Electric Winch for pulling logs/river debris after floods

[civilian]

I got oil into the PowerWinch today and let idle for 5 minutes like manual says. Loaded up some stuff and headed to the woods. Idea was to try winch out on a pudding stone rock that the wife wants around the house. Got the B26TLB as close as possible, but not able to use it to pull the rock out. Using the PowerWinch tied to a clump of small maples, and a grub style chain around the rock. Grub chain has three strands and a ring at each end. Another short chain to connect grub chain to the 1/2" pulling rope. Used an extra pulley to change direction. Had to relocate winch a couple of times. Tried to carry the rock in the backhoe bucket. Just could not get it to stay there. So had to back to the house and get the forks.

PowerWinch has a low oil alert which I tested to when pullint this rock. Winch twisted to its side on the strap to the clump. When pulling, the winch is suspended in midair.

Will try it on logs/trees in the near future. Jon

 

[Smokeydog]

I got oil into the PowerWinch today and let idle for 5 minutes like manual says. Loaded up some stuff and headed to the woods. Idea was to try winch out on a pudding stone rock that the wife wants around the house. Got the B26TLB as close as possible, but not able to use it to pull the rock out. Using the PowerWinch tied to a clump of small maples, and a grub style chain around the rock. Grub chain has three strands and a ring at each end. Another short chain to connect grub chain to the 1/2" pulling rope. Used an extra pulley to change direction. Had to relocate winch a couple of times. Tried to carry the rock in the backhoe bucket. Just could not get it to stay there. So had to back to the house and get the forks.

PowerWinch has a low oil alert which I tested to when pullint this rock. Winch twisted to its side on the strap to the clump. When pulling, the winch is suspended in midair.

Will try it on logs/trees in the near future. JonView attachment 691243View attachment 691245

Wives and their big rocks! Rock gardening with her this weekend with the B26 too. Having the thumb much easier to transport and place large stones. Have to admit looks pretty good when done. Hard to beat a B26 for this type of work.

Have used the backhoes with chain to retrieve/winch rocks and logs beyond reach. Does have advantages on changing and anchoring the pulling point. Disadvantage it is a step process. Prefer chain when dragging. Use the same method to pull out clumps of olive or privet beyond reach.

Find the rubber pads option on the outriggers most useful in the woods. The extra couple of inches of lift and traction help. If they weren’t on the B26 when I bought it I wouldn’t have guessed how well they work.

chainsaw, chain box for B26.

Use the hydraulics, don’t connect to the backhoe and drive.

 

[civilian]

Smokeyddog, I like to use the B26TLB back hoe or loader bucket when possible. The above rock was about 75ft from a trail with a bunch of saplings we didn't want to cut down. Once by the tractor, I still could not get the rock captured with the backhoe bucket and hydraulic thumb. Sometimes I can get the rock against the hoe's lower arm with the bucket getting off the ground. Rock would not cooperate though. Found an even larger one the the saplings will have to be cut to use the backhoe to dig around it to see the size. Jon

 

[WranglerX]

Rocks traditionally do not like to be moved by tractors, I spend more time "capturing" rock than it take to actually move it.... Been thinking it might be nice to get some old snow chains and make up a sort of basket to capture rock....

Dale

 

[arrow]

Rocks traditionally do not like to be moved by tractors. I spend more time "capturing" rock than it take to actually move it......

Dale

I find Slim Jims helpful to lure them in closer. Takes their attention away (or mine) from the action.

 

[civilian]

Rocks traditionally do not like to be moved by tractors, I spend more time "capturing" rock than it take to actually move it.... Been thinking it might be nice to get some old snow chains and make up a sort of basket to capture rock....

Dale

The tire chain idea is what got me started thinking of how to creat a basket. The I remembered I had the grab style pulling chain for pulling out small saplings. It has three strands of chains to wrap around the rock, but reaaly need some cross chains to keep them from spreading to far apart. Jon

 

[Komrade]

I also thought of using the winch to move boulders.
Since I have a grapple, and I had access to some boulders, I moved those that way for now, but boulders will slide a lot better than trees!
I hope a "choker chain" will be sufficient. I looked at that green chain on Amazon, but it had mixed reviews.

I finally went out to play with my Portable Winch today. Couple of things I learned

Trees in floodway do not make good anchors. Many grow at as much as 45 degree angle (winch shuts off if angled), almost none are straight. I think i also leaked fuel when winch was hanging on the rope leveled.
It takes a pretty good hand pull force on the rope to create friction to pull a decently sized tree. A lot more than I expected. Maybe something to do with winch being in awkward position, else it wore me out.
Logjams (that I'd like to disassemble via a winch) have fairly well cemented trees.

I ran out of time, and will try again in a couple of days.

 

[Smokeydog]

Did lots of “farm” rigging growing up and have the educated scars. Engineering career and maintaining a crane license see need for proper rigging. Chain slings with oval rings and slip hooks. Nothing slicker than steel on steel so choke those loads. Loop synthetic straps help too. Watch those angles.

Have several of those green chain and grabbers hanging in the barn. Don’t beat the bite of a chain and short piece of pipe to pull out slick saplings and trees.

 

[civilian]

I also thought the rope pull seemed high to get load moving. I practiced pulling may backhoe to the truck. An extra wrap of the rope on the drum helped. Had the PowerWinch shut off

because the rope twisted the unit sideways. I think I needed to be further away fron the winch and pull rope to side and keep winch level.

On the green chain. I don't like it for small saplings, too heavy and just rides up the trunk. But for capturing a rock and pulling, it works.

 

[Komrade]

And if you even are seriously thinking about rope -
Sale - Rope Miscellaneous Sections | CMC PRO
I use it all over the place. I've bought 3 boxes. They sell a box (500720) that is SUPPOSED to be smaller diameter, with lots of it the size for throwlines etc. I've bought that two times and it's always been mostly 1/2 diameter and up, out of 2 boxes I think I got about 2 hanks of 7/16 and nothing smaller. 1/2" diameter rope is tight on a 1/2" pulley.
In all I've bought there have been very few pieces shorter than 30 feet.

I wanted to make a comment on this, as I did get 2 boxes (1 product each).. $200 shipped
Got about 6 ropes of over 100ft, 2 were 150ft. those alone have a 'value' of about $1000 based on their pricing
For comparison sake, Portable Winch Rope that came with Forestry Kit PCA-1215M DBP Rope (1/2" x 164') retails for about $130
And probably a dozen more pieces mostly in 50-60ft range.
Only a few were fairly short.
Almost all of the rope was 1/2" of various types they sell.
I sorted through the box, weighed each rope, and tagged it with estimated length based on weight (rope specifications tell you how many lb 100ft of rope should be), and stored them in clear plastic bins.
I also bought a brochure to learn various knots (Knot It).
Now I will need to come up with more uses for rope outside of pulling trees and boulders with the winch!

 

[Underdog57]

Did lots of “farm” rigging growing up and have the educated scars. Engineering career and maintaining a crane license see need for proper rigging. Chain slings with oval rings and slip hooks. Nothing slicker than steel on steel so choke those loads. Loop synthetic straps help too. Watch those angles.

Have several of those green chain and grabbers hanging in the barn. Don’t beat the bite of a chain and short piece of pipe to pull out slick saplings and trees.

Don’t beat the bite of a chain and short piece of pipe to pull out slick saplings and trees.

Please tell me more about how you use the short piece of pipe. I'm always looking for better ways to pull out shrubs and bushes from wet areas. Thanks!

 

[Hay Dude]

Winches seem great but man o man do they get hot.

 

[bcp]

Please tell me more about how you use the short piece of pipe. I'm always looking for better ways to pull out shrubs and bushes from wet areas. Thanks!

Here's an old diagram I made. May be easier to fasten the chain to the pipe.

Some photos here in the first several rows.

chain pipe tree puller at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

 

[PILOON]

I find Slim Jims helpful to lure them in closer. Takes their attention away (or mine) from the action.

I used a HD come-a-long and a chain wrapped around the boulders.
Worked A-OK , just slow.

 

[WranglerX]

This my solution to grabbing saplings and brush by the base, Could not find a suitable ring at local hardware emporium so I made one...



Dale

 

[Underdog57]

Here's an old diagram I made. May be easier to fasten the chain to the pipe.View attachment 692751

Some photos here in the first several rows.

chain pipe tree puller at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

This my solution to grabbing saplings and brush by the base, Could not find a suitable ring at local hardware emporium so I made one...

View attachment 692777

Dale

Thanks, both good ideas!

 

[Smokeydog]

Please tell me more about how you use the short piece of pipe. I'm always looking for better ways to pull out shrubs and bushes from wet areas. Thanks!

I cut a slot in the side of the pipe for the hook. This makes it easy to wrap around and connect then disconnect after. The pipe allows the chain to choke the load and uses the pipe edges to bite and help keep from slipping. Usually use pipes at either end of the chain to pullout multiple saplings or clumps at a time.

Easy way to make a grab chain hook into a choke chain. Plus easy to undo.

In the spring you can about shuck the bark off a tree with your bare hands. In the fall it about takes a crowbar. Old timers who cleared land know all to well.

 

[Underdog57]

I cut a slot in the side of the pipe for the hook. This makes it easy to wrap around and connect then disconnect after. The pipe allows the chain to choke the load and uses the pipe edges to bite and help keep from slipping. Usually use pipes at either end of the chain to pullout multiple saplings or clumps at a time.
View attachment 692897
Easy way to make a grab chain hook into a choke chain. Plus easy to undo.

In the spring you can about shuck the bark off a tree with your bare hands. In the fall it about takes a crowbar. Old timers who cleared land know all to well.

Thanks nice to learn a new trick, that looks very effective, I will be trying that!

 

[Zebrafive]

I had trouble getting the Simpson company's website to load, until I realized that google was finding the wrong link (started with an http://, but really needed an https:// to work) Finally thought to try the secure web site prefix, and it worked: Simpson Winch

The Simpson SP/CW winch is powered by a smaller engine (Honda GX35) than the Portable Winch Company's PCW5000 (Honda GX50), so to get similar pulling power (2000# at 22 FPM for the Simpson vs 2200# for the PCW5000 2200# at 40 FPM), the Simpson unit is geared for lower speeds. (They also make a chainsaw powered winch.)

The Portable Winch company also makes the smaller PCW3000 winch which is also powered by a Honda GX35 engine. It sells for a similar price as the Simpson unit. The PCW3000 is rated for 1600# @ 33 FPM. The Simpson is rated for more pull, but at a slower speed: 2000# @22 FPM (at 1500#, it will do 25 FPM).

The Lewis Winch 400 MK2 is powered by your chainsaw. It runs 60-80 FPM (depending on how much cable you have on the drum. Pulling power is dependent on the size of your chainsaw, but it's rated for up to 4000# single line pull. I have heard mixed reviews on these. Some people love them, some can't stand them. Rather than a rope, it winds steel cable onto a drum. It comes with 150' or 3/16" cable. Many people end up cutting the cable shorter, since it can be a pain to get it all back on to the drum.

Which way you go is a matter of personal preference. I think any of them are a better longer-term solution for pulling logs out of the woods than using a 12V electric winch:

• I have seen the PCW5000 in action, and have had a chance to use it a couple of times. I was impressed. If I did not own or could not justify a logging winch on my tractor (or did not have a trctor suitable for mounting a logging winch), I would own one of these.
• I've never seen a Simpson winch or the PCW3000. The light weight would be tempting: 18-20#, but I think I would lean toward the higher pulling power and faster speed of the PCW5000.
• The Lewis Winch sounds tempting with its higher pulling specs. I've only seen one used once. I'm not sure I'd want to mess with the cable on a portable unit. I also would not want to tie up a chainsaw mounting the winch on it. However, some people absolutely love it.

PCW also has another Model, PCW4000. It looks like the TCW3000, but with a larger engine, Honda 2HP, quick release automatic holding mechanism, and a centrifugal clutch.
Pull is same as PCW5000, 2200lbs, gear ratio (200:1) and pulley (3") is same size as PCW3000. Line speed is faster (44'/minute) than PCW3000 or PCW5000 (unless you swap to the larger pulley on the PCW5000) and it's $100 less than the PCW5000.
I'd like to see these features on the PCW3000 (since it's over $500 less)