Hydraulic Capstan logging winch.

[toddbiss]

Want to make a capstan style winch with a hydraulic motor to haul some logs out of spots I can't get to with my tractor. Saw a video of one made from Norwood but they no longer make it. Looked like a good idea and really effective. But I have zero knowledge about hydraulic motors and what kind or size I would need to pull around 2000 pounds. Any input or ideas would be great.. I can weld and fabricate.

 

[kennyd]

First you'll need to find a motor that's matched well to your hydraulic system, and most likely you'll need a gearbox as well to slow the drum down enough to be usefull and safe. Those will be the tricky things.

PTO powered may be easier and cheaper?

 

[firemanmike69]

What about this http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200452220_200452220

 

[PILOON]

Hydraulic motors can be had with low RPM's (that is what they use to drive wheels) and using a smallish sprocket to chain drive a largish sprocket should provide you the slow RPM's you'd want. The drum axle could be as simple as using an automobile wheel spindle onto which you would mount your capstan drum.
I'd favor the hydraulic wheel drive motor approach as being the easiest to fit the drive sprocket to as the first item to locate.
I think you'd want something that runs in the 500 rpm range or less 'wide open'. Because of mechanical advantages the power need not be that high as the sprocket reduction will generate the torque you'd need. Also the smaller the capstan drum the more power you'll have.
The capstan drum will probably have to be custom turned on a lathe for you. While aluminum would be ideal you probably could use a wooden drum turned on a lathe. On second thought a rear garden tractor rim might just do the trick with the smallest diameter widest rim being ideal.
If you get lucky you might just be able to match a tractor rim to a frt wheel drive rear car spindle. (like 8-10" tractor rim) matched to maybe a honda civic rear spindle.
The beauty of lots of the spindles is that they bolt to the axle making for easy mounting.
Think 10" sprocket welded to the rim with maybe 2" sprocket driven by the motor. Noturally some sort of ring guard to prevent the pull rope from jumping onto the sprocket and chain drive.

You have me thinking of a project to do.
At present I use an old 3000# electric 12 volt winch that I salvaged from a scrapped Jeep. (works quite well for me) My rig has a long extension so that I can walk beside my towed logs while carrying the control.
It works fine for limited use due to current drain. Usually OK for 3-5 pulls without battery issues. Current drain is rather high and is more then the generator output so battery can be run down. My solution is to use a fast idle to keep battery charged as I work.

Sounds like a cool project. Good luck, enjoy.

 

[roadhunter]

Might also look at marine capstan winch setups. I've seen anchor winches similar to what you are describing.

Something like this might work as well.
Hydraulic Winch w Cathead | eBay

 

[Jim Timber]

Maybe a planetary hub off something would be a better start?

I'd use a steel capstan, rather than aluminum or wood. Wood will swell when wet, and aluminum doesn't handle the cable abrasion well over time.

 

[toddbiss]

Thanks for the ideas. I wanted to just use a motor with the drum on it or have one machined. I found one but it is about $1500 just for the unit more than I want to spend. I guess I could go the gear route and use a cheaper motor but then it get more complicated. Wondering about trying to find a scrap one from a boat or something.

Powered Winches, Power Winch, Utility Hydraulic Capstan Winch-Hoist

 

[hddnis]

I don't know how much line pull you want but one option would be...

Start with something like this: 28.3 cu in WHITE RE WHEEL MOUNT HYD MOTOR

9700 in-lbs of torque would give a pretty decent line pull without any reduction drive needed, if you have the hydraulics to turn it. There are of course many sizes available.

Then you have to have a capstan made to bolt to it. That will cost more than the motor itself, unless you have a lathe and can fab it yourself.




Mr. HE

 

[CalG]

I don't know how much line pull you want but one option would be...

Start with something like this: 28.3 cu in WHITE RE WHEEL MOUNT HYD MOTOR
9700 in-lbs of torque would give a pretty decent line pull without any reduction drive needed, if you have the hydraulics to turn it. There are of course many sizes available.
Then you have to have a capstan made to bolt to it. That will cost more than the motor itself, unless you have a lathe and can fab it yourself.

Mr. HE

Nice part of a capstan, is that the line length is of no significance. The retrieved line does on accumulate on the spool, though I suppose if you pulled in enough, the pile behind you could get in the way ;-)

I would like to have a capstan spool that fit up to the flat belt pully on the Fordson. Trouble is, that shaft turns to quickly. It would be hard to keep things at less than 100 feet per minute.
I've thought of a simple belt reducer to a seperate jack shaft with a drum mounted on the slower shaft, but by the time all the fabrication was done, a fellow would be ahead just to use the rear pto.

Sure would be useful though!

Do you plan to use 5/8 inch line? What I see, that can go for more or less a buck a foot. But can stand a load of around 10,000 #. (don't know what the working rating is) Could be more handy than 5/16 wire rope.

 

[toddbiss]

I know someone with a metal lathe so I think I could have the capstan made. I plan just to use a rope for pulling the logs, they make some that is designed for it that doesn't stretch. I want to add a rear remote and just be able to plug the motor in. My tractors hydraulics are almost 8 gpm so hopefully that will be enough... just plan on pulling out logs that I can't get the tractor to on the sides of my trails. Wish I could upload the video of the Norwood one but it is on a dvd the thing looks slick.