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6.4.4 Adjusting the line pull (amount of force the winch needs to produce to move a load)
Adjust the line pull of the winch so that the drum stops rotating at once when no more skidding
occurs. This will reduce chances of “binding”, which is wire rope working it’s way down into a loosely
wound wire rope layer, and catching or damaging itself. To adjust the pullout force:
• Release the locknut
• Release or tighten the adjustment screw used to adjust the flat spring of the brake band
• The line pull is increased or decreased by respectively tightening or releasing the screw
• Tighten the locknut back in place
6.5 Skidding operations
Set the hydraulic cylinder of the tractor three-point hitch in its lowest position. Firmly settle the winch
down on the ground and engage the tractor manual brake. NEVER start pulling operations before
having securely and firmly settled the winch in a stable position.
Press the black push-button on the control panel. The wire rope will now start to wind up onto the
drum. To stop winding simply release the pressure the black push-button. When doing so, the brake
immediately stops the drum and keeps the load away.
For safety reasons, spooling of the rope occurs strictly and only if a consistent pressure is maintained
on the black push-button.
Do not raise the hydraulic cylinder of the tractor three-point hitch during
skidding! (DANGER: you may damage your driveline)
The rated pull force is the largest force produced as the rope starts winding up onto the drum. This is
also the figure that is shown in the technical data reported on the product identification label on the
winch. The pull force of the winch decreases as the rope keeps winding further more onto the drum.
At fully wounded rope the pull force of the winch amounts 50-60% of the rated force.
6.5.1 Use of a frontend bucket
For operation of a frontend bucket a separate hydraulic system is required than the one used to ope-
rate the log winch. One of the double-acting control valves of the tractor is required for bucket opera-
tion.
The bucket is hinged and infinite bucket adjustment is possible from the tractor.
When you take the winch off the tractor make sure to shut the gate valve of the control line by tur-
ning it 90° off in order to prevent the bucket from dropping down while the winch remains parked.
During skidding operations the gate valve must be set along the axis of the control line .
