Thoughts on a PTO powered capstan winch?

[timber and wine]

I have a lot of low ground where i cut firewood and lately winters cold enough to freeze the swamps are the exception to the rule. With my old Allis I would string out lots of tow straps and pull. With the new tractor I've been researching winches. I think the PTO logging winches are more than I want and I don't relish the thought of pulling cables around. I have used a portable capstan which and really like them.

I've seen One commercial and some DIY hydraulic capstan Winches but I don't have rear remotes. Using a gear reducer (and maybe a sprocket reduction) could you rig up a PTO powered capstan winch?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

sure they sell kits and complete systems but w/ capstan winches brakes / locks may be sorely missed.
Land Rover used them for decades.
Land Rover clubs / retailers often sell diy kits, plans, complete systems, etc... that are pto powered.
And on the plus side used LR cap. winches are almost same as tractor pto speed of 540.

https://www.lrsoc.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Aeroparts-Capstan.pdf

 

[timber and wine]

sure they sell kits and complete systems but w/ capstan winches brakes / locks may be sorely missed.
Land Rover used them for decades.
Land Rover clubs / retailers often sell diy kits, plans, complete systems, etc... that are pto powered.
And on the plus side used LR cap. winches are almost same as tractor pto speed of 540.

https://www.lrsoc.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Aeroparts-Capstan.pdf

I haven't found any kits. Do you have some links? The Land Rover kit looks cool but I imagine anything LR would cost a fortune.

I don't see how brakes would be an issue with a capstan. If you want to stop just release tension on the rope. Not sure how a lock might work but not an issue for me. My ground is pretty flat.

 

[timber and wine]

Related question... The tachometer has a PTO operation range. Is this just because most attachments are designed for a standard PTO rpm? Is there a problem operating the PTO at a lower engine speed to obtain a lower PTO rpm?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

There a reason you don't find PTO capstan winches, they would kill you in nothing flat!

Get a logging winch!

 

[timber and wine]

There a reason you don't find PTO capstan winches, they would kill you in nothing flat

How so? (Its a serious question). To my mind the capstan winch is inherently much safer than a cable winch with the slow rotation speed and built-in speed control. I've seen chain breaks and snap backs but not a cable break. Still I assume a rope break would be less violent.

My main issue with the forestry winch is pulling the cable around and the limited length.

Also there is this thing in me that looks at everything I could buy and says " hell I could build\do that". It's served me well in all aspects of building trades. If I can up my welding game it would open up whole new worlds

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

When dealing with logs I've see and dealt with just about every scenario.
Ropes and log pulling are a HUGE NO!
Might as well make a giant slingshot and pop yourself with it.

Seriously, ropes turn into rubber bands pulling and when they break they can become a giant whip.
There is no way I want to be operating a capstan winch when that rope breaks.

Watch the video of the Wallenstein logging winch and you'll see where it has safety build into the design.

 

[InTheWoods]

Don't overload the rope. Don't let it overheat around the capstan. Keep yourself off-axis of the tensioned line. Rope itself *can* be safely used.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I guess I stand corrected on all counts:

Tugger Capstan Rope Winch 12 Volt

The Tugger Capstan Rope Winch for Industrial, Electrical, Conduit pulling, Hunting, ATV and Side By Side vehicles. A strong 12 volt 2.2 HP waterproof winch.

www.shop-endurance-marine.com

ETUG2-FL26 Tugger 2 with Fairlead 20' Extension | endurance-marine

The Tugger2 with Fairlead is a unique winch designed to pull with consistent power and use unlimited lengths of line. Unlike a conventional drum winch that coils or spools the line on a drum The Tugger does not lose power because the line is continually bailed or taken off the capstan as the...

www.shop-endurance-marine.com

 

[InTheWoods]

...no comment

 

[timber and wine]

When dealing with logs I've see and dealt with just about every scenario.
Ropes and log pulling are a HUGE NO!
Might as well make a giant slingshot and pop yourself with it.

Seriously, ropes turn into rubber bands pulling and when they break they can become a giant whip.
There is no way I want to be operating a capstan winch when that rope breaks.

Watch the video of the Wallenstein logging winch and you'll see where it has safety build into the design.

I understand your concern. I did some googling and there are a lot of claims that rope made for winches is safer than cable... Less stored kinetic energy. Of course those ropes are not inexpensive. I'll keep studying it but at this point it looks like the cheapest solution would be to buy a portable capstan for logging and attach it to a homemade trailer mover\log drag

Luckily it will not be an issue this winter. We are in a draught here and the swamps are very dry. I shou!d be able to drive across them to get the last of the ash for saw logs. gotta strike while the iron is hot!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

...no comment

What cat got your tongue?