DIY winch line speed

davedj1 · Sep 16, 2017

If you go here and open most any model parts diagram you can see the workings of the clutch/engagement. I plan to do something very similar.
Parts for Older Models | Parts | Parts | Tractor Mounted Winches - Farmiwinch.com

Citydude · Sep 16, 2017

davedj1 said:
If you go here and open most any model parts diagram you can see the workings of the clutch/engagement. I plan to do something very similar. Parts for Older Models | Parts | Parts | Tractor Mounted Winches - Farmiwinch.com

Good plan. Please keep us posted on your build!

davedj1 · Sep 17, 2017

I worked on some more calculations today. If I use a 4" pipe for the center of the drum and have 5 wraps of the .250 wire rope and use a 12 tooth drive sprocket and a 60 or 70 tooth driven sprocket I can get the ft/min speed down to pretty decent numbers. I calculated each wrap so obviously it will speed up as the cable winds in.
The 12/60 combo at 540 PTO rpm's will have a full spool speed of aprox. 129.6 ft/min. At 300 PTO rpm's it will be 71 ft/min
12/72 combo at 540 rpm's full spool speed of 106.5 ft/min and at 300 PTO rpm's it will have a full spool speed of 59 ft/min
I may do some more calcs tomorrow and use a 14 tooth drive and see how that pans out, thinking about it more I think 129/71 might be a little too slow. I am just going off what someone said above about the advertised speeds. I would like to keep it in that range.
thanks for the input so far

Rustyiron · Sep 18, 2017

If it were me, I'd make it a little slow, like your 71'/min. at a lower PTO speed giving you the ability to speed it up with engine rev's.
That's over a ft/sec, pretty fast (imho) unless your pulling in stump & rock free conditions.

Sawyer Rob · Sep 18, 2017

Once you get use to the winch, 75 is NOT too fast, I run mine faster than that all the time.

You have complete control of the clutch "right in your hands" and if you hit something, loosen up on the rope and all is well.

SR

kthompson · Sep 18, 2017

How does the diameter of the drum affect the life of the cable? I would assume smaller diameter will require more flexing of the cable and shorten it's life. Winches I ran used 1/2 to 5/8 cable and memory think those drums were at least 12 inches if not 14 to 16. These were on cranes and for that use 70 something feet per minute would be slow with no load. Then we were running four part line so that would have the hook block moving very slow.

davedj1 · Sep 19, 2017

All good info and thank you.
As far as the drum size and cable wear, I have no idea but I am looking forward to others input.
I know on Jeep winches the drum isn't very large and the cables (junk from the start) don't seem to have much issue if treated halfway decent.

Rustyiron · Sep 20, 2017

There are recommendations on the size (diameter) of a sheave to use for cable sizes to avoid damage, it would also (I think) apply to the drum size on a winch, but with each "wrap".......
One of these day's I'd like to try the synthetic rope. They say it is "non jamming" and it's obviously light weight. It is subject to abrasion damage and also expensive, but those that use it really like it.

davedj1 · Sep 24, 2017

I have synthetic rope on my Jeep 10K winch, I absolutely love it. You are right about the abrasion issues. I will tell you this, if you put a lot of pressure on the rope and spool it will get flat, it will cut you like dental floss! It can bind up too if you are not careful winching it in. Of course on the Jeep winch the spool is long and you almost NEVER winch straight on. I'm planning a leveler on the drum that will hopefully keep it from having a birds nest, I'm thinking a spring loaded piece of flat stock with a piece of pipe welded on the end to lay on the cable.