which could make things interesting towing a heavily loaded trailer through a very swampy area.

 

So with the old Saxon trailer hitched up it was time to move the first load.. Quite a light load as I was moving the remains of last years logs from the log store..

 

 

 

Into the shack..   Ok, I might of missed the ramp a bit

 

 

 

Now for something a bit heavier... This massive pile of logs (which was bigger than it looks) was delivered on a dark Saturday evening, with no time to shift them on the Sunday (visiting my Wife's family) they had stay out in the rain until Monday!

 

 

 

Only a level load to see how the GT handled the weight.

 

 

 

And this wet muddy ground!

 

 

 

The GT had no problems whats so ever and the first load of new logs was soon unloaded.

 

Load 2 was a bit heavier but once again the GT had no problems.

 

 

 

Before unloading I stopped for a cup of coffee while looking at the pile of logs in the shack that still needed to be stacked under the bench

 

 

 

Now throughout the morning I had been having the odd slight dizzy moment which is quite normal for me and I'm used to it..

But whilst unloading the logs I had a very big dizzy moment and it was only the trailer that stopped me going down!

That was enough of a warning for me to stop what I was doing and head to the house to sit down in the warmth.

 

The only problem was I had to move the trailer load of logs so I could shut the gate..

 

No sooner had I started moving forward a loud clonk/crash sound came from behind.. Yep the trailer had decided it wanted to try and and tip it's load!!

 

Feeling quite rough by this point and as much as I didn't want to (knowing it was forecast to rain all night)  the GT and trailer load of logs were abandoned where they stopped!

 

Pic taken through kitchen window.

 

 

 

The next morning dawned a bit on the damp side and was still raining.. The GT didn't look happy about being left to the mercy of the weather overnight!

 

 

 

Having just got over a nasty flu/cold thing I didn't want to get wet in the rain, so I lit the fire in the shack and got on with stacking the rest of last years logs under the bench.

 

 

 

Once the rain had stopped I went over to tell the GT "sorry about being left in the rain and yes I do still love you"... And to dry it off a bit!!

The water was soon removed from the steering wheel and replaced with a lot of WD40.

 

 

 

The last and biggest load in the trailer.

 

 

 

The overnight rain had made the ground very swampy!

 

 

 

But once again the GT took it all in it's stride and pulled the heaviest load through the most water and mud without any sign of wheel spin 

 

A full log store..

 

 

 

And a big "job well done" to the GT

 

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Another  job well done.     

Hope you and the GT are now feeling better Ian. 

[meadowfield 2,754]

Good job Ian!

Glad the GT is earning it's keep :)

[pmackellow 12]

Good job done mate, hope you are feeling better now...

[flyovrcntry 115]

Sold my GT!4 to my neighbor a couple years ago,he loves it and braggs about it taking on anything.He uses the blade for dirt rock and snow.He asks me about my 417-A and I say, I really like it,but your GT would pull me around all day long.

[wheeledhorseman 579]

Amazed that you can get traction with those tires Ian! I guess the soil round your way is very different to what we have on the New Forest where even in the summer there were still boggy patches where turf saver tires simply couldn't haul heavy loads of soil in a trailer. It wasn't much better with my C-100 which has Ags so I'm in the process of painting up a set of wheels with turf tires from a horse no longer with us which I've got some aggressive ATV chains for and intend to makes some weights as well.

 

It's a real pain when trailers tip like that - happens to me a lot usually with a load that's too heavy for me to right it again. Much choice language offen ensues!

 

Well done for making it work for you - not burning choice palet wood these days?

 

Andy

 

[Stormin 9,985]

One way to stop accidental tipping, would be a short chain from headboard and over release handle. I'm going to do that with mine.

[Stigian 1,234]

Another  job well done.     

Hope you and the GT are now feeling better Ian. 

 

Thanks Craig, I'm fine now just a bit worried the poor GT has caught a cold from being out in the rain.

 

 

 

Good job Ian!

Glad the GT is earning it's keep

 

Thanks Mark, I'm rather enjoying driving the GT. I've still not fixed the "not staying open" throttle yet so my right hand operates the throttle and motion lever at the same time while the other hand steers...  This is why there has been no action shots.. Not enough hands

 

 

 

Good job done mate, hope you are feeling better now...

 

Thanks Paul, feeling ok today but as you have seen that can change at any moment..  Life can be interesting but that's what sticking 2 fingers up is for

 

 

 

Sold my GT!4 to my neighbor a couple years ago,he loves it and braggs about it taking on anything.He uses the blade for dirt rock and snow.He asks me about my 417-A and I say, I really like it,but your GT would pull me around all day long.

 

Ouch!!    I'd not want to be without the GT now, love the thing..        

 

 

 

Amazed that you can get traction with those tires Ian! I guess the soil round your way is very different to what we have on the New Forest where even in the summer there were still boggy patches where turf saver tires simply couldn't haul heavy loads of soil in a trailer. It wasn't much better with my C-100 which has Ags so I'm in the process of painting up a set of wheels with turf tires from a horse no longer with us which I've got some aggressive ATV chains for and intend to makes some weights as well.

 

It's a real pain when trailers tip like that - happens to me a lot usually with a load that's too heavy for me to right it again. Much choice language offen ensues!

 

Well done for making it work for you - not burning choice palet wood these days?

 

Andy

 

Hi Andy, I was amazed at the traction from the tires as well. Even though the GT is no light weight and I'm er.. heavier than I should be I was expecting wheel spin problems. How she deals with snow (should we see any this winter) is another matter.

The ground here is quite strange, 6 inches of top soil then it's all clay..  Quite a few clay pit around here where they used to make bricks a long time ago.

During the summer the lawn feels like a sponge to walk on.

 

No pallets these days, I don't have storage or a very local supply of free pallets..

 

 

 

One way to stop accidental tipping, would be a short chain from headboard and over release handle. I'm going to do that with mine.

 

I've been meaning to fit a locking pin to the release handle for a long time... I might get round to doing it one day.

[Stormin 9,985]

I thought of that also. Probably a better option.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Another one of your adventures Ian that I really enjoyed immersing myself in thanks to Red Square. I hope you are feeling better soon. Try to stay warm and dry

[Robins 26]

Excellent Ian   Thanks for sharing it with us  

I 'have' (or hopefully 'had' now) that trouble with one of my trailers tipping on its own, both have the same clip system but the smaller trailer has a mind of its own. Plenty of welding and strengthening and ive hopefully fixed the problem. Been waiting for some dryer weather to try it out on another mud moving day, I too have a swap field now with all this rain! 

At least you can stay warm in the shack now  

[Charlie Smith 142]

Brilliant Job Ian! Hope you're all well now, looks like the GT14 held out well, I must say turf tyres do seem to do the job pretty gooid. well they seem to anyway for example last January in all the snow I still had my turf savers on and it didn't really have any problems at all. To be perfectly honest I don't really work my horse it may help out on the odd chore around the house but never gets worked hard, the most work it will have from my use is when the snow arrives, (STILL WAITING) so I can honestly say I brought the Ags tyres for show/looks

[neil 2,410]

This story feels me with great happiness to see my old  GT 14 doing some grunt .  It was in quite a sorry state when i had it & i am delighted that she has gone to a loving home & that she can do what she was made to do .

Glad you a feeling better Ian

Love to see the old girl doing some work & she looks a real fine filly .

Happy New Year Buddy

[Stigian 1,234]

I thought of that also. Probably a better option.

 

In the past I've just used a G clamp to keep the locking handle from moving, guess I forgot about it this time

 

 

 

Another one of your adventures Ian that I really enjoyed immersing myself in thanks to Red Square. I hope you are feeling better soon. Try to stay warm and dry

 

I'm not sure about it being an adventure, moving the logs and stacking them away is the one job I really don't look forward to each year.. My body's not as young or as flexible as it once was..

still, at least it's only once a year I have to do the logs.

 

 

 

Excellent Ian   Thanks for sharing it with us  

I 'have' (or hopefully 'had' now) that trouble with one of my trailers tipping on its own, both have the same clip system but the smaller trailer has a mind of its own. Plenty of welding and strengthening and ive hopefully fixed the problem. Been waiting for some dryer weather to try it out on another mud moving day, I too have a swap field now with all this rain! 

At least you can stay warm in the shack now  

 

Your welcome Daniel, your have to post some photo's of your trailer mods.

 

 

 

Brilliant Job Ian! Hope you're all well now, looks like the GT14 held out well, I must say turf tyres do seem to do the job pretty gooid. well they seem to anyway for example last January in all the snow I still had my turf savers on and it didn't really have any problems at all. To be perfectly honest I don't really work my horse it may help out on the odd chore around the house but never gets worked hard, the most work it will have from my use is when the snow arrives, (STILL WAITING) so I can honestly say I brought the Ags tyres for show/looks

 

Thanks Charlie, my health goes up and down daily/hourly but at the moment I'm good if in need of a 3rd mug of coffee   Yep, I'm still amazed at how well the grass tire handled the mud, though thinking on it the extra weight of the roll bar and massive battery/battery box on the back must of played their part in aiding traction. There is a murmur out "there" about winter maybe turning up the in the middle of next month, so maybe your get a chance to plow the snow then.. I need to get my snowplow sorted!

 

 

 

This story feels me with great happiness to see my old  GT 14 doing some grunt .  It was in quite a sorry state when i had it & i am delighted that she has gone to a loving home & that she can do what she was made to do .

Glad you a feeling better Ian

Love to see the old girl doing some work & she looks a real fine filly .

Happy New Year Buddy

 

Happy to spread the GT happiness Neil   The GT is near enough in the same condition as when I got her bar a new-ish engine and a tube in the front wheel.. She might of also gained a bit of mud after log moving as well.

I do like working the GT when I can, moving the wet logs is the hardest/heaviest bit of work she has done to date.

Your right about her looking a real fine filly, I don't think I could ever bring myself to repaint her, love the "rough and ready lived in" look.. Though I am tempted to try and remove the silver paint from the grill at the front.

Happy new year to you (and everyone else) too.

[Charlie Smith 142]

Yes I guess the battery and the roll bar helped out, bet that weighs more then wheel weights, also, about snow plows, i could be wrong here but did you make your own blade and bracket/frame? If so is there a thread for them somewhere? And in the first picture of the GT14 in the shack that snow/dozer blade? How long is that it looks rather large,or is camera trickery

[meadowfield 2,754]

I'm with you Ian on the repaint, whilst I'd like my GT all shiny I also like it in its working clothes :)

[Stigian 1,234]

Yes I guess the battery and the roll bar helped out, bet that weighs more then wheel weights, also, about snow plows, i could be wrong here but did you make your own blade and bracket/frame? If so is there a thread for them somewhere? And in the first picture of the GT14 in the shack that snow/dozer blade? How long is that it looks rather large,or is camera trickery

 

Your not wrong, I did make my own blade, bracket and frame.

Here's a few build threads about it.

 

Part 1

 

 

Part 2

 

 

Part 3.   well this is actually my roll bar build, but the first part is about making the rear hitch.

 

 

Somewhere there is a snowplow modification thread  I started, but I can't find it now.

 

The blade in the 1st photo is quite wide, off the top of my head I couldn't tell you how wide though.

 

 

 

I'm with you Ian on the repaint, whilst I'd like my GT all shiny I also like it in its working clothes

 

I think that because the GT is in it's working clothes it make it feel more like a real tractor.. Size may help a bit as well.

[Anglo Traction 761]

Naah , Glad your not thinking of painting it Ian, there's plenty still on it  . Wipe it with an oily rag if it is likely to spend more nights out in the wet, snow or frost.....Maybe just put that wheel rust into check. 

[Stigian 1,234]

Naah , Glad your not thinking of painting it Ian, there's plenty still on it  . Wipe it with an oily rag if it is likely to spend more nights out in the wet, snow or frost.....Maybe just put that wheel rust into check. 

 

I need to invest in a couple more cans of WD40, it will keep the rust away and smell quite good too

[Charlie Smith 142]

Naah , Glad your not thinking of painting it Ian, there's plenty still on it  . Wipe it with an oily rag if it is likely to spend more nights out in the wet, snow or frost.....Maybe just put that wheel rust into check.

 

I need to invest in a couple more cans of WD40, it will keep the rust away and smell quite good too

You're too right about the smell of WD-40 does two jobs at once, keeps rust away, and as a air freshener some people hate the smell, I think it's good, now about the painting, I wouldn't if I was you, I've been thinking and deciding for a good solid year now shall I paint/restore my raider 10, I've now finally decided I'm not going to paint it, I think the tin work is good condition as it is I just run an oily rag over it every so often,

[Anglo Traction 761]

WD40 is good for initial water dispersal, but long term, I found this Bike Teflon Dry Lube by Finishline to be excellent at laying down a film of water repellent wax. Available everywhere that sells Bikes.

http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/chain-lubricants/dry-lube

When the panel joints on your WH are dry, just squirt some in and it dries. I've used the Aerosol Can version for years. Also great for protecting/lubricating and resists dirt......ok ! It's not perfumed like WD40, so bung some Aftershave on your WH if you want   

[Stigian 1,234]

 And in the first picture of the GT14 in the shack that snow/dozer blade? How long is that it looks rather large,or is camera trickery

 

I remembered to measure the blade for you Charlie, it's 132cm wide.

 

 

 

 

Naah , Glad your not thinking of painting it Ian, there's plenty still on it  . Wipe it with an oily rag if it is likely to spend more nights out in the wet, snow or frost.....Maybe just put that wheel rust into check.

 

I need to invest in a couple more cans of WD40, it will keep the rust away and smell quite good too You're too right about the smell of WD-40 does two jobs at once, keeps rust away, and as a air freshener some people hate the smell, I think it's good, now about the painting, I wouldn't if I was you, I've been thinking and deciding for a good solid year now shall I paint/restore my raider 10, I've now finally decided I'm not going to paint it, I think the tin work is good condition as it is I just run an oily rag over it every so often,

 

 

Don't worry Charlie, she won't be getting a repaint... It would be nice to find a way of painting some "age" to the engine to help it blend in a bit.

 

 

 

WD40 is good for initial water dispersal, but long term, I found this Bike Teflon Dry Lube by Finishline to be excellent at laying down a film of water repellent wax. Available everywhere that sells Bikes.

http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/chain-lubricants/dry-lube

When the panel joints on your WH are dry, just squirt some in and it dries. I've used the Aerosol Can version for years. Also great for protecting/lubricating and resists dirt......ok ! It's not perfumed like WD40, so bung some Aftershave on your WH if you want   

 

Thanks Richard, that's a very handy tip, I will have to get some....... Oh... What's aftershave?

 

 

I kept forgetting to take a photo of this until today...

As the GT has performed so well with everthing I have asked of it I have treated it to the correct size engine pulley.... Ok, maybe it's not 100% the correct size, but it's the closest I could find and only need a little lathe work to make it right.

 

[neil 2,410]

I was just looking at your snow dozer Ian and was wondering if the blade frame needed much alteration to fit the GT14 ? or does it fit straight on without any mods ?

[Stigian 1,234]

I was just looking at your snow dozer Ian and was wondering if the blade frame needed much alteration to fit the GT14 ? or does it fit straight on without any mods ?

 

The frame will need a few mods to make it work on the GT, it's to wide where it passes under the front axle and not long enough to let the blade turn at full angle without the blade hitting the front wheels.. I also need to make a linkage so the GT's hydraulics can raise and lower it.

Not quite the easy job I had in mind when I decided to put the plow on the GT

[meadowfield 2,754]

Didn't GT's use a longer frame plow, or did I just make that up

You are making me feel like I'm neglecting mine, it's sat snug on the trailer out of the way for a while.

No doubt sulking with me because I'm spending so much time in the workshop with my other woman