Skidding Winches

Citydude · May 17, 2016

Oldpath05 said:
Still checking out different pto winches and noticing no one's using an improved latch hook. Everyone seem's to use those same stile choker hooks, I see one guy using a choker chain with a ring instead, not for ME. I'm running 5 chokers, 4 years ago I got so fed up with those choker hooks unhooking when I hook on another tree and even worse is trying to unhook 5 hooks at the landing, I had to unhook 2 then winch up again and release...............

For the last 4 years I've been using 3 of these> Tulsa Chain Hooks, (GRADE 100 CLEVIS SLING HOOK WITH FORGED LATCH) for 5/16 chain and 2 regular choker hook on shorter chains, 5 chains in all. At first I didn't think they would hold up, but they take a pounding and it's a lot easier to unhook, just press the latch, no more fiddling diddling piddling...........

Clevis Sling Hook -

Thanks for the tip! I'm ordering some of those.

Oldpath05 · May 18, 2016

Citydude said:
Thanks for the tip! I'm ordering some of those.

You wont regret it, those latches on the Grade 100 hooks can take a beating, they stay hooked and so much easier to unhook, just flip the latch and wallah. Tulsa Chain also have replacement latches, I had to get 2 after I left some of my choker chains in my old shop, the springs wont stand up to fire.

$20.-30.00 per hook is kinda hard to take, but I just couldn't stand it anymore. So I bought atleast 3, and that eliminated a lot of speaking in tongues when my trees stay hooked. I dont really see how the the hooks would unhook so easy but they did. I winch 4-5 trees up, pull a head a ways, drop the load, take my last slider on the cable, and chain on another tree, winch up, head out, look back, and a tree that I had on a different choker is now sitting on the ground, very upsetting. So if your running 5 choker chains, try to buy atleast 3 of those latch hooks.

The regular choker hooks I had, I put a little weld between the gap so they wouldn't unhook so easy, and that helped the unhooking by it self part, but now I had to line up the gap just right to unhook and that's a pain when all 5 hooks are like that with 5-8 trees out at the landing, now with 3 latch hooks, just flip the latch.

Oldpath05 · May 18, 2016

I thought this was an unusual winch, can anyone here WOW, gotta have one. I said WOW, what was they thinking, they make a good sawmill, but tractor winch, I'd tell them back to the drawing board and use chalk this time.

Hydraulic Log Skidding Winch for Tractors - SkidWinch by Norwood Sawmills - YouTube

Citydude · May 19, 2016

Oldpath05 said:
I thought this was an unusual winch, can anyone here WOW, gotta have one. I said WOW, what was they thinking, they make a good sawmill, but tractor winch, I'd tell them back to the drawing board and use chalk this time.

Hydraulic Log Skidding Winch for Tractors - SkidWinch by Norwood Sawmills - YouTube

Wow is correct. Not really something I'd want to winch with.

Mikejeakins · May 19, 2016

Citydude said:
Wow is correct. Not really something I'd want to winch with.

That's for sure. looks cheep.

Jim Timber · May 19, 2016

They make hooks specifically for chokers ya know.

3/8" Choker Hook For 3/8" Chain Choker System | Chain Chokers & Hardware | Logging Chokers & Winchlines | www.www.baileysonline.com.com

Oldpath05 · May 19, 2016

Ya know those choker chain hooks are crap compared to the Tulsa hooks (GRADE 100 CLEVIS SLING HOOK WITH FORGED LATCH). After 4 years of use I cant stand those other pain in donkey things.

These are best to use by a mile>>>>>>Clevis Sling Hook -

Jim Timber · May 20, 2016

I use bulleted cables with midgets. Chain's too heavy to haul around all day.

Citydude · May 20, 2016

Jim Timber said:
I use bulleted cables with midgets. Chain's too heavy to haul around all day.

Your tractor should be able to haul them for you....

Jim Timber · May 20, 2016

My tractor can barely make it down my trails as it is. I'm talking about hauling 4 chains to the logs so the winch can pull them out to the tractor.

Four 3/8" choker cables weigh about as much as one 5/16" chain. My choker chains come out when I'm using my loader.

Citydude · May 20, 2016

Jim Timber said:
My tractor can barely make it down my trails as it is. I'm talking about hauling 4 chains to the logs so the winch can pull them out to the tractor. Four 3/8" choker cables weigh about as much as one 5/16" chain. My choker chains come out when I'm using my loader.

I know. I was just jerking your chain.....

Sawyer Rob · May 20, 2016

Jim Timber said:
They make hooks specifically for chokers ya know.

3/8" Choker Hook For 3/8" Chain Choker System | Chain Chokers & Hardware | Logging Chokers & Winchlines | www.www.baileysonline.com.com

Jim, I use that style too, I don't have any problem with them at all.

IF you want them to work right, you just have to be smarter than what your working with! lol

SR

milkie62 · May 21, 2016

I wonder what the Farmi would cost without the overseas shipping cost ?

Oldpath05 · May 21, 2016

Choker chains can get the tree off the ground higher and fit different size trees better the choker cables, chains are more rock resistant, and can make a better jing-a-ling sound going down the woods road. I used both in years past.

Oldpath05 · May 21, 2016

This guy has my stile of logging, pull to the max, then a little more. He has a nice tractor and winch for getting trees off a mountain, I see where the hand held remote come's in handy here, better then doing the rope-a-dope. My tractor could probably pull one of those trees.

TREUIL TAJFUN 1 TONNES RADIOCOMMANDE FALARD - YouTube

newbury · May 21, 2016

Oldpath05 said:
This guy has my stile of logging, pull to the max, then a little more. He has a nice tractor and winch for getting trees off a mountain, I see where the hand held remote come's in handy here, better then doing the rope-a-dope. My tractor could probably pull one of those trees.

TREUIL TAJFUN 1 TONNES RADIOCOMMANDE FALARD - YouTube

Looking at those logs he was dragging makes me wonder the value of keeping them that long. The last 20' or 3 meters seem small.

Jim Timber · May 21, 2016

newbury said:
Looking at those logs he was dragging makes me wonder the value of keeping them that long. The last 20' or 3 meters seem small.
View attachment 469338

They burn them. That whole yard is firewood.

Oldpath05 · May 21, 2016

Yes those trees did look really long, must be that mountain affect, I'd have to cut them in half so I could pull one. I usually go down to 2 or 3 inches and leave the limbs on, cut off out at the would pile, or sometimes I cut them off in the woods and load em in the bucket, another good use for a loader, which why I just understand why a lot of overseas logging is done without a loader on a tractor.

carlhwv · Jun 6, 2016

Got my new to me tractor yesterday. Ended up with cousins Kubota M7040. It has three remotes, so I'm good to go on the hydro front. Unless anyone has a good winch they want to trade for a 73" hydro snowblower, I'm going with a Wallenstein 110. Looks like the best deal I've found is $4400, including shipping. Sound about right?