pre-emissions timberjack worth chasing?

[Marco_Gambler]

I'm in the market for a grapple skidder for farm use. Got about 150 acres of timber to manage. I've logged for years and have been running a Clark 664 for about a decade, but I'm ready to move out of the 70s and into something with a cab, heat, and a bit more comfort. Pretty much set on a Timberjack dual-arch with winch from before the Deere takeover. I've read plenty here, but I'm still fuzzy on the model/letter differences. From what I gather a 450C is still pure Timberjack, meaning parts are easy to source (NAPA, etc.), which is what I want. But when you get into the 460C/Ds, are those still Timberjack, or basically the same as Deere G3s? I ran a 548G3 Deere years back and it was bulletproof, but I don't want to be stuck relying on Deere for parts because my local dealer is useless. Any guidance on which years/models to steer toward (or avoid) in the pre-emissions era would help a lot.

 

[cur1ouscat]

From what I gather a 450C is still pure Timberjack, meaning parts are easy to source (NAPA, etc.),

yep, the 450C is generally considered the last of the pure Timberjacks before John Deere's engineering really took over.
it's known for having a lot of off the shelf components, from the Cummins engine to the hydraulics.
Once you get into the 460C/D, you're looking at a machine with more Deere influence, especially in the drivetrain and electronics.
It's a bit of a hybrid, and while it's a solid machine, you'll likely need to visit a Deere dealer for some proprietary parts.

 

[lgf3rr]

I'm in the market for a grapple skidder for farm use. Got about 150 acres of timber to manage. I've logged for years and have been running a Clark 664 for about a decade, but I'm ready to move out of the 70s and into something with a cab, heat, and a bit more comfort. Pretty much set on a Timberjack dual-arch with winch from before the Deere takeover. I've read plenty here, but I'm still fuzzy on the model/letter differences. From what I gather a 450C is still pure Timberjack, meaning parts are easy to source (NAPA, etc.), which is what I want. But when you get into the 460C/Ds, are those still Timberjack, or basically the same as Deere G3s? I ran a 548G3 Deere years back and it was bulletproof, but I don't want to be stuck relying on Deere for parts because my local dealer is useless. Any guidance on which years/models to steer toward (or avoid) in the pre-emissions era would help a lot.

I think the Timberjack 450C is exactly what you're looking for. They came with common parts, including a Cummins engine and Eaton axles and transmission, which means you can get parts from places like NAPA without going to a dealer. The 460D and later models are basically Deere machines in Timberjack colors. They used a lot of proprietary Deere components, which can be a problem if your local dealer isn't reliable. If you want to avoid being stuck relying on a dealership, go with a 450C!

 

[19cabbage]

Go for either a 450C or an early 460C, the ones with the dual-arch and a winch.

 

[12three]

The 450C is still pure Timberjack, so parts are easier to source and maintenance is straightforward, which sounds like what you want. The 460C and 460D models moved closer to Deere’s G3 series, meaning parts and support are more tied to Deere, very cool stuff

 

[varsitylogs]

Maybe ask around locally about which specific models people are finding easiest to source parts for in your area