Which skidding winch for M6040

[DB24]

I have a Kubota M6040 ROPS, 4wd, cat 1/2 3-point, 5500 lbs no FEL, 7700 lbs with FEL and 56hp at PTO. What size and brand of skidding winch should I consider buying and what features are important? While my tractor could probably handle quite a big winch I do not want to spend lots of $$$ on a winch that is far bigger than I really need - I'm not a forestry professional.

The two brands I have seen are Farmi and Igland (sold as Norse in USA [a]).

My specific questions are:
1) Would a Farmi JL351P be too small for my M6040, it is listed as 17-40hp , however the main Farmi site just lists it as 15hp+ [c]? Could I break it with too much hp?

2) What happens if a log being pulled in gets caught on something - what slips/breaks?

3) What types of brake are available and what is best and why? The Farmi "T" models have a deadman brake which I think is a band brake, eg. JL501 has no deadman brake, JL501T has a brake [d]? All the Norse winches appear to have a brake, but some are band brakes while the rest are ratchet (pawl) type? I am very confused about brakes, help please!

4) If the cable is under load, can it be let back out in a controlled manner?

5) What features/differences/advantages do Farmi/Norse/others have relative to each other?

Thanks for any help you can offer, there is nothing like having actually owned and operated an attachment to know what to buy next time.....

[a] Igland (Norse): http://www.novare.no/tmp.doc/mereo/ssb/CUS-03243212/SITES/IglandAS-ENG/index.html
JL 351P - Farmi Winch
[c] Farmi English site: FARMI 290, 351P and 501
[d] Farmi winch brochure: http://www.mlarge.com/images/upl_files/000282.pdf

 

[Grandad4]

This will get you started; others will chime in with more/better info because, like you, I am just an amateur regarding skidding winches.

There is no harm in using a smaller winch on a larger tractor. The issues are weight and power. More tractor weight is always good; having plenty of power at the pto means you don't need to rev the engine to power the winch. That translates into a more gentle pull as these winches pull plenty fast compared, say, to one of those electric 4x4 recovery winches.

More power doesn't hurt the winch. If you stall the winch when your pull gets snagged, for example, the clutch simply slips. If you're a maniac, you keep pulling until something gives... either the snag, the line or the clutch. If you have some common sense, you stop the pull and clear the snag.

Winches pretty much all need to have 3 modes: pull (clutch engaged), freewheel (clutch disengaged, no brake) and locked (clutch disengaged, brake set). Different models will have slight variations in how you go from one mode to the other, but they all must do the following: unwinding/resetting/clearing cable (freewheel), pulling a log in (engage clutch) and holding the load for towing, etc. (brake set).

Although my tractor might handle a larger winch, the small one I bought (a Uniforest that is equivalent to the Farmi 351) has done perfectly well for my limited use. From what I have seen, all of the major brands make dependable, rugged winches that will work for many years. Don't think anyone is selling junk logging winches.

One of the most important safety considerations is pulling as near to straight behind the tractor as possible. The greater the side angle of the pull, the greater the risk of things going really wrong if there's a snag. Also highly recommend investing in at least one snatch block. Farmi makes a neat self-releasing one, but it's expensive.

 

[jpm1]

When I first started i was in the firewood business and bought a new farmi JL300 which now is an old one and rated at 40 HP. My Belarus 400 was 58 HP. I used it for 30 + years with no problems. I have a Mahindra and a kioti dk35seHST which its on now. I broke the rear axle housing and lift arms on the Mahindra last year. My welder made them better than new. I have had no problems other than the drive chain breaking on my winch. I would recommend the JL351, it is an affordable piece of equipment. The 501 is higher priced and high production machine.
When your pulling and you hit something the clutch slips on the winch. If your pulling and your log gets caught between trees its going to get ugly. Especially with a bigger HP tractor, my winch has snapped tree length logs in half. Wood really flies with these winches in more ways than one.
My winch has a ratchet paw brake, notches cut in the edge of the winches drum and a steel paw bites into upon operator aplication it works great but its manually operated by the operator. I am totally sold on my winch and if i were to buy another it would be a JL351p.
One thing you need to understand is putting a Farmi winch on your tractor (now i using Farmi because i own one) , you have now increased the capacity of your tractor probably 5 times. A lot of people laugh at these winches but. . . this is a serious piece of logging equipment.They are great for skidding with low ground disturbance. In your post you said you are not a forestry professional but with a winch you soon will be on your wood lot! These Machines are easy to use but. . . They are extremely dangerous too because of the cable. A cable pulling at high strength is subject to break no matter what its on and when it does some one or some thing is going to become a target! Don't let it be your body! Disclaimer: Severe injury or death will result in the misuse/abuse of this piece of equipment. Sorry i don't have any pics of mine pulling cause i'm a one man band. I'm sure which ever one you choose you will be happy with and it will make wood harvesting much easier, it sure has mine. . . If i can answer anything else PM me .. . John

 

[namesray]

while i don't know too much specifically about the farmi i have heard good things about them. the norse winches i researched on line and look good, but are light weight built compared to the other models. here is a video of a norse in action. Norse Skidding Winch | Labonville.com | Logging Supplies | Safety Apparel

i own a fransgard v-3507 winch. over 7000lb pulling capacity and i use it on a kubota b7800 30hp tractor for my firewood business. the tractor weighs in around 2600lbs with fel. the winch works great on that tractor. the dozer blade on the bottom of the winch anchors it real good and the winch takes most of the pulling force. fransgard models come with a lower pulley option that can be used easily anytime to put around the cable and lowers the center of gravity and pulling force to the lower 3ph links. i use the lower pulley most of the time if the pull allows it, ie: not over a hump or drag the cable through the dirt. i don't know if the norse or farmi have this option. they might. but it really helps with taking some strain off the top link of the 3ph. with the v-3507 model i pull pole wood sized logs, sized stuff you get for fire wood off a log truck that you cut up yourself (about 25ft long about 14-16 inch diameter, oak, maple, ash, beech, cherry, probable could go bigger but i don't want to push it). the fransgard v-4000 would probably fit you needs well if you go the fransgard route. it will pull 8800 lbs and has 164 ft cable. fits 35-65 hp tractors cat I or II 3ph. they have a cable drum tension bracket (kinda like a drum brake pad) that prevents unwanted unspooling and "rats nesting" when you are free spooling the cable out to the logs to be pulled. the clutch will slip if it gets snagged on anything, and it has a mechanical rachet system to lock the cable in place for pulling the logs behind the tractor to landing and to prevent back sliding if winching up hill and tractor stalls or you stop the pull action. this type of brake action is simple, but difficult to release if under heavy load. to start pull action you pull a rope attached to pulleys/clutch and to stop you simply let go the rope. the fransgard pulling rate is about 5 feet per second so be careful. bad things can happen fast if you don't know what to look for. my advice would be to start with small logs at first until you get use to it if you have never done it before. and as mentioned pull in straight of a line as you can, NO SIDE PULLS! most all the models mentioned should be just about bulletproof and require little/simple maintenance. i went with fransgard because my local dealer had them. i like the looks of them better then the other 2 mentioned, but that doesn't mean much. probably would have bought the norse if my kubota dealer didn't have fransgard. i love that fransgard though. good luck with your shopping and like jpm1 said pm us if you have any questions along the way. stay safe.

 

[DB24]

Thanks for all your advice, much appreciated:thumbsup:

My local forestry equipment dealer sells Igland (Norse) winches, so that is probably the best option!

 

[jpm1]

DB24,
I"m glad to hear you have a local dealer that sells winches. I always try to buy local. I think you'll be happy. Good luck . . .and don't forget the pics when you do get it home . . .John