Which 3pt log skidding winch?

[JUBILEE1953]

Either a Wallenstein or a Farmi? Any input....

 

[CobyRupert]

I don't know about the Farmi, seems most people like them, and they seem to be the "standard". (around me "Farmi" is synonymous with tractor skidding winch, like Band-Aid or Kleenex is to...)
But I will say, when on the tractor I like sitting behind the protective cage of a Wallenstein when stretching the cable.
Looking on the internet, it seems some Farmi's have them, some don't?
I bought the Wally because dealer/location availability.

 

[andy1981]

I have been using an fx90 on the back of my 4720 john Deere , it seems vey well built, this is not my winch it is a friends that is lettin me use it for this winter. There are 3 different tractor dealers within 15 minutes of me that sell walenstein and only one around that sells farmi. I've have no experience with a farmi , but I've been told the safety screen is an added cost and does not come standard like the walenstein, and I also don't think the farmi has a a mount to hook a trailer like the wallenstien , I could be wrong on this, but I am also going to look into this more. When I return this winch back to my friend this spring I am going to be purchasing my own. Hope this helps you with your decision

 

[Silvic]

I have a Farmi. Great unit. It comes with a smaller safety screen but there is a much larger one that is additional but I got mine included in the deal. Lots of folks like their Wallensteins but they just do not exist much out in my neck of the woods. Looking at the pics of the FX90 there is not a lot of difference. Long term parts would be worth looking at. I know Farmi's history but not Wallenstein so check in on that

 

[CobyRupert]

Do the Farmi's come with a "bottom pulley" as standard?
Internet pics show some with, and some without. This is handy when pulling in a bigger load and not wanting to stress 3pth top link (or lift the front of the tractor). Though I sometimes unhook mine and pull from the top so trees don't catch as much on roots and stumps.
Here's my Walley FX65 doing some side-hill logging. Some days I wish I'd got the next bigger size, but very adequate for the pines I was clearing. .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45FiPvN6Tw

 

[andy1981]

Wallenstien has been around for about 25 years, they are part od embmfg they also have another division that makes AG and commercial vacuum pumps

 

[NHbotanut]

I have the Farmi JL290. This is their smallest winch. I love using it. It does not have the lower block pulley, but the next size up ( 351 ) does. Gordon has a lot of pics with his Farmi on here along with some videos.
I am partial to my Farmi, but Wallenstein makes a great product along with Norse, Fransgard,& Uniforest to mention a few. Definitely makes wood hauling a whole lot easier.

 

[Silvic]

The JL501 has standard upper and lower pulley

 

[motownbrowne]

Love my Farmi 351. Mine has legs instead of the blade. If buying new I would have gotten the blade, but the legs have advantages too, namely adjustable height. Mine does have the lower block but no screen. Honestly there haven't been many situations when I wanted to pull from the seat. I'm happy to get off the tractor, but that's just me.

I think the skidding winches (with the possible exception of the Tajifuns) are all pretty darned similar. I will say that when I found mine on craigslist, I called the Farmi importer in New York (I think) they were extremely helpful and told me that they could get all the parts for any of the winches they ever made. I know that doesn't matter for a new model, but it does speak well for long term parts availability.

Whichever model you get, you'll wonder how you lived without it. I know I sure do.

 

[Grandad4]

Bought a Uniforest winch several years ago because it was well made (made in Slovenia, I think), had good features and, being a lesser-known brand, had a good price point. The features I really liked were the protective screen on all models and the large built-in cable capacity (even the small one I have has 260' of cable). Has been a good unit with no problems in use. Logging winches seem to be very similar from brand to brand and you don't often hear of them giving trouble as long as they are used and stored properly. Probably can't go wrong with any brand, although I'd probably avoid the Chinese ones.

 

[CobyRupert]

Honestly there haven't been many situations when I wanted to pull from the seat. I'm happy to get off the tractor, but that's just me. Whichever model you get, you'll wonder how you lived without it. I know I sure do.

I meant after you've winched the logs to the winch and are driving, it's nice to have the cage there. Which brings up a question: Do you, or most people, then hook the chokers onto the winch, or leave them connected to the cable when you drag the logs? Or both, to double the number of logs ( providing you have enough chokers)?

 

[motownbrowne]

I meant after you've winched the logs to the winch and are driving, it's nice to have the cage there. Which brings up a question: Do you, or most people, then hook the chokers onto the winch, or leave them connected to the cable when you drag the logs? Or both, to double the number of logs ( providing you have enough chokers)?

I do have enough chokers, but it depends on the size of the logs. If they are small I hook them to the winch and go get more so some are on the winch some on the cable. If they are medium sized I hook two or three to the winch and leave one on the cable, usually to the lower block if I can. Large ones I try to hook to the winch if possible. If I'm dragging big stuff around, I'd rather it not pull my cable in under the other layers. Really, I guess it's different every time. I can see how the cage is a nice safety feature, though.

 

[Grandad4]

I do have enough chokers, but it depends on the size of the logs. If they are small I hook them to the winch and go get more so some are on the winch some on the cable. If they are medium sized I hook two or three to the winch and leave one on the cable, usually to the lower block if I can. Large ones I try to hook to the winch if possible. If I'm dragging big stuff around, I'd rather it not pull my cable in under the other layers. Really, I guess it's different every time. I can see how the cage is a nice safety feature, though.

If you're transporting logs attached to the winch cable, as I mostly do, it's probably best to use the lower pulley and not the upper one. If you hit a snag while moving, having the cable in the high position puts more leverage on the tractor, possibly enough for an upset on slopes and turns and definitely putting a lot of strain on the 3 point toplink. Not much of a worry if you're towing on smooth, open ground, but in the woods, etc., it's something to think about.

 

[Dead Horse]

I meant after you've winched the logs to the winch and are driving, it's nice to have the cage there. Which brings up a question: Do you, or most people, then hook the chokers onto the winch, or leave them connected to the cable when you drag the logs? Or both, to double the number of logs ( providing you have enough chokers)?

I am the proud owner of Gordon's old JL601 (Farmi). I had it for about a year or so and a bud asked me to help pull a huge Deer front end loader out of the mud. Everything was going fine until the input shaft bearing race let go.. WOO!

I don't know how old the winch was, but I was clearly abusing it!. Anyway, I pulled apart the following afternoon, got the make and serial numbers off ALL the bearings, cross referenced them on the internet to Timken and a few days later put the big lug back together again. I have put up about 150 cord of with since I have owned the winch, all felled on my property. It is reliable, rugged, and ugly. I love the big brute!

I do chain up the stubes rather than skid them attached to the cable. I don't like the logs flopping around when I am skiding them and chaining them to the winch frame solves that issue.Farmi says the lower block is to be used for skidding when doing so on the cable. I find I use the lower block when winching a particularly heavy stub as I believe it reduces the stress on the top link, putting more load into the dozer blade down force.

 

[PatMcD]

I don't think it's possible to buy a bad logging winch because it seems they are all good. Brand preference is most likely local availability.

Up here, I see mostly Fransgard.

Anybody have a Tajfun? A guy is selling them near me and I might go check them out.

 

[GMIslander]

Forestry winches | Les distributions Payeur
This is a Canadian company, they build several models both hydraulic and mechanical.
Seeing where the CDN dollar is right now, $.80, it may be very attractive for a US customer to buy.
I have a TR65H model, hydraulic, with a wireless remote and it is a great unit, rugged built ,Canadian made.
They have a wide selection of forestry equipment.

 

[papa4fofox]

Got a Tajfun EGV-35A and been very happy with it. Has 200' of 3/8'' cable which is great for snaking logs from hillside so tractor stays on level ground.

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

I have a Wallenstein FX65 coupled to my MF 4608.
Not a log I couldn't pull...very good machine, well build and very easy to operate
I would highly recommend it...and as others have said, once you'll have one, you'll wonder how you ever did without.

 

[Rustyiron]

When I was (kinda) researching them. The Tajfun impressed me. If you have 2 different dealers with 2 different brands, I'd shop price 1st. then dealer consideration 2nd. Farmi & Wallenstein (I think) are similar enough to toss a coin although Farmi has been at it for a long time. The reason I put the dealer after the price, is that unless you really get a "lemon" or absolutely abuse it, I doubt you'll need him for years after the sale.

 

[TnAndy]

I bought an Igland 3601 about 10 years ago from a dealer in Maryland. Been a very handy piece of equipment. Has enough "umph" that it will either pull the log to the tractor, or the tractor to the log.