Tree Farmer C4 is weak and has a weird level

[strangerR4y]

my brother has a new project and Im helping him out
He just bought an old Tree Farmer C4 with a Ford diesel. The seller swore it was ready to use, it got a new clutch, new cable, new tires, the whole deal.

When he hooks up a few pine trees and tries to winch them in, the whole skidder just gets pulled backward toward the trees. The main brakes can't hold it, which is crazy.
Then, when he finally gets the trees lined up and tries to drive them out, it totally struggles in first gear.
In second? Forget it, it feels like something is slipping like hell, and the whole machine starts spitting out a ton of heat.

I tried and it feels weaker than my little farm tractor! Is that heat just the engine, or is something major overheating? Is that supposed to be a new clutch already toast?
There's this weird lever by his right foot, right near the transmission/transfer case. but it doesn't seem to do anything noticeable, definitely not high/low range. What the heck is that lever for on these C4s?

Any old school logger or tree farmer guru here knows what we should be looking for? This thing is supposed to be a beast, right?

 

[Andrewzz]

Definitely the brakes aren’t holding like they should and it could be glazed shoes or a weak booster. Been long I handled something similar but what I can remember, The lever by the right foot is likely the winch disconnect or transmission range selector depending on the setup, and if it’s not engaging properly, that could explain the slipping and heat (possibly from the clutch getting cooked). I’d start by checking brake adjustment, making sure that lever is actually doing what it’s supposed to, and inspecting the clutch linkage before assuming the new clutch is shot

 

[TheWoodPecker]

C4 should definitely outpull a farm tractor, so something is off. The lever by your foot is usually the transfer case disconnect which basically engages or disengages the driveline for winching. If it’s in the wrong position, you’ll have no anchor and weak pulling

 

[3spressoday]

man, the seller's story is obviously not true. the heat, slipping, and total loss of power in second gear screams CLUTCH FAILURE or a problem with the torque converter if it’s an auto.
even if the clutch is new, it might be contaminated with grease or oil, or the throwout bearing could be binding. That intense heat is the friction from the slipping. DO NOT run it until that's sorted. Check the transmission and hydraulic fluid, if it's low or burnt, the slipping has cooked more than just the friction plates

 

[nawdlor]

mystery lever is probably your power divider or front axle engagement, without it, you're only 2WD that's why it gets pulled around. The slipping in second with heat screams bad clutch install or wrong adjustment and new doesn't mean it was done right

 

[champselysees]

New or not, it could’ve been installed wrong or contaminated. I’d check that first before trying to pull anything heavy.

 

[Alan]

That sounds sketchy, especially if the Tree Farmer C4 is getting pulled backward and the brakes cannot hold while winching. I would pause use until someone checks brakes and driveline, because that is a runaway risk in cold January conditions. Also, what gear and throttle are you running the winch at, and are the tires chained or just bare.