3 pt Winch

[flingwing1969]

About 1500 bucks. That's not too bad, all things considered. I wonder what the specs are on it? I can't find any on their website.

I got a note back from the company. Here is what they said: "Hi Tom

The cost of the Skid Winch is $1475 + Shipping, It can use a pump with as low as 4-5 GPM." So, it appears to still be available and it would work with our CUT and SCUT hydraulics.

 

[flingwing1969]

If I didn't have a dual-shaft gearbox, I would have done vertical mounted drum. Working out the mounting for this gearbox in a vertical configuration was hurting my head too much to attempt, so I just went with horizontal.

Thank you again for posting your full build - I have it copied to my projects file. I think I agree that the vertical winch would work best. I see three-axle ag gear boxes with two or three splined shafts available from China, but none with the reduction ratio of yours.

 

[PILOON]

LOL, I once purchased a gear box with 60 to 1 ratio on EBay for a 'I don't know what project' for a mere $30 or so.
It has dual* 1" output shaft so probably a decent power rating.
And it was 'new in the box'.
Perhaps I just found its project. LOL.
Oh, I have a lathe and some material to make a capstan drum. (3" x 6" long aluminum round).

*at the time I opted for the dual vs single output since dual could always drive a set of wheels.

As a DIY hobbyist and scrounger I tend to collect cool stuff like that.
You should see my collection of steel from old bed springs, they make handy bases for mounting power tools and the like.
LOL, I always have a set of tools under the back seat just in case I need to dismantle a bed frame B4 some one else gets it!
At first I was shy and waited 'til dark but after losing a few good finds I got bolder.

Off topic,
But latest project, for a friend, was to convert a motorized wheelchair into a powered trailer mover.
I reversed the handlebars, cut and shortened the frame and added an arm with a trailer ball at the far end and used an electric lift cylinder to raise the arm or pole.
It is quite cool looking as we maintained all the electrics which include headlight, flashers turn indicator etc.
All that remains to do is fabricate a shroud or cover to protect the batteries and electrics etc.
LOL, being designed to ride on it has independent suspension as well.

 

[check]

LOL, I once purchased a gear box with 60 to 1 ratio on EBay for a 'I don't know what project' for a mere $30 or so. It has dual* 1" output shaft so probably a decent power rating. And it was 'new in the box'. Perhaps I just found its project. LOL. Oh, I have a lathe and some material to make a capstan drum. (3" x 6" long aluminum round). *at the time I opted for the dual vs single output since dual could always drive a set of wheels. As a DIY hobbyist and scrounger I tend to collect cool stuff like that. You should see my collection of steel from old bed springs, they make handy bases for mounting power tools and the like. LOL, I always have a set of tools under the back seat just in case I need to dismantle a bed frame B4 some one else gets it! At first I was shy and waited 'til dark but after losing a few good finds I got bolder. Off topic, But latest project, for a friend, was to convert a motorized wheelchair into a powered trailer mover. I reversed the handlebars, cut and shortened the frame and added an arm with a trailer ball at the far end and used an electric lift cylinder to raise the arm or pole. It is quite cool looking as we maintained all the electrics which include headlight, flashers turn indicator etc. All that remains to do is fabricate a shroud or cover to protect the batteries and electrics etc. LOL, being designed to ride on it has independent suspension as well.

Man, that is SOOO cool! Pics?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Alright, did a full write up here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/392375-pto-capstan-winch-scratch.html

flingwing1969 - I consider the Norwood Skid Winch video to be...how shall we say, less than impressive. Skidding over clear, leaf-covered ground, is as easy as it gets. The videos of Farmi winches are typically much more interesting, stuff like pulling three trees at once through nasty terrain.

Originally I set out to just build my own clone of the Norwood, it looks so simple, anybody could build that. But hours of shopping for hydraulic motors came out with nothing that made sense.

High speed, low-torque hydraulic motors are readily available, but useless in terms of pulling power.
Slow speed high-torque motors are also plentiful, but all require massive flow rates, like 15-20 GPM. On the hobby-end of the tractor market, nobody has tractors flowing that.

I have no idea what Norwood picked for their unit, but given the video, I suspect they had to make a compromise in the end, and the unit lacks pulling power. Pretty sure my PTO winch easily out pulls it.

PILOON - If I didn't have a dual-shaft gearbox, I would have done vertical mounted drum. Working out the mounting for this gearbox in a vertical configuration was hurting my head too much to attempt, so I just went with horizontal.

Great write up and a very nice build!

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't a horizontal capstan require you to stand in the danger zone from a line snap? The advantage to a vertical capstan is that you stand off to the side a bit and out of harms way.

Could you weld a couple of eyes to the top link bracket and use a snatch block on the low tension side? That way you could operate it off to the side of the pull line.

Just my $.02

 

[Rustyiron]

I like the capstan winch idea except for dealing with a 100' or so of rope.
I saw a guy that got one of these Winches Plus He made a mount for his box blade for tractor use but it also would be handy portable almost tow truck.

 

[plumbstraight]

I may have posted this one before, been a while.

 

[texasranger556]

I may have posted this one before, been a while.

Is your trailer hitch extension just for maneuvering with the tractor?

 

[flingwing1969]

I like the capstan winch idea except for dealing with a 100' or so of rope.
I saw a guy that got one of these Winches Plus He made a mount for his box blade for tractor use but it also would be handy portable almost tow truck.

You would only need 100' of rope to pull something 90' or so away and it is lighter and less expensive then cable - and not as strong. The alternatives are a hydraulic winch (if you have the GPMs to run it) or a PTO winch, both of which are costly for an occasional use. An electric winch is okay for felling, but sucks for recovering logs - short duty cycles and very slow.

If I'm commercial logging for timber or firewood, I'm going with a full fledged forestry winch.


But as a property owner handling logs only for myself and using a winch for topping and felling, I'm in for making my own and I thing the homemade capstan winch for $400 or so and some time and thought is really a pretty good option.

 

[plumbstraight]

Is your trailer hitch extension just for maneuvering with the tractor?

No, I put that extension so my truck would clear when turning sharp. I pull it with a 5500 dodge flatbed and it would punch holes in the front of the trailer without the extension.

It comes off by releasing the original trailer hitch. I had just made it and used the tractor to bring it in the shop and back it out after building.