Designing The JD740 Skidder

The forestry products manufacturers are being forced by economic pressures into producing wood handling equipment of larger capacity and more efficient operation. Consequently, four-wheel drive articulated skidders of larger sizes and increased horsepower are being designed and built. John Deere's JD740 Skidder is one of these units.

This paper presents the design features of the JD740 and discusses aspects of these features important in their selection to meet the original design goals.