Portable Winch

[RC0]

http://www.proclimber.co.uk/catalogue/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=261&zenid=31f818f25ad93cb99782941ca8306d6f

 

This could be a worth-while investment for me, even though it works out a little more expensive than what I'd expected. Has anyone ever used one of these winches? The write-up has little mention of the mechanics, I’d like to know what happens when the load it too heavy!

 

Any knowledge on this product or similar powered winches would be appreciated. Thanks

[Mike Hill]

Yes I have used one.

 

Its bloody hard to control,if your are not pulling flat and directly toward the winch it will twist and lurch about.It really takes two to operate it.

 

We used one to pull bundles of brush up a hill and rigged a block on a tree to provide lift while tying the winch back with two ropes.The system worked ok but one person had to stop the winch from flipping onto its side.They don't seem to like wet rope and you may have to wrap the capstan many times to get propper grip.This eventually wears out the plate that sepparates the capstan from the winch gears untill the rope can pop into that area and jamb thw whole thing up.

 

Maybe we over used the winch but going by the price it should have been able to handle full days work.It was another of those "good ideas" that eventually sit in the shed corner gathering dust.

[Mr Ed]

Reg, I have a virtually new austrian Kohler winch I dont need. uses an 60 - 80cc chansaw powerhead for about 1 tonne pull, carry's about 100m of 6mm cable on its drum.

[tockmal]

One of the buzzheads posted a vid of a portable capstan winch in action, looks powerful. Not sure if its the same as 'proclimbers'.

 

http://revver.com/video/277924/capstan-winch/

 

Here's the thread -

 

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=85241&an=0&page=3#85241

 

The portable winch website -

 

http://www.portablewinch.com/en/

 

Hope this helps.

 

Its on my list of wanted equipment.

[frans]

I saw this at a trade show. The guy was unpacking it to set it up at his booth.

 

As he unwrapped it, I noticed that the capstan was bent!

He told me they dropped it during shipping.

 

So I held the unattached capstan in my hand and realized that it was thin weak alum.

 

I have not used it on a job, but my first thought was if any falling branch or even pine cone touched it, it would break something on the engine.

[RC0]

Hmmm, I’m not sure what to think now.

 

The versatility is what I'm most attracted to, but its not much use if, for whatever reasons, it falls short on guts and durability.

 

I'll ask around a little more, thanks for the info guys:icon14:

[madmatt]

We had a demo at work the other week its very good. our Nottingham depot has used one for a good while now with no problems at all, I hope we get one soon, I like the fact it doesn't need a wire cable and you can use rope.

[bob]

we had something similar a few years ago our main complaint was that it couldny hold a pull so was next to useless for pulling trees over as it either pulled or went slack

[Mike Hill]

we had something similar a few years ago our main complaint was that it couldny hold a pull so was next to useless for pulling trees over as it either pulled or went slack

 

Dead right!

[wills-mill]

for the best in treeporn.....

 

get a catalogue from grube. They'll post to England if you're nice to them. Huge selection of stunning top notch tree gear- mainly forestry based. If I remember right they've got quite a few chainsaw and small engine based winches.

 

http://www.grube.de/csc_article_details.php?nArticleID=9187&VID=kaA7VBrHsrhlIa2q