chainsaw winch for breaking out

[kiwiloggr]

Hey there just wondering if any of you use a chainsaw winch to break out your logs.I find it invaluable it gives me a few more options when felling because i can pull the logs out of the slash trim any branches iv missed and pull them into a suitable spot to get with my arch.I also bunch smaller logs to create the right size drag i can pull down hung up trees and run a rope through a block to pull trees over.I use a Simpson capstan winch these things are brilliant and vital to my operation just wondering if any one else out there uses these gadgets.

[Scott G]

I’ve used a capstan and and know someone who has a Lewis chainsaw winch. They are slow, but are effective for pre-bunching smaller stems, dragging stuff out now and then. I know they are are fairly popular with hunters as well for dragging elk/deer out of the dark and nasty.

I’m biased towards the capstan winch as you can use an unlimited length of rope without having to re-set.

My favorite way to get stuff out of a hole is to set a block in a tree, run the rope down to the choker(s) and then hook on to the horse or machine on the flat ground, ideally a road or skid trail. I routinely climb with spikes so it is easy for me to get the block 30+’ up in the tree/spar. That gives you an incredible amount of lift when you are coming out of/up some of the steep slopes we have out here.

Another block as a fairlead at the base of the tree helps as well, keeping the point of pull/draft low.

This method is much faster than a winch, especially if you have two people.

Cost is an issue as well. A good block rated for rigging runs about $125 and rigging rope runs about $200 for 150′ of 1″ rated @ 10,000# WLL. I’ve had my set up for ~12 years and it is holding up great. Baileys or Sherrill are your best bests for purchasing this type of rigging.

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