logging winch

wheelinguy · December 16, 2011, 07:02:16 AM

Just bought a new tractor and i was looking into a logging winch for it. Never used one before just wondering if anyone could give me the pros and cons? We live in a hilly area so i was thinking that bringing the logs to me would be better than trying to go get them, plus the mud/clay never seems to dry up around here. Any input would be great.

thecfarm · December 16, 2011, 07:25:34 AM

After using chains and going forward and than back to unhook and re-hook and really only able to take 2 logs at a time,IF things came right,I really can't think of any cons,besides the price of one now. I have one since '93. Really worked it hard and alot. Mine does not require much maintenance,just a little grease. The one I have will outlast any 4 wheeler or snow machine,I feel.Those winches are just great. I have 5 chokers on mine,I haul a lot of small trees at times.I'm kinda thinking about adding one more. I'm into some small dead fir. If things are right I can hook up all five to trees and I'm good to go. Most time I can only hook up 1-2 trees,winch them in,move and hook up the others to fill my chokers. Don't think that you are going to walk through the woods with 150 feet of cable in a straight line,if you have alot of trees on your land.Seems like when you winch in,a tree will get in the way. Just have to unhook and move the cable around the tree. But still easier than chains. Think of it as an investment. Yes they are pricey,but I've had my for 28 years and had hardly any trouble with it. It was in the woods with it making me money for 3 years,so it really saw some use.It would be a real nice tool to be on top of the hill and winching in to you.I've think I replaced the cable 4 times. What kind of tractor and hp?

york · December 16, 2011, 07:38:24 AM

Hi,
I have an old Farmi mod#456-new in 1976 and i can`t kill this thing-It came with 165 ft. 1/2in. cable-now shorter because of wear.only about 80ft.and that is OK,like it shorter...Bert

RSteiner · December 16, 2011, 12:40:42 PM

I have one of the smaller Farmi winches which I purchased new back around the mid-1980's. The winch is on its second tractor. This by far is one of the best accessories you can buy for your tractor.

I added a trailer hitch ball to mine so I can pull a small trailer and have the winch on the tractor. That way when cutting firewood I can pull the wood to me, block it up, and have the pile of chunk wood right next to the trailer so all I have to do is throw it in.

Randy

logman81 · December 16, 2011, 01:22:49 PM

I also have a winch it's an older Fransguard v-2800. It is a very good and simple winch to operate very Little maintenance is required and it has been through three tractors and is still going strong! The only I have replace on it was the cable and a few sliders. It is currently on a 38hp 4x4 tractor and I run six chokers on mine just fine. They are very handy for extracting small diameter wood were you don't want to drive a tractor too allowing you to keep the tractor in the safe zone especially on hilly terrain.

Woodhog · December 16, 2011, 02:08:59 PM

Winches are nice for a tractor...

I would buy a snatch block with it as every pull is not always coming straight in if you are doing selective cutting....

If you have chain chockers I would not buy the type with the closed loops, they are hard to get off if they become entangled under several logs after you set the load down at the landing...

The most aggravating thing I find is when pulling out the cable and a foul turn on the drum stops you abruptly after walking about 100 feet with the cable...you then have to clear the turn and continue all over again...

wheelinguy · December 16, 2011, 03:52:37 PM

Thanks for the input, any brands that you suggest? Any brands you suggest I stay away from? The tractor is a new Kioti dk35sehst, 38 hp, hydrostatic, pto, rear hydrualic remotes, quiktatch coupler on the loader. I just picked up chains today from local dealer, they didn't have the $575 chains in stock, but they had some old tellefsdal chains still in the box that just happened to be the right size! The guy charged me $350 and told me not to tell anyone the deal he gave me, yes he was the owner not an employee looking for cash.

logman81 · December 16, 2011, 04:02:15 PM

I wood try and look at several brands each one has pros and cons. I have a fransguard and it is a very dependable unit. I here that farmi and uniforest are also a good brand but do your research before purchasing anything and you may also want to look into a grapple bucket for the loader as well very handy for moving brush and stacking logs. Good luck!

LaserZX · December 16, 2011, 04:03:36 PM

any pics of some of winch setups on tractors.

Shotgun · December 16, 2011, 04:18:58 PM

Lazer ZX,

I have a search feature on my FF top header. If you have it, "Search" is your friend. Try it out.

Norm

Woodhog · December 16, 2011, 05:32:19 PM

This one will haul a good load... the tractor is larger than yours, but you should fit the winch accordingly.

A tractor is nice because when you go to sell it there are more buyers than just dedicated forestry equipment with limited other uses....

JDeere · December 16, 2011, 06:34:07 PM

Here is a photo of my John Deere 6115D with a Tajfun winch on it. I have had a Farmi, Fransgard and Tajfun and they are all good winches. Many folks on here will tell you the Farmis are bullet proof.

g_man · December 16, 2011, 06:59:43 PM

Any well know brand winch is good. Can't go wrong with Farmi.
I have a pretty small setup. But it does a good job for me. 30 hp tractor with a 6500 lb pull Farmi Winch and an API grapple on the bucket. Tractor weighs 5000 lbs including loaded tires and chains. The heavier you can make your tractor the better. If you need to stay on your roads, like I do you, will find a couple snatch blocks to be very handy if not necessary. Working slow and easy is the fastest way to get it done. I run the tractor at about 1500 to 1800 rpm when winching (pto at around 300 rpm). Always be thinking a step ahead so you know where to stop the log if you need to re-rig the cable or drop a block to get the log to the tractor. Here are a few pictures

LaserZX · December 16, 2011, 07:20:17 PM

Thanks for the pics now I want that loader grapple. I think a grapple should be something that could be made
fairly cheap

nas · December 16, 2011, 08:51:38 PM

I have a Wallenstein 6500lb winch, and it has been great. It worked ok on my 16hp Kubota B7100

But it works a lot better on my new 45hp Kioti.

This is the best picture I have. It is pulling a half load there because we had to skid up a very steep bank. That winch would be perfect on a 30-40hp tractor. Just make sure you have enough weight on the front, and don't try to do to much. Wear a seat belt and think safety first!!! :P

Nick

thecfarm · December 17, 2011, 06:33:28 AM

Woodhog,looks like you have a Norse 450 like I do.

Not the best picture. I guess I need a working picture of it. ;D
If you do buy one get some short chains with it too. They all come with 8 foot chains and only 4 chokers now, I think. I really doubt anyone would use 4-8 foot chains on trees that big all at once. I made up 5 chains,3 1/2 feet long. They get more use than my long ones. So much easier to pull a few inches of chain through a chocker instead of 3-4 feet.
Always try to pull kinda right directly behind the winch. Don't winch in on any sharp angles off to the left or to the right. I stopped on one of my trails to winch in a 4-6 inch tree. I did not bother to back the tractor up to get good direct pull. I thought it's only a small tree,nothing will happen. :

I was winching in at a 90 degree angle. That small tree caught up on a rock or root and I kept on winching,watching the tree. The cable was moving but the tree was not. The tractor was up on 2 wheels sideways. I just release the rope and the tractor came back down on 2 wheels. I pay alot more attention to everything around me now.

ahlkey · December 17, 2011, 08:48:21 AM

I have a farmi winch on a 42HP tractor and I agree it is one of the best options to purchase for a tractor. I also added an Amsteel rope extension of 75 feet so I can reach out well over 230 feet when necessary. However, when winching that far out I recommend snatchblocks which help increase your pull capacity and the self-releasing ones really saves a lot of time. I would buy used if you can find one as not a lot can go wrong with them.

Stephen Alford · December 17, 2011, 09:54:28 AM

Hey wheelinguy, welcome to the forum, winches are great and there are quite a few choices. I went with a hydraulic one because of the spoolin/spoolout/freespool. In time needed more stuff on the back of the tractor and the winch could then be mounted on the front with just longer hoses. Built a grapple then a log trailer and scraper blade for the back. Friends have the pto winches and as others have mentioned they are very pleased. What will you be doing with the winch and tractor ie part time/full time?

thecfarm · December 18, 2011, 05:12:17 AM

Nice set up you have there Stephen.

John Mc · December 18, 2011, 10:36:53 PM

Wheelinguy -

A Farmi 351 would be a good match for your tractor. Farmi winches are well designed and just about bomb-proof.

The Uniforest 35E is also a good match size-wise. (You may also be able to handle a Uniforest model 40E.) I own a 35E, which I use behind my New Holland TC33D tractor. It's a good match, and a decently built winch. It was a bit cheaper than a Farmi. However, If I had it to do over again, I'd spend the extra to get the Farmi 351. There are a few design details that I feel are superior to the Uniforest 35E (The 40E and up are designed a bit differently, closer to how the Farmi winches are designed.)

Hud-Son in Barneveld, NY is Uniforest's US rep. Hud-son has dealers scattered around the US. One of them is not too far from you: Steve White in Dalton, NH (that's who I bought my 35E from). Hud-Son is also a Farmi Dealer, so you might be able to see both side-by-side.

wheelinguy · December 19, 2011, 07:24:22 AM

Thanks for all the responses. Stephen I will be using the winch part time, pulling blow downs on our property, maybe a few small jobs. We have an owb and go through a ton of wood, we burn hardwood/softwood whatever we can get for free! I'm sure if i put a winch on my tractor that friends and family will find a use for it to. John thanks for the info. just doing some preliminary research but all the input has been great, looking forward to posting more!

Stephen Alford · December 19, 2011, 08:26:49 AM

Thanks cfarm, I am hesitant to repost pics as I don't want to be redundant but a pic has that "it is what it is" quality.

Some of you folks seem to navigate these waters pretty good .
Wheelinguy we went to a split 42" with racks as the wood used is what nobody else wants. :D Keep your eye out for a good used log loader, they will put a smile on your face every time you climb in the perch. Added a wind cab , toolbox/vise , jackstand, and steaked it for 12' this week to improve this homemade unit.

thecfarm · December 19, 2011, 08:37:31 AM

Stephen,nice double barrel stove set up. There are plenty of new people to see the pictures of forum past. :D I like to see them again too. Really like that loader,trailer. I would have to do something with the pumpkin on that trailer rearend. Lots of rocks I go over on my land. I make many trips over some and than my middle starts to hit and have to haul in rocks to make my wheel tracks higher.

pineywoods · December 19, 2011, 09:57:41 AM

Mechanical pto winches...Yuuch.. Too much stuff to break or give trouble. Go hydraulic, better and cheaper...Go look at banjo pickers thread..

thecfarm · December 19, 2011, 10:15:56 AM

pineywoods,I don't want to say you are wrong,but I've had my pto winch since 1993. Twitched out many loads of white pine and some hard wood for 3 years. Good size one,the pine,some over 3 feet for a butt log. My Father and me was doing it. Now that he's gone,it lives a life of ease just fire wood,but used alot,just not hard. The real only trouble I had with it,and this was last year,the chain came off the sprocket. I checked the chain and sprocket for wear,they both looked good. Put it back on and has not happened since. I have caught the cable in the chain a few times,but I think the new ones the drum is all enclosed away from the chain. If buying a winch,a hyd one cost more. I would like to build one a hyd one like Banjo and billm,but my pto winch is working fine for now.