logging winch

[6sunset6]

Still waiting for the flush cover but in the meantime got to wondering about the efficiency of the antenna that came with the wireless unit. I hooked it up to the back up alarm and with the monopole antenna mounted at what seemed appropriate . It worked solid at 20ft. it was intermittent out to 100 ft but that is all you need to trigger a normal gate or garage door unit. I need a solid signal. Now I am not an electrical engineer but I have been around them. I remembered 30 years ago we made some dipole antennas for fire radios. we just pulled the center a a piece of coax out . The center went one way and the shield went the other. Like a tee and the down leg is the rest of the coax.
The length of the leg is dependent on the frequency. In this case 300mhz the
dipole leg is .78 ft or 9.36 inches. Thats exactly what the monopole measured so I knew I was on the right track. I made one, see the picture, and the signal was solid to 60ft. You can see both in the picture. Maybe the dipole works better because it is higher and not in front of the shield but I think it's more than that.

 

[Chilly807]

How much do atmospheric conditions affect the signal? I know that in humid weather my car remote doesn't have as good a range as in cold dry weather.

If nothing else, you should be able to get decent TV reception

Chilly

 

[easygo]

The winch is looking really good. You mentioned a few posts back that you are going to flush the system. Do you mean flush with hydraulic fluid to get rid of whatever dirt/paint/metal shavings may be in there? How are you going to flush it? As I mentioned before I bought an older winch that has never been installed and a flush would be a great idea before use. What is a good way without connecting it to the tractor's system?
Thanks

 

[6sunset6]

I am going to use the tractor hydraulic system to flush the new hoses. The return line to the tank runs through a filter so it catches everything before the transmission/tank. I took the winch motor out of the circuit ( it is new), tied the two motor lines together with a connector fitting and will use a flush cover block on the valve manifold . This is an electric solenoid valve that mounts on a manifold block. Just take the valve off and put the cover on in it's place. Then just run the system with the remote valve on the tractor. Fluid runs right through everything and back through the return filter to the tank. About 30 seconds ought to do it.
I guess if I had an old used winch I would take the motor off the winch and pour clean oil in one port while turning the motor by hand. This ought to flush it out. New hoses. Put it back together, put the winch in neutral and if you just have a manual valve , run it in one direction for 30 sec.

 

[6sunset6]

I was going to take pictures today but never got to it. IT WORKS.
Flush block cover came . Flushed the system and put the Vickers valve on. Hooked up the winch motor. Closed down the needle valve. Had it wide open for flushing. Maybe 20% open. Temporarily wired up the electricals till I am sure it works. Magic Wireless . first button spool in, second button spool out. A lot of speed control with the needle valve. The two speed gearing on the winch is obvious. Of course I ripped off the dipole antenna 30 seconds after I was in the woods. I think I will stay with the monopole and raise it up. It has some give so it should not get broken off. I spoke with a friend of mine who knows all this stuff and he said an antenna on the transmitter would help a lot. But it looks like a garage door opener and it would be kind of difficult to stick an antenna on it. Next is to winch something maybe a log.
Pictures tomorrow.

 

[6sunset6]

Coming to the end of this story. Winched out a log yesterday. High speed on the winch is too fast. Low speed, needle valve open 30%, rpm at 1500 seems to be near perfect. Plenty of range to play with.
Found out the wireless signal does not go through my body. I moved the monopole antenna up to the top off the shield, work solid out to 30 ft. I am going to try the dipole one more time with a wound spring connector to mechanically connect the vertical pvc pipe one piece to another. The theory being it can spring around.
I can't resist, I am attached a What is it picture.
Hint it is part of the 3 pt attachment . Answer tomorrow.

 

[6sunset6]

Ok Here is the answer. I hesitate to weld every thing together the first time on a new build. Depends what it is. I welded the dead man on but all the plates things mounted on I bolted on. I was always thinking about the chain saw and gas/ oil etc. As I got to the end I started looking at how to bring that stuff along. Did not want to tie anything down. I was going to weld something to the top plate but then saw the slot. The milk crate has a chain in it which is still too heavy so I will add a pipe container somewhere for the chain. Yes I could put all that stuff in the bucket but for forgetting it was there and then , you know, dumping. Also I have been leaving the forks on the front and taking out 7ft logs that way. I will probably add a slot for a chain drag , would be handy for short pulls. I also have a couple of those blue plastic 50gal drums.
Going to see if I can make a drag cone.

 

[easygo]

Thank you for the description. I can't wait to see some pictures of your winch in action. May be a video?

 

[6sunset6]

hmm I guess I can hold down the wireless button with one hand and take movies with the other.

 

[6sunset6]

Used it today for real.
sorry no video. It's enough watching everything and holding the button down.
Every thing functions as it is supposed to. One problem with the winch is spooling in. Unless there is a load on the cable, and even when there is , and even when the pull is directly back ,it tends to wind in capsized. Meaning the cable crosses over itself. Then it jams and you need to hook it to a tree and drive away with the winch spool in neutral to un jam it. Also there are tie bars holding the winch together and if the capsized birds nest get big enough , and it does not take much towards the end , then the cable jams against the tie bars. The 3/8 cable is very springy and has a mind of it own on the spool.
The answer is probably Amsteel blue. I was thinking about 5/16 250 ft but I think 150 is plenty and stay with 3/8.
All that said I winched 3 logs out of the swamp today. I had to cut one in half, not because the winch would not pull it , but because I could not lift it to get the chain around it. Yeah, I know about those wire leads on a chain , but it's in the swamp. Sort of a swamp , If I drive the tractor out there it gets stuck. I can walk though.
BTW I made one of those tapered cones by cutting up one of those 50 gal blue barrels wrapping it into a cone shape and bolting it, heads on the outside. Works great.