Ireland is scattered with specialised timber harvesting contractors that run high-output timber thinning and clear-fell operations. However, almost all of these contractors are running wheeled timber harvesters.
As it turns out, this tracked timber harvester is also the first brand new Neuson harvester to be sold in Ireland. A number of secondhand machines have been imported into the country over the past few years.
Why a tracked machine?
Tim Kelly has a number of forestry plantations across Donegal, some of which are located on very wet peaty slopes. After encountering difficulties with traditional wheeled harvesters working on the terrain, Tim set about looking for a low ground pressure versatile machine.
Tim explained that the last time they were thinning one particular forest, the wheeled timber harvester was skidding and as a result it was damaging the surrounding trees. This forest was situated on a slope with a depth of 2.5m of peat.
The harvester is fitted with three rib 800mm tracks. The machine has a high ground clearance of 600mm.
Neuson Forest may be a relatively new brand to the Irish market, however, the Austrian company has been manufacturing tracked timber harvesters for the past 25 years.
This particular 183HVT model weighs in at over 20t, a mid-range machine considering the manufacturer offers machines from 12t right up to 25t with a 13.2m reach.
Since the machine landed in early July, it has clocked up over 750 hours, typically operating for 48 hours per week. The machine is currently working thinning a forest, harvesting an average of 70m3 to 80m3 per day.
Operator opinion
Brendan Gallagher has driven the new harvester since its arrival. The Donegal man has operated many different brands of forestry equipment over the years. Brendan was very impressed with the harvester’s versatility and how stable the machine was while the boom was extended out cutting large trees. He explained that once the operator gets to grips with the harvester it can be operated on the softest of terrain.
The machine width of 2.55m combined with its short tail swing in addition to the harvester’s ability to work 360º around the machine means brash can be easily moved to create a good base to track the machine over.
Brendan was sceptical of the blade at first. However, after using it for the past few months he explained that it was a great addition that helped to spread the machine’s weight on soft terrain in addition to increasing its stability.
The one area that Brendan felt that a wheeled harvester was beneficial over a tracked harvester was in transport.
The HVT feature allows the machine to tilt the upper carriage by up to 25° forward and plus or minus 15° sideways.
Brendan remarked that while transporting the tracked machine around the forest work site, it was not as comfortable or as fast as wheeled harvesters that sit on boggie axles.
Features
The HVT models are equipped with an upper carriage levelling system while the HV models have a fixed cab. The HVT feature has the ability to tilt the upper carriage by up to 25° forward and plus or minus 15° sideways. This allows the upper carriage to be levelled while working on slopes with no compromise on lifting or swinging power of the crane.
The harvesters come with the option of four different track variations including one-rib, two-rib, and three-rib or rubber tracks. These tracks vary in width from 500mm to 800mm. This particular harvester is fitted with three rib 800mm tracks that cause minimal ground damage. The harvester also has a high ground clearance of 800mm.
Engine and hydraulics
The Neuson 183HVT is powered by a six-cylinder turbocharged John Deere engine capable of churning out 180hp (132kW). According to the operator, the machine has never been found short of power.
In order to provide a consistent hydraulic flow for all functions of the machine, the harvester is fitted with two hydraulic systems. One system is for the harvester head while the other is for the harvester itself. Each of these hydraulic systems has a huge flow rate of 331l/min from an Axko pump.
For ease of access when servicing, the cab can fold forwards.
Tim Kelly noted that even working hard on the warmest of days over the summer period the hydraulic system remained perfectly cool.
Head
As Neuson doesn’t manufacture its own harvester heads, its timber harvesters come ready to be attached to any header on the market. Tim Kelly opted to fit a Waratah H414 head on to his machine.
The Waratah harvester head company is owned by John Deere.
The harvester head is capable of measuring the diameter of the tree before cutting it into a pre-set length which is based on its diameter. The head also removes all brash from the tree.
Cab
Most timber harvesters on the market offer a variation of interior controls. This usually varies between having two joysticks or mini levers to perform the main machine actions. This particular machine is fitted with two joysticks that are reprogrammable depending on the operator preferences.
Visibility on the tracked machine is very good as the crane is positioned to the right hand side of the cab instead of directly in front of the operator like it is on many machines. As a result, the operator has an unobstructed view for selecting and cutting trees.
Low maintenance
The Neuson harvester requires very little daily maintenance. Every day the operator greases the head and fills the tank with chain oil. To avoid any downtime the chain on the saw in the head is typically replaced after every four days of use.
The harvester itself has an auto greaser that greases the entire telescopic crane and the slew ring. Typically, this auto greaser needs to be filled once per month.
When it comes to servicing the machine all filters and oil resevoirs etc are easily accessible.
The diesel tank has a 300 litre capacity and because of the low operation RPM while thinning (1500 RPM on average), the tank will typically last for two and a half days of work.
The machine has a service interval of 500 hours and can be fully serviced in just over two hours. For ease of access, the cab can fold forwards when servicing.
Future
Tim purchased the harvester with the intention of carrying out his own thinning and clear-fell work which will take approximately two-to-three years. However, Tim has planned to also carry out some hire work with the new machine.
He went on to explain that he was happy with his decision to purchase the new tracked harvester. He emphasised the machine’s stability and versatility, explaining that the harvester will work anywhere that you can walk. The Neuson 183HVT tracked machine was supplied to Tim Kelly by Wexford-based Murphy Bros, Neuson importers for Ireland.
Engine: Six-cylinder turbocharged John Deere 6068 engine.
Horsepower: 180hp (132kW).
Hydraulics: Two hydraulic systems, both with a flow rate of 331l/min.
Weight: ca. 20.5t
Telescopic reach: 10.2 metres.
Track width: 800mm.
Machine width: 2.55 metres.
Diesel tank capacity: 300 litres (79 gallons).
List price new: €480,000 plus VAT.
Ireland is scattered with specialised timber harvesting contractors that run high-output timber thinning and clear-fell operations. However, almost all of these contractors are running wheeled timber harvesters.
As it turns out, this tracked timber harvester is also the first brand new Neuson harvester to be sold in Ireland. A number of secondhand machines have been imported into the country over the past few years.
Why a tracked machine?
Tim Kelly has a number of forestry plantations across Donegal, some of which are located on very wet peaty slopes. After encountering difficulties with traditional wheeled harvesters working on the terrain, Tim set about looking for a low ground pressure versatile machine.
Tim explained that the last time they were thinning one particular forest, the wheeled timber harvester was skidding and as a result it was damaging the surrounding trees. This forest was situated on a slope with a depth of 2.5m of peat.
The harvester is fitted with three rib 800mm tracks. The machine has a high ground clearance of 600mm.
Neuson Forest may be a relatively new brand to the Irish market, however, the Austrian company has been manufacturing tracked timber harvesters for the past 25 years.
This particular 183HVT model weighs in at over 20t, a mid-range machine considering the manufacturer offers machines from 12t right up to 25t with a 13.2m reach.
Since the machine landed in early July, it has clocked up over 750 hours, typically operating for 48 hours per week. The machine is currently working thinning a forest, harvesting an average of 70m3 to 80m3 per day.
Operator opinion
Brendan Gallagher has driven the new harvester since its arrival. The Donegal man has operated many different brands of forestry equipment over the years. Brendan was very impressed with the harvester’s versatility and how stable the machine was while the boom was extended out cutting large trees. He explained that once the operator gets to grips with the harvester it can be operated on the softest of terrain.
The machine width of 2.55m combined with its short tail swing in addition to the harvester’s ability to work 360º around the machine means brash can be easily moved to create a good base to track the machine over.
Brendan was sceptical of the blade at first. However, after using it for the past few months he explained that it was a great addition that helped to spread the machine’s weight on soft terrain in addition to increasing its stability.
The one area that Brendan felt that a wheeled harvester was beneficial over a tracked harvester was in transport.
The HVT feature allows the machine to tilt the upper carriage by up to 25° forward and plus or minus 15° sideways.
Brendan remarked that while transporting the tracked machine around the forest work site, it was not as comfortable or as fast as wheeled harvesters that sit on boggie axles.
Features
The HVT models are equipped with an upper carriage levelling system while the HV models have a fixed cab. The HVT feature has the ability to tilt the upper carriage by up to 25° forward and plus or minus 15° sideways. This allows the upper carriage to be levelled while working on slopes with no compromise on lifting or swinging power of the crane.
The harvesters come with the option of four different track variations including one-rib, two-rib, and three-rib or rubber tracks. These tracks vary in width from 500mm to 800mm. This particular harvester is fitted with three rib 800mm tracks that cause minimal ground damage. The harvester also has a high ground clearance of 800mm.
Engine and hydraulics
The Neuson 183HVT is powered by a six-cylinder turbocharged John Deere engine capable of churning out 180hp (132kW). According to the operator, the machine has never been found short of power.
In order to provide a consistent hydraulic flow for all functions of the machine, the harvester is fitted with two hydraulic systems. One system is for the harvester head while the other is for the harvester itself. Each of these hydraulic systems has a huge flow rate of 331l/min from an Axko pump.
For ease of access when servicing, the cab can fold forwards.
Tim Kelly noted that even working hard on the warmest of days over the summer period the hydraulic system remained perfectly cool.
Head
As Neuson doesn’t manufacture its own harvester heads, its timber harvesters come ready to be attached to any header on the market. Tim Kelly opted to fit a Waratah H414 head on to his machine.
The Waratah harvester head company is owned by John Deere.
The harvester head is capable of measuring the diameter of the tree before cutting it into a pre-set length which is based on its diameter. The head also removes all brash from the tree.
Cab
Most timber harvesters on the market offer a variation of interior controls. This usually varies between having two joysticks or mini levers to perform the main machine actions. This particular machine is fitted with two joysticks that are reprogrammable depending on the operator preferences.
Visibility on the tracked machine is very good as the crane is positioned to the right hand side of the cab instead of directly in front of the operator like it is on many machines. As a result, the operator has an unobstructed view for selecting and cutting trees.
Low maintenance
The Neuson harvester requires very little daily maintenance. Every day the operator greases the head and fills the tank with chain oil. To avoid any downtime the chain on the saw in the head is typically replaced after every four days of use.
The harvester itself has an auto greaser that greases the entire telescopic crane and the slew ring. Typically, this auto greaser needs to be filled once per month.
When it comes to servicing the machine all filters and oil resevoirs etc are easily accessible.
The diesel tank has a 300 litre capacity and because of the low operation RPM while thinning (1500 RPM on average), the tank will typically last for two and a half days of work.
The machine has a service interval of 500 hours and can be fully serviced in just over two hours. For ease of access, the cab can fold forwards when servicing.
Future
Tim purchased the harvester with the intention of carrying out his own thinning and clear-fell work which will take approximately two-to-three years. However, Tim has planned to also carry out some hire work with the new machine.
He went on to explain that he was happy with his decision to purchase the new tracked harvester. He emphasised the machine’s stability and versatility, explaining that the harvester will work anywhere that you can walk. The Neuson 183HVT tracked machine was supplied to Tim Kelly by Wexford-based Murphy Bros, Neuson importers for Ireland.
Engine: Six-cylinder turbocharged John Deere 6068 engine.
Horsepower: 180hp (132kW).
Hydraulics: Two hydraulic systems, both with a flow rate of 331l/min.
Weight: ca. 20.5t
Telescopic reach: 10.2 metres.
Track width: 800mm.
Machine width: 2.55 metres.
Diesel tank capacity: 300 litres (79 gallons).
List price new: €480,000 plus VAT.
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