Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it

   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #1  

mpilihp

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
216
Location
Jefferson, ME
Tractor
Pasquali 988
Hello I purchased a tractor and it came with a Norse 190 logging winch. Ive never used one but I have talked to people that have and use logging winches on how to use them safely but I have a specific question on this model.

Ive been told that after winching the logs to the tractor that you would take the choker chain off of the winch cable and hook it to winch via a row of slots to hook the chain into. That way the load of the log is on the winch body itself and not the winch.

So, with that my issue is on this specific model, Norse 190, there is NO place to hook the choker chain to.

The picture on their website makes it look like they keep the logs on the winch cable and drag them that way:

190 Norse 3 Point Hitch - 15-30 HP - Norse 3 Point Hitch Winches - Labonville Inc.

In this picture a close up of the winch you can see it doesnt have any slots, but in the background to the left you can see one with the slots.

NORSE LOGGING WINCH

Should I get a bar with slots welded on to hook the logs onto?

Thanks

~ Phil
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #2  
There can develop a vigorous discussion about this topic especially in the forestry forums.
While not familiar with the Norse 190 it appears from the pictures that it is relatively light weight and attached to a small CUT of lower HP. The ones you reference to the sides appear to be larger units. Not withstanding that, the reason that you want to skid out logs from a lower pivot point is safety. The higher the point that the rear pull force is applied the larger the rotational force that can result in a rear tip-over. This can occur not only while skidding but also while winching from a static position. If the force is applied at a lower pivot point (below the center of rotation) the less the chance of a rear tip. More weight on the front (FEL, weights, etc) also reduces that risk.
I have a Farmi 501 (much larger unit) and it has the slots you reference but also an additional lower pulley to modify the pull point. What does your manual say about skidding? It may be that Norse designed this model without the slots because of the pulley height location being low enough to reduce the risk. It appears the pulley is level with the top of the blade where the slots would be anyway so the pivot point would be the same.

When winching the safety tip I would encourage you to be very watchful of is to keep the cable within a narrow arc directly aft of the tractor. Too much to the side and you can flip/roll the tractor in a heartbeat with little warning while winching. The Norse 190 specs say 4400 lbs pull capability. Not knowing your size tractor I would suspect that it is not even half the much weight so I would be VERY careful about off angle rear pulls. Less than 10 degrees max for safety and would try for directly aft to maximize your safety. Also remember a wire rope under tension that breaks loose will cut like a knife through butter anything in its way.
Have fun with your new unit. They are a great time and work saver.
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #3  
I would say that it is up to you. On most smaller winches like the Farmi I have
the cable exits on the very top of the winch so leaving the logs on the cable puts all the weight very high up on the tractor which can be (is?) a safty issue. On your winch it looks like the cable exits from the bottom of the spool which is low and you should be OK. A Cardinal Rule is "Keep the load LOW and go SLOW".
It looks like you can hook a couple choker chains on your cable hook. I would suggest that you learn to use it with one or two logs at a time, Then if you decide you want to hang more chokers get your slotted bar welded on. Just do every thing slow and easy. Do a search on winches or logging and you will find lots of good valuable info on here.
 

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   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Hi Guys thanks for the info Ive heard the same tips about safety from the couple people I talked to about using it.

I thought it would not be a good idea to haul the logs on the winch cable because of either safety or potential damage on teh winch. Are you saying it is ok to carry a load on the cable/winch? Wont be a cause for potential damage?

Another question, after hauling the wood in, will the winch go into a brake mode and hold the line in?? I pulled on the cable when it wasnt running and I was able to pull the cable out.... THis made me think I needed a way to secure the chokes off of the cable.

Thanks

~ Phil
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #5  
There should be a lock which you engage to keep the cable from spooling out.

Why no slots? This weekend I tried my 8800 lb winch on my 17 hp Bolens/Iseki tractor. The pto would winch logs to the tractor just fine, but the thing didn't have the power or the weight to skid them, once arrived. Thus there was no potential use for the slots in a unit suited to a tractor of that size. The hydraulics on a small tractor won't lift the extra weight.

When I use the skidder on my 35 hp tractors, I hook chains into the slots and lift several logs a bit off the ground and drive away.

With your skidder, pulling off the pulley will still be safer than hooking to a draw bar, as the blade will engage if the tractor rears. This may well keep it from flipping over on top of you if the load catches on something, but start with small loads and be very careful.
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #6  
I don't know if the Norse 190 has a brake or not. The units that I am familiar with all have a brake that can be engaged and locks the drum so that it will not spool back out. If you do not have a brake/drum lock then that creates another issue because you can't stop the spool out while skidding. I would check the manual or look at the unit and ID the brake. It should be a separate lever in addition to the clutch lever that is used for winching. The biggest problem with skidding on the cable is cinching down the wire rope so that when you try to pull it out the next time it is a bit difficult. I have skidded with my Farmi with logs on chokers in the slots as well as on the cable through the lower pulley with no problems.
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks Guys, my tractor is a Pasquali 988, has a 38hp motor and cat1 hitch. Its a low and wide articulated tractor like a mini skidder.

Ill look at the manual (really just a parts book) and see if it shows a brake on it. We currently use a atv and trailer to haul our wood out with cut to 8ft lenghts but when the logs are over 8-10 in in diameter they are heavy! Getting old too so want a way to handle bigger wood, will start with only one log at a time and make sure im pulling straight back, I probablly wont winch to far to the tractor, its more for hauling out of the woods and occasionaly winching to the tractor.

~ Phil
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #8  
Read your manuel carefully ! Become familiar with every part !
As Trovenn F mentioned, when you pull with the cable it gets tight on the drum and some times gets jammed between two cable turns which makes it hard to pull out for the next hitch. What I would do to to prevent this is: When ready to unhitch, drop the winch to the ground, release the drum lock/brake, (DO NOT STAND NEAR THE LOGS WHEN YOU RELEASE THE LOCK, THE LOGS MIGHT MOVE OR DROP UNPREDICTABLY) try to pull out some slack cable, if you cant then raise the winch slightly and drive forward a little with the logs still on the cable until you can see the cable is free wheeling out.
Or if you find the cable is jammed and you have no load just hook the cable to a stump with a choker and carefully drive forward to free it.
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it #9  
On bigger units on a big tractor, hard skidding can bend the shaft of the drum, but most manufacturers show skidding from the cable and dropping the load for crossing tough obstacles then reeling back in.

I use the rack on mine when I've got several twitches to skid out at once. I'll reel in the first load, pop the chokers onto the slots then reel in the next load and repeat. When skidding cedar you can haul quite a load on a small tractor.
 
   / Norse 190 logging winch questions on using it
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thanks for the tip, I have a winch on our four-wheeler and have seen that happen, I like your suggestion on how to free it.

Id read the manual if I had one, online at the dealers site it looks like the manual is just a parts book, IE with a blow up diagram of the winch and listing of the parts.

I even called them asking the question about how to secure the log without the choker hooks and they didnt know... said they dont sell alot of 190s, usually just the larger ones...

~ Phil
 
 
 
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