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  • Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmaryngmar@social.tchncs.de
    Nov 3, 2026, 6:19 PM

    Had a closer look at the messy forest the last few days.

    It was already messy when we bought it and the storm throwing a bunch more trees on top did not improve that.

    The cars are all fixed and the garden pretty much done so I can get back to projects I was hoping to do last spring 😬

    Like mounting this winch on the tractor so I can pull some trees, and/or the tractor up the hill next time it spins all four tyres in the snow (or mud).

    As usual, the scrap metal laying around will influence the design heavily. There's also a second battery to add, a bunch of wiring and still be able to open the hood and not block the headlights.

    Unlike a boat, weight in the bow is good for a tractor. That front frame is designed for hanging heavy weights onto.

    #Tractor #Winch #DIY #Forest #ScrapMetal

    Forest edge with a bunch of trees fallen over each other in at least two different directions, some snapped off in the middle, some rotten.
    Front of a small blue tractor. Upon a stack of barn stuff a dusty but unused looking electric winch with steel cable and guide rollers is resting, roughly in the position it should go in. The tractor has a very thick steel frame attached to its front already.
    Same as before but someone also stood a large 12V battery on top of the winch.
    Same again, the battery is removed but a very thick rusty scrap metal flat bar is held between the winch and the roller frame.
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Replies

  • Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmaryngmar@social.tchncs.de
    Nov 4, 2026, 3:58 PM

    Dry fit. All recycled fence posts so far.

    Hauled my cold cut saw out of storage and set it up on top of a steel drum, now that there is some space in the garbarn.

    Cut two U-beams under the winch which will be welded to the front ballast frame. Holes already drilled and winch bolted onto them to help line things up.

    Then two risers for the, uh, roller fitting? Holes drilled too.

    Next rounding off some sharp corners, grinding rust off and some bevels for welding on.

    #DIY #Metalworking #Welding #Tractor #Winch #Homestead

    The electric winch, now mounted on two rusty U-beams, on top of which the tractor front ballast frame sits. In front of the winch two shaped U-beams for mounting the roller fitting on with corners cut away. Some tools are nearby.
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  • Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmaryngmar@social.tchncs.de
    Nov 3, 2026, 6:41 PM

    @Maker_of_Things Of all the work waiting in the forest or all the work waiting since spring? 😆

    But I'm starting to learn that it is always like this on a farm. There is always more work than time and you never catch up!

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  • Alfred Chow - Maker of ThingsMaker_of_Things@cupoftea.social
    Nov 4, 2026, 4:01 PM

    @yngmar
    Roller fairlead.

    Also, if you decide to change to a synthetic winch line you'd need to change the roller fairlead for a smooth aluminium fairlead, one that doesn't have rollers.

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  • Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmaryngmar@social.tchncs.de
    Nov 4, 2026, 6:11 PM

    @Maker_of_Things Fairlead! Right, thanks. Should've known that :)

    Synthethic rope can't do forestry work, it chafes through even faster than a jib halyard flogging against a (smooth) stainless steel 1x19 shroud and that took less than a minute (tested in person in one of Brighton marina's famous autumn gales while trying to save some guys rig).

    So no risk of switching to that unless I find a proper forestry winch attachment laying around somewhere, which is very unlikely! :)

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  • Alfred Chow - Maker of ThingsMaker_of_Things@cupoftea.social
    Nov 4, 2026, 6:18 PM

    @yngmar
    Yes, I agree, a time and place for synthetic ropes.

    One day I will need to get new wire ropes for my Trewhella Monkey Winches. They have a specially shaped hook that allows the rope to be put around a log and back onto itself, without rope damage.

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