I&J Logging Winch

FrankRichards · January 07, 2008, 11:23:39 AM

I'm planning to get a logging winch to use clearing my land here in New Hampshire. I'd about decided on the Farmi 351P to go with my New Holland TC30. However I was just offered a very attractive price on a demo model of the I&J Manufacturing winch.
This single web page is all I can find about it www.timberwinch.com. Does anyone have any experience with it?

Thanks,

Frank

Ed_K · January 07, 2008, 08:08:20 PM

Welcome FrankRichards, I ran a 6000# fransguard winch for yrs and was happy with it.It looks a lot like the one you show in the timberwinch site. If your careful not to over do it, you'll get a lot done with it. I'm now running a 9000# Tajfun winch from OSECO in Conway, Ma. How much land are you clearing? Got any pictures?

thecfarm · January 07, 2008, 08:14:45 PM

Frank,welcome to the forum.Pull up a seat.You will enjoy it here.I have no idea about the I&J winch.I would look to see if it's built as good as a Farmi.Is is just about the same size?If it is,does it weigh as much as the Farmi?Is the steel the same thickness in certain areas?I have a Norse winch.Kinda like a Farmi.I do like the pivot dozer blade on the I&J.I have that on my Norse.Can you lift a log higher on one than the other?That's why I went with the Norse than the Farmi.
By the way,if you going to twitch out small trees,6-8 inches,spend the money and buy some hooks and some short chain.I been clearing off a pasture for years.I get my fire wood from there.I have chains 6 feet long.I finally made up 3 short ones.Much eaiser pulling a 30 inch chain through a choker than a 6 foot one.

RSteiner · January 08, 2008, 06:46:55 AM

What part of New Hampshire are you clearing land in? I live in the far southwest corner of the state. I have a Farmi winch that has served me well for over 25 years on two diferent tractors. The model number escapes me now but it is rated for a 20 to 35 hp. tractor.

I assume this is a PTO driven winch. The weight suggests that it has a bit of metal in it, the thicker the better. My Farmi has a 1/2" diameter cable and is able to hold 150' on the drum. I would think a smaller diameter cable would wear our quicker and tangle on the drum more. Also check the size of the driving chain, the bigger the better.

I paid $900.00 brand new for my winch all those years ago and would not part with it for that price now.

Randy

FrankRichards · January 08, 2008, 01:40:40 PM

Thanks for the welcome. I'm in southwest New Hampshire. We've got 300 acres, clearing 10 to start some general farming. There're lots of pictures over at www.mackhillfarm.com and on my wife's Flickr account --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--/--Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--/photos/lisanh/[/url].

As far as the winch, someone on another forum offered me a used Farmi 290. I'm going over to see it tomorrow.

Climber · January 08, 2008, 08:39:40 PM

Hey Frank,
I am in Pelham NH.
I just done whole 9 yards research on winches. After about 40 hours (not continues) of research and comparison I bought Farmi 391P. It cost me $3500 in Chappell Tractors in Milford NH.
290 is too small plus "P" is giving you a blade which is great future if you pulling larger load then your tractor.
Farmi comparing to other is much stronger, well engineered and improved through the years.

My suggestion: go with Farmi 391P. It may be more money up front but you will never regret. In 20 years you still will be able to get parts.

If you want to see how it's work come and I show you.

Good luck
P.S. Welcome.

Climber

FrankRichards · January 09, 2008, 02:24:26 PM

Climber

Thanks for telling me about Chapell Tractor. That's far closer than anyplace I found.

I did go with the 290. This one has a blade welded to the bottom (yeah, I know, no hinge), and I'm pretty sure that if it is too small I can get back what I paid for it.

Frank

Climber · January 09, 2008, 09:29:06 PM

Frank,
Good luck with 10 acres of hard work.
What are you going to do with trees, timber, branches and stumps?
Are you going to chip brush and branches?
If so, do you know you can sale every think including woodchips?

Let as know how Farmi 290 is doing.

Climber

RSteiner · January 10, 2008, 04:21:00 PM

Frank,

I am about the same distance southwest of Keene as you are to the north, I live next to Pisgah State park in Winchester. The Farmi winch I have I think is the JL 290 without the blade mine has two legs or stablizers.

If this is your first time using a 3PH winch there are a few mistakes you don't want to make, don't aks me how I know. Always pull as straight behind the tractor as possible when pulling a heavy load. You can safely pull about 15 degrees each side of center with moderate laods. When pulling off to the side there can be a lot of twisting action on the 3PH. When you start lifting one side off the ground it is time to stop. I broke a top lift arm on my Ford 8N once.

In Feburary there is the Farm and Forest Expo in Manchester, NH where there is usually two or three booths selling forestry supplies like chain chokers and cable sliders at show prices, 5/16 chain chokers work well for me. If you do not have one a peavey is indispensible, some one is usually selling Logrite tools at the show. Many times when pulling a log it gets hung up on a rock or a root and the peavey works well to free these jams.

Having a couple of sliders on the cable works well for bunching several stems to pull them as one hitch. 3PH winches have enough pull to either lift the tractor off the ground, either the front end or the rear end depending on the size tractor you are using. They also put an extreme amount of pressure on the top link mount. On my Kubota I added the heavey duty top link bracket made for backhoe applications. The top link was made mainly for implements that push against it such as a plow, not pull on it and the winch does pull on it. As long as you are careful you should not have any problems.

When making multiple pulls in the same place watch your feet the log from one hitch can connect with the log from a previous hitch and pinch your leg if you are not paying attention. When you have a helper on the hook end of the cable wait until they are in the clear before starting to pull. My brother was helping me once and we did not see the end of the tree which was under a pile of brush when it swung around as I pulled it took him right off his feet quicker than you would believe. Fingers can be pinched too if not in the clear.

When pulling a log with the tractor once it has been pulled to the tractor I most always hook the choker to the attachment point on the lower part of the winch frame. This keeps the center of gravity low and does not cause the cable to nest itself in the drum. Always try to keep the cable tight on the drum, once you have bound the cable on itself on the drum you will understand. At times I have to hook the cable to a tree and drive off with the tractor to get it loose.

Becareful and good luck.

Randy

pineywoods · January 10, 2008, 06:41:48 PM

Another piece of hard-earned advice. If the tractor moves backwards instead of the log moving, DO NOT back up against a tree like I did. Strewed winch parts all over woods. ;D

Climber · January 10, 2008, 09:13:09 PM

New England folks
on Feb. 7 and 8
at Center of NH - Radisson Hotel Manchester
wiil be
NH Farm & Forest Exposition
Last year they charged me some think like $10 or $15

thecfarm · January 10, 2008, 09:20:50 PM

Climber,the show is only $7 this year.Here's the link,

http://www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org/

Climber · January 12, 2008, 01:58:45 AM

Awesome
I just remember it was short money, not like New England Grows or TCI Expo.
$7 - I like it 8)

FrankRichards · January 13, 2008, 05:02:57 PM

That's a bunch of good advice. Thanks to all of you.

jdtuttle · January 19, 2008, 08:51:19 PM

Pineywoods, I got a great visual of putting the tractor by a tree to stop it from moving. I think we all have done something like that.

Blue Sky · January 21, 2008, 09:36:28 AM

Hey Frank, You got any Black Locust you want to harvest? I am always in the market for this stuff. Had a business for 12 years now. Let me know.

FrankRichards · January 26, 2008, 06:09:47 PM

Quote from: Enchanted Forester on January 21, 2008, 09:36:28 AM
Hey Frank, You got any Black Locust you want to harvest? I am always in the market for this stuff. Had a business for 12 years now. Let me know.

'Fraid not. I'm in USDA zone 4 here, not 5. Locust is one of the many trees and other plants that grow down in Keene but not here in Marlow.

FrankRichards · January 26, 2008, 06:21:44 PM

I finally got to try out the Farmi 290 today. I pulled a lot of firewood and all was well, but when I went for a 22 ft 24 inch log the clutch was smoking. Two tens worked fine. I've got a lot of pasture pine, so I may end up with the 351, but I want more that a single day's experience before I plunk down the money. <img --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--/photos/lisanh/2220356911/" />