New Gear Harvesting New Gear
John Deere introduces L-Series Skidders; celebrates milestone

“Since 1965, when we introduced our 440 Skidder, John Deere has continued to change the game for loggers with safer and more comfortable machines to increase productivity and make a tough job just a little bit easier,” said Brandon O’Neal, product marketing manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Today, that customer-inspired commitment to quality lives on in the L-Series Skidders with advancements that came from the brightest minds in the industry – our customers who live in these machines every day.”

To design the L-Series Skidders, John Deere collected input from loggers and dealers around the world to form customer and dealer advocacy groups (CAG and DAG). The CAG and DAG provided real-world insights on what loggers need in a skidder to be successful. Engineers then devoted 250,000 hours designing prototypes based on those ideas.

Final Tier 4 engines
The L-Series Skidders are the first John Deere Forestry machines to launch with Final Tier 4 engines and are built with a new John Deere designed continuous variable transmission (CVT) and drivetrain, designed to enable a constant engine speed, reduce engine wear and ensure excellent fluid economy. 

Loggers now have no need to shift gears. The operator sets his or her desired speed range and then lets the CVT transmission select the most efficient operating point. This allows the operator to focus on production and safety versus shifting gears. 

All L-Series Skidders also feature heavy-duty axles, including a new Outboard-Extreme axle (standard on the 848L and 948L, optional on the 748L). These heavy-duty axles are designed to improve machine durability and extend life – with life expectancy up to 15,000 hours. 

Additional features that increase machine durability includegrapples with box-style tongs and hard wear surfaces; straight bushings with grease-thru pins at all grapple, arch, boom and blade joints; and a more durable roller-bearing articulation joint.

John Deere ForestSight and Ultimate Uptime
John Deere ForestSight and Ultimate Uptimeare also available as an option on all L-Series machines. This integrated suite of technology solutions are designed to bring the machine, technology and the dealer together to help loggers better manage their equipment and operations with fast, accurate remote diagnostics, rapid service response and on-demand dealer support. 

Drag more wood
The L-Series Skidders offer more horsepower, stability, and larger grapple options (up to 22.3 sq. ft. on the 948L) with a newly designed arch and boom configuration designed for easier and more efficient operation. 

Operate in comfort
The new operator station on all L-Series machines are 25 per cent roomier and more than 50 per cent quieter than John Deere’s previous models. 

Other added comforts include a more efficient HVAC system, ergonomic controls and storage space. An optional rotating seat with joystick steering is also available. 

John Deere’s L-Series Skidders are now available in North America in a 640L, 648L, 748L, 848L and 948L model. 

To learn more, view model-specific features and hear real customer feedback, visit www.JohnDeere.com/GameChangers.