Mini Skids

Battery terminal grease is good advice. This issue for us (on our grinder) is always cured by fiddling with the battery terminals. Sometimes a simple hammer tap to the connection does it. Even when all connections look clean and secure sometimes it acts up. Electrical issues can be tricky.
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
Corrosion or non conductivity on the solenoid post where you disconnected the small red wire? Maybe mess with that post a bit trying to restart it a few times. Maybe worth a shot... a long one.
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That sounds like a good idea, but actually I could only disconnect the small red wire at the battery terminal. The solenoid must be hidden under the starter. There is barely enough room to get your hands near the starter, and not where any wires connect unfortunately. But, the problem is gone. The machine is starting fine again- I just wish I understood why I was dead in the water on Friday so I'll have a clue if it happens again!
 
treeandland said:
That sounds like a good idea, but actually I could only disconnect the small red wire at the battery terminal. The solenoid must be hidden under the starter. There is barely enough room to get your hands near the starter, and not where any wires connect unfortunately. But, the problem is gone. The machine is starting fine again- I just wish I understood why I was dead in the water on Friday so I'll have a clue if it happens again!
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I actually should have known that you took it off the other end!! They sure do jam a lot into a small space. Dielectric grease is a definite must have around battery terminals. It does sound like a connectivity issue though!
 
On my Sk755 there is a threaded connection on the negative (ground) terminal that would always wiggle loose and do exactly what you're talking about (machine is running fine and then you go to start it and has no juice). I put locktite on that and haven't had the problem since. I'm not sure what the threaded fitting does. It isn't the connection to the battery post.
 
Are you using any plywood turning pieces? A 4x4 piece will allow you to spin, then move in a straight line to your next 4x4 plywood.

When you are heavily loaded, you're pretty much popping a wheelie. This means you need even smaller turning plywood pieces, if you like if you're trying to stay light. Its easier to be gentle when unloaded.

A couple of the 4x4's in the loading area allows you easy working room, if you move the plywood as needed. You can load plywood on the top of the machine to move it with less effort.
 
I am normally, the damage in my backyard was done as a test without protection to see how much our general lawns in my area would take. We have a lot of clay and very short root beds, throw a little rain and some slope into the mix and you get a mess. Even when the Dingo wasn't moving it was still sliding and ripping up grass. I will do the same testing with the new tires but I always carry 4x4s or 4x8s with me anyway. I had plans of leveling and resoiling my backyard in the spring so it just made sense to try stuff.
 
If dry yards in our area will take a lot of abuse before showing. The crux that always gets me is the 25 degree morning that is great to work on yards... then it goes to sunny and 45 and it turns everything to a slimmy sloppy mess. And no amount of ground pro saves it. The next couple weeks for us is going to be crazy busy, due to it being the coldest stretch in this area in 15 years. We are looking at solid ground for 2 weeks solid. Trying to move crane days, and shuffle jobs around that need dry or frozen!
 
That was exactly when I did it Mert. After some snow but temp back up above 40f. My yard is on a slight slope so even the plywood was sliding and turfing up the yard. Better to learn on my own yard than messing up a customers lawn.
 
Well after doing my research etc ,and not sure if I’ll be keeping my 2016 Vermeer 725,ill likely be going with either this https://www.steqcan.ca/equipment/details/1102/d332swt-compact-33hp-diesel/new-equipment/giant
Or one of these https://www.steqcan.ca/equipment/details/1122/d254sw-compact-25hp-diesel/new-equipment/giant
With a BMG. The Avants are priced a bit high after adding what I want and the Giants from the research I’ve done are great machines. I’m tired of putting mats down and crap for the mini skid, I’m sure both will have there ways to shine still that’s why I’m gonna hold onto the mini skid for now or come spring when I buy the loader.
 
I keep debating if a bigger mini or a small articulated loader would be best when I’m ready to upgrade. I love everything about the articulating loaders except that they are not as easy to get on and off and your back will take more jarring than if you were standing on a mini.
 
tc262 said:
I keep debating if a bigger mini or a small articulated loader would be best when I’m ready to upgrade. I love everything about the articulating loaders except that they are not as easy to get on and off and your back will take more jarring than if you were standing on a mini.
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Ha ha, I know what your saying, I’ve gotten fat and out of shape after running my crane this season! Anything to save my back from lifting my body will thank me down the road though. The Giant TNT edition I checked out at the tree expo was fairly ergonomic though.
 
who has any experience with the zahn? I'm really tempted by the low lawn impact but worried it might be a little low on power. its about the same price as the sk600 tracked.
 
The zahn has pros and cons.

Pros-

Inexpensive
Minimal turf damage
Fast
Doesn't get stuck/pop track on roots.
Great on side slopes!


Cons-

Lower tip weight (can be fixed by adding plates to back)
No steering when tipped
Cannot pivot, must move forward or back to turn

We originally filled all the tires with ballast, but had trouble with popping axles out. Switched to just inner tires being filled and outers having air. (Double tires on each axle for slopes)

I personally prefer the ditch witch minis for the tip weight and maneuverability, but the zahns are great for zipping around yards without plywood or track mats. And they can hold their own on removals, but you won't be extracting any saw logs.
 
I worked for a company that had two zahns for 2-3 years, then spent the last two years with companies that used three different brand minis. I recently helped out the first company for a bit and got reacquainted with the zahn after two years of minis, and have to say that I really prefer the maneuverability of a mini over the zahn, though it's just what I've gotten accustomed to. The speed and side-hilling were great to experience again. I also enjoyed not laying out any plywood :)

So both are great; I think it comes down to what's more important to you- speed of operations and minimalist, or bringing in the workhorse to get big stuff moved?

Does that help?
 
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