Author Topic: Building a pto powered logging winch Finished (Read 16973 times)

Banjo picker · « **Reply #140 on:** November 06, 2011, 08:26:07 pm »

John you have a point there... The one I have is not very big .... say 4" without going and looking... I won't really be going around it though..just down one side and out the front...kind of like a 90 deg...The crane boom in some of the earlier post has four 12" sheivs on it.. one of those would be just right, but that would put me back in the fabricating business again.. Tim

John Mc · « **Reply #141 on:** November 07, 2011, 07:06:26 pm »

4" probably isn't so bad (assuming you are talking about to the bottom of the groove), though a bit bigger would probably be better. 12" is far more than you need.

If it's mounted in a place that will get smashed up when hauling logs, then having it easily removable (as with your receiver mount) would be a good idea.

Taylortractornut · « **Reply #142 on:** November 07, 2011, 08:16:43 pm »

Tim I did nt get to run up there today too many things broke down and Im training a new helper. You should stop in and see what Surlpus Industral has. Its simple to get to depending on your route to Florence.

If your on 133 just go west on 2nd street and cross 43/ woodward Ave and head towards Sheffield. Youll see an APAC equipment yard and a small street on the left. Then the Apac office. Thats Holland Ave. Theres 3 big warehouses down there and SI is in the last building. THey have 2 warehouses packed full of bearings machinery and tools. Heres his listing

Surplus Industrial
401 Holland Ave, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 » Map
(256) 386-9808

GDinMaine · « **Reply #143 on:** November 09, 2011, 05:49:32 pm »

Here is how far I got with my project. I started it the first week of September.

First couple of pictures show the frame in the early portion of the work. I got it together just enough so I can test the winch for functionality. It checked out all right so I went ahead to build the rest of the frame, but-plate and fairlead.
The pictures from 3 to 5 show what it looks like today.

Next I need to put on #60 chain and sprockets, change the oil in the winch and at last install new cable. I hope it will be done in a couple of weeks.

GDinMaine · « **Reply #144 on:** November 09, 2011, 05:51:19 pm »

so. For some reason uploading pictures became a royal pain in the rear-end. I will have to try that again later.

thecfarm · « **Reply #145 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:55:55 am »

We will help with picture. I suppose you went to the "help" on top of the page? Just follow that and DON'T miss a step and it will work fine.

Banjo picker · « **Reply #146 on:** November 11, 2011, 08:43:07 pm »

Well after nearly a year, I strung up the winch with new cable a couple of days ago...it looked so nice...

Needless to say it don't stay looking like that, but o well...

The lady that runs the logging supply gave me 6 sliders...I bought 3 chokers from her...so I am set.

Here is the first log ...a 19 foot Poplar ... Sorry for the pic quality...Something went arye

This was the top log, the but cut wasn't as long but pretty heavy... and I did break a weild on the I beam where the third arm vertical was attatched... the chains around the ROPS save the day...other wise I would have probably messed up some stuff on the winch... I'll get that beefed up before it goes out again...Even with the high pull point, I had to get in the creek and rehook the middle log as it got under and over hang on the creek bank....I had several other pictures , but they were just not very good....

pineywoods · « **Reply #147 on:** November 11, 2011, 09:10:43 pm »

DaanG Banjo, you sure you got enough cable on that drum ? Looks like enough to reach half across the county, much less just across the creek. You'll love it..

Banjo picker · « **Reply #148 on:** November 11, 2011, 09:30:08 pm »

Pineywoods I guess I did put a little too much cable on there...

but , I am still in the learning process... I would like to say thanks again to you and to a lot of others that have gave me tips and ideas to incorporate into this project... First off I am glad I was talked out of powering it straight from the pto... the reverse of the hyd motor was necessary this evening, as I had to unhook from one log that got hung under the overhang of the creek bank... I don't rember who told me to put a protective cover in front of the winch, but if I had not done it... the first log would have busted it..

I beefed up the frame everwhere except where the weild broke and I will get that one done now

....Thanks to all who posted pics. for me to get ideas from... Tim

pineywoods · « **Reply #149 on:** November 11, 2011, 10:06:11 pm »

Yeah, that reverse power out is a lifesaver. I have a pto powered winch on a small dozer, BUT, the pto is reversable. The hydraulic winch on my kubota, I have broken the roller chain and snapped 1/2 inch cable, but never run out of power.

GDinMaine · « **Reply #150 on:** November 13, 2011, 05:53:38 pm »

Hey Banjo picker that is great! How is the pulling speed of the winch? Are you happy with that. Also. How long is the cable you have on there? Not teasing just curious so I know what might be too much.
Thanks

thecfarm · « **Reply #151 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:06:14 pm »

I have 150 feet on my winch. But saying that it's hard to walk out through the woods with 150 feet of cable in a straight line.Seems like I always have to unhook 2-3 times to get the log to me.Not really worth it most of the time. But last winter and I'll be doing it again,I was hooking on another 50 feet of cable to get the trees out of a bog,but I'm cutting everything so there are no trees in the way.Kinda better to have too much and not use it,than to need more and not have it.

GDinMaine · « **Reply #152 on:** November 14, 2011, 04:49:19 pm »

I finally had time to figure out the attaching process as well as nurse my half dead computer back to life. Here are the pictures I talked about earlier. A bit more bracing needs to be done and I have to mount the winch and put chain and sprockets on it. The cable on the drum is only about 40ft long so I will get new. I decided to go with 100ft of cable as not to have too much or too little. The chain and sprockets in the bottom picture were used for test purpose only to see if the winch is functional. If it had not been I would not have gone any farther with this particular build.

beenthere · « **Reply #153 on:** November 14, 2011, 05:19:28 pm »

GD
Good on the pics and good on the winch.

How is the speed with those sprockets? Going faster or slower than you want?

Looks like you'd be trying it out shortly.

Is it to be rope control through a clutch, or the PTO clutch on the tractor?

Banjo picker · « **Reply #154 on:** November 14, 2011, 06:06:09 pm »

Quote from: GDinMaine on November 13, 2011, 05:53:38 pm

Hey Banjo picker that is great! How is the pulling speed of the winch? Are you happy with that. Also. How long is the cable you have on there? Not teasing just curious so I know what might be too much.
Thanks

I'll have to get back with you on how much line...I guess about 200' or more...Its a little slower than I would like, but about as fast as it needs to be safety wise...I can get it out of gear if the tractor starts to slide backwards or the front end comes up....So far it has slide the tractor backwards when the log hit a stump or other object...Tim

thecfarm · « **Reply #155 on:** November 15, 2011, 06:06:04 am »

Don't look bad at all. Much better than spending a couple grand to do the same thing.I would prefer to run the winch on the ground myself,if possible. Just see more things that can go wrong. I know you are just trying it.Put some more braces to the top link on the 3pt hitch. Winching is hard on equipment. What kind of tractor and hp you have?

GDinMaine · « **Reply #156 on:** November 15, 2011, 10:38:58 am »

Thanks for the comments.
When the picture with sprockets and PTO shaft was taken I made the basic frame just so I can connect it to the 3pt hitch and hook up to the tractor PTO. I puled a small log to see if the winch is all right and then took the whole thing off and snapped some pictures. During the testing it was a 1:1 sprocket ratio and it was rather slow running the engine at 2000 rpm (I get 540 RPM pto speed at 2600 rpm engine speed) but I do not plan on running it like that. The tractor is small Kubota B7800 with 30hp engine and 22hp pto. It's fine for my hobby farming needs.

The #60 sprockets I bought are 18 tooth driver and 12 tooth driven so I will get a better pulling speed. I estimate about a 25-30 ft/min pulling speed with that. It is slow compared to a Farmi winch but I'm all right with that. I will have the option of buying a larger driver sprocket, but I'd rather start slow.

There is power in-out and neutral on the winch. You can see the control lever I made up in this picture. When pulled away from the winch it spools in when pushed in it spools out when I let it go the springs push it into neutral and the winch holds the load. It is an old tow truck winch. I have to figure out how I'm going to convert that control so I can use it from a safe distance with ropes. You can see the "silver" handle on both pictures. It just has not had itme to rust up to standard. As you can tell I also have to trim the shaft that is under the winch drum.

I bought 100' 3/8" skidder cable after reading posts here and talked to my neighbor who uses 75' of cable on his skidder. I actually tried to copy the fairlead from the one on his Franklin. He said he can get to most everything and if it's short he hooks a few chains together. I used a 100' piece of rope before and only needed to add chains two or three times in the past four years.
When it's all said and done I will have about $500 in the project and a bunch of time. Still FAR cheaper then the cheapest of used Farmi winches I have seen for sale around here.

.

John Mc · « **Reply #157 on:** November 15, 2011, 07:57:22 pm »

I'm not sure I'm looking at this correctly, but if I understand it, your winch control lever is on the side facing the logs being skidded. I understand that when it's done this may be protected behind a steel plate or screen, but I'm thinking if you flip things around so it's on the tractor side of the winch, you'll have more room to fiddle with options for a rope control. This will probably bury your chain and sprockets between the winch and the shield plate, but it looks as though it wouldn't be too much of a hassle to get to it for maintenance or repair.

Spooling out is not something you need to be protected from, so you can concentrate on figuring out the rope control to pull the lever out away from the winch. However, if you are concerned that you can't rely on the spring return, you might want to add something (extra spring, another rope or ?) to force the lever back in when you release. You'd hate to be in a situation where you release the rope, and it keeps right on winching.

Last comment: 25-30 feet per minute is S-L-O-W. A moderate walk is 3 MPH, or a bit over 250 FPM. I'm not saying you have to match Farmi's speed, but 25 FPM could be so slow as cause your mind to wander on a longer pull. You might want to actually measure your speed just to be sure where you are.

John Mc

GDinMaine · « **Reply #158 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:15:21 pm »

John, The idea of flipping the winch around would require the cutting off of all the mounting pieces including the shaft mount in the center. The thing is not symmetrical so flip-flopping is not an option. As for the winch speed. You are right I will not win any race with it. But I will take this slow winch many times over compared to what I used to use before. That was the definition of pain in the ... (name your choice of body part).

In any case. I'm pretty much done. I wrestled the winch into the frame (imagine a bloody battle for that one) and put on all the new sprockets, chain, pto shaft and winch cable. My four-year-old was so happy that he went into a complete fit and wanted to see the winch pulling logs. I had to give in didn't I

. It worked like a charm and my boy was happy (so was his dad).
I have a little tiny more welding to do and off to the woods I go tomorrow by noon.

I just had to share my giddy, childish happiness with people who understand. I will post pictures of the contraption in action.

John Mc · « **Reply #159 on:** November 21, 2011, 08:22:55 am »

If it works, and you are happy with it, that's what matters.

Is there anything to protect your control lever from the logs being winched in? This might not be much of an issue when winching. You can always stop when the logs get close. Might be an issue if you are skidding logs behind the tractor once they've been winched in?

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Author Topic: Building a pto powered logging winch Finished (Read 16973 times)