Logging Winch

[hayden]

I'm looking for suggestions and experience about 3PH logging winches. I've looked at specs on the Farmi winches and a bit on the Norse winches, and read the past discussions. Here are some specific questions. I plan to use this on a B2910. I'm not a logger, but I have a lot of land and a lot of trees to remove/clean up.

Would you suggest the Farmi 291 or 351? It's not clear if their HP specs are PTO or Net.

What Norse model?

What do they cost?

Is the 2910 heavy enough for this use? I've got loaded R4 tires and a loader but no front weights.

How big a load can you winch before the winch hauls the tractor rather than the logs?

Thanks,

Peter

 

[Thomas]

hayden,
Are you planing to do most of the work when the ground is still frozen,also how big are the trees your talking plus the land scape.

It maybe cheaper in the long run to cut the trees and have someone w/ a small dozer and a winch to do the work.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[gordon]

Hayden your asking some pretty tough questions but I try to answer a couple. To be on the safe side always use your pto hp number. Price runs about 2000-3000 for a decent winch. Whatever winch you go with make sure it has a butt plate for two reasons. One it protects the pto from logs getting up under the winch. Two, lower the winch down and let the buttplate dig in so it doesn't drag the tractor as easy.

If you fill the loader bucket up that will give additional weight to help keep the front end on the ground when skidding. The more weight the better.

How much can you pull? Well that depends on alot of different things. If you use a small wheeled logging arch or a nose cone of sorts that will help you pull alot more but it also will eat up time in rigging and setup so everything has it's drawbacks.

Here is a pretty good paper I found awhile back and bookmarked. http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/forestry/420-090/420-090.html

Gordon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I paid $1500 for my Norse 250 winch with cable, three choker chains and 3 gliders. It is on a JD4600 and works great. It came from a local dealer (through eastern farm machinery) who sells a bunch locally.

 

[hayden]

Great paper, thanks for the pointer. I'm leaning towards the Farmi 351 at this point. I saw one post from a guy who uses one on a 2910 like mine so I think I'll be OK with that.

 

[hayden]

How long ago and where did you get your Norse 250? I was quoted $2000 for one today, which is a good bot more than your $1500.

Thanks,

Peter

 

[richh]

Hayden- Im not sure how big a B2910 is but I had a ford1910 and it worked well. It must have weight about 3500 lbs. And had R1s. If you are going to use it in the winter you mite need chains with those R4s. The farmi has been good to me.
Rich

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I got it in October, I called the dealer and he tells me that Norse no longer has the 250 available. It has been replaced with an Igland winch (?) called the 290. He also said that his supplier is out of stock on 290's but might be able to locate some old stock 250's. I'll leave a message if he can find any.

 

[hayden]

Thanks. My local dealer has a 250 coming back that he sold to a guy last month and it's too small for his needs. He said I could have it for $2000 instead of the $2200 it normally goes for. Sounds like a crappy deal to me if you got a new one a few months ago for $1500.

I discovered on some web site that the 250 is discontinued and replaced by the 290. I'd consider the 290 if the price is right.

Peter

 

[richh]

Gordon looks like a great site! Alot of good tips for everyone!
Rich