Hydraulic Winch Question

[DR Buck]

I'm going to put a winch on my log trailer to augment the knuckle-boom loader.  This will allow me to load logs up ramps that exceed the loader 2500 lift.    The trailer is a JMS bought through Baileys and it has a 9 hp hydraulic unit on it.   I'm seriously considering the Milemarker 12000 lb winch.

Problem is the Milemarker is rated at 3.5 gpm  / 1500 psi and my hydraulic unit is 4 gpm / 2500 psi.    The flow rate is close enough to not be an issue, but I will need to reduce the pressure to less than 1500 psi through the winch.

Any suggestions on where in the hydraulic circuit I should put the winch and how to do the plumbing of the pressure reducer.  I could also use suggestions on where to get the correct reducer.

[Frank_Pender]

You can put an in line detent valve.  I used one, once on a hoist system to increase the pressure for the lifting capacity.  But, alas, I am not a hydraulic specialist.

[logwalker]

Make sure the spool valve you use has a relief valve and temporarily install a guage and set it to 1500 psi. LW

[submarinesailor]

Back when I knew something about hydraulics, I remember Vickers having a valve they called an "R" valve.  They made it just for systems like yours.  According to Vickers, if you use a relief valve to control your pressure, you can/will over heat your oil.  So here comes the "R" valve, it will maintain the system pressure at the set point, while dumping the extra back into the return/tank without over heating the oil.  But, that was 22 years ago and memory gets lost with time.

Bruce/subsailor

[IL Bull]

I'm with Logwalker.  Install a spool valve (open center) and adjust the pressure on the relief (dead head the circuit).  As long as the winch is running free you won't build up enough pressure to go over relief so heating up the oil should not be a problem.