winch electric? Vermeer 1800

glennak

I have a vermeer 1800 I was told it would cost ~$5000 to mount a hydrolic winch and it would cover the trap door to get to the top of the rollers. This would be a hassel to grease the roller tracks and a lot of money.
I was thinking of mounting an electric winch with an extra deep cycle battery this would be less than $1000 I think. Has anyone done it? I would prefer not to reinvent the wheel. What size electric winch would I need? I would like lowest current draw but enough power any ideas?
I was thinking mount winch between roller and drum trap doors and a frame and pulley on the top of the shoot.

Eric Frei

I can say that loading the chipper with a bobcat or Kanga is a PITA with the Vermeer winch protruding into your face and obstructing the table, make sure it can swing out of the way.

It needs to stick out like that to lift the log up past the chipper chute table.

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glennak

The 1800 has a big feed hole. The table is back about 1m from the top of the chute so if you hit your face on the winch you would have to be kneeling in the middle of the chute (not a good idea if it's running, 2' vertical rollers wouldn't leave much)

Eric Frei

Take some pics mate ... lets see what ya thinking.

I think you could build something solid and real nice to use.

when I say "into your face" I mean when trying to load the table with machinery you keep hitting that bloody winch thing.

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Drouin Tree Service

They put hinges on the fairleads of the winch so they fold back,I don't think a electric winch would be any good to slow and get to hot constant use.

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

TrevMcRev

Winches are good, a mini-loader with a grapple is even better.

Winches are good for dragging something out of a gulley.

But a mini with a grapple will run rings around it for forwarding logs & brush to the chipper.

But back to topic...there's a post on here somewhere a kiwi fitted a hydraulic capstan to a morbark i think on the cheap...let me try n find it for ya.

TrevMcRev

Here we go:
Building the Aussie GRCS

glennak

Thanks Trev I will look into that, I happen to have two of those hand winches in the shed. The hydraulics look like a big job though. Electric would be less work to fit and the extra battery would be better for my inverter when I sharpen the blades with a 240v belt sander. I don't think I would use the winch a lot at the same time so over heating may not be a proplem. But a large tree down a steep bank would make me want to use it a lot.

JohN Dee

Do not go electric! They burn out very easily from constant use/ heating up. Plus they're slow as all hell.

Mounting an electric to your 18" would be like the equivalent of buying a 90's model 6 inch vermeer chipper - gets the job done after ALOT of HARD work.

Hydraulic is best hands down. As for not getting access to the grease nipples that is simply a matter of putting on extension hoses.

Quality doesn't cost, it pays!

Hey Eric, our Bandit 2090xp and 150xp have winches that are on a hinge and can be flipped back for when we work with loaders or when it's not being used on the little bugger...

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We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT...

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glennak

It's not grease nipples that are under the cover. The only way I see the tracks can be greased is by poking it in with fingers, and the springs need to be removed to open the rollers to adjust the anvil aswell.
Could you post a picture of how the winches are on a hinge? That maybe the solution to my problem.
Is an 8000 lb hydraulic winch too large? It's off a tilt tray.

Drouin Tree Service

A FACTORY winch would be nearly worth $5k in resale on the machine when you sell it down the track.A dodged up electric winch would add nothing to resale IMHO

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Morbark - RSA

I agree - and why reinvent the wheel? There are suitable winches out there - just change the mounting if you arnt happy with it. Regardless I'd still like to see the end result!!

glennak

I went to see Vermeer today and was told a winch could not be fitted to an 1800 the latter models were made stronger to cope with a winch. I was shown a winch and was told I could bolt it on but it could pull the back off my chipper. So I think I will give up on a winch.

Morbark - RSA

Buy a Morbark

harley

Hi mate yes you can do it vermeer dont sell them for these anymore they told me but my dad has made a hydraulic 1 for my unit and it is great if you want more info call me on 0423936145 cheers.