tractor winch

[chuck172]

I've been using a 1200# badlands winch mounted on a ford 4500 loader to pull in logs. Problem is keeping the winch cable spooled evenly.
I use a fairlead.
Now I'm thinking of fabbing up a boom mounted straight with the winch. Then on the end of the boom I would mount a cable fair lead to help with angled pulls.
Anyone use this idea to keep the cable spooled up nice and even?

[stumper]

That has always been a challenge.  The only things I can suggest is stretching the cable as soon as you see a problem starting.  By stretching I mean extending the full cable out, attaching it to something solid and taking a good strain on it, then leave it for at least overnight.  Respool under some tension.

[M_S_S]

I have the same problem. I have a Warn winch on a receiver hitch that I mount on the back of my 6600 Ford and also on my Dodge3/4 ton diesel. I don't really worry about it much, if it gets to bad I just unroll it and reroll it with a small amount of weight on the line using my gloved hand to direct the cable. Ed

[bill m]

The fairlead is to close to the winch. It needs to be mounted about 2 or 3 feet from the winch and narrower than the drum so it will not bunch up to one side. Here are pictures of the winch I made for my tractor.

  

  

 

[M_S_S]

Bill I really like your winch. I plan to build one this summer. I am looking for a pto winch now. I probably will put a hydraulic motor on it. Anyway you did a good job on it, ED