Logging winch- New user with questions!

Agvg · Feb 22, 2018

As a pic

John_Mc · Feb 22, 2018

Saitcho said:
I have a drum brake, but in order to release the cable I need to put in in "neutral" so its free spinning. When I reach the log the operator put the brake back on but there is always extra cable that got rolled out and I need to take the slack out before winching. I could roll the tractor forward to eliminate it but once the back blade dug itself a nice rest spot id rather leave it there.

Many winches have a separate "drag brake" that puts a slight drag on the spool, preventing it from completely freewheeling as you pull out cable. Some cable (especially newer cable) wants to "self unwind" (almost like winding up a spring and then letting go. Also, if you are pulling cable out quickly, the spool has some momentum and can keep turning, throwing a bit of slack in the wraps on the spool. On my winch, that drag brake takes the form of a thumb screw with a lock nut. I loosen the lock nut, and set the drag do that the cable is still easy to pull out, but things stop turning when I stop pulling.

I think the type of slack noted above is what Agvg was thinking of when he asked about your drum brake. This is not the main brake that holds the cable when you are not actively winching or pulling out cable.

My impression is that you are talking about slack from a different cause: when you pulled out more than you needed to reach some logs you will be winching (or as I mentioned in a previous post, when slack develops for other reasons, such as releasing a snatch block). In Agvg's case, the key is preventing one cause of slack from happening in the first place. In the other case, it's about what to do with slack that is already there on the ground.

[Edit: oops. I see Agvg already responded with a clarification]

John_Mc · Feb 22, 2018

hslogger said:
I see many proclaiming thumbs down on lubrication for you winch line. To each his own of course, but I offer this:

Lubrication Basics for Wire Ropes

That was an interesting read, hslogger.

How do you get a good coating on your cable without also getting it on your clutch/brake? It would seem there is a pretty good risk of that if you just dump it on your spool (my spool is also difficult to reach). It would also seem that you wouldn't get good lubrication throughout your cable. I don't relish the thought of unspooling all 230 feet to apply the length of the cable - and as the article you linked notes, it's better to oil when it's flexed and under some tension (on a spool or pulley) since that opens up the wraps a bit.

Saitcho · Feb 22, 2018

Ok thanks I will check to see if its set-up properly on my winch. But if for some reason too much cable was pulled out what is the best way to prevent a snag on the drum?

rd_macgregor · Feb 22, 2018

FWIW, a couple of years ago I found a navigation buoy washed up on the shore; the anchor eye had ripped out. Cutting off the flat end and the eye end, yields a nice (if a bit large) skidding cone. I also thought a (trashed) polyethylene kayak could be converted into two skidding cones, after a little creative alteration...but whitewater country would be a better place to find an irreparably damaged kayak (the only whitewater here is white because it is frozen).

Agvg · Feb 22, 2018

Pointless to fill your winch with dirt following a wire that is lubricated. Wear on a logging winch wire are hard pulls over rocks and other surfaces, and usual the wire get damages and have to be replaced long before they wears out.

Oil and grease in dirt don't work vell.

Agvg · Feb 22, 2018

Saitcho said:
Ok thanks I will check to see if its set-up properly on my winch. But if for some reason too much cable was pulled out what is the best way to prevent a snag on the drum?

You must retention the wire from time to time, attach the wire to a tree, drive untill you have a couple of turns of wire, then pull the tractor in, is it flat push the brakes so it is some resistance.

Agvg · Feb 22, 2018

Should not be big problem if it's just some slack, why do you get so much slack

Saitcho · Feb 22, 2018

I pinched the wire once and had to use the power of the tractor to get it free. I guess I may be overly afraid to pinch it again so each time I start the winch I just want to be sure there is no slack in the line.I do the re-tensioning with a tree each time I remove the winch from the tractor. I have a moderate hill so I winch the tractor uphill to get everything tight. One tip I can add to this thread is put some paint on the cable when there is 3-4 roll left on the drum. You don't want to start a pull with less, so its easy to see when your at the end of the line.