Which 3pt log skidding winch?

   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #1  

JUBILEE1953

Bronze Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Messages
91
Location
Ohio
Tractor
MF 1742 TLB - Ford NAA
Either a Wallenstein or a Farmi? Any input....
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #2  
I don't know about the Farmi, seems most people like them, and they seem to be the "standard". (around me "Farmi" is synonymous with tractor skidding winch, like Band-Aid or Kleenex is to...)
But I will say, when on the tractor I like sitting behind the protective cage of a Wallenstein when stretching the cable.
Looking on the internet, it seems some Farmi's have them, some don't?
I bought the Wally because dealer/location availability.
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #3  
I have been using an fx90 on the back of my 4720 john Deere , it seems vey well built, this is not my winch it is a friends that is lettin me use it for this winter. There are 3 different tractor dealers within 15 minutes of me that sell walenstein and only one around that sells farmi. I've have no experience with a farmi , but I've been told the safety screen is an added cost and does not come standard like the walenstein, and I also don't think the farmi has a a mount to hook a trailer like the wallenstien , I could be wrong on this, but I am also going to look into this more. When I return this winch back to my friend this spring I am going to be purchasing my own. Hope this helps you with your decision
 

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   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #4  
I have a Farmi. Great unit. It comes with a smaller safety screen but there is a much larger one that is additional but I got mine included in the deal. Lots of folks like their Wallensteins but they just do not exist much out in my neck of the woods. Looking at the pics of the FX90 there is not a lot of difference. Long term parts would be worth looking at. I know Farmi's history but not Wallenstein so check in on that
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #5  
Do the Farmi's come with a "bottom pulley" as standard?
Internet pics show some with, and some without. This is handy when pulling in a bigger load and not wanting to stress 3pth top link (or lift the front of the tractor). Though I sometimes unhook mine and pull from the top so trees don't catch as much on roots and stumps.
Here's my Walley FX65 doing some side-hill logging. Some days I wish I'd got the next bigger size, but very adequate for the pines I was clearing. .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45FiPvN6Tw
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #6  
Wallenstien has been around for about 25 years, they are part od embmfg they also have another division that makes AG and commercial vacuum pumps
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #7  
I have the Farmi JL290. This is their smallest winch. I love using it. It does not have the lower block pulley, but the next size up ( 351 ) does. Gordon has a lot of pics with his Farmi on here along with some videos.
I am partial to my Farmi, but Wallenstein makes a great product along with Norse, Fransgard,& Uniforest to mention a few. Definitely makes wood hauling a whole lot easier.
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #9  
Love my Farmi 351. Mine has legs instead of the blade. If buying new I would have gotten the blade, but the legs have advantages too, namely adjustable height. Mine does have the lower block but no screen. Honestly there haven't been many situations when I wanted to pull from the seat. I'm happy to get off the tractor, but that's just me.

I think the skidding winches (with the possible exception of the Tajifuns) are all pretty darned similar. I will say that when I found mine on craigslist, I called the Farmi importer in New York (I think) they were extremely helpful and told me that they could get all the parts for any of the winches they ever made. I know that doesn't matter for a new model, but it does speak well for long term parts availability.

Whichever model you get, you'll wonder how you lived without it. I know I sure do.
 
   / Which 3pt log skidding winch? #10  
Bought a Uniforest winch several years ago because it was well made (made in Slovenia, I think), had good features and, being a lesser-known brand, had a good price point. The features I really liked were the protective screen on all models and the large built-in cable capacity (even the small one I have has 260' of cable). Has been a good unit with no problems in use. Logging winches seem to be very similar from brand to brand and you don't often hear of them giving trouble as long as they are used and stored properly. Probably can't go wrong with any brand, although I'd probably avoid the Chinese ones.
 
 
 
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