blackeyeler

Finally opted for a Krpan 6,5 eh.  Haven't tried it out yet. Too much grass cutting & fencing to be done 😒. Thanks folks for the advice and input.

Thanks Whoppa, I'll investigate👍

Are there any forestry teams using Krpan or Pfanzelt winches in the Inverness area? If so, would I be able visit and have look at your machine?

So, now looking at the Krpan 5,5 EH. I still can't work out if it has a cable laying mechanism for the drum. Any body using one of these wee beasties?

Thanks for the response Whoppa Choppa,  having a look at the Pfanzelt now.  Now, if I was the sole operator of our winch I'm sure that a lot of this binding wouldn't happen- but one of my workmates gets a bit too enthusiastic and basically overloads the cable at all sorts of jams etc. I often witness the tractor being pulled towards the load and the skidder plate re-arranging the forest floor.

Is there a model of winch /skidder where the wire is laid evenly on the drum as in a fishing reel? We currently have an Igland 55 and the cable is always getting bound up on the drum.

Thanks for the input folks.

So, wire core or fibre core rope? Any body have strong opinions on this?

Thanks difflock & muldonach, all taken in and considered.

11 mm diameter installed Nov 2018. Has had a few hours use (abuse) since them.

241 hours

Thanks again ESS, I think 103 metres is just a bit too much length. We got our winch from JASP Wilsons.

Thanks Khriss, that means we are abusing our kit  

I have found a reference to the rope  7x19 IWRC 103 metre from Rope Services direct. Is this suitable for Igland 55?

I'll take it that logs jamming in and against stumps during retrieval will also put undue tension /torsion on the rope?

Hi spuddog0507, thanks for your input. I am beginning to get a good idea of what we're doing wrong. Igland 55 has two brake band adjusters underneath and the fine tune hex on the side. Much appreciated info. 

Thanks to you Openspaceman, I will take your comments into consideration. On our Igland 55 there is just a clutch lever that pushes up to engage clutch and down to release. There is no separate brake lever only a hexagonal screw to increase or decrease drag and prevent rolling on. The brake pad adjuster nuts are below the brake band and only accessible by removal of the back plate. I may have to take the unit back to our engineer for further adjustment/investigation. I usually order replacement rope from a local farm and forestry equipment supplier and they determine the rope that we get. I may tell them of your advice and see what they say. Many thanks again to all contributions.

Many thanks for your input. I shall now have a discussion with work mate and see where we go from there.  Stay safe. Blackeyeler.

8 minutes ago, ESS said:

r/h Laings ley

Not familiar with this term?  Your comment on tag length is interesting. I always leave a good length tag so that I can unhitch easily without having to rummage around the logs but my colleague tends to put the slider almost up to the log. Guess who's been doing most of the chokering recently?

With regard to fibre ropes, the ground we are working on is varied from heathland amid Spruce plantings taking out birch, banks muddy slopes pulling hardwoods and windblow and winch assisted directional felling. 

Hi ESS, thanks for the prompt response. We already cut 15 metres off the swage end due to coiling and then set to work again. The brake is a bit of a nightmare. I understand about the over-running issue. When I adjust the brake to stop over-run I can hardly pull the rope out. Yesterday the first 5 metres became coiled again. When hauling logs the rope tends to get bound in the drum . The inclusion of a bale arm that would lay the cable evenly across the drum ( a bit like a fishing reel) would probably make things better because the rope tends to accumulate at one point then collapse across itself. We just recently had a modification to the top brake band ,opposite side to the brake tensioner, by the addition of a spring loaded adjuster because the brake plate kept binding on that side when pulling out cable. The engineer who made the modification wants to put the winch into his waste metal skip. Rope was replace Nov 18. New clutch plate 3 weeks ago. Winch was new 2009. The clutch is also a finnicky so and so. There is a sweet spot where one is just able to haul and any tighter and the unit self hauls. It used to be that I could lift three logs up to the top of the skidder plate and fix the choke chains on the combs , lift the plate and drive off. Now when I lift to the same point the rope just rolls off the drum before I get the chance to fix the chains. I bet you wish you hadn't responded to this issue now!!!    Are the fibre ropes any good? I haven't met anyone using them yet.

New member here. I am trying to find a reference in the forums to wire rope fouling , twisting and coiling. The kit is an Igland 55 winch and I am constantly having to cut lengths off the wire rope due to coiling. Any one able to point me to a discussion? All help gratefully received. Blackeyeler.