Winches Logging winch update

[Grandad4]

Had some time this afternoon, so I grabbed the camera, warmed up the tractor and headed for the woods. We have dozens of deadfall trees that we're trying to clear up without tearing up the healthy hardwoods nearby. Here are some photos taken while events unfolded.

Photo 1 Today's target... blowdown from 2-3 years ago, about 80 ft. long, still attached at the roots with entire tree still in one piece. In a shallow ravine running parallel to the trail, sloping uphill and entangled with other blowdowns at the crown. Overlapping logs had been previously removed.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 2 The tool... Kubota L4610 with Uniforest 35E logging winch.

 

[johnk]

Lets see it in action. How many trees did you remove????

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 3 Separated the trunk from the stump. Due to other fallen trees and debris, the cut was actually made about 6 ft. from the base of the tree. Cut was made at an angle so the tree could pass beside the remaining stump as the winch initiated its pull.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 4 Initial pull. Made as a linear pull in the same direction as the tree lay. The section pulled was measured at 51 ft., diameter of approximately 18" at the base. Separated the crown for removal later, estimated at 25ft. Tractor pulls made at slightly above idle rpm's.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 5 Snatch block rigging to the log. After the initial pull, the log was cut in half to allow for snaking up the embankment and to the trail.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 6 Snatch block rigging to the tractor. Pulley block is a Farmi self release. When the choker link hits the pulley block, it releases itself, allowing the pull to continue in the direction of the tractor.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 7 Part way up the embankment... stuck on small tree. Gotta plan the geometry better... still getting the hang of this self-release thing. Had to reposition the pulley and make another pull. Oh well, sure beats log chains!

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 8 On the trail... finally.

 

[Grandad4]

Photo 9 Off to the burn pile. The other half of the 51 ft. section took a similar trip shortly thereafter. Although I think the tractor and winch would easily handle both sections at the same time, it's a narrow trail and the transit is pretty short anyways.

Started at about 1:00, finished at 3:30... you young guys can set your speed records but that was a good piece of work for this old f*rt!

 

[johnk]

Good photos and nice work. Be careful out there.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Nice photo journalism. Thanks. You have some nice woods too. I think you are right that you could have taken both pieces together but it is better to do what you did first. Now next time if you take two you will know the difference. Do you find that by chokeing your log so far back that when you raise your winch and skid it out it is like you have a really stiff tail and it is harder to steer ? That happens to my rig sometimes if I do that.

 

[Grandad4]

Yes, it does that indeed. The reason for choking so far back is because this old stuff has no bark left and is fairly slick. If I can catch a knothole or stub from a branch, there less chance of slippage.

 

[Chilly807]

If you find that you're getting hung up on trees and roots along the way, you may want to look into something like this.. I built the cone from 1/4 inch aluminum plate. The choker chain extends through the nose and onto the winch cable and the cone fits over the log butt, so you're always pulling from the tip. Nothing can get between the chain/cable and the log.

I've used it with a snatch block and rope for a while now, this will be the first year using it with a winch. I picked up a Norse (Igland) 290 winch about a week ago.

 

[jpsheb]

How is the L4610 holding up for logging? It looks like you've got a real nice winch there!

As you can tell from my tractor-shopping thread, I'm looking for one that will make a good low-impact logging tractor (ground engagement is 2nd priority). Having used the L4610, if you could pick the ideal tractor for the job out of the current lineup of available new tractors (no need to limit it to Kubotas), which would it be?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Grandad4]

jpsheb, I sent you a private message.

 

[billdiesel]

Thanks for the pics Grandad4, very nice set-up. I could be wrong here, but shouldn't your snatchblock be turned over so when the hook or slider hits the releasing mechanism the cable falls to the ground? I know you're still getting the hang of it. Be careful and have fun.:thumbsup:

 

[Grandad4]

Thanks for the pointer. I had wondered about that. My pulls are nice and easy, but particularly if the pull is fast, I could see how releasing it upward like that could whip the cable. You'd think for $300 they could include an instruction sheet or something, but no.