PTO winching, the right&wrong

[Oldpath05]

I was told when you winch up a log with a PTO winc, you have to re-hook the chain to the lower notches, how many here do that that? Once I have the chain around the log, that's it till I get the log out, then I unhook, to me winching up a log than re-hook is such unproductive way to haul log then I can think of.This video shows how I've been doing it, if it shows up>>> YouTube

 

[Sawyer Rob]

With MY pto winch, I can leave the log hooked to the cable, OR hook the chain to the top of the blade.

MY winch is made to skid from the cable, big or small, no problem at all,

SR

 

[CobyRupert]

Yep. For me the name of the game is to move logs in as few steps (hooks/re-hooks) as possible. This also means towing one long log (if possible, instead of cutting it into two.
If it was just a 1 or 2 logs job, and I'm not in a hurry, and they're big, and I wasn't using the bottom pulley, (I.e. I wanted to "re-heighten" the load off of the top link / reduce wheelies). I might re-hook, but probably not.

I'm more likely to rehook on the notches when I want to "double-up" the amount of logs I'm towing and make one trip instead of two by using BOTH the notches and the cable to draw additional logs. This would be for small diameter pine logs where you might draw 8 logs at a time using this technique. It can be tricky to get the "second cable pull" logs to slide by the "first pull logs" that you have in the notches. Might be tough to do that for logs sized like in the pictures above.

 

[Grandad4]

It works either way. The notches are handy if you have several smaller logs to pull simultaneously. When towing a log with the cable, I always tried to be careful to avoid snagging the log, since that could easily stretch/kink the cable.

 

[motownbrowne]

I use the notches for taking several smaller logs out at once, or if I have a particularly large log or long drive. In that case, I prefer the notches so I don't bury the cable inside the previous wraps on the drum. But my understanding is that my Farmi 351 is designed to skid from the cable.

 

[CalG]

Wouldn't the winch manufacturers be under the mandate to recommend operators to NOT "pull High".

You know, the safety police and all.

But if the wind in didn't go well, pulling off the cable for a long hitch could send that top loop deep down in the spool.

 

[CobyRupert]

I prefer the notches so I don't bury the cable inside the previous wraps on the drum.

But if the wind in didn't go well, pulling off the cable for a long hitch could send that top loop deep down in the spool.

Wouldn't the cable already be buried if it's going to bury? The cable has already experienced the force of pulling the logs up to the winch on the wind.

[With the one end of the log raised up during towing, the force it takes to tow should be less than winching. Granted, you travel faster towing than you winch, so it's not a direct comparison, but still.]

 

[Oldpath05]

I sent these video's to someone else and they didn't work, pasted a different link this time, if that doesn't work, I'll have to ask mt daughter again.... Getting firewood - YouTube Hauling Poplar log - YouTube

 

[Oldpath05]

I myself like keeping the trees atleast a ft off the ground, I think less wood on ground drags easier, the LOG logs even higher so not to let so much dirt get on them, goes threw the mill betterah. This hook and re-hook logging would drive me crazy. I knew guy at work years ago did that, re-hooked to the lower notches and his chains kept breaking.
I never had my cable get buried to bad, just a slight light jam now and then, but one good yank from a yankee and the cable comes out. Kinda funny everyone has different problems doing the same job, wonder what causes that............

 

[Oldpath05]

With MY pto winch, I can leave the log hooked to the cable, OR hook the chain to the top of the blade.

MY winch is made to skid from the cable, big or small, no problem at all,

SR

That is a nice size log, ever notice that they pull easier on the white stuff.............

 

[motownbrowne]

That is a nice size log, ever notice that they pull easier on the white stuff.............

I LOVE skidding on the white stuff!! Nice cutting on it too, plus working without all the sweat and bugs is great. Of course having a chainsaw with heated handles makes it even better.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I had that old log quite a long time, it was old when I brought it home, anyway it was frozen down, so it was a hard pull breaking it free!

Once I got it out, I cut it up and split it, as I was running low on firewood and needed to get it ready for firewood duty! lol

Here's another one,

SR

 

[brown40]

I think the idea is to keep the load tight and as clean as possible. Cable drags wander, roll, and load with debris. A big load with a chance to gain momentum can break traction that a static load can't.
Whether the time is better spent tossing the big chains in the slots or sharpening the teeth on the small ones more often is the other thing.

 

[Baby Grand]

Whether the time is better spent tossing the big chains in the slots or sharpening the teeth on the small ones more often is the other thing.

Yes. For me, that's "the trade."

 

[Gordon Gould]

I do it both ways. Some times it doesn't matter sometimes it does. If I know that I will have to drop the hitch to get thru a bad spot and then winch it back in I will leave it on the cable. On the other hand if I am pulling up hill and have to make a turn so the tractor is side hill in the turn, even just a little, I put the hitch low as possible and in the slots. Nothing can dump you over side ways quicker then a high hitch that gets 90 degrees to the tractor.

Leaving a hitch of several good logs on the cable where they are free to roll around or pause then surge forward during the skid often leaves you with such a tangle of logs, cable, and chains up at the landing that by the time you get them all unhitched you wish you had taken the time to get them off the cable and into the slots before you started the skid. When you use the slots unhooking is usually very easy.

gg

 

[CobyRupert]

I discovered a wrong way for PTO winching this weekend:
I forgot that I'd been pulling haywagons a couple weeks ago and still had the tractor drawbar in the extended position.

I wonder why when I lowered the winch it didn't go all the way and set on the ground. Thought it was just because the back tires were up on a mound. Then I turned on the PTO and the winch jumped (?) Dooh! Then curse words! That's when I figured out that the PTO shaft was sitting on the drawbar, holding up the full weight of the winch!

It has the slightest of wobbles to it now, but still slides.
Should I replace it? Thinking I don't have to if it slides?

 

[Oldpath05]

I discovered a wrong way for PTO winching this weekend:
I forgot that I'd been pulling haywagons a couple weeks ago and still had the tractor drawbar in the extended position.

I wonder why when I lowered the winch it didn't go all the way and set on the ground. Thought it was just because the back tires were up on a mound. Then I turned on the PTO and the winch jumped (?) Dooh! Then curse words! That's when I figured out that the PTO shaft was sitting on the drawbar, holding up the full weight of the winch!

It has the slightest of wobbles to it now, but still slides.
Should I replace it? Thinking I don't have to if it slides?

That's an interesting miss fortune, I can see how that would happen. I think the pto shaft should be replaced, a slight wobble might put more stress on the pto shaft bearing. I've heard some winches come with a trailer hitch, my Fransgard didn't so I installed a 2" square receiver tube for a hitch when needed, take out when not in use, just like on pickups, also my hitch is made to fold/swing for temporary out of the way and to make hook-up trailers a bit easier.