Forestry Winch - How big?

[shortaction]

Hey all, been perusing the Wallenstein forestry winches.  Was looking at either the FX85 (8500lb with 165' of 3/8 cable, two chokers) or the FX110 (11,000lb with 165' of 7/16 cable, two chokers).  

I have a John Deere 2650 that is 78hp.  

The FX85 is about $1,100.00 cheaper and I don't plan on being a big time logger, mostly Eastern White Cedar, Pine, Spruce & Poplar.  But don't want to run into problems down the road because I undersized.  

Any experiences or suggestions about forestry winches is welcome.  Not stuck on Wallenstein but that is what is available locally.

[thecfarm]

Might want to go with the bigger one. Easier to have it too big,than too small. ;D  But I like spending other people's money. ;D
Put 4 more chokers on it too. Make up some 4 foot chains too. I run 6 chockers,sometimes only one is used and sometimes all 6 are used and I double up on the small trees too at times. I use my 4 foot chains more than the 8 foot chains.Them 3 pt winches are all the same,they come with 8 foot chains. Yes,with your 78hp,you might be able to use 2-3 8 foot chains. I only have 40 hp,mine came with four 8 foot chains. Kinda like those small saws that come with a 18 inch bar. :  I find out it's easier to run a foot of chain through a choker,than 5 feet of chain.
Do NOT winch at a sharp angle either. I did that once,just a small tree,maybe 6 inches across. It came up against a root,I thought the tree would go through it. : I had my tractor on 2 wheels.   Let go of the rope and it came crashing back down to earth.

[Chaser357]

I've had the fx85 for about a year now.  I have a 40 hp kubota tractor.   If I had a bigger tractor I would've gotten the bigger winch.  Still it is amazing what the fx85 will pull.   You will not regret getting the bigger winch though.   I carry a big snatch block and a chocker on mine so I can double the pulling power or pull from a different direction to get around a stump or something. 

[redneckman]

I just bought a used Fransguard V4000, which is about a 9000 lb winch I think.  I have not used it yet, but the guy I bought it from said it would easily slide his 60HP 4x4 Kubota bacwards.  I have a 47 HP 4x4 Kubota.

There was a used 11k Farmi that I considered.  However, the Farmi weighed a 1000 pounds vs the 600 lb Fransguard.  I have used tractor mouted winches before, and this is what I have learned; even with your size tractor, a medium sized winch will be a load.  It is not the size of the winch, but the size of the load that you will eventually want to pull.  Most of these winches will pull more than the tractor weighs.  I doubt your tractor weighs 11000 lbs, which is what the FX110 is rated for.  The part that you need to watch out for is how much load you are putting on your tractors 3pt system.  If the tractor specs are 3000lbs on the rear lift for example, and you have a 1000 pound winch, that leaves you with a 2000 lb load limit.  It doesn't take many logs winched off the ground to max that out.  Plus, the geomoetry even puts more load on the 3 pt  when you have the load partialy picked up off the ground, and partially dragging the rest.  It is not the same as putting 3k on the lift, picking it up off the ground completely and moving it.  I have even heard of people busting the lift cap off the top of the tractor housing. This is why I went with the smaller winch.  If I am winching a 9000lb log, I am winching 2000 lbs more than my tractor weighs.  Call me crazy, but that it s recipe to break something or worse.  Check out this video.  This is the exact same winch that I bought on a 95 hp tractor.  Granted this guy operating the tractor has it WAY overloaded, but you will see what I mean.

Zetor forterra 95 + Fransgard V4000 - YouTube


A wise man once told me that if you want a skidder, buy a skidder.  Not trying to discourage you, but be carefull.

[Kbeitz]

It a bit old fashion and I don't know the rating but it's big enough to get into trouble...

[47sawdust]

Good advice here on sizing the winch to the tractor and being mindful of the load you will be pulling.No need to tear up your tractor if it can be avoided.I run a 7k Tajfun winch on a 45hp kubota .I could go with the next size larger but I haven;t really felt the need for it.

[shortaction]

Lots of good thoughts here!  

Was just looking through the specs on these again and I just realized these are both for category I 3 point hitch.  My tractor has a category II 3 point hitch.  Would have to move up to the largest model FX140 to get into a cat II.  Not sure what all it would take to use the cat I winches but other cat I implements have been too narrow between the pins for my arms and the drive shafts are way to short and of course the pins are of smaller diameter.  Hmmm.

Thanks for all the advice and info, it is appreciated.

[redneckman]

My winch is cat 1 and 2.  The pins are bigger on one end than the other.  Just flip them around for cat 2.  I am surprised that the Wallensteins are not this way too.

I am not sure about the Wallenstein's but I think the actuall winch part on Farmi's and the Fransguards are basically the same design (just a bigger drum for larger cable) and a bigger frame.  The winching power comes from the HP of the tractor.  For example, say someone puts a 11k winch on a 100 hp tractor; it will likely winch 11k close to idle.  Put the same winch on a 50 hp tractor, and it might pull 9-10k wide open. 

I also considered the Wallenstein winches before I found the one I bought.  It has be used quite a bit, but from what I have read, the clutches seldon wear out.  A new coat of paint, and one new roller, I am in about 1/2 price of a new one.  I am going to also add a remote control function to it.  

Good luck with your decision.

[thecfarm]

redneckman,that's why my pins are that way.  :-[ Never knew that.

[shortaction]

Thanks for all the advice and replies!

Called the dealer today and he gave me a really good price on the FX85, so got all my measurements of my tractor with the Cat 2 3 point hitch and heading down tomorrow to see if there will be any major issues mounting it on my Cat 2 3 point hitch, if not it's coming home with me!  

Thanks again.

[climber2]

My wallenstein has treated me well since day one. I would be surprised if you weren't happy.

[shortaction]

Brought the FX85 home with me.  Going to have to monkey around with the pins, the arms on the 3 point hitch are way to wide to to fit where the pins are located now, also the pins are 7/8" and I need them to be 1 1/8".  Got some 7/8"ID to 1 1/8"OD bushings on order and bought some long 7/8" draw pins so I can extend them through the holes provided and and attach on the outside of the brackets.  I will put a bushing over the pin where the arms are designed to attach to stop the pressure from squeezing the sides.  PTO shaft looks to be plenty long, may have to trim it down a couple inches.  

[Kbeitz]

Sometimes you can turn the pins around...

[shortaction]

Sometimes you can turn the pins around...

These are just loose pins that slide through holes on either side, kind of like how the main arms on a loader attaches to the bucket.

[Tin Horse]

I've had the FX 85 for about 9 years now. No problems with it ever. It works well with my Kioti 7320. Too much length and or weight can be tough enough when working trees out through the bush. You can always go bigger or just make two trips.

[Whitetail_Addict]

Does anybody know what happened at Labonville? They used to sell Norse winches for an outstanding price with free shipping. I was hoping to buy one this spring but see that they are not available now.  ???

[thecfarm]

I have a Norse and like it. The pivot butt plate and the higher pulley and mast was the selling point for me.
Ingland looks just about like the Norse. DeerMeadowFarm has one.
I would give Labonville a call. There might be one at a store. Hope you get a clerk that has enough smarts to call the other stores too.