Log winch

[CalG]

Been wanting to purchase a log winch for my tractor. Anyone have any experience with this one?

8800lbs 3-Point Hitch Forestry Log Skidding Winch, 200ft Cable Length, 25-60 HP Tractor, Category 1 Hookup, FW8800

The MechMaxx FW8800 3-Point Hitch Forestry Logging Winch is perfect for 30-50 HP tractors, offering a powerful 8800 lb pulling capacity. Purchase and enjoy free shipping within the United States and surprise discounts.

mechmaxx.com

compare by weight of the tool with others of similar pull rating.

Features can be added with a few hundred dollars worth of welding equipment.

It looks like a low position pulley would fit in that central box.

Something about the pictures makes the unit look "flimsy", but the material gauge specs and weight may prove otherwise.

For about $750 more you might get a name brand.
The one above offered on craigslist for $3300.

 

[Jstpssng]

never, ever try to winch a single log down hill

Would you care to relate how you know this?
Possibly not, but Enquiring minds want to know!!

 

[Citydude]

I've had to winch logs down to me. If there was a chance of them sliding down uncontrollably, I didn't limb them.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I found a used but serviceable Norse 450, 9000# pull, locally and have used the bejeesus out of it over the last5 years. With the terrain my woodlots grow on a winch is an absolute necessity.

 

[cmyoung2]

Would you care to relate how you know this?
Possibly not, but Enquiring minds want to know!!

Was winching 28"x 12' log down a double sloped hill ( sloped in 2 directions, not straight down). Log started rolling down the cross slope, tried to slow it down with the winch, not a good idea. When it started to move the tractor sideways, I just let the winch freespool. The log flattened a welded wire fence (just T post) launched over a 10-15' bank, down onto a road, as in numbered highway. We are very rural, but I was lucky no traffic. Landed in the middle of the road, still hooked to the winch, so I just pulled it into the ditch, unhooked, drove around, rehooked and pulled it down the road to the mill. Butt section, big white pine, no limbs to stop the roll. I had taken logs down the same hill with a logging arch, which was also interesting.
I was lucky, but the lesson will not be forgotten. Learning curve with equipment is sharp, just like our mountain curves.

 

[blitzen]

Been wanting to purchase a log winch for my tractor. Anyone have any experience with this one?

8800lbs 3-Point Hitch Forestry Log Skidding Winch, 200ft Cable Length, 25-60 HP Tractor, Category 1 Hookup, FW8800

The MechMaxx FW8800 3-Point Hitch Forestry Logging Winch is perfect for 30-50 HP tractors, offering a powerful 8800 lb pulling capacity. Purchase and enjoy free shipping within the United States and surprise discounts.

mechmaxx.com

TMG has a similar model-probably the same with different name on it. Kelly's country life has the TMG-here is a video of that winch. TMG wants more for their winch but I think that they have it priced for the Canadian market and if bought with US. dollars should be less.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

TMG has a similar model-probably the same with different name on it. Kelly's country life has the TMG-here is a video of that winch. TMG wants more for their winch but I think that they have it priced for the Canadian market and if bought with US. dollars should be less.

I'm not sure why he was so surprised that the 20 hp tractor ran the winch, I have a bigger winch than that and it only takes 20 hp to run it.

When it comes to "running" a winch, the REAL advantage of running it with more hp is, you have the 20 hp at a lower RPM so you can winch at that lower RPM. And that means, a slower line speed which many times is safer.

SR

 

[2manyrocks]

These winches are capable of pulling a considerable amount of weight with very little HP. The issue is when the log is so big that the tractor has trouble pulling the log after it has been winched. Many of you guys are at least using mid-sized tractors for your woods work. Between the weight of the winch and the weight of the log, nobody wants the front end of their tractor to lift off the ground on a slope.

 

[JeepHead]

TMG has a similar model-probably the same with different name on it. Kelly's country life has the TMG-here is a video of that winch. TMG wants more for their winch but I think that they have it priced for the Canadian market and if bought with US. dollars should be less.

That's a good looking winch and has some great reviews on the quality of them. Definitely taking a hard look at them. Thanks!

 

[bernardcuziillo]

I have an identical twin of the MechMaxx FW8800, designed and made in China. Mine is sold by TMG. The manuals for both share the same inaccurate exploded parts diagram which show many parts on the wrong side of the frame. It is a thoroughly mediocre winch, but priced accordingly. It lacks nearly all the features that make more expensive winches worth their price. Here are a few tips for this Volkswagen Beetle of winches:
1. Manage the wire rope! If you spool it loose, do not pull hard with it that way or you'll damage the rope. Unspool it back out and then respool under tension; you can do this by letting the winch pull the tractor up a 5-10% grade.
1a. Don't 2-block the rope! I.e. don't pull the end of the rope into the winch. It'll dead end on the head pully and put a permanent set in the rope. Any rope damage will make it difficult or impossible to unspool it by hand.
1b. Don't unspool the base layer of rope from the sheave. If you do, or when installing new rope, respool it under tension and avoid overlap. Make sure the base layer is neat and tight.
1.c. When installing new wire rope, match the direction of curvature of the shipped rope to the sheave axis. In other words, bend it in the same direction as shipped.
1.d. Lubricate the rope. The individual wires need to have relative movement.

More expensive winches have features that automate rope management. A rewind brake ensures that the rope winds with tension. An anti-2-block device prevents the end of the rope from deadheading into the winch.

2. Don't reinstall guard 65 as shown attached. Without the guard, you can see the drum and thus monitor any malfunctions such as overlap. You can also see whether the chain and sprockets are skipping. (But if you're an employer, reinstall all guards.)
3. Tighten the chain immediately if it skips teeth, and preferably before it skips teeth. Grease the chain, sprockets, and rope.
4. Don't pull to the side. The winch will easily roll the tractor.
5. I'd sit in the tractor on the PTO rather than next to the winch on the clutch lever.
6. If MechMaxx is anything like TMG, they know less about the winch than you do even if this thread is all you know. In other words, they know exactly zero. They've never used this winch or any other.

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