Skidding Winches

Greenland South · Mar 9, 2016

Gordon Gould said:
Must be hard getting around on that vertical ground
Looks like a wise move on your part. A winch is tailor made for that job. What is the choker strap that you are using made out of ? Is it webbing ?

gg

It was a lifting strap I pulled from the trash at work a few years ago. it had a small nick in the webbing I guess.

CobyRupert · Mar 9, 2016

Those back leaners can be tricky. Too much tension and it might barberchair. And at some point during the cut the tree moves and the tension goes slack, then it can fall anywhere. So don't rely on the cable when cutting.
I found cutting with wedges up to the hinge and then pulling it over from a distance best.

Greenland South · Mar 10, 2016

Poplars are pretty spring at this time of the year, the sap is beginning to run. I just pulled them close to vertical, cut the notch and a back cut

and the pulled em over with the winch.

CobyRupert · Mar 10, 2016

Greenland South said:
I just pulled them close to vertical, cut the notch and a back cut and the pulled em over with the winch.

Backcutting when there's a lateral strain (either due to pulling with a cable or gravity (leaner)) on the trunk is when you get a barber chair. Look up the Youtube videos. Very dangerous.

Sawyer Rob · Mar 10, 2016

I have a tree jack, I like it and it does help, but I don't always use it...

Like using the skidding winch to put a bit of "pull" on it, it just "all depends"... lol

SR

Mikejeakins · Mar 10, 2016

What kind of Winches do you all have?

Oldpath05 · Mar 10, 2016

Once a pawn a time, I winch a log out from between a rock and a hard place...

Big Hemlock log pt.2 - YouTube

Greenland South · Mar 11, 2016

Mikejeakins said:
What kind of Winches do you all have?

Mine is a Wallenstein FX85

Gordon Gould · Mar 11, 2016

Mikejeakins said:
What kind of Winches do you all have?

Mine is a Farmi JL 290 on a 30 hp tractor

gg

Oldpath05 · Mar 11, 2016

I have a (07) Fransgard V3004 winch, heavily fortified and modified. One of best things to look for in a pto tractor winch, is back end bottom plate ground clearance, I have 16 inches when it's up, very important in sticky situations. Another good thing to have is a straight steel bottom edge for back dragging to smooth out the ground, good for evening up the tree butts by backing into them, if you want two trees together for one chain, I do that a lot.
I give it 4 out 5 stars and recommend it to anyone.