John Deere 540G Series III
Series: John Deere Skidder
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John Deere skidders 540 to 848 – cable and grapple skidders from Dubuque: the type logic of the E, G and H series, 86 to 149 kW
The skidder is the extraction tractor of North American clear-cut logging: an articulated four-wheel-drive tractor that drags felled stems from the stand to the forest road with a winch cable or grapple. John Deere has built skidders since 1965 at its Dubuque, Iowa plant and is, with Tigercat and Caterpillar, one of the three major suppliers. The type logic: the hundreds digit gives the size class – 540 the small, 640 the medium, 740 the large, 848 the heavy class – and the last digit the layout: 0 for the cable skidder with winch (540, 640, 740), 8 for the grapple skidder (548, 648, 748, 848). The letters are generations: E in the 1980s, G from the 1990s with the Series II and III upgrades, H from 2005 with Stage III engines; today's L and L-II models follow the same logic.
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The register lists 25 versions with 85.8 to 149.1 kW from John Deere six-cylinders of 5,883 to 8,095 cm³ – 6059T and 6068T/H of the 6-litre class, 6076T and 6081T/H of the 7.6- and 8.1-litre class – at rated speeds of 1,400 to 2,200 rpm, operating weights from 9,861 to 17,826 kg, lengths from 6,081 to 8,074 mm and widths from 2,792 to 3,560 mm.
Hallmarks of the Deere skidders are the torque-converter drive with powershift transmission, the dual-arch grapple of the larger models, which brings the centre of gravity of the bunch over the rear axle, and the forestry tyres that make the machine wider than any truck.
On used machines, operating hours, play in the articulation joint, the condition of grapple and cylinders, winch and cable on cable skidders, axles and brakes under forestry load and tyres, which are the biggest cost item on these machines, are what count.
Sources: Kennwerte der Modelle John Deere Skidder, John Deere Forestry Skidders (Hersteller)
Technical data
Engine
| Engine model | 6068Hcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 130.8 hp (96.2 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,200 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 6correct |
| Displacement | 6,800.6 cm³correct |
| Aspiration | turbochargedcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 2,898.6correct |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,923correct |
| Ground clearance | 512.1correct |
| Unladen weight | 10,332.8 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gearbox type | powershift transmissioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Forward gears | 8correct |
| Reverse gears | 7correct |
| Tyre size | 28L-26correct |
Working data
| Hydraulic oil capacity | 46.2 lcorrect |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic pressure | 213.7correct |
| Fuel tank capacity | 155.2 lcorrect |
Other data
| Cab height | 3,011.4correct |
|---|
More machines with this engine (John Deere 6068H, 64)
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 9.3 kW/t (96 kW / 10.3 t)
Stronger than 15% of the forestry equipment in the register — out of 111 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the John Deere 540G Series III have?
The John Deere 540G Series III delivers 131 hp.
How much does the John Deere 540G Series III weigh?
The unladen weight is 10,333 kg.
What engine does the John Deere 540G Series III have?
6 cylinders, 6,801 cm³ displacement.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 19 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
540E
540G
540G Series II
548E
548G
548G Series II
548G Series III
640G
640G Series II
640G Series III
640H
648E
Sources: [1]
Forwarder in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.