Log deck motor

[Luke_Eames]

I just pickup a log deck without a motor.  I was thinking of either putting an electric winch on it and run it off the mill battery or putting on a hydraulic motor and hooking it up into the mill hydraulics.  Any thoughts or suggestions?  I'm not up on hydraulic run motors so any suggestions on that would be great.  I know the basics of hooking things in, but not too much about the motors themselves.  My mill is an LT 40, not a super but gets the jobs done.  ;D

[bedway]

http://www.surpluscenter.com/ This is a good source for parts. The more knowledgeable than myself will be along shortly to give you insight and advice.

[Gearbox]

If you hook up a hydraulic motor or any other function beyond the valve bank you may need to add a power beyond section to the valve . I run 2  2500 HF winch motors to run a live deck on my BT6870 wood processer . I just took the winch apart [ 2 allen head screws ] and turn one flange off the spool , turn and key the shaft . Put on a hub and weld on sprocket .   1 winch motor did not have enough power so I added a second one now I have plenty of power . My live deck is at a 30 degree angle and holds a 1/4 to 1/3 cord . A flat deck will take much less power .

[DDW_OR]

my two cents.
two HF 2500 winches will be $170 + two electric wires + a quick connect = less than $350.

Hydraulic = ??

[Luke_Eames]

I was thinking about the winches from HF.  To add,  I got a couple lumber decks as well with no motors.  My only concern is how well the winches would work for continuous run time, 6 - 8 hours a day.

[Kbeitz]

Starters and winch motors are not continues duty motors.
They are intermittent duty cycle motors.
The only 12v motors that are large and continues would
be a motor out of a forklift and it's real hard to find one
that's 12 volts. There is one on E-bay now for $800.00
The best winch motor is rated for 35 seconds on then
10 minutes off. Warn is one of the best and they say.
Do not power out more than 30 feet without allowing the
winch to cool for 20 minutes before powering rope back in.

[redprospector]

I've got 2 live decks. One is electric (not 12 volt), the other is hydraulic.
What both of them have in common is a reduction gear box.
My personal opinion is that a winch motor isn't going to be a very good choice.

[Gearbox]

On a live deck you will have a load of 30 seconds and a rest of 10 min. . My processer has a 3 second run every min. I have had no problem . I wait till they go on sale and I get them for 49.95 . Right now I am running 4 and the one on my splitter has been pulled hard enough to wear out the cable .

[redprospector]

On a live deck you will have a load of 30 seconds and a rest of 10 min. . My processer has a 3 second run every min. I have had no problem . I wait till they go on sale and I get them for 49.95 . Right now I am running 4 and the one on my splitter has been pulled hard enough to wear out the cable .

Sorry, I thought that was what we were talking about.
The OP said he got a "log deck" with no motor (with a motor I figured it would be a live deck). He then said he had an LT-40. I assumed he was going to use it as a live deck for his sawmill.
If he's using it on a firewood processor a winch might work...I don't know. My opinion is still the same for a "log deck" for a sawmill though.

[Gearbox]

A live deck weather a descrambler like I have or a flat deck They just move logs from point a to point b . The other thing is a winch uses planetary gearbox .

[pineywoods]

Winch motors probably gonna have a heat problem. Check into a motor off a handicap scooter, not a wheel chair. Wheel chairs use 2 motors, one for each wheel. Scooter use a single larger motor driving a gearbox and differential. They are 24 volt, but work well on 12 volts..

[bandmiller2]

You have hydraulics do it right and put a hyd. motor on it. Cheap winches and you will always be working on it and pulling your battery down. Frank C.

[Luke_Eames]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I talked more with the guy I bought the equipment from and he said go hydraulic.  He had hydraulics on all of his equipment. I think with the lumber deck being continuous, then just hooking the log deck into my mill, the hydraulics will be best for the long run.  Any suggestions on what size  reduction gear box??