Winch Modifications

[J_J]

If you have some money to spend, you can get an electronic remote control for the hyd winch that will let you control the winch from about 100 ft.

http://baileynet.com/index.php?id=31&productcategory=1000038

Bottom of page.

 

[BobRip]

I continue to work on this. The first pictures are the double 2 inch receiver mounted on the rear of the PT. This way I can raise the winch up so it does not drag in the mud.

 

[BobRip]

This pictures shows the fair lead mounted. I had to make two angle brackets out of angle iron since PT has not provided a way to mount the fair lead. I used existing holes on the winch to mount the angle irons. I have also removed the quick attach plate. This was easy, just four bolts. I saved the plate of course. Now what should I build with that?

I am now starting to work on mounting the 2 inch receiver tube to the winch. I am trying to minimize any modifications to the winch. I will probably have to drill two holes in the winch back plate. I can probably use two existing holes. This way I can go back to PT's design if I like. (Like that's going to happen, but just in case). More likely I will have to throw out my first design and try something else. What I plan to do is weld a 2 inch tube to two angle irons and them bolt the angle irons to the winch. This is pretty straight forward and should work.

 

[Gravy]

Bob,

You could get a 2" receiver mount for a pintle hook like this. Hitchmaster Pintle Receiver Adapter | Hitch Adapters | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[BobRip]

Bob,

You could get a 2" receiver mount for a pintle hook like this. Hitchmaster Pintle Receiver Adapter | Hitch Adapters | Northern Tool + Equipment

Not bad. I kinda made that. I think my version is lighter in weight. This is important since I have to pick this thing up and install it.

I mounted the winch to the back of the PT today. The connectors I got from NAPA look like the ones PT uses, but they don't work. I used the ones that came with the PT.

I tried the winch out today and it worked very well. It's tempting to put a mirror on the back so I can see the winch. I pulled too much cable in today and had trouble pulling it back out. I could put a ring to stop it, but then the fairleads might be destroyed by the force. Any comments on this.


My biggest issue is how to route and support the hoses as they go from the front to the winch. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Also this thing stick pretty far out the back. I may want to store it pointing up. I will have to add another 2 inch receiver or modify the winch.

I tried using a piece of parachute cord to pull on the aux PTO handle, so I can guide and observe the cable. This works pretty well.

I have not tested it on the front (under lift arm) 2 inch receiver. It may be too crowded there. This is not a big deal, but it would be nice to have.

Overall this seems to be working. I do not like not being able to see it. I could mount one of those backup cameras on it.

I plan to use the PT at the old church cemetery cleanup tomorrow. We will see how this works.

 

[SpringHollow]

I bought a winch doughnut that keeps the winch from pulling in too far.

Ken

 

[BobRip]

I bought a winch doughnut that keeps the winch from pulling in too far.

Ken

That sounds good. Where did you get it?

 

[SpringHollow]

I was afraid you were going to ask where so i have been looking for the last 30 minutes but I can not find it. I think i got it with my synthetic rope.

Ken

 

[BobRip]

I was afraid you were going to ask where so i have been looking for the last 30 minutes but I can not find it. I think i got it with my synthetic rope.

Ken

Thanks for looking. I tried bing and could not find it. What is the donut made of. Maybe I could make something. Heck a piece of plywood would probably work. It might break, but what the @#$%ck. I could probably make two of three just as easily as one.

 

[BobRip]

I took the machine out today with the winch on back. I did not need it, but it did not interfere with the use. I am thinking about shortening the two inch receivers. I will have to grind off the reinforcements at the end, and then weld them back on. The machine is very long the way is it. Suggestion here would be appreciated.

 

[J_J]

Winch doughnut

4X4 Holiday Buyers Guide Winch Saver Photo

 

[BobRip]

Winch doughnut

4X4 Holiday Buyers Guide Winch Saver Photo

J_J, thanks for the link. This is not what I was thinking of. It looks like it does what the winch blanket does. Does it also work to stop the winch when the line it pulled tight? Actually, I like it better than the winch blanket. It stores on the cable.

 

[cqaigy2]

I continue to work on this. The first pictures are the double 2 inch receiver mounted on the rear of the PT. This way I can raise the winch up so it does not drag in the mud.

I like the second picture, the one with the slow vehicle sign. Good color contrast and interesting geometric shapes.

 

[toy]

Bob Rip about how much does that winch weigh?

 

[toy]

Bob Rip I have thought before about how to run hoses back to the back but haven't done anything to actually do that. I did run some electrical wires through the tunnel with the wires being inside one of those clear tubing like lowes sells but that was a long time ago. I doubt you could pull two hoses through the sleeve that is in the center section but you might be able to push a fish tape through it and try anyway. If that don't work you might be able to use a fish tape and pull them through the tunnel outside that blue sleeve. If I did that I would try to get some kind of covering to go around the hoses in the center section.

 

[BobRip]

Bob Rip about how much does that winch weigh?

My guess is about 70 pounds.

Thanks for you input on the hose routing. I was initially just going to have temporary supports along the side, but after you input, I need to reconsider.

 

[BobRip]

The more I look at this thing the more I don't like how far it sticks out the back. It's about 23.5 inches!! It has not dragged on the ground or hit anything, but it's just too far out. I am not sure it will fit on my trailer when I have the mower on. I can do a few things (shorten the receiver tube, move the winch pin hole closer to the winch) but this only save about 3 inches and is a fair amount of work. I think I need to rethink the whole process. I could mount the winch directly to the PT back and then put a 2 inch receiver below it or above it. That would be the closest method. I would still like to use it on the front. I could put a tube (the size for a normal hitch) and tie the two 2 inch receivers (one on the winch and one on the quick attach plate on the PT front) together. How do I make it easy to disconnect the winch from the PT back? This needs a lot of thought and suggestions from my friends here.

 

[SpringHollow]

You might consider Teeing off the pump and using electric solenoid valves for the winch. That way, you do not have to go through the tunnel, nor disconnect things.

Ken

 

[BobRip]

Eat my words. Here is my next idea. Put the PT quick attach plate back on the winch. Put a plate like the one on the front of the PT lift arms on the back. Weld a 2 inch receiver to the top of the winch quick attach plate (for connecting other things to the back of the PT). I have not figured out a way to lock the bottom of the winch quick attach plate to the PT. Any ideas?

One advantage this is that you could remove the winch and carry other PT attachments (if you can lift them) with you. Also I would not need the 2 inch receiver adapter to use the winch on the front.

 

[ClintBlake]

Or you could just buy one of the gas powered portable winches that have been mentioned and be done with it