Skidding Winch Cable Issue

Ghostrider16 · March 14, 2021, 02:43:52 PM

Hi All,

The other day, I was using a block to pull a log and didn't realize till I went to unhook from the block that the winch line had slipped off the block wheel and was actually pulling between the wheel and side of the block. The next time I pulled the line out, it had a kind of corkscrew appearance to it, as if it was twisted. I unwound the line and wound it back in, trying to see if it would untwist, but it's still has that same appearance when I take out line.

Anyone have this, or something similar, happen to them and know a possible fix?

I have a Tajfun 45A skidding winch for reference.

HemlockKing · March 14, 2021, 02:58:59 PM

winch it to a stump/tree with brakes on leave tension on it for a day or 2 see if that helps

thecfarm · March 14, 2021, 03:25:17 PM

I had a rat nest in mine one day.

I even had to take the mast off to get at it. I knew when it happened and I knew better too. But any ways, after a few hitches with it, it got some what straight. I parked further away from the twitch too. Just wanted to get as much cable out as I could.

mike_belben · March 14, 2021, 04:03:51 PM

It happens. Cheap fairleads will stick cable so bad you have to destroy them to get the cable out.

Tug on a tree like was said.. Oil the kink pretty good and use a wood block and mallet to try helping the kinked strands get tensed back into the bundle again. Oil it at least a good 6 feet in each direction if not the whole cable. Its good for them to have lubricant in the strands.

Ghostrider16 · March 14, 2021, 06:21:19 PM

Thanks much for the responses!

I'll give those suggestions a shot.

dougtrr2 · March 15, 2021, 09:06:40 AM

Just had to throw this in there. When I first got my Farmi winch, a misadjusted tensioner, my inattention, and a stupid use* resulted in a bird's nest. It was so bad I had to use an angle grinder to get it out. The good news was I only lost about five feet of cable, the bad news was it was in the almost exact center of the cable. :

Doug in SW IA

*A near miss with a tornado resulted in several trees snapped 30' above the ground. I hooked up to one of those bent over pieces and tried to snap it off. I would pull it to the limit of the winch, let it go, pull it again, let it go, until I had a bird's nest.