Skidding Winches

Greenland South · Jul 9, 2015

Quite a few of us on this forum have skidding winches. I would like it if you could share and ask questions about these awesome attachments.
I'll start by posting a couple picks.

motownbrowne · Jul 9, 2015

I like how it matches your tractor. ::thumbsup:

OregonCraig · Jul 9, 2015

Greenland South said:
Quite a few of us on this forum have skidding winches. I would like it if you could share and ask questions about these awesome attachments.

Thanks for starting this thread. I plan to purchase a skidding winch in the very near future and have a couple of questions. Based on the advice in several other threads, I believe the winches most suitable for my tractor are the Wallenstein FX66 & FX85, or the Farmi JL351P. My JD3720 has ~44 engine HP and 35 PTO HP. With the FEL/bucket & loaded rear tires, I think it weighs ~5000 lbs. In my area, these two brands seem to be the only ones available.

My first question is: can anyone confirm that any of these winches are i-Match compatible?

Also, what is the difference between the FX66 & FX85 (other than pulling power)? The Wallenstein website lists the same HP requirements for both. The FX85 has a trailer hitch. Is this the only difference and worth the upcharge?

The FX66 does have the "middle box connection." What is this and could it be used to pull a trailer?

Thanks in advance...Craig

bcp · Jul 9, 2015

Are skidding winches worm drive, spur gear, or...?

How is reverse accomplished?

Thanks,

Bruce

Jim Timber · Jul 9, 2015

Wallenstein winches are NOT imatch compatible. The top link is positioned well above where the imatch would connect. It says this in the owners manual, which you can download without purchasing anything on their website.

Most 3pt skidding winches are chain drive, but some are hydraulic (usually the smaller ones). There is no reverse, but there is a lock so the cable won't unspool when power is removed from the drum. The lock is manually engaged and it's not meant to hold loads while pulling them in like a worm or planetary driven higher reduction winch (recovery type). These are purpose built for skidding logs. When you release the clutch the line goes slack and the load can move if it needs/wants to. Watch more videos, this is a handy feature in some circumstances.

I went with red even though I could've gotten JD green. I like that it's more visible.

I'm still working on the saw scabbards. They're being painted as we speak.

Gordon Gould · Jul 9, 2015

bcp said:
Are skidding winches worm drive, spur gear, or...?

How is reverse accomplished?

Thanks,

Bruce

My Farmi has a chain drive reduction gear set-up. The pto turns a 14 tooth gear which turns a 66 tooth gear via a chain. On the back of the 66 tooth gear is a clutch face and the drum has the other clutch face. It takes a force on a lever via a rope to engage the clutch and turn the drum. There is no reverse. The drum free wheels when the clutch is not engaged. You pull the cable out by hand. To make the drum hold there is a dog gear locking mechanism on the drum that you can engage to hold the load. The clutch does not hold the load.

gg

EDIT: I guess Jim already said all that. I should have noticed.

OregonCraig · Jul 9, 2015

Jim Timber said:
Wallenstein winches are NOT imatch compatible. The top link is positioned well above where the imatch would connect. It says this in the owners manual, which you can download without purchasing anything on their website.

Jim, thanks for that tip...I found the reference in the owner's manual that you mention. Very disappointing...sort of defeats the purpose of a QH if I have to remove and reinstall the QH.

OregonCraig · Jul 9, 2015

Gordon Gould said:
My Farmi has a chain drive reduction gear set-up...

Gordon, do you know if any of the Farmi winches are QH/i-Match compatible?

bcp · Jul 9, 2015

What I seem to understand now:

Chain drive reduction to winch drum for pulling. No reverse gear, but the cable is controlled and released by a clutch and brake system on the drum. The winch pulls the load to the tractor, then the load is chained to the winch frame to be towed away, not towed by winch cable and brake.

Correct?

Bruce

Gordon Gould · Jul 9, 2015

Here is a picture I like that I have put on before. Pulling a tree from behind the stump into a clear path to the tractor road. Snatch block on the far side of the road be hind the tractor. Slider used as a snatch block for the short pull to get out from behind the stump.

gg

Jim Timber · Jul 9, 2015

You can engage the lock and tow with the cable, and that's perfectly acceptable. The lock is manually set (or can be rigged to require releasing and automatically engage, but they're noisy like that) for when you want to tow with the cable.

Seriously, watch some videos on youtube. These questions would be answered if you just saw some guys using them.

Gordon Gould · Jul 9, 2015

bcp said:
What I seem to understand now:

Chain drive reduction to winch drum for pulling. No reverse gear, but the cable is controlled and released by a clutch and brake system on the drum. The winch pulls the load to the tractor, then the load is chained to the winch frame to be towed away, not towed by winch cable and brake.

Correct?

Bruce

Very close. There is no problem using the winch dog gear brake to hold the load while skidding. At least that is true for the Farmi I have. Don't know about the others. The choice of skidding on the winch cable or transferring the logs to the lower winch frame is one of skidding safety and depends on terrain, log size, etc.

Jim Timber · Jul 9, 2015

Wallenstein's are close cousins design wise to the Farmi's. I have a FX85, I just took the label off when I put the SMV sticker on.

bcp · Jul 9, 2015

A mechanical drum lock, not a brake? Or a brake, too?

I've watched several videos, but can't see what is going on in the machinery that is out of sight. And see different methods used.

Tractor logging winches are scarce around here, maybe once a year on CL. But lots of these in sight on rural drives. Maybe that's why so few tractor logging winches.

Jim Timber · Jul 9, 2015

It's a one way pawl lock. Call it a brake, lock, whatever - it keeps the cable from reversing.

It's not all that different than this (function wise):

Gordon Gould · Jul 9, 2015

bcp said:
A mechanical drum lock, not a brake? Or a brake, too?

I've watched several videos, but can't see what is going on in the machinery that is out of sight. And see different methods used.

Tractor logging winches are scarce around here, maybe once a year on CL. But lots of these in sight on rural drives. Maybe that's why so few tractor logging winches.

From what I have seen of WA which is mostly the North Cascades and Olympic Peninsular you have vey steep ground and very big trees. Neither of which tend to be tractor friendly. Maybe that is why winches are scarce.

bcp · Jul 9, 2015

Gordon Gould said:
From what I have seen of WA which is mostly the North Cascades and Olympic Peninsular you have vey steep ground and very big trees. Neither of which tend to be tractor friendly. Maybe that is why winches are scarce.

On CL today, the 2nd Farmi I've ever seen on CL.

Bruce

Jim Timber · Jul 9, 2015

For that price, you can get a new FX90 old model, or new FX85 delivered.

I've never seen one on CL here either, and we have a lot of gypo logging going on.

Mikejeakins · Jul 9, 2015

Have you gotten on the Hud-son Web site?

FarmWrench · Jul 9, 2015

I have a few places where you are not going to drive to the tree. Most winches have 200' of cable or less. Without a straw line pulling anymore cable by hand is not going to make anyone happy.

The two drum "donkey" winch was vital in the development of this nation. Nothing like it exists today. (Other than half million dollar +yarders and slackline excavation.)

It would be a great build to have two drums and maybe a mast with guy lines.