Correct type of hand winch

clutchcargo · Jan 23, 2009

I am trying to build a (tow truck/wrecker) type boom on my 3 pt with a hand crank winch. I have researched and I find 3 major types. Single speed with free spool, single speed with brake and worm drive.

They seem to recommend the worm drive for lifting and the single speeds for pulling. I guess you could call a wrecker boom a lifter and a puller. I think the reason for using the worm drive is that it holds the load securely while stopped and it has a lower gear ratio. I am not sure if it has free spool though and it would be a real grind pulling out cable in gear.

Any comments on this or any other type winch?

rdbrumfield · Jan 26, 2009

ramsey used to build a geared winch that had a handle that you could put on the drum for fast recovery and on a primary gear for heavy pulling. You just pulled the handle off and put it on the one you wanted. It had a lever that dogged the gear to hold the winch. The line pulled out of it easily. Was a simple winch and worked well. Some did have a brake to let a load down that was hand operated.

J_J · Jan 26, 2009

clutchcargo said:
I am trying to build a (tow truck/wrecker) type boom on my 3 pt with a hand crank winch. I have researched and I find 3 major types. Single speed with free spool, single speed with brake and worm drive.

They seem to recommend the worm drive for lifting and the single speeds for pulling. I guess you could call a wrecker boom a lifter and a puller. I think the reason for using the worm drive is that it holds the load securely while stopped and it has a lower gear ratio. I am not sure if it has free spool though and it would be a real grind pulling out cable in gear. I know this is not a hand winch, but it might useful.

Any comments on this or any other type winch?

I know this is not a hand winch, but it might be useful.

Harbor Freight has this winch, and it is wireless for the fwd/rev.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Harbor Freight Tools

mwb · Jan 26, 2009

I have both kinds (spur and worm gear types) and you will find the worm gear slow. I would recommend a two speed gear type - the one that has the sprung leaver that you can release to free-spool out. I have one with the brake thing but I haven't gotten around to using it yet

. I have not seen a worm gear type that has a free-spool.

I like the worm type for overhead - in my barn for hanging deer, etc. I can drive the winch with a long handle or a motor and I don't have to worry about releasing a manual dog and having the load come crashing down. Worm gear is safer but slow. Dog type is fast, especially when you slip off the handle and it comes around and hits the back of your hand

.

MikeD74T · Jan 26, 2009

I know that this is a step beyond your question, but a small hydraulic motor could be coupled to a worm winch easily & driven in both directions by your tractor hydraulics. Worm winches hold the load better but take a lot of cranking in both directions. One might also drive one with a battery drill. MikeD74T

zzvyb6 · Jan 26, 2009

I use a winch from a boat trailer setup for my own projects. I like the use of a strap vs. a wire cable. Me and wire cables never got along. My hands are full of woven wire pricks from wire strand failures. I suppose it also depends on how much force you need, but for me its total length and wrap around length. Wire cable is just too stiff, doesn't feed well, and has memory issues. (It remembers how it was last wound up).