Skidding Winches

[Coyote machine]

I try to periodically pull my winch cable almost all the way out to about a couple of turns left on the drum then reel it back into the drum, trying to make it roll onto the drum evenly from side to side. Sometimes I use my ATV as an anchor to keep the cable taught as it gets reeled in by having someone drive the ATV and put slight brake pressure against the cable as it winds onto the drum.
If cable gets too tight it can get damaged coming off the drum or when being reeled backnin, especially under strain of a long pull, or when the cable get shocked by a log hanging on a stump, etc.
Because of potential wire strand breakage never handle the cable with bare hands, especially when it's moving.

 

[Gordon Gould]

After reading Coyote's post I thought there might be some misunderstanding in what I meant when I said lay out the cable then winch it up tight. What I should have said to make it clear was hook to a stump, lay out the cable, set the brake, and winch up tight so the cable is stretched out like a long taunt clothes line. Leave it over night to stretch and relax.

gg

 

[Coyote machine]

After reading Coyote's post I thought there might be some misunderstanding in what I meant when I said lay out the cable then winch it up tight. What I should have said to make it clear was hook to a stump, lay out the cable, set the brake, and winch up tight so the cable is stretched out like a long taunt clothes line. Leave it over night to stretch and relax.

gg

Sorry if I caused any confusion, I was merely trying to offer what has worked for me on my Igland 4001 forestry winch.:confused3:

 

[KiwiBro]

Sorry if this is not the thread but I can't find where we were discussing the size of the sheaves on pulleys and how if it is too small the cable can kink if the turn hangs up on a stump or suchlike. I was asked the diameter of the sheaves I use, after I warned about using the smaller ones popular with 4x4 enthusiasts. I just measured and the ones on my pulleys are 5" where the cable rides. I have some bigger ones too, that are about 8" but haven't needed them yet. I have kinked a cable using the 4x4 ones which are only about 2 1/2 to 3". It's just too tight a curve unless the direction change of the cable through the pulley is only slight. In the case I kinked the cable, the direction change of the cable was nearly 180 degrees.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Sorry if I caused any confusion, I was merely trying to offer what has worked for me on my Igland 4001 forestry winch.:confused3:

No problem - I always consider your advise to be pretty good. When I saw that you wrote "If cable gets too tight it can get damaged" I wondered if you may have thought that I meant for him to wind the cable back on tight instead of strung out, and you were giving him a warning - not to tight. So I just wanted to clarify what I meant because it was vague. That's all.

gg

 

[LouieJunior]

The curls mostly straightened out after more use today. Gordon's diagnosis was spot on. I believe it happened while using a slider at too small an angle. It happened to about 12 or 15 feet of cable. It is most noticeable now when pulling out the cable -- it kind of lurches out as the curled part comes off the top pulley. I will avoid repeating this mistake.

BTW, if it does break later on, is it difficult to fasten a new hook on the remaining wire rope? I'd probably spring for a new $161 rope since only 3/5 of it would remain but am curious about a fix.

Norse Winch Cable W/ End Hook 3/8"

 

[Coyote machine]

No problem - I always consider your advise to be pretty good. When I saw that you wrote "If cable gets too tight it can get damaged" I wondered if you may have thought that I meant for him to wind the cable back on tight instead of strung out, and you were giving him a warning - not to tight. So I just wanted to clarify what I meant because it was vague. That's all.

gg

Thanks, i guess. BTW, I always consider my advice to be excellent!
Just kidding. All joking aside, we were both addressing cable tightness, and you specifically, were addressing how to unkink a section by putting iit under tension. Your method sounds good and I'm sure comes from vast experience.
My method was somewhat less on point, and focused on not allowing the winch drum to damage the cable during winding on and off the drum.
I respect your posts and threads because you are accurate and speak from truths borne of field experience. Keep up the good work.

CM

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Anyone switch to spectra or other synthetic lines on their winches instead of cable?

 

[KiwiBro]

Seriously considered it but cable is more forgiving in the varied conditions I encounter. Synthetic needs more care than I can give it and by golly that stuff is not cheap, even if it can be easily spliced when it breaks.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Here is an example picture of a potentially bad slider hook up. If that branch where the cable makes a sharp turn was heavy pulling the cable thru that angle with a lot of tension on it would curl it.



gg