logging winch JD 3320

2510Paul · Mar 7, 2013

I have been thinking about a logging winch. I want to cut and pull mid size dead trees up and down the steep valley hills here in West Central WI so I can cut them up for wood. I have been looking at Farmi. My son suggested getting a hydraulic winch and mounting it to my box scraper on my JD 3320 Compact Tractor. Two questions:
1. Will the JD 3320 be too light?
2. Has anyone built a logging winch that is hydraulic and if so what did you do and how did it work out.
New hydraulic winches are not cheap either. Is there a good place to look for good used ones?
I guess that is three questions. Thanks ahead of time. Paul

pete black · Mar 7, 2013

humn; pulling mid-sized dead trees up and down steep valley hills with a compact tractor. sounds like a death wish to me.

2x4 · Mar 7, 2013

it'll work all right until a log catches on a root or rock & upsets the tractor or pulls it around sideways. Even on flat ground, if the winch has lifted the logs too high, a turn can flip the tractor over.

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 7, 2013

I got an old PTO winch off an army truck and put it on a frame. The frame has a piece of angle iron that sits on the ground. I have used it on a Farmall H and 300 and a Massey 35 and it will pull any of those tractors backward with a log that catches or is too heavy. It is very handy, but I would not want it on any lighter of a tractor. I am not familiar with your model so I don't know how that would work.
Zach

LAA · Mar 7, 2013

Whether the tractor is too light or not depends on what you hook behind it. I think you will find that most, if not all hydraulic winches require 15-20 GPM and they are expensive. You can buy a good PTO winch much cheaper, surpluscenter.com has brand new 8 ton PTO winches for less than $700.00.

Duner Wi · Mar 7, 2013

Curious, do you have a brake on it?
Thanks. Or No brake needed.
I am working on a scheme and being I have never used a winch like yours and mine would be about the same deal.

rick165 · Mar 8, 2013

i just recently put together a hydraulic winch on a 3 -point back blade.only thing i dont like is it wont free spool its either in or out.have it hooked into the loader hydraulics that run off a front mounted 20 gpm pump.i also have a pto winch mounted on a 3-point frame i will post pictures of them when i get my camera going.
RICK

ohiojim · Mar 8, 2013

here's one i put together for the purpose you want,...i only went hydraulic because the winch i used didn't have freewheel capacity,...but as some have said, stay in bed and don't do anything,..you could be injured,..if you can't stay in bed, get hold of the safety police before doing anything

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 8, 2013

No brake on mine as far as I know. It has a free wheel collar that disengages the shaft from the drum so I can drag the cable to the log and hook it up, then I have to remember to engage the collar or else when I get on the tractor and start the PTO the drum doesn't turn. It is amazing how many times I can make the same mistake in one day.
Zach

VaTom · Mar 8, 2013

Mine's still attached to my 14,000 lb army truck. They're designed so that either the truck moves or whatever's attached to the other end does. I winched my dead 16,000 crawler up my 14% slope driveway, had to chain the back of the truck to a succession of trees to keep it from being dragged downhill. Lock up all 10 wheels, and the winch will drag them.

No need for a brake, they're also 2 speed. I've pulled 60' logs up 50% slopes, by nosing the truck into a tree to keep it stationary. Just keep a spare shear pin on hand if you've got the power these winches were designed to handle.

A snatch block, sized to the winch, is a critical need if you can't get the winch positioned for a straight pull.

Rick Kr · Mar 8, 2013

I dont see where anything you are asking is dangerous, IF you apply common sense. Remember you have a tractor that weighs 3500lbs or so with a loader.

Everyone else posted below that their winches can drag the tractor/truck they are hooked to. No different with your 3320. Its a lot smaller, so get a lot smaller winch.

As previously stated if you are pulling a log up hill make sure the tractor is anchored, and dont hook it to anything huge.

Be careful dragging the logs, even if the front edge is off the ground, I saw my buddy get a log hooked mid way due to a limb that wasnt cut short enough.

If it were me, I would look for a small PTO winch. Electric will wear on the battery, if you run it repeatedly.

My two cents.
Rick

Dr. Walt · Mar 8, 2013

For a compact tractor, the safest way is to use a log arch. Go to your computer's browser and type in "Log Arch" and hit enter - there's lots of information there.

Ron/PA · Mar 8, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:48:17 03/08/13) For a compact tractor, the safest way is to use a log arch. Go to your computer's browser and type in "Log Arch" and hit enter - there's lots of information there.

Dr. Walt, unless I mis-understood the OP he's pulling logs up steep valley sides and ravines. If his are any like ours here in PA. Trying to drive a wheeled tractor up the side of our ravines by itself is suicide. Put the weight of a log behind it and you're just about guaranteed to kill someone.

Our commercial loggers won't drive their skidders up the sides, and they're usually shy about track machines.

Not my business, but danged if I'd try hauling a log up valley sides, arch or no arch.

Duner Wi · Mar 9, 2013

Thank you Zachary for the fotos.

Duner Wi · Mar 9, 2013

Thank you!

logging winch JD 3320

2510Paul

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pete black

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2x4

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Zachary Hoyt

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LAA

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Duner Wi

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rick165

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ohiojim

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Zachary Hoyt

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VaTom

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Rick Kr

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Dr. Walt

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Ron/PA

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Duner Wi

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Duner Wi

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