JD Winch issues/Carco 30B question

catfishhunter · February 12, 2021, 07:13:58 AM

I currently have a '79 Tree Farmer with a JD 3325 winch from a 540B or 440C. It has the special JD swivel that ports hydraulic fluid to the winch clutch piston. I can't get a swivel that doesn't leak. I've tried different hose lengths to take any pulling/pushing pressure off of the swivel. I'm on my 5th swivel in 3 months and everytime I put a new one on it begins to weep hydraulic fluid after the first several skids from the end of the swivel. I take them apart and you can see galling/wear of the aluminum housing. JD dealer said others have been having the same problem. I just got my winch dialed in with a new brake band and it's pulling awesome. But now I am running the $125 swivels and having to pull the cover to check/wipe up fluid every few hours. JD sent me the last one as a free replacement and said they would call JD and see what the deal is. But still not convinced it's not my winch.

Question: Anyone else having trouble or any ideas on why it keeps eating swivels?

Question: Anyone ever put a Carco 30B winch on and run it? I'd love to get a way from all the brake and fluid leak issues this JD has. Looks like this winch and the newer JD 4000 have better set ups so you don't have to ruin a $1400 brake band with oil or even a $1000 in clutches.

Tacotodd · February 12, 2021, 07:57:25 AM

All that I can suggest is to try some different brands of swivel and see if they are any better. I know that it's going to be expensive, but the winch (and down time) is more! Maybe try some field replaceable fittings say_what . Maybe they will work out if you need them. Just a thought.

Remember! Brake parts cleaner is your friend!

mike_belben · February 12, 2021, 07:59:05 AM

what if you pack this swivel full of vaseline or anti seize or something to reduce the galling that you're experiencing? are there seals inside?

BargeMonkey · February 13, 2021, 02:34:47 AM

3325 winch is 1 step over a boat anchor even when it works well, a guy in KY showed me how he swapped his 540D to a 4000 and it wasnt that bad except i dont think he reinforced it that well, be in the arch one day. Ive got a Carco 30 on my older 450G, yeah its a decent winch, its not a 4000, nope. A Franklin 42 isn't a bad alternative either. Ive got the slow speed small drum on my 460 and 5/8 cable just doesn't hold up, ive got 7/8 cable with 10 slides, if you put one in your machine its going to find the weak link somewhere 😆
I got my last band from Harold's in Maine, Deere is NUTS for a new band now, last time I checked it was 1080.00 5yrs ago.

catfishhunter · February 13, 2021, 05:50:36 AM

I'll look into another brand of swivel and see if something will fit. I can also slide the new one apart and see if I can lubricate the teflon/o ring seals, maybe that will help.

agree on the boat anchor. I wish I had the gearmatic that probably came with my tree farmer, not sure what the guy did with it that i bought it from.

I'm running a C5D Tree Farmer, someday I'd like to upgrade to a similar size machine, maybe slightly larger. How do you like the 540G? Any other smaller cable skidders that I should be thinking about?

mike_belben · February 13, 2021, 06:22:56 AM

Why not have a machine shop build you a few hardened steel swivels with grease fitting and standard Orings? It might be a good selling item.

Ive never seen this part but it might be straightforward lathe work

catfishhunter · February 13, 2021, 06:52:36 AM

Quote from: mike_belben on February 13, 2021, 06:22:56 AM
Why not have a machine shop build you a few hardened steel swivels with grease fitting and standard Orings? It might be a good selling item.

Ive never seen this part but it might be straightforward lathe work

I like this idea, I'll take one along to the shop when I go next and see what they think. I need to take the skidder in anyway for a few things to get welded. Great idea!!

mjeselskis · February 13, 2021, 08:18:01 AM

Could you find a way to use a generic live swivel like the ones at surplus center? I have a couple of the -12 swivels on my firewood processor and they have worked fine

Live Swivels | Hydraulic Adapters & Fittings | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

catfishhunter · February 13, 2021, 08:22:36 AM

Quote from: mjeselskis on February 13, 2021, 08:18:01 AM
Could you find a way to use a generic live swivel like the ones at surplus center? I have a couple of the -12 swivels on my firewood processor and they have worked fine

Live Swivels | Hydraulic Adapters & Fittings | Hydraulics | [url=http://www.surpluscenter.com]Surplus Center[/url]

thank you! I'll check it out. Something has to work, right?!

Ed_K · February 13, 2021, 08:57:32 AM

I have to very first one on the surplus ctr pict. It's been on my gearmatic for 6 yrs, I give it a half squirt of grease every 40 hrs. No problems and didn't cost me $175 like the first one I got from a parts store.

catfishhunter · February 16, 2021, 06:01:37 AM

Couple new developments.

1 - John Deere is filing a case with corporate to see if we can figure out what is wrong
2 - called Harold's in Maine and bought their non-JD brand swivel to try out
3 - I have another non-JD option from a local store that I may order
4 - working with SuperSwivels out of Minneapolis (1 hour from me) to see if I can get a really robust option

I'll post some pics/part numbers once I get my final config figured out. I'm also thinking of changing the winch side cover to have an inspection plate so I don't have to remove the whole thing each time I want to make sure things are dry. We'll see...