Electric winch on W-M

[RMay]

Electric winch on Wood-Mizer has anyone installed  a electric winch  on there Wood-Mizer. I am trying to put a 2000 pound winch on my LT40 non-hyd. mill. I am trying to keep the mannual winch for the log turner and have the electric winch to load the log, has anyone done this before?I have a deep cycle battery to run the winch. I am thinking of mounting the winch over the axle. should have bought the hyd.  was to tight to buy it. paying for it now! R May

[Tom]

it sounds like you are on the right track.  I would have replaced my manual winch with an electric one if I didn't have hydraulics.  

Putting it over the axle will put your winch in  a place where it may be damaged by turning logs and sawdust and limbs and such.  I think I would opt for one end of the mill or the other. There are many instances when the entire inside of my mill is filled with bark, sawdust and trimmings.  I have to stop and clean it all out just to operate.  

[Lenny]

I`m currently experincing the same wth my non-hyd.I`m going with a log loader like the hyd. mills with A deep cycle battery with a small 12 volt generator I made from a small gas engine and a 100 amp altanator. this will run only when batt run down.The hyd unit is a 12 volt electric like what you would find on a plow lift that can be operated from 2 places.One at the hitch end and one near the load/offbarer side 8)

[Jeff]

Lenny, do you have anyway to get a picture of your setup?

[Lenny]

I`m still in the process of getting the materials together. No pics yet. the loader is the same as the hyd mills,The hyd unit is a barns 12 volt hyd unit that was given to me, they can be bought reasonable at www.NorthernTool.com
 1 switch (3 position toggle spring loaded to return to center)will be mounted on the hitch. the other is also a 3 position on A remote cord tha can be operated from anywhere
     The gas engine generator is a 3.5HP with a car altenator W/bilt in voltage regulator mounted on a small skid that can be pluged into the batt. and started when needed
    could easily be pluged into 110volt with a standard batt charger but power is not always avaible where you`re milling

[RMay]

Well I got the ele. winch and it works . The bigest log was a 30 in. by 10 ft. white oak . Looks like the battery is going to hold up all day as I loaded 25 logs with it . I mounted the winch on a 4 in. truck spring that is 12 in. long . I am sliding it under the board stop when I load and have the battery behind the tire . When I get the log on the mill I slide the winch off . Lenny you my want to try it I got out for $225 for this setup .

[ADfields]

Lenny
I bilt a 12 volt generator with a GM (delco) altanator a couple years back and it works great but NEVER start it without a battery hooked to it as it will kill your altanator.   I killed 3 befor I found that out, shure like that lifetime replacement thing.
Andy