Wallenstein FX 8000 skidding winch questions

[drysalty]

I’ve been looking for a skidding winch for a while now. I will use it on my Kioti CK 2610 Primarily for fire wood for my home. I’ve e come across a used Wallenstein FX 8000 for sale locally, this winch was for sale last season for $3000 which was too much in my opinion now it’s listed for $2000 which is more in line with what I'm willing to pay.

I’d like to gather some input/details/opinions on this winch. I’ve searched the inter webs for any information specific to the FX 8000 but I’m coming up pretty much empty. I found an operators manual posted here by a forum member but nothing in regards to users experiences with this model and nothing about how appropriately sized this winch might be for my machine. I’d also be interested in how it differs/ compares to the current FX 66 and FX 85 and what years this model was made. Im going to look at it tomorrow so I’ll have a better idea of the condition then as the pictures arent the greatest I dont see the protective screen that mounts to the top but everything else seems to be there.; is there anything else that I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF, it's any good, it will probably be sold before you get all your questions answered...

If you are serious, you better be going to look now, with the money in your hand.

SR

 

[drysalty]

I spoke with the seller and he's allegedly busy all day today and I'm going tomorrow morning to take a look at it. I know the good ones go pretty fast, this one was listed before but at a price that made a new one seem a better idea. Now its listed $1000 less and hopefully can be bought a little less that asking price. Hopefully its still there when i get to take a look.

 

[CobyRupert]

Here’s a thread on the FX8000. 1st post has link to FX8000 manual

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/419333-any-wallenstein-fx8000-owners-out.html

 

[drysalty]

Thanks for the link, that’s the one I had found before when searching the web. That’s going to be good information if I buy the winch, what I’m looking for now is information on how well that winch would match my tractor and any experience on how well it worke etc.

Keep the info coming!!

 

[CobyRupert]

Wallenstein makes a good winch. They’re simple devices. I like the fact they have a safety screen and would never sit on tractor without one.
If winch is similar to their FX8500, it should be ok for a Class 1 3-point hitch and weigh around 500 lbs.
Winches have a slip clutch to protect their parts from being overpowered by a high hp tractor if log or cable catches snags while winching. At 21hp, your tractor’s rpm’s may bog down or stall before clutch slips.
In addition to weight of winch, you will be lifting 1/2 the weight of any logs that you raise and drag.

 

[drysalty]

I found a bit of info on the web somewhere which claimed the winch was rated for 20-40 hp tractors and weights 525# but that wasn’t anything official just what some person either here or the forestry forum had posted, hopefully it’s physically comparable to the FX 85 As the dimensions of that would seem to be roughly comparable to what I see fitting my machine

 

[Mat4644]

More of a tractor size/weight and how robust 3pt top link are vs HP ratings. Any posts on web of 3pt failures for this tractor model? Do these also hook up to drawbar in any way?

I've heard stories of these damaging small tractors.

 

[drysalty]

I think you can do damage to any tractor with one of these winches if you aren’t smart about how you twitch logs out of the woods. I haven’t heard of any failures specifically related to the CK 2610. This chassis is the same from the 25 horse to the 40 horse tractors so I’m encouraged that the chassis will support the winch framework. I guess lower PTO horsepower may keep the possibility of damage from actual usage a bit lower. I’d love to hear from someone who owns a FX 8000 or any other Wallenstein and uses it on a similar size tractor .

 

[CobyRupert]

I think the biggest possibilities to damaging the tractor would be winching at an angle and tipping tractor over. Often people look at the log, but you need to keep another eye on the tractor that it’s not being pulled sideways or backwards and about to run you over, especially if you’re standing next to tire; and keep another eye out that the cable is being reeled in and the winch clutch isn’t just smoking. (Or if you don’t have three eyes keep your head on a swivel.)
Like other 3 point hitch implements when raised, if your pulling from above the rear axle wheelies may result.