Author Topic: Portable Winch (Read 3249 times)

aniakhenry · « **on:** June 01, 2007, 01:59:15 pm »

Anyone out there use a portable winch to pull logs to your logging trails? I just got a DVD and info from Portable Winch out of Canada. The video is pretty impressive. They are pulling logs out with the portable winch which is a capstan style winch with high strenth ropes, snatch blocks and a skidding cone. I may buy one in the Fall but wanted to hear some forestry review. If you use one what is the largest dia. trees your pulling and lengths?

Thanks...

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2007, 02:28:36 pm »

How fast are they? that's the other thing to consider, which will vary depending on what your goal is.

grassfed · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2007, 02:30:03 pm »

Hey, Check this thread.

Portable Gas Winch

aniakhenry · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2007, 03:37:19 pm »

Thanks Grassfed,

Here is the website of the winch I am referring to.

http://www.novajack.com/en/0101_05.htm

Any other reviews?

Thanks

burlman · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:19:54 pm »

i never tried a capstan winch system. but I have been using a lewis chainsaw winch for over 15 years now and it is a great tool to have around. carry it any where and all the pulling power you need with a 70cc. saw powering it.

Dale Hatfield · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:56:39 pm »

I have worked with the Nova jack systems. I believe they are good if you are wanting to work with small equipment. As far as the winch and skidding cone worked great for fetching small sticks where you didnt want to drive equipment . If you buy the system make sure you get a corner block. It is a great tool . You can pull around a tree and set the rigging so it pops off the block just when you need it to go straight. No scuffing of remaining stand because you not tring to bend poles around them. I find the winch system slow but strong. I like pulling with the ATV better.
Dale

LedlieLogs · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2007, 11:30:59 pm »

I'm with burlman, love the Lewis. I use it a lot now and it is great for the small, underfunded operator.
Ledlie

treetech · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2007, 09:52:31 am »

Have any of you guys heard tell of, or used, a "Yankie Yarder"? It is a portable cable winch system that is powered with a five HP stationary engine. They are easily built and cheap to operate. They work best with a skid cone and snatch block.

beenthere · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2007, 10:55:26 am »

A google search on "Yankee Yarder" comes up wih nothing. Do you have a reference, link, or site where you find that name ??

treetech · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2007, 12:09:02 pm »

I think the Yankee Yarder may be technology from the past. A guy I worked with was responsible for making a lot of small woodlot equipment. That is the only place I have ever seen them. Fortunately the guy (Douglas MacMaster, since deceased) that built this equipment also made plans for constructing the equipment he built.The Prince Edward Island Forestry Department still has plans available if anyone is interested. The winch is simply a 5 HP engine with reduction on it that belt drives a winch drum with cable on it. the clutch system is simply tightning and loosening the belt with a lever. The cable will freewheel when the belt is slack. You tighten the belt to retreive the cable and pull the log in. I will try to get a picture of one if I can. If anyone wants plans they can email me and I will see to it that you get a set.

aniakhenry · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2007, 12:28:39 pm »

Dale,

I have viewed their CD and am questioning if my 400 Honda will have more or equal power than using the winch itself. I almost ordered the winch with the forestry kit but am having second thoughts if I should just get the forestry kit and see how the ATV does as my power source.

When using the Nova Jack system did you find that you can get equal or more power with snatch blocks, corner block and ATV than with blocks and the winch?

Thanks....

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:53:00 pm »

I bought one of those winches last Jan. Used it all winte pulling logs to my paths. Woked geat fo the way I log. Best money I spent. Wife and I cut about 570 logs this winter. For me that is very good. Wife operated winch I attached logs. I did not use a cone and did all my skidding in the winter. Great for hauling 16 ft spruce to the path. Not fast but then to cut a side trail in to get one log would take longer and be a lot more work. Pic on my gallery

Quebecnewf

Kevin · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2007, 07:37:10 pm »

The small ATV winch will over heat.

The only down side to the portable winch is applying constant pressure on the running end to keep the rope tight on the capstan.

PawNature · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2007, 10:44:59 pm »

I have the capstan winch it does a really good job for what I use it for.

Dale Hatfield · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2007, 11:43:56 pm »

We used no snatch blocks . A direct pull er well as direct as you get with the corner block. Its a slight change of direction but no mechanical advantage. The only advantage to the corner block is the height that you set it at . So you are pulling up and not into the hill. as well as the disengage system built into it.
WE used it in a thinning. Pulling small stuff less than 12 Dib. about 16 feet long. bunched with winch and big 4 wheeler and then used arch to make the long haul.
Dale

aniakhenry · « **Reply #15 on:** June 09, 2007, 04:26:52 am »

Kevin,

I don't intend to use my 4-wheeler winch, but the 4-wheeler it self.

Quebecnewf,

It looks like most of your logs were pretty small diameter. You sure do have a pile though!
What is the largest diameter trees your able to pull out?

I would like to pull out 16-20" diameter spruce trees. 16 to 20' Long. I plan to pull logs to the trail where my arch can haul them out. I know it won't be easy.
Is that going to happen with this capstan portable winch?

Kevin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 09, 2007, 09:16:47 am »

This will make it easier for the large trees ...

PawNature · « **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2007, 12:58:03 pm »

Kevin got it. Only so much any winch will do by its self. Then you've got to start using leverage.

Kevin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2007, 02:06:47 pm »

The winch will handle the load but it's pull on the running end that you are exerting that you'll want to reduce.

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #19 on:** June 12, 2007, 06:35:35 am »

Most of my logs are a smaller run. I pulled about 25 logs in the 16 ft long 12" at the top range. With those type I used a snatch block, this doubles the power up to 5000 lb line pull. Speed drops by half.
You should have no problem hauling the logs you mention. You will need a snatch block for the bigger ones. I have a great deal of experence in pulling things with winches, Over 30 years of hauling and launching boats etc. This was a big help in that I knew how to rig the blocks to do the most work.

For 90% of the logs I hauled it was just a straight pull. I would go in attach the rope to the log. I then had a single sheave block running on the line. This block had a small 6 ft piece of rope attached to it. I used this block to change the direction of the pull if needed. If I needed more pull this block was attached to the log being pulled as a snatch block this doubles the pulling power.
One day we fell a large spruce across a brook. We hooked the snatch block to the base and pulled it backwards across the brook though a willow bed limbs and all.

Like I said for the way I log it was the best money I ever spent. It is a bit slow but when your in soft snow on snowshoes you don't want anything going to fast.
Quebecnewf

A log 20" at the top and 16' long is going to be heavy both for the winch and the ATV. It can be moved wiyh either machine but not without careful planning

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Author Topic: Portable Winch (Read 3249 times)