Which 3pt log skidding winch?

JUBILEE1953 · Feb 3, 2015

How much would you ask for it?

Y

AndyMA said:
I had a Farmi 351 which I used for years. It worked great. When I got a bigge tractor I bought a new Farmi 501. I've only used it about 5 hours since I no longer live on my farm. It's at my house in North Haven CT. I keep it because I keep thinking I will use it, but I'd sell it if your interested. PM me

airplanewaynem · Feb 3, 2015

Wallenstein or Farmi - did a bunch of research on these ( among other brands as well ) before I ended up purchasing a Wallenstein FX90. For the most part there is not that much difference between the 2, I thought the Farmi was a bit higher priced. One of the kicker features for me on the Wallenstein was the trailer hitch.

Another very important factor is the weight of the winch, and whether you have a FEL on your tractor or not. When I first used my FX90, I had it on a John Deere 3020 ( 70HP, 7500 lbs tractor )with no front weight. I figured the tractor would be heavy enough to make up for the lack of front weights, but on my very first hitch I hooked up 4 twelve to fourteen inch locust logs, and when I tried to start off the front end of the tractor raised up a couple inches! I added 400 lbs of weight, which enabled me to skid enough logs to make it practical. I used this setup until July 2014, when I sold the 3020 and bought a John Deere 5203 with 4WD and a FEL. The 5203 is smaller and lighter (56 HP, 5000 lb tractor ), but it will pull as much or maybe more than the 3020 did, partially because of the weight of the FEL ( never had the front wheels off the ground ) and partially because of the 4WD.

Winch size - don't think I would want to go any larger on the 5203. On the MF1742 you would probably be best off with the smaller FX65 (don't think it has the rear hitch though) or the or maybe the JL351.

Below are a couple pics of the FX90 in action.

ST98 · Feb 7, 2015

The extra weight of the winch would be a benefit I think for loading. My application is winching to one location and loading, not really skidding. What RPM are you guys running your winches at?

Sawyer Rob · Feb 7, 2015

General skidding, about 1,200.... If it's tough skidding, like BIG logs up out of a ravine or something like that, 1,400 or a bit more...

SR

ST98 · Feb 7, 2015

Sawyer Rob said:
General skidding, about 1,200.... If it's tough skidding, like BIG logs up out of a ravine or something like that, 1,400 or a bit more...

SR

PTO rpm?

MAN IN BLACK · Feb 7, 2015

Never had to go much higher than idle speed (1000 rpm), 1200 at the very most.
On my tractor at least.

Sawyer Rob · Feb 7, 2015

ST98 said:
PTO rpm?

Yes... It takes a lot of power to pull a 28" x 34' long oak log up out of a ravine, so I speed the engine up a bit for more power...

SR

airplanewaynem · Feb 9, 2015

ST98 said:
The extra weight of the winch would be a benefit I think for loading. My application is winching to one location and loading, not really skidding. What RPM are you guys running your winches at?

I usually run mine at about 1200 engine RPM (2400 RPM is PTO speed on my tractor). This would get the PTO spinning 270 RPM. This is fast enough that it doesn't make you impatient and yet slow enough to let you stop if something goes wrong.

Sawyer Rob · Feb 9, 2015

Sawyer Rob said:
General skidding, about 1,200.... If it's tough skidding, like BIG logs up out of a ravine or something like that, 1,400 or a bit more...

SR

After rereading this this morning, I think my above answer can be misleading...

I was talking about the engine RPM being 1200 to 1400...

SR

Dead Horse · Feb 9, 2015

Sawyer Rob said:
After rereading this this morning, I think my above answer can be misleading...

I was talking about the engine RPM being 1200 to 1400...

SR

I generally run my Hesston at 1,000 RPMs with a Farmi 601, for winching. Once I get the log moving and there are no obstructions, I can speed it up some to make it go quicker. The peak torque is developed at 1,500 on that booger. If she ain't gonna winch at 1,500 rpm........... it ain't coming in.

With winching, starting out slow and steady can help avoid a LOT of problems, damage and buried-in-the-coil wire. Getting the wire buried in the spool is a real PIA!

CobyRupert · Feb 9, 2015

^......and leave at least one tree standing that you can hook the cable to to pull it off the spool when it gets bound!

hslogger · Feb 9, 2015

maybe I missed mentioning of this in some thread. But, you guys with your winches.... oil your wire rope now and then, Dump some diesel on the spool, and or add some old oil and keep your rope lubricated. On cat drum we would oil it ever few days.

PatMcD · Feb 12, 2015

Well, I just sold my old Fransgard v-2600. Put it on craigslist at about 8 this morning and had it loaded on the buyer's truck by 1:30. Maybe I sold it too cheap.

Now I need to scramble around and find myself a new winch. Was all set to get another Fransgard (V-5000), but went instead and looked at the Tajfun's and was impressed. 45A sounds like it will fit the tractor nicely. The dealer also is a manufacturer of grapples and will give me a decent deal on a package.

CobyRupert · Feb 12, 2015

PatMcD said:
Well, I just sold my old Fransgard v-2600. Put it on craigslist at about 8 this morning and had it loaded on the buyer's truck by 1:30. Maybe I sold it too cheap.

Can we ask: How much?

PatMcD · Feb 12, 2015

I put $1500 in the ad expecting to get beat down a little. I settled for $1000 cash and a decent floor model bandsaw.

PatMcD · Feb 19, 2015

Winch got delivered the other day. Haven't got a chance to use it yet because the snow is about 3' deep in the woods, but I think I'm going to like it.