Winch Questions

[Famah]

Greetings Learned Forum:

Not wanting to hijack iplumb's thread regarding log tongs (anymore than it already has ), and since it seemed ready to veer into winches, I thought I would start a new thread on the topic.

If I had the money, there is no question that I would buy a dedicated logging winch. The Farmi units look particularly nice. But I don't have the money, and perhaps equally important, after a few years, I won't be skidding trees. I have about 4 more acres to go, and that is only to remove the little and medium sized stuff so the big trees can spread out and breathe. So a serious logging winch seems like terrible overkill for my needs.

My next purchase will most likely be a 3 pt. quick hitch (3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-1/2" Clearance) with a choke chain. Using an abundance of caution, and raising the log just so it does not drag, this should work well enough for skidding.

I have never used a winch, but from what I have read on the Forum, it seems like it would save a tremendous amount of labor. In the past, I have always needed to back right up to the downed tree. Usually, this takes more time and effort than taking it down and skidding it to my woodpile.

So from what I have read, the type of winches I should be considering can be either electric or hydraulic. I have read of the strain that electric winches can place on the electrical system of a ordinary, unmodified tractor. So that leads me to consider hydraulic.

What are the pros and cons of electric and hydraulic winches? Is it even feasible to consider using a winch in conjunction with the 3 pt hitch? Where and how would you mount it? Should I just wait until Aunt Matilda dies and I inherit enough for a Farmi???

As always, your thoughts, opinions and advice iare greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Nick

 

[Gordon Gould]

You may have a third choice. I have a friend that has a winch that he puts on his chain saw ( after removing the bar and chain ). He plans on using it during moose season and says it is good for well over 1000 lbs. He has straps to go around trees on the fixed end so he can work his way to the truck.
I'm just throwing this out - I don't know a thing about them but a chain saw power unit may be more practical than electric or hydraulic for you.

 

[Baby Grand]

I think ... and others who know can correct me ... that the limitation on electric is going to be how many amps you can supply continuously for however many minutes you need to get what you need to do done and how long the winch motor can take that load before it overheats?

-Jim

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think ... and others who know can correct me ... that the limitation on electric is going to be how many amps you can supply continuously for however many minutes you need to get what you need to do done and how long the winch motor can take that load before it overheats?

-Jim

Yeah. That and keeping the wires short or very large so you dont waste anytjing getting to the motor as amps rise all the way down to near stall. A series wound elec motor such as used will gain torque as it slows and so gives ample warning of its limit as pull varies. A hyd motor will run at pretty constant speed and then stall abruptly as system pressure rises to the relief point.
Altho I dont have a winch I have experience drawing hundreds of amps from a tractor battery using inverters up to 2kW. A running tractor with a good car battery and 45A alternator handles intermittent use fine. All it would take is a voltmeter to monitor battery charge condition as it recovers between pulls.
larry

 

[hr3]

A guy I know has and electric 8000 lb. winch on a 3 point setup and a deep cycle battery mounted next to it.. He says he can get about 6 hr. pulling before it goes down.. cheep and easy I think,,:thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

A guy I know has and electric 8000 lb. winch on a 3 point setup and a deep cycle battery mounted next to it.. He says he can get about 6 hr. pulling before it goes down.. cheep and easy I think,,:thumbsup:

Well, 6hrs pulling at even 100A would be 600AmpHrs. So Id guess he is charging it concurrently, or has a fork lift battery, or is only using it for about 20min during the 6hr period.
larry

 

[Dead Horse]

Before I bouht my farmi from Nedly, I made a skidding rig by welding chain hooks on a thick piece of L channel, welded to a steel rod the diameter of type I lower link pins, which I drilled out for lynch pins..

I used long pieces of chain to get the tree out of the woods and on to the logging road. either by attaching the chain to hooks on the FEL bucket or the hooks on the "skidder bar".

Once I had the logs on the road, it was easy to line them up and chain them up to the hooks on the skidder bar. raise the butts off the ground and off to the logging yard I would go.

Yes, a logging winch saves a TON of time over that approach, especially if the terraine is "challenging".

You could think about buying a used winch and then selling it when you are done. Purchased right, you will not lose money and may even make a few bucks. These winches are pure gold. The only thing that seems to wear on them are the bearings, which are pretty simple to replace and relatively easy to source.

Look around, you might get lucky and find one....... used ones for sale are rare as hen's teeth it seems.

 

[Famah]

An unbelievable thing happened a couple of hours ago. An old friend stopped by to say hello. He saw my new tractor and was very happy for me, telling me it was a very useful purchase. He has almost an identical one.

He went on to tell me that he has some attachments he hardly ever uses anymore, and that I was welcome to them anytime and for as long as I needed them. I had helped his son out of a couple of jambs when he was younger and pretty reckless behind the wheel. I would never accept money from Rick, and he has always been grateful.

So he goes on to say that he has a logging winch that I am welcome to. "It's that really rugged Italian one," he says. "Farmi?" I ask. "Yeah. That's it."

HOLY SMOKES! This never happens to me. I'm always doing the loaning and the favors. The timing is scary. So I guess I am good on the winch front. Still pinching myself, though. Must be a dream...

Nick

 

[Gordon Gould]

Whoa - Life is good

 

[k0ua]

Holy Cow Famah, does the good luck with the winch make up a little for the bad luck with the Poison Ivy? someone must be looking out for you.. Good luck with the winch man, stay safe:thumbsup:
James
K0UA