The Forestry Forum

Has anyone tried converting a small lawn tractor into a capstan winch?  I was thinking of securing the front end to a tree or other solid object, jacking up the rear end and replacing one back wheel with just a rim.  Will this work and has anyone tried it?  All the components are there to make it work- a power source, transmission, and a device to pull the rope, plus a way to start and stop.  I welcome any and all input.  Thanks 

My uncle drove a well point just like that. The rope was tied to the drive weight then went up and over a tickle and to the tractor rim. One loop aroung the tractor rim and all he had to do was pull the tag line to snug it on the rim, pulling the weight up then when he let off pressure the rope lost grip and down came the weight.

The transmissions on lawn tractors (and even if you step up to Garden tractors) is generally the weak link. Unfortunately, many of them are not worth working on to repair either... the parts are way too expensive.

If you are only winching light-weight, low drag items, you might get away with it. However, you'll have to figure out a way to lock one of the rear wheels, since the differential on these tractors is not limited slip: If you jack it up, and put some drag on one wheel, it will stop and the other wheel will spin faster.

If you think the transmission will hold up to it, why not just hitch the load to the trailer hitch on the lawn tractor and pull by driving it? (you'd need better tires and/or chains)

John Mc