Skidding Winches

   / Skidding Winches #1  

Greenland South

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Messages
167
Location
NE British Columbia
Tractor
New Holland TC45DA
Quite a few of us on this forum have skidding winches. I would like it if you could share and ask questions about these awesome attachments.
I'll start by posting a couple picks. image.jpgimage.jpg
 
   / Skidding Winches #2  
I like how it matches your tractor. ::thumbsup:
 
   / Skidding Winches #3  
Quite a few of us on this forum have skidding winches. I would like it if you could share and ask questions about these awesome attachments.

Thanks for starting this thread. I plan to purchase a skidding winch in the very near future and have a couple of questions. Based on the advice in several other threads, I believe the winches most suitable for my tractor are the Wallenstein FX66 & FX85, or the Farmi JL351P. My JD3720 has ~44 engine HP and 35 PTO HP. With the FEL/bucket & loaded rear tires, I think it weighs ~5000 lbs. In my area, these two brands seem to be the only ones available.

My first question is: can anyone confirm that any of these winches are i-Match compatible?

Also, what is the difference between the FX66 & FX85 (other than pulling power)? The Wallenstein website lists the same HP requirements for both. The FX85 has a trailer hitch. Is this the only difference and worth the upcharge?

The FX66 does have the "middle box connection." What is this and could it be used to pull a trailer?

Thanks in advance...Craig
 
   / Skidding Winches #4  
Are skidding winches worm drive, spur gear, or...?

How is reverse accomplished?

Thanks,

Bruce
 
   / Skidding Winches #5  
Wallenstein winches are NOT imatch compatible. The top link is positioned well above where the imatch would connect. It says this in the owners manual, which you can download without purchasing anything on their website.

Most 3pt skidding winches are chain drive, but some are hydraulic (usually the smaller ones). There is no reverse, but there is a lock so the cable won't unspool when power is removed from the drum. The lock is manually engaged and it's not meant to hold loads while pulling them in like a worm or planetary driven higher reduction winch (recovery type). These are purpose built for skidding logs. When you release the clutch the line goes slack and the load can move if it needs/wants to. Watch more videos, this is a handy feature in some circumstances.

I went with red even though I could've gotten JD green. I like that it's more visible.

I'm still working on the saw scabbards. They're being painted as we speak.

20150704_194421-1.jpg
 
   / Skidding Winches #6  
Are skidding winches worm drive, spur gear, or...?

How is reverse accomplished?

Thanks,

Bruce

My Farmi has a chain drive reduction gear set-up. The pto turns a 14 tooth gear which turns a 66 tooth gear via a chain. On the back of the 66 tooth gear is a clutch face and the drum has the other clutch face. It takes a force on a lever via a rope to engage the clutch and turn the drum. There is no reverse. The drum free wheels when the clutch is not engaged. You pull the cable out by hand. To make the drum hold there is a dog gear locking mechanism on the drum that you can engage to hold the load. The clutch does not hold the load.

gg

EDIT: I guess Jim already said all that. I should have noticed.
 
   / Skidding Winches #7  
Wallenstein winches are NOT imatch compatible. The top link is positioned well above where the imatch would connect. It says this in the owners manual, which you can download without purchasing anything on their website.

Jim, thanks for that tip...I found the reference in the owner's manual that you mention. Very disappointing...sort of defeats the purpose of a QH if I have to remove and reinstall the QH.
 
   / Skidding Winches #9  
What I seem to understand now:

Chain drive reduction to winch drum for pulling. No reverse gear, but the cable is controlled and released by a clutch and brake system on the drum. The winch pulls the load to the tractor, then the load is chained to the winch frame to be towed away, not towed by winch cable and brake.

Correct?

Bruce
 
   / Skidding Winches #10  
Here is a picture I like that I have put on before. Pulling a tree from behind the stump into a clear path to the tractor road. Snatch block on the far side of the road be hind the tractor. Slider used as a snatch block for the short pull to get out from behind the stump.

Winching.JPG

gg
 
 
 
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