Electric Winch for pulling logs/river debris after floods

[CobyRupert]

I too am exploring practical reasonably priced winches for moving logs. As stated, low duty cycle is a drawback with battery powered electrics. I just stumbled on hydraulic winches that run off a vehicle's power steering pump. Has anyone here had experience with these and do you think they'd hold up moving logs?

One of many I saw on Amazon is below.

Amazon.com: Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12,000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive

Buy Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12, 000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

tinyurl.com

Interesting. Never heard of such a thing.
Wonder what the oil (fluid) temp gets after a couple heavy pulls? Would you need to add an oil reservoir or cooler?
Comments say that this has same speed as an electric winch. Many people find electric winches too slow for log work.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Comments say that this has same speed as an electric winch. Many people find electric winches too slow for log work.

They are slow, about like watching grass grow... lol but at least they have a good duty cycle...

If you are careful with them, they last a long time.

SR

 

[ericm979]

You'll need to regulate the pressure down to the 1500 psi the winches are made for. And you will have to make a frame and ground engaging blade/foot for stability like a forestry winch has. A way to operate it from a ways away from the tractor would make it safer. None of that is insurmountable but it adds to the cost and time to make it useable.

 

[CoyPatton]

While the winch blade certainly provides a great deal of support for the tractor and the winch, to state it removed force off the 3ph is an overstatement. The winch is not detached from the tractor or the 3ph so stress is going to these.
Now this stress mimics the stress that a 3ph was designed to function under. In addition, with careful attention to what is happening, stress on the equipment can be reduced.
Pulleys have been mentioned. Pulleys are great additions to any cable pulling system. A pulley used to redirect a pull has very little effect on the force of the pull, however this does increase as the angle from a direct line increases.
The biggest point that seems to be overlooked is the effects of the increased pull weight generated by a pulley system of doubling (2 part) or more lines ran to the object (log)
This is multi part issue, I will probably miss a few.
-there is an increase of required line to do this
-while a 2 part line almost doubles the pulling power of the single part line, it DOES NOT increase the rated capacity of the equipment
-for every foot of linear movement a 2 part line requires 2 feet of line pull. If you increase the line parts, for each line part it takes 1 foot of line movement/line part for 1 foot of log movement
-there are available calculators for estimating log weight for download or online
-this is a repeat but extremely important, never exceed the Working Load Limits of your equipment, if you work at its rating break limit, you should expect equipment failure. When equipment is overstressed and breaks, bodily injury risk is greatly increased.

 

[WranglerX]

I too am exploring practical reasonably priced winches for moving logs. As stated, low duty cycle is a drawback with battery powered electrics. I just stumbled on hydraulic winches that run off a vehicle's power steering pump. Has anyone here had experience with these and do you think they'd hold up moving logs?

One of many I saw on Amazon is below.

Amazon.com: Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12,000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive

Buy Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12, 000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

tinyurl.com

Recovery hydraulic (power steering) winches are the most expensive winch option out there.... I explored that when wanting a recovery winch for my Jeep....

For small operation's (mini ranch), the capstan either independent (self) power or tractor hydraulics (PB) seem most practical and cost effective.... Another idea may a PTO capstan winch (no not logging winch)...

If you don't have PB then there is cost of add hydraulics, that was a show stopper for me.... And a full logging winch is huge investment for small operation.... And electrical is basically not practical and tractor electrical system simply can not keep up with winch demands for extended use...

MY jeep has 100amp alternator and a 950 CCA AGM battery and on extended pull I can draw down system to about 8.5 volts and computer shuts down, and I have to wait for battery will recover enough to start If I don't have jump capabilities with me out in field ....This is just a example of what to expect from electric winch...

Ones needs to analyze the intended use to determine actual needs... In the end I opted for long chain and get as close to logs as possible and just drag them out and and gave up winch idea on tractor completely... Keep Jeep and winch as backup if I get tractor "stuck"...

Dale

 

[Sawyer Rob]

While the winch blade certainly provides a great deal of support for the tractor and the winch, to state it removed force off the 3ph is an overstatement. The winch is not detached from the tractor or the 3ph so stress is going to these.

I never stated it "removes" it, but it drastically lowers it!

It also matters where you are pulling from, the higher or lower pully? Pulling from the lower pully greatly "lowers" the pull on the top link and 3 point.

Also how the winch is anchored matters too...

SR

 

[arrow]

I too am exploring practical reasonably priced winches for moving logs. As stated, low duty cycle is a drawback with battery powered electrics. I just stumbled on hydraulic winches that run off a vehicle's power steering pump. Has anyone here had experience with these and do you think they'd hold up moving logs?

One of many I saw on Amazon is below.

Amazon.com: Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12,000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive

Buy Mile Marker 70-52000C H Series Hydraulic Winch (12, 000 lb. Capacity, 2 Speed): Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

tinyurl.com

I'd want at least a 4 gallon output off the tractor ps pump. You probably won't have power steering at the tractor while diverted to the winch.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

A 3pt logging winch is not in my budget, let alone remotely available used in this area.. I bought a length of roofers safety rope at a garage sale.. It most be 50 plus meters long, and even though technically expired for safety use, I have done a lot of skidding with it.. Using it to move timber out where it can be cut to length as rounds or to where I can get it attached to the tractor for skidding..

A couple strategically placed snatch blocks will let you easily move timber to where it is accessible.. It may be a little slower, but you will learn quick how to move timber easily.. Work smarter, not harder...

 

[Komrade]

consider a chainsaw driven winch too, such as Lewis Winch. 900 bux on their site, claims to pull 4000lb w/o pulley
there is a similar Simpson capstan winch, only 1000 bucks (about 1/3 less expensive than Canadian product above, but looks to have similar performance, and also a Honda engine)
Edit: as a TBN member noted, Simpson winch uses a smaller engine, and is comparable to Portable Winch PCW3000, which is similar in price

 

[stuckmotor]

I'd want at least a 4 gallon output off the tractor ps pump. You probably won't have power steering at the tractor while diverted to the winch.

Thanks Arrow.
I'm actually thinking of setting up an AC hydraulic pump to serve multiple purposes. This may never get past the planning stage. If it does the 4 gpm flow rate was exactly what I wanted to know.