winchlines?

treefarmer87 · April 17, 2011, 04:49:29 PM

im thinking about replacing my mainline on my winch. its only about 50-75' long now. the one on it now is a very thick line. im not sure what size to get ???

http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=winch line&catID=245

Bobus2003 · April 17, 2011, 07:47:54 PM

I run 5/8" cable on my 440.. I put this on last summer:

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=WL+58100K&catID=245

quietrangr · April 17, 2011, 09:58:25 PM

Don't get too thick of a line. They get stiff, and coil up more when they've been used for a while. I think the last one I bought was a 1/2 inch swaged.

tlandrum · April 18, 2011, 01:17:32 AM

i run 3/4 swedged to 5/8

treefarmer87 · April 19, 2011, 06:59:05 PM

my line coils up like a snake now :( my buddy and i fixed the winch and it works like new

. im going to hook to a tree tomm. after im done, maybe it will get some kink out

snowstorm · April 19, 2011, 07:48:17 PM

best winch cable i ever had i bought from a marine supply store. yup same thing they use on boats

treefarmer87 · April 19, 2011, 08:15:35 PM

that makes sense as long as its rated for heavy loads you are fine. cables are cables

bill m · April 19, 2011, 08:33:05 PM

Quote from: treefarmer87 on April 19, 2011, 08:15:35 PM
cables are cables

Well, not really. There are many different steels, left lay, right lay, anti rotational, swaged, cable laid, coated, high tensile, the list goes on. Many cables will not work for skidders. Make sure what you get has the correct construction/material for what you are doing.

treefarmer87 · April 19, 2011, 09:01:38 PM

i didnt know that, i figured they were the same ??? what is the strongest?

nhlogga · April 20, 2011, 04:59:37 PM

Quote from: tlandrum on April 18, 2011, 01:17:32 AM
i run 3/4 swedged to 5/8

I run that size too.

submarinesailor · April 20, 2011, 05:16:41 PM

Quote from: snowstorm on April 19, 2011, 07:48:17 PM
best winch cable i ever had i bought from a marine supply store. yup same thing they use on boats

Snowstorm,

Can you give us some more info as to what cable and where you got it.

bruce

Ken · April 20, 2011, 06:19:57 PM

I think the required size is largely related to the type and volume of wood you will be hauling. If you are going to consisently be pulling larger (20"+) trees go with a bigger cable. If not why bother using something larger than necessary. We only use 1/2" lines on our machines and can easily pull 1-1.5 cords per hitch. I have worked around machines with bigger cables but I always thought they tended to kink much easier and were much harder (heavier) to haul through the brush. The most important thing to keep in mind is to keep the line straight on the winch drum. Eliminates the desire for the line to 'pigtail'.

Cheers
Ken

Bobus2003 · April 20, 2011, 07:07:52 PM

Quote from: bill m on April 19, 2011, 08:33:05 PM
Quote from: treefarmer87 on April 19, 2011, 08:15:35 PM
cables are cables
Well, not really. There are many different steels, left lay, right lay, anti rotational, swaged, cable laid, coated, high tensile, the list goes on. Many cables will not work for skidders. Make sure what you get has the correct construction/material for what you are doing.

I ran a bunch of free cable a few years back that was from a 80 ton crane back in the day.. was nice cable but it would kink, and didn't handle rocks well at all.. Very easy to break if skidding through rocks

bill m · April 20, 2011, 07:15:17 PM

Quote from: treefarmer87 on April 19, 2011, 09:01:38 PM
i didnt know that, i figured they were the same ??? what is the strongest?

The strongest may not be the best for this application. You need the right combination of strength, flexibility, and abrasion resistance. Not all cables will meet these needs. For example a 3/8 dia. 6 x 19 IWRC has a breaking strength of 15100 lbs., a 3/8 dia. 8 x 19 traction steel only has a breaking strength of 8200 lbs. and a 3/8 dia. 19 x 7 rotation resistant has a breaking strength of 12300 lbs. Go with what your logging equipment supplier sells if you are not sure what to get.

tlandrum · April 20, 2011, 07:20:26 PM

around here if your buying skidder cable i just about would bet its 3/4 swedged to 5/8. its the standard in these parts. it may be heavy but it will last a long time if you try to not side pull it against rocks and trees. what makes a cable coil up like a snake is the same principal as using a pair of scissors on a ribbon. .if you break the spin on the cable on direction it will coil up like a ribbon.

beenthere · April 20, 2011, 07:32:22 PM

What is involved in swedging a 3/4 cable to 5/8, and is the weight per foot the same?

snowstorm · April 20, 2011, 07:55:29 PM

Quote from: submarinesailor on April 20, 2011, 05:16:41 PM
Quote from: snowstorm on April 19, 2011, 07:48:17 PM
best winch cable i ever had i bought from a marine supply store. yup same thing they use on boats

Snowstorm,

Can you give us some more info as to what cable and where you got it.

bruce

hamilton marine searsport maine it was 5/8 its been on there for a long time they even pressed the knob on it cut it any lenght ya want

bill m · April 20, 2011, 08:43:32 PM

6 x 26 IWRC 3/4 swaged to 5/8 is .957 lbs. per foot. 6 x 19 IWRC 3/4 is 1.04 lbs. per foot.

captain_crunch · April 21, 2011, 01:28:11 AM

Unless you constantly watch how line spools on winch no mater what it won't last We bought used 5/8 haulback off yarder lasted about 2 months per cat and with 2 cats working we put out about 5-6 loads per day. Look for used line if you can find it been stressed and streatched. Drum lines live a hard life no mater how hard you try to save them. What helped as much as anything was after fueling cat drain diesel from hose onto winch line lube helped it spool better

tlandrum · April 21, 2011, 01:33:27 AM

the reason i always use swedged cable is it has less friction when dragging the line out to your trees. when gragging it it doesnt grab every thing it rubbs against like unswedged cable. i have a grapple skidder but when it gets to steep or too slick i have to go back to pulling cable. and i hate pulling cable. dragging 150ft of cable with 5 chokers is not exactly light. really a pain to drag up hill.........