Ok, thought I should share my thoughts on this device, in-case anyone get's the idea that they might want one:
Device: http://www.harborfreight.com/8000-lb-cable-winch-puller-543.html
Harbor Freight 8,000 lb. Cable Puller/Ratcheting Winch. (they also sell 4,000 lb and 1,500 lb versions) %-P
I grew up on a farm, where a device like this might have been called a "come-along" or a "calf-puller." I think I had one back when I was a kid that was rated to 1,500 lbs. With it, a few wrenches, and a barn rafter, I was able to swap all sorts of engines around between my growing collection of junker cars. (aka hot rods.)
Fast forward to present: I thought it might be nice to have one of these for occasionally tensioning a strap on a hung tree or other odds and ends around the place. Now I know Harbor Freight sells some decent stuff for the money, and some total junk that is no bargain at any price. This puller falls into the latter category.
My experience with it:
I wanted to relocate a tree stump (already pulled out of the ground) a few feet over. Maybe it weighs 1,000 lbs or so. I hooked a log chain to the stump, a tow strap rated to 2,000 lbs to an adjacent tree, and hooked the puller in between and tightened it up.
Now the tow strap is an old one, worn through in a couple of places from dragging stuff around. I figured it would break long before I hit the 8,000 lb limit of this glorious tool. However, as I began pulling, and the stump began moving, at about three feet, the ratchet suddenly "let go." Closer examination revealed that the pawl or dog that locks the ratchet wheel in place as you lever the thing tighter bent and let off the tension because it no longer contacted the wheel.
Now not being one to give up on moving a stump, I bent the pawl back in place, and straightened it up a little better than it came from the factory. I kept ratcheting, the stump kept moving, until the second layer of cable started to wrap on the take up spool. It had enough tension to bend the sides of the spool, allowing them to start rubbing on the sides of the frame and the ratchet handle! This made the handle extremely hard to move in either direction.
I got the job finished, but believe I will explore HF's return policy on this particular piece of excrement. I really doubt that I was pulling more than about 500-800 lbs of force with this thing, and it completely failed to live up to my low expectations for it. Soft metal, poor design and workmanship. The 8,000 lb rating is complete prevarication.
Device: http://www.harborfreight.com/8000-lb-cable-winch-puller-543.html
Harbor Freight 8,000 lb. Cable Puller/Ratcheting Winch. (they also sell 4,000 lb and 1,500 lb versions) %-P
I grew up on a farm, where a device like this might have been called a "come-along" or a "calf-puller." I think I had one back when I was a kid that was rated to 1,500 lbs. With it, a few wrenches, and a barn rafter, I was able to swap all sorts of engines around between my growing collection of junker cars. (aka hot rods.)
Fast forward to present: I thought it might be nice to have one of these for occasionally tensioning a strap on a hung tree or other odds and ends around the place. Now I know Harbor Freight sells some decent stuff for the money, and some total junk that is no bargain at any price. This puller falls into the latter category.
My experience with it:
I wanted to relocate a tree stump (already pulled out of the ground) a few feet over. Maybe it weighs 1,000 lbs or so. I hooked a log chain to the stump, a tow strap rated to 2,000 lbs to an adjacent tree, and hooked the puller in between and tightened it up.
Now the tow strap is an old one, worn through in a couple of places from dragging stuff around. I figured it would break long before I hit the 8,000 lb limit of this glorious tool. However, as I began pulling, and the stump began moving, at about three feet, the ratchet suddenly "let go." Closer examination revealed that the pawl or dog that locks the ratchet wheel in place as you lever the thing tighter bent and let off the tension because it no longer contacted the wheel.
Now not being one to give up on moving a stump, I bent the pawl back in place, and straightened it up a little better than it came from the factory. I kept ratcheting, the stump kept moving, until the second layer of cable started to wrap on the take up spool. It had enough tension to bend the sides of the spool, allowing them to start rubbing on the sides of the frame and the ratchet handle! This made the handle extremely hard to move in either direction.
I got the job finished, but believe I will explore HF's return policy on this particular piece of excrement. I really doubt that I was pulling more than about 500-800 lbs of force with this thing, and it completely failed to live up to my low expectations for it. Soft metal, poor design and workmanship. The 8,000 lb rating is complete prevarication.