skidding winch sizing

nctacoma · Feb 12, 2012

Looking at some farmi winches for some logging.

Everyone seems really happy with their Farmi winches.

I want to buy something to last a lifetime and not regret the purchase.

I have a 40 horsepower Kubota and am wondering if a Farmi 351 or 501 would be a better fit. I had a dealer tell me the 351 (that was sitting in his lot) would be the perfect size for the tractor, but on the farmi website is says the 351 is for 17-40hp tractors and the 501 is for 40-60hp.

Can anyone offer any guidance?

jpm1 · Feb 12, 2012

Well my Farmi is a JL300 and its old and well used. I use to run it on a Belarus 400 which is i believe 58 HP. Run it 10 hours a day for years for production firewood and saw logs. Using my winch just last week the drive chain broke. It took about 20 minutes to replace and its as good as new! Most likely which ever one you choose you will never hurt it. They are one tough machine. I still have the original cable on it even though it is getting bad. I did have to replace the forged hook that came on the cable originally because it straightened out while pulling. I put a campell hook on the end and have 3 cable clamps on it now. IMHO which ever one you choose, you will not be disappointed! and when you get use to using it you will ask your self 2 questions, #1 Why didn't i get this sooner? and #2 how did i get along with out this before?
Heres a pic on my Mahindra, i'e since put it on the Kioti. . . .John
Just looked at the Farmi site and the 501 puts out 11000 lbs of pulling power @ approx 60 Hp. and at 720 lbs thats A LOT OF WEIGHT! The 351 is just a little over 400 lbs. Without being on your game all the time you could do serious damage to your tractor with this one. Back in April of 2011 I broke the rear axle housing on the Mahindra pulling with my winch. Believe it or not this is a serious machine to do serious work, not a toy like some people think. These winches are used in commercial applications in pine stands to haul logs for production because of their ability to with stand abuse and on the back of a tractor provide low ground disturbance. I guess my choice would be the JL351P if i was buying another. Great machine thru and thru . . . John

Storm56 · Feb 13, 2012

The 351P is plenty for your tractor! I have one and use it on two of my tractors, a 4700 JD and a Mccormick C80l. It will pull the 4700 around pretty good and you must be very careful if using on slopes. The C80l is a 74 hp tractor that weighs about 3000 pounds more than the 4700 and it works very well on that tractor.

I am not sure of what your tractor weighs but believe it is lighter than my 4700. The 351P will be all you want. The 501 is way overkill and I believe could be dangerous on your machine.

Gordon Gould · Feb 13, 2012

^+1

Welcome to TBN

Go with the 351. Your dealer is right.
You are far better off with your tractor hp at the upper end of the winch hp range. You will be able to use the full winch capabilities ( which are plenty ). Your tractor will have enough torque to get the max pull and the winch cluth will slip before the tractor stalls. if the tractor is low on hp compared to the winch rating you won't have enough torque to use much of the winch pull capabilities and you may not be able to slip the clutch in a pull that snags on something or is to heavy which will stall your tractor. Not good!
The other thing is tractor weight. You want your tractor weight to be as heavy as possible compared to the winch pull spec. You will know what I mean when you start to pull something that jerks your tractor around. My winch pulls 6400 lb and tractor weighs 5000 lbs. The force that winch produces is amazing.

nctacoma · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks guys,

This is really great information and I really appreciate it a lot.

I will go with the 351 model.

Thanks again

tawilson · Feb 13, 2012

I've got the 501 on my 2120(45hp). You'll have all the power you need with the 351 and it has the dozer blade too which I use quite a bit. Until I got my backhoe it was my favorite implement.
Have any of you tried oiling the cable? I've saw it done on Ice Road Truckers back when I watched it and it does seem to me like it helps the cable roll up better. Matter of fact it got me using Armorall on my hose reels and they coil better too.