Hoobie
Silver Member
I know the topic of logging winch danger and safety has been extensively discussed in former threads. But this may be a new one.
I am 70 and have worked around tractors and the woodlot since I was about 10. I know things can happen fast and to always be thinking safety. I use a 52 hp Kubota with a Wallenstein fx 85 winch. Recently I had a mishap which really startled me. I twitched several tree length hardwood logs to the landing when one came flying up hitting the protective screen behind me and falling sideways.
Here is what happened. I always twitch with the pto off. When I get to the landing I switch on the pto, give the pull cord a jerk while still on the tractor to unlock the winch drum and drop the load, then pull ahead a few feet, dismount the tractor and disconnect the chokers chains. This time when I switched on the pto the winch came to life pulling one tree against the winch blade jill poking the butt and summersaulting the tree forward smashing into the cage behind me then falling to the side. This took a second or two and happened before I instinctively hit the tractor clutch. Very startling and confusing those two seconds! I shut down to assess what happened. Without the protective screen I would surely have been clobbered bad.
I always try to tie up the winch clutch pull cord safely out of the way. I guess this time I had not. Somehow the cord had become wrapped around the tractor axle and wound tight and engaged the winch clutch. So the moment I switched on the pto the winch came to life by itself. Looked like I had picked up some brush on the way to the landing tangling the dragging cord and somehow had pushed it forward probably grabbing the tire chain and wrapping the axle. But didn't break the cord so must have just happened as I was about to stop. This winch has a ball hitch mounted on it and I think this is what the tree caught on to jilpoke it so fast.
Needless to say I really make sure the cord is secure now. And I assess the winch before turning on the pto.
Anything can happen and given enough time it will.
I am 70 and have worked around tractors and the woodlot since I was about 10. I know things can happen fast and to always be thinking safety. I use a 52 hp Kubota with a Wallenstein fx 85 winch. Recently I had a mishap which really startled me. I twitched several tree length hardwood logs to the landing when one came flying up hitting the protective screen behind me and falling sideways.
Here is what happened. I always twitch with the pto off. When I get to the landing I switch on the pto, give the pull cord a jerk while still on the tractor to unlock the winch drum and drop the load, then pull ahead a few feet, dismount the tractor and disconnect the chokers chains. This time when I switched on the pto the winch came to life pulling one tree against the winch blade jill poking the butt and summersaulting the tree forward smashing into the cage behind me then falling to the side. This took a second or two and happened before I instinctively hit the tractor clutch. Very startling and confusing those two seconds! I shut down to assess what happened. Without the protective screen I would surely have been clobbered bad.
I always try to tie up the winch clutch pull cord safely out of the way. I guess this time I had not. Somehow the cord had become wrapped around the tractor axle and wound tight and engaged the winch clutch. So the moment I switched on the pto the winch came to life by itself. Looked like I had picked up some brush on the way to the landing tangling the dragging cord and somehow had pushed it forward probably grabbing the tire chain and wrapping the axle. But didn't break the cord so must have just happened as I was about to stop. This winch has a ball hitch mounted on it and I think this is what the tree caught on to jilpoke it so fast.
Needless to say I really make sure the cord is secure now. And I assess the winch before turning on the pto.
Anything can happen and given enough time it will.