logging winch question[Farmi]

[First one]

Just wanted to ask what you all run your RPM's on your winches at ? We have a 40 hp JD that we're trying to haul out blow downs from a piece of woods that hasn't been touched for years and there all in a tanged miss. At 1600 rpm's the winch does ok with a few light loads , but to try and pull a heavy load , or to pull up some that are frozen down it doesn't seem to do much until I crank up to around 2000 rpm's then it pulls good . I just don't want to over do it ,and want to see if any of you go more then that.
Also can a 32hp tractor [25hp at the pto] with the same winch pull out logs the same or close to the same as a 40hp?
or would there be a big diff.? Thanks Scott

 

[eanjay]

I would check your tractor specs. and set the engine RPM to give you 540 RPM at the PTO. I have a small Farmi on a MF1523 (23hp) and it will pull a full cord and a half tree with no problem. As long as you are pulling the tree and not the tractor everything should be fine. Make sure to pull in a straight line off the back of the winch - use a snatch-block to get round a corner 'til you can pull in a straight line. It's real easy to pull a tractor over with one of these things if you try pulling at an angle. As with all power tools, handle with care, read and follow the safety instuctions.

 

[Dead Horse]

Everything said above is good, but the question didn't get answered.

First of all, please tell us what model Farmi you have. Then describe the symtroms in more detail. For example, are you bogging down or stalling the tractor?

I have a 601. IE 600 Kilo pulling capacity. it requires (per the mfg recommendation, at least 70 hp and up to 120hp).

So I have it matched correctly with a Hesston 100 90 DT.

Now, that tractor develops its highest torque at 1,500 rpm, therefore any higher rpm will ONLY make the winch spool faster, it will not make it "stronger".

When winching logs through brush or blow downs or around stumps, SLOWER is better, such that you can use the snatch block and make adjustments to the pull before you get a jam. You DO NOT want to pull so hard, you kink the cable on the spool. You do not want to pull so fast that you lose control of the pace.

I generally run my tractor at 1,100 rpm (which is about 60% of 540 pto speed) for a single large pull. for a multiple pull or a very heavy single, I will spool the rpms to 1,500, mak torque, but still below the 540 pto speed of 1,800 or so rpms.

 

[NHbotanut]

One other thing to look at, is the clutch properly adjusted? I have the Farmi 290, and had to have the clutch adjusted.

 

[Dead Horse]

I double checked and the 540 PTO speed on my tractor is 2,150 rpm's, so I am running the winch at about 50% of that speed most of the time and even when I am running the tractor at max torque, (1500 rpms) I am well below 540 rpms on the PTO.

Some implements are not run at full pto speed. for example I run my tiller at about idle or as slow as I can go and still move the tractor. saves banging the crap out of it and the lift and the pto shaft. On rotary and flail mowers, snow blowers, chippers, yeah full pto speed. On the winch....
slow is faster.........

And I had to adjust the clutch on my Farmi 601 too.

Do NOT put oil on the winch drive chain by pouring it from the top, down on to the chain. You will get oil on the clutch and that will ruin it. If the chain needs oiling, spray wd40 on it lightly from the bottom of the winch, while you turn the spool. Don't use too much oil.

 

[beenthere]

........ We have a 40 hp JD ............

Which Deere is this? and is it in good shape engine-wise?

Also can a 32hp tractor [25hp at the pto] with the same winch pull out logs the same or close to the same as a 40hp? ............
or would there be a big diff.?

One would expect a difference. Seems your first question implies you are trying to pull more than the 40 hp tractor will handle unless you up the rpm. Depending on engine condition, the 32 hp might outpull the 40 hp.

Need more info from you.

Develop some pulling techniques that will bust loose frozen-in logs. A snatch block with some side pull might be a good way to do this. And waiting for the ground to thaw might be a lot easier on the equipment too.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Taking out logs that are frozen in is tough. Try pulling them at a 90 degree
to loosen them up.
I set my RPM according to how fast I want to pull in the log. Setting the
PTO at 540 is always way to fast for me. I usually run at about 1500 engine
speed (2700 at 540 PTO). My tractor is 32 HP. If the log gets stuck the tractor will get pulled out of its anchor position. Tractor is about 3700 lb.
I think increasing the RPM gives you more momentum to get thru a snag or
a bigger snap if your just starting to move the log. I dont think increasing
the RPM over 2000 increases the pulling power to much. Thats just my feel
for what I have. If your not yanking the the tractor around when every thing stops then there is something wrong.

 

[First one]

I believe the JD is a 2040, must be made in the 70's , and the winch doesn't have anything that says what brand it is [red in color] but it's been on the farm were I work for many years . I'll check it over more tomorrow.
The tractor is in very good shape and does not stall or lose hp when pulling. We don't have any snatch blocks so we try to line the tractor up the best we can. We have had to pull from diff. angles and have had the tractor lift the wheels on one side but we're being careful in letting it down easy [just one or two times]. There's been times when at lower rpm's (around 1500) when pulling the rope the cable would get tight but do nothing . At around 2000 it seems to tug good, and when the log breaks free it comes along at a good speed (not fast). It sounds like you all run yours at lower rpms .
Now could you damage the winch running at that high rpms [2000] ?

 

[beenthere]

Sounds like you are slipping the clutch in the winch, if I understand what you are explaining. Doesn't sound like you are killing the engine when the cable gets tight and does nothing.

Repair the clutch if adjusting it doesn't work.

And you do need to get a snatch block to make your life less miserable.

 

[tawilson]

I don't think this has been posted yet in this thread. Here's a page with some tips for using the winch. One thing I didn't see there, I can't remember where I got the tip, is to use one of the sliders on the chain as a snatchblock as long as you aren't using too much of an angle. There are times when the snatchblock saves a lot of work and time, and it can double your pulling power when set up right.
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