How to mount small (2500#) winch to FEL bucket

[WranglerX]

Skidded plenty of logs over the years with 3PH / chains / cable ...on flat ground... but now have some real nice fallen red oak trees down in a ravine on my property and thought I could lift /pull from higher angle with winch added to top of bucket to keep logs from digging into ground when snaked up hill ( have about 800# counter weight on 3PH ). Thanks for the input guys....

You are probably not going to get enough height to make winch practical... Probably need a skidding cone (I know has other names) to keep cut ends of logs from digging in....

THis is my issue, can't get close to tree, and can't get tractor in because creek is about 3 feet from where picture is taken...

Dale

 

[jeff9366]

Skidded plenty of logs over the years with 3PH / chains / cable ...on flat ground... but now have some real nice fallen red oak trees down in a ravine on my property and thought I could lift /pull from higher angle with winch added to top of bucket to keep logs from digging into ground when snaked up hill ( have about 800# counter weight on 3PH ). Thanks for the input guys....

My interpretation of your post is that you would like to pull the oaks uphill, suspended from the bucket, with the tractor moving in reverse.

With forward placed engine and oak weight on the front of the forward placed FEL, possibly 75% of the tractor + oak weight will be on the front wheels moving uphill in reverse.

Highly likely tractor will pivot on the front axle/fulcrum, lifting the rear wheels and 800# counterbalance in the air.

Besides, you will have very little traction moving up hill with the tractor in reverse.

Heavy work should be done from the Three Point Hitch. I suggest a cross-drawbar which can be hydraulically evevated 6" to 8" and moving uphill with oaks chain-attached to cross-drawbar, downhill from the tractor. You may need to carry a scoop of dirt in your FEL for front weight, depending on the slope. (Do not raise cross-drawbar higher than rear axle height.)

SAFETY FIRST.

 

[Smokeydog]

There are good ideas and some bad. Lack of effectiveness and safety concerns tends to point toward the later. Even a small tractor could trash a recovery winch by pulling.

 

[John_Mc]

There are good ideas and some bad. Lack of effectiveness and safety concerns tends to point toward the later. Even a small tractor could trash a recovery winch by pulling.

I think folks were recommending skipping the winch and just using chains to pull.

 

[yomax4]

I once had a small 2500# winch setup on a receiver hitch hook up on my loader. I wanted it for the same reason here. It actually worked to a degree but I found it to be terribly slowww and I continuously pulled on the thing with my 30hp tractor to speed things up. What that did was cut the cable all the way down to the drum and I had to cut the cable up to get it out. After the 3rd time I scraped the idea. Now I use an old style block and tackle type setup that is just as fast and doesn't kill my battery.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

In the pictures posted in post #5.... I agree with pulling a load with the fixed draw bar.. I don't agree with pulling the log with the 3 point raised above the rear axle..

I have skidded a number of logs about the same weight as the tractor lifted with the 3 point, but pulled with the fixed draw bar.. It may be a bit more time and trouble to hook up, but much safer in the long run.
>>>>>>>>

From the picture you provided I'm going to say inch the tree down to where your can chunk it up into more manageable pieces with long chains, or tow straps. It may take several small moves from different angle to where you can get it in smaller pieces. Maybe not a one hook up and go job..

 

[plumbstraight]

I mounted mine in the loader frame behind the bucket. It is there permanent. sometimes when pulling hard putting the bucket in the ground as a deadman really helps. It is also great for picking things up. Rolling the bucket forward so the cable does not go over a sharp edge is nice and you always have the right length.

I wouldn't recommend using a light winch as there are shock loads when you have hangups. at least a 4500 on the smallest of tractors. The planetary gears will be stripped out.

 

[plumbstraight]

 

[Diggin It]

Skidded plenty of logs over the years with 3PH / chains / cable ...on flat ground... but now have some real nice fallen red oak trees down in a ravine on my property and thought I could lift /pull from higher angle with winch added to top of bucket to keep logs from digging into ground when snaked up hill ( have about 800# counter weight on 3PH ). Thanks for the input guys....

Pulling heavy loads from a higher angle on unlevel ground greatly increases rollover chances. There are other ways to pull logs up out of a ravine that are MUCH less likely to get you killed.

 

[NCMau]

I have a 3500 lbs winch mounted on a modified engine hoist and I use it only for precision positioning. I would never use it for skidding.