3 point logging winch

[rt9313]

Good day everyone, I just picked up a used Norse 400 skidding winch which I need to put new cable on it. There is only 60 ft of 3/8 cable on it now. I will use this for skidding but also directional felling which I would like to put about 150 ft on. The book shows it will handle up to 200 ft which is more than needed. The book shows the cable as steel wire rope. My question is there any difference between steel wire rope and plain braided steel cable? I have been using a Farmi JL 304 for years with braided cable that has worked great other than the cable fraying which is hard on the hands. Any ideas on this will be greatly appreciated.

 

[2manyrocks]

Curious about this myself as to whether there is something special about these cables so they will wind on the drum without kinking. Are some more resistant to fraying? Do the ones with the user replaceable swaged ends require a particular cable?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Actually, what people call cable, is REALLY wire rope! Different name for the same thing.

SR

 

[oldtimer 66]

Here is some additional information on wire rope versus braided steel cable. When I read braided cable this is what I was reminded of. This information is from the Riggers Handbook/ Broderick & Bascom. These braided cables were used for lifting locomotives and a lot of other applications. It is lighter weight and flexible versus a stiff heavy wire rope of a much larger size. If I remember correctly the locomotive lift used 4 endless slings in baskets, with 2 spreader bars and 1.25 dia. braided cable. It forms around the 4 lifting hooks nicely. Just some information.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Buy your cable from an outfit that sells winches like Labonville

Scroll down to find winch cables

NORSE SKIDDING WINCH | Labonville Inc.

www.labonville.com

A long while ago I bought a used winch from a guy who worked for the power company. He used the wire rope they used for guy wires. Terrible stuff - way to stiff. You want 6 strands made up of fine wire with the 6 strands wrapped on a core also made up of fine wire.gg

 

[dstig1]

Yes my recollection is the same - the wire rope is finer for these than general cable is so it can wind-up and bend better for this application.

 

[John_Mc]

I prefer swaged cable for logging winch use. The surface is smoother and less subject to snagging, fraying, and picking up bits of debris. It's also stronger than similar diameter cables which are not swaged. I'll second the recommendation to buy it from a place that sells logging winches. They'll know what you need and likely have it in stock.

 

[rt9313]

Tried to post a reply and not sure if it went, that’s why I cut trees rather than computer stuff! I agree bout finding a place that sell winches and equipment. I’m in NW Wisconsin with virtually no options for dealers so I will need to branch out. Thank you all for your thoughts and if I find something that will work I will let you know.

 

[John_Mc]

Tried to post a reply and not sure if it went, that’s why I cut trees rather than computer stuff! I agree bout finding a place that sell winches and equipment. I’m in NW Wisconsin with virtually no options for dealers so I will need to branch out. Thank you all for your thoughts and if I find something that will work I will let you know.

Labonville and Hud-son both sell replacement cables for logging winches. I believe they each sell both swaged and unswaged cable, though I think Labonville has a limited selection of diameters available as swaged cable. Hudson has a fairly good selection of diameters of swaged, but only in the longer lengths (230 ft). Their unswaged cable comes in 165 foot lengths.

As mentioned in a previous post, I much prefer swaged cable, but it's a good bit more expensive.

 

[dstig1]

I think there is a Farmi dealer in the LaCrosse area. Not exactly close to NWI, but at least in the region.