The McCormick W4 was a popular tractor here in the vineyards of Western New York State. It had a lot of similarities to the even more popular row crop Farmall H used in the nearby dairy country. The engine and transmission were identical as well as the OS4 orchard model with fenders that cover the wheels to protect the trees. Thank you Outsider for sharing your experiences in the woods. Cutting trees, pulling out the logs and taking them to my Amish friend to saw has been one of my hobbies for a long time. Also I heated our homes with wood for 42 years.
Thank you for making these videos- I was maybe 5 years old when my family built a post and beam home from logs skidded out with a 1938 John Deere B. I appreciate the perspective and camera angles, I know it slows your work down to have to keep setting up cameras, not to mention the hours you must spend editing footage! It is appreciated.
So glad you've been able to work through the winter this year, letting us see a more steady stream of progress! Also love these in-between episodes so the wait isn't as long. Keep it up! :)
This is exactly what I needed. I will be on my vacation/work holiday starting at the end of this week and I finally got the go ahead to start my own cabin. Just a 16X16 on post and piers and a 8X16 loft above. It will double as a "shed" for my four wheeler and a few other pieces of equipment that I would rather not be exposed to the elements. Good fortune to you and yours.
Yep. That old W4 is a heck of a beast. They don't make 'em like that any more. Just be careful when approaching 45 degrees. They'll flip and hurt you quick if you get careless and forget to respect the danger. Well done.
That tractor sure is a workhorse. I cant imagine what it must have been like riding that thing when it looks like its going to roll over or roll backwards..... yikes !!! Great series , thanks.
I love old tractors. Does it have Independent brakes? If so, you can use those to turn tighter, specially when your steer wheels don't have much grip. Just brake the inside wheel and you will pivot around. Basically works like a skid steer. Also, if you don't have a differential lock, you can brake a spinning wheel to send power to the other side if it has better grip. Be careful without rollover protection. Would be a good idea for bush work. Oh, and try keep your thumbs out of the inside of the steering wheel. If you hit the front wheels into holes, rocks or roots hard enough to spin the steering wheel, it can really hurt your thumbs, depending on if your steering will let that happen. Full hydraulic won't, but not sure what you have on that. Stay safe, take care and keep them coming!
All good info. I am happy to say that my W4 does have independent brakes, which I use quite often. In fact, I was using the independent brakes in some of this episode's footage. I certainly do need to be careful with my thumbs, but my W4 is pretty good about not yanking the steering wheel on me. My VA Case was another story. It was awful for that sort of thing. Thanks for commenting!
A friend and I took large logs 24" straight across this weekend. We used a long cable and created a choker style pulling system to drag them out. Occasionally we had to use 10,000 pound snatch straps to increase the distance because the tractor is heavy and the area is very moist being close to a swampy spot on the property. It worked pretty well. No damage to the terrain, no stuck tractor, no injuries, no broken equipment, and good useful big logs on the landing. Have you ever considered using a long cable system to reduce where you have to put the tractor, and use a snatch block to pull them where you want?
As always great video I can show you many videos of me in the yard doing the same thing on our old 56 massy Just keeps going and going Last logs we brought out were 2.5 to 3 foot diameter and 20 to 40 foot long Just keep going over stuff
Nice video. Tractor work great but accident happen fast. Not the safest thing to do, but you did the job. Too many people get hurt with there tractor because they don't have roll over bar and canopy while working in the bush Take care and be safe.
A 4x4 tractor would definitely give me an advantage, and a 3 point hitch would be very nice, but I do love my W4. Plus it fits nicely into my current budget. lol Maybe someday I'll be able to upgrade.
I reccomend 2 things to make that tractoring of logs a bit easier. #1 a Log Boat (skid that attaches to the front of the log to keep it from digging in and makes turning easier) #2 learn to use the steering brakes on the tractor.
Really love watching your videos...... question fir you - how many acres is the wood thst the cabin will stand in? I think you and your dad are doing a really great job.... well done.
Have you decided what kind of notched you are going to use where the walls intersect? I have been looking at some of the notches videos on YT. I noticed some cabins have wider spaces between the logs than others.
I've decided that I'm going to stick with a basic round saddle notch. People have different opinions on which notch is the best, but I believe keeping it basic is best under these particular conditions.
Can't wait till it's complete,did you have to buy the land your building your cabin on,please be careful towing the logs as I had an uncle killed doing what your doing the log caught on a stump and the tractor sat up on its end pinning him under it and killed him so take exTra care,thoughts from Scotland
I really enjoyed the video. I just wish you would have included a flashlight review so all the snowflakes would get butt hurt and complain in the comments! Seriously, thanks for the video and keep them coming
I believe my back tires are weighted with calcium, but they were still slipping on all those loose rocks. Plus my draw bar was dragging a lot, which didn't help.
man be careful i like your videos and i wouldn't want to see that tractor roll over on you!! tks for the sawmill vid, i think i will be getting one. where are you guys at roughly? cheers !!
i really enjoy seeing gear being put to use wither thats a tractor, a chainsaw, or just a powertool like a drill... nothing worse then someone who spends 30k on a new machine just to push the snow out of their drive way a few times a year and sit every other day or the people who cant stand to see their new power tool get dirty for the most part a tools gonna cost roughly the same and last nearly as long if it sits and rots or if it goes to work everyday and earns the dough it cost you, sure things wear quick if theyre beat everyday but they seize up just as quick if theyre sitting around
Sometimes you work for days without any apparent progress & then one day things fall in place like small blocks . remember Fran k Sinatra " nice & easy does it every time. Brian 76
Biggest killer of rural males in Australia beside suicide, tractor roll-over incidents!!! Be careful mates and always anticipate a leap-off destination from the tractor seat, preferably behind a tree or large fallen log. Take risks but be ready for mishap. Cheers
For your sake, I wish your tractor had a rollbar. I'm sure you realize just how many men have died over the decades because their tractor rolled over and they were crushed. I know you are being careful. Thanks for the vid!
I always enjoy your vids except that they are too short 🙂. Careful on the tractor without roll protection! A roll over can ruin your day. Why are you using poplar logs instead of some of that nice cedar you have? (This is not a criticism but an educational request for me). Thanks!
The McCormick W4 was a popular tractor here in the vineyards of Western New York State. It had a lot of similarities to the even more popular row crop Farmall H used in the nearby dairy country. The engine and transmission were identical as well as the OS4 orchard model with fenders that cover the wheels to protect the trees. Thank you Outsider for sharing your experiences in the woods. Cutting trees, pulling out the logs and taking them to my Amish friend to saw has been one of my hobbies for a long time. Also I heated our homes with wood for 42 years.
I can honestly say that i enjoy your videos more than any others I watch. thanks so much for always sharing.
Thanks again Cory!
Thank you for making these videos- I was maybe 5 years old when my family built a post and beam home from logs skidded out with a 1938 John Deere B. I appreciate the perspective and camera angles, I know it slows your work down to have to keep setting up cameras, not to mention the hours you must spend editing footage! It is appreciated.
Well done dude. excellent work. Love from Scotland. :)
So glad you've been able to work through the winter this year, letting us see a more steady stream of progress! Also love these in-between episodes so the wait isn't as long. Keep it up! :)
Glad you're liking the updates! Thanks Nick.
This is exactly what I needed. I will be on my vacation/work holiday starting at the end of this week and I finally got the go ahead to start my own cabin. Just a 16X16 on post and piers and a 8X16 loft above. It will double as a "shed" for my four wheeler and a few other pieces of equipment that I would rather not be exposed to the elements.
Good fortune to you and yours.
Awesome! All the best to you on your cabin project.
those old tractors were built to last nice video thanks terry
nice to see you so happy with your new tractor
Yep. That old W4 is a heck of a beast. They don't make 'em like that any more. Just be careful when approaching 45 degrees. They'll flip and hurt you quick if you get careless and forget to respect the danger. Well done.
Good word. Thank you my friend.
it doesn't even have to be steep my brother flipped a tractor on almost level ground and was killed !
Dang. That sucks Don. Losing someone in an instant is the hardest thing we'll endure. My condolences.
I love all your interesting camera angles and the drone shots!
That tractor sure is a workhorse. I cant imagine what it must have been like riding that thing when it looks like its going to roll over or roll backwards..... yikes !!! Great series , thanks.
Enjoy watching your video
I love old tractors. Does it have Independent brakes? If so, you can use those to turn tighter, specially when your steer wheels don't have much grip. Just brake the inside wheel and you will pivot around. Basically works like a skid steer. Also, if you don't have a differential lock, you can brake a spinning wheel to send power to the other side if it has better grip. Be careful without rollover protection. Would be a good idea for bush work. Oh, and try keep your thumbs out of the inside of the steering wheel. If you hit the front wheels into holes, rocks or roots hard enough to spin the steering wheel, it can really hurt your thumbs, depending on if your steering will let that happen. Full hydraulic won't, but not sure what you have on that. Stay safe, take care and keep them coming!
All good info. I am happy to say that my W4 does have independent brakes, which I use quite often. In fact, I was using the independent brakes in some of this episode's footage. I certainly do need to be careful with my thumbs, but my W4 is pretty good about not yanking the steering wheel on me. My VA Case was another story. It was awful for that sort of thing. Thanks for commenting!
A friend and I took large logs 24" straight across this weekend. We used a long cable and created a choker style pulling system to drag them out. Occasionally we had to use 10,000 pound snatch straps to increase the distance because the tractor is heavy and the area is very moist being close to a swampy spot on the property. It worked pretty well. No damage to the terrain, no stuck tractor, no injuries, no broken equipment, and good useful big logs on the landing. Have you ever considered using a long cable system to reduce where you have to put the tractor, and use a snatch block to pull them where you want?
Well done and thank you for the update.
i like what ur doing ive watched all ur videos on this cabin hope to see it finished.
Thanks Shannon!
Great video! I have a 1949 International W4. Good tractor!
Great video. thanks. keep them coming.
Bushcraft North of 60, I was gonna say the same, lol. But great video ! Keep them coming always a treat when you post, God Bless and stay safe.
Thanks Craig! God bless.
As always great video I can show you many videos of me in the yard doing the same thing on our old 56 massy Just keeps going and going Last logs we brought out were 2.5 to 3 foot diameter and 20 to 40 foot long Just keep going over stuff
You've got some grit off-roading with that tractor. I'm pretty sure my nerve would have broken for fear of rollover.
Very anxious to see the planks going down and the walls going up.
Me too! Thanks Tim.
glad you're back at it
Nice video. Tractor work great but accident happen fast. Not the safest thing to do, but you did the job. Too many people get hurt with there tractor because they don't have roll over bar and canopy while working in the bush Take care and be safe.
Much appreciated. Thanks Victor.
If you knew what you were getting yourself into, would you do it again?
Definitely! I love everything about this build.
Great job!
Impressive, stay safe.
Will do! Thanks again Rick.
I’m in love with this
The old iron tractor did a great job with the bushwacking. Did you wish for a 4x4 tractor at any point? Perhaps a logging winch for the 3 point hitch?
A 4x4 tractor would definitely give me an advantage, and a 3 point hitch would be very nice, but I do love my W4. Plus it fits nicely into my current budget. lol Maybe someday I'll be able to upgrade.
that is one nice old tractor ,but I have to ask ,are those tires weighted ?
I reccomend 2 things to make that tractoring of logs a bit easier.
#1 a Log Boat (skid that attaches to the front of the log to keep it from digging in and makes turning easier)
#2 learn to use the steering brakes on the tractor.
I like the mag wheels on the front of your tractor, lol
Yep that is what I will need. A old tractor will do.
Really love watching your videos...... question fir you - how many acres is the wood thst the cabin will stand in? I think you and your dad are doing a really great job.... well done.
tons of fun!!
Have you decided what kind of notched you are going to use where the walls intersect? I have been looking at some of the notches videos on YT. I noticed some cabins have wider spaces between the logs than others.
I've decided that I'm going to stick with a basic round saddle notch. People have different opinions on which notch is the best, but I believe keeping it basic is best under these particular conditions.
wait, was that ton metric or imperial? short or long?
Can't wait till it's complete,did you have to buy the land your building your cabin on,please be careful towing the logs as I had an uncle killed doing what your doing the log caught on a stump and the tractor sat up on its end pinning him under it and killed him so take exTra care,thoughts from Scotland
Tractors make about any job fun
"Off road tractoring." I think you just invented a new genre of video here on UA-cam.
I really enjoyed the video. I just wish you would have included a flashlight review so all the snowflakes would get butt hurt and complain in the comments! Seriously, thanks for the video and keep them coming
lol Thanks man.
Good video! But in my opinion you should bought a roll bar :)
you need to get a hand crank for your w4 for when your electric has problems
Looks like you need to add water to the rear tires for better traction.
I believe my back tires are weighted with calcium, but they were still slipping on all those loose rocks. Plus my draw bar was dragging a lot, which didn't help.
that w4 is doing well for an almost 70 year old (depending where in the 1939 to 1952 range it was made)
We got MF 135 -65 and Fordson Super Major -64.
man be careful i like your videos and i wouldn't want to see that tractor roll over on you!! tks for the sawmill vid, i think i will be getting one. where are you guys at roughly? cheers !!
i really enjoy seeing gear being put to use wither thats a tractor, a chainsaw, or just a powertool like a drill... nothing worse then someone who spends 30k on a new machine just to push the snow out of their drive way a few times a year and sit every other day or the people who cant stand to see their new power tool get dirty
for the most part a tools gonna cost roughly the same and last nearly as long if it sits and rots or if it goes to work everyday and earns the dough it cost you, sure things wear quick if theyre beat everyday but they seize up just as quick if theyre sitting around
WOW! They don't make them like that anymore!
Why didn't you use willy for this?
Can you please make more videos on wild edibles? I really love the ones you've made and want to see more
Isn't all tractor driving basically off-roading?
How much land do you own bro ?
Popular make beautiful light coloured boards.
That's what I've been told, and I'm beginning see for myself that they have a beautiful grain to them. I can't wait to see them on the cabin floor.
Boy you need some snow chains on that tractor
♥️🧡🧡💛🧡🧡♥️
Sometimes you work for days without any apparent progress & then one day things fall in place like small blocks . remember Fran k Sinatra " nice & easy does it every time. Brian 76
Exactly. Everything seems to take forever, until I step back and take a look at the big picture. I know I'll get there. Anyway, thanks for commenting!
The tractor must of been a made by landcruser
As a suggestion, invest in a good set of log tongs and quit beating your chain up.
Biggest killer of rural males in Australia beside suicide, tractor roll-over incidents!!! Be careful mates and always anticipate a leap-off destination from the tractor seat, preferably behind a tree or large fallen log. Take risks but be ready for mishap. Cheers
For your sake, I wish your tractor had a rollbar. I'm sure you realize just how many men have died over the decades because their tractor rolled over and they were crushed. I know you are being careful. Thanks for the vid!
I always enjoy your vids except that they are too short 🙂. Careful on the tractor without roll protection! A roll over can ruin your day. Why are you using poplar logs instead of some of that nice cedar you have? (This is not a criticism but an educational request for me). Thanks!
Could it be that Poplar is straighter and the logs are bigger?
Good advice Steve. Thanks! I'm using poplar wood only for the flooring and roof planks, so that I can save my valuable cedar for all the rest.
OutsideFun1 That is a great idea. There is a hardwood mill near here that saws poplar lumber just for that very reason. Thanks for the reply.
please put aroll bar on that tractor
Watched it nude. Nice video.
first
Congrats!
Just finished watching your series of videos, great job! Can't wait to see video 10! God Bless!