The winch I'm looking at holds about 65' of cable. I need about 150' for my job.
I'm sure I'm overlooking a simple solution to this.
What do I do?
I'm sure I'm overlooking a simple solution to this.
What do I do?
Winch lead not long enough.
- Thread starter Easy Livin’ 3000
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add two 50 ft cable sections with a joint. Pull in 65, remove 50, pull in some more? Or is there a continuous load on it?
It sounds to me like the winch you are looking at is not going to do the job you want to do. You have two choices, get a different winch or get closer to what you want to winch.
I'm trying to move small cart loads of wood down a slope that's too steep for a vehicle. Probably about 600 pounds per load. Then pull the cart back up the slope and repeat.
Have you looked at a capstan hoist? You can lift loads any distance. There are only two or three wraps of the hoist rope around drum. If you are only lowering load you can use the same traction principaly of the rope around a stationary drum to control any load with little effort. No motor needed.
There maybe wenches that do what you want. I've used a few and constant usage they eat cables.
Otherwise you may need a drum machine that has fixed groves.
There maybe wenches that do what you want. I've used a few and constant usage they eat cables.
Otherwise you may need a drum machine that has fixed groves.
Thanks xman. You are exactly right. A captstan hoist is exactly what I'm looking for. Just didn't even know there was such a thing.
Answers like this is what makes hearth so great.
Might even be able to rig one off the belt PTO on my old wheel horse, which would be superb.
We have a cable that is 50' long and another that is 100' long with about 50' on the winch, we usually use the extra 50'.
I have a Warn 8 K w/ 80' of cable on a portable mount that I use on the front receiver on my S-10 ZR2. I also have a Smittybilt 8 K w/ 94' of cable on the front of our Jeep. Both have been used for firewood ops, dragging logs, etc.
For the task you are describing, a winch sounds like overkill. If you have decent traction from the Wheelhorse (nice old school tractor by the way) why not just use a good length of rope between the tractor and cart? If you don't want to drag the rope on the ground or across the "top edge" of the hill then run it through a pully or shackle attached to a tree a few feet off the ground to re-direct the pull.
For the task you are describing, a winch sounds like overkill. If you have decent traction from the Wheelhorse (nice old school tractor by the way) why not just use a good length of rope between the tractor and cart? If you don't want to drag the rope on the ground or across the "top edge" of the hill then run it through a pully or shackle attached to a tree a few feet off the ground to re-direct the pull.
Good idea. At the bottom of the slope is a good wide, relatively level area where I do get enough traction to do this, and I'd only need to buy a pulley to attach to a tree at the top.
VirginiaIron
Minister of Fire
I love the old Wheel Horse Estate "Tractor".
Here's a windlas off the rear end.
(I hate auto fill/correct)
Here's a windlas off the rear end.
(I hate auto fill/correct)
A griphoist would work well but too slow for your project. You still need a long cable but the hoist travels along the cable.
Now we're talking! This would work great.
Is that you in the video, VirginiaIron?
VirginiaIron
Minister of Fire
No, but I have had my eyes on these since the 80's. I've come close to purchasing a few over the years, but I get cold feet due to the lack of need and parts availability. One day, one day.
Don't wait too long, they are getting rare. Many of the parts are standard off the shelf stuff like the wheel bearings and seals. Most other stuff you can still find around. I bought a Raider 14 as a parts tractor for a Raider 12 I had, now the 14 is my main tractor.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
I feel like you could use just about any wheeled vehicle with an open diff in this way. Some traction aided diffs, like a Torsen (unlikely on farm equipment) will still send all power to a wheel if it comes off the ground. Thanks for posting that video, I'm getting ideas!
Got a neighbor that has a chainsaw capstan winch. He must have 2 miles of mule tape. It all mounts on his UTV hitch. Not sure of the capacity of the mule tape but he pulled a buddy's elk over a mile upslope. It was impressive. The mule tape spool has a crank on it that you wind by hand as the winch pulls in.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
Mule tape. Wondering what the stretch is on a mile of it. Or a couple hundred ft. And how it wears.
It's always nice to learn something new. I have some gear reducers and "plans in the future" for an engine winch. More options now to think about.
VirginiaIron
Minister of Fire
Was it really a mile? Or just long? The concept of Mule tape is new to me and looks promising. I may investigate its usage. In sure there are specs that will give insight as to the % stretched per foot/meter/mile.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
I see 3000ft spools online, so it's possible. Not sure how feasible for rounds and small logs. I would need only a couple hundred feet.
The pull was definitely at least a mile. As far as how much he had? It was a lot more than a mile. You can buy 10000 ft rolls. The listed weight for a 5000ft spool is 65lbs.
https://ribbonfactory.com/store/display_item/1105.html
If you know anyone who works at a utility company you may be able to get it cheap. I'm not sure that they reuse it after a pull or not.
